Lok Sabha Question No. 1904 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-29
Subject: Cleanliness in National Parks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1904

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.12.2017

## Cleanliness in National Parks

## 1904. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken efforts to implement Swachh Bharat Mission in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including efforts undertaken to handle solid waste management and disposal in such areas;
- (c) the number of zoos, sanctuaries and national parks where the Swachh Bharat Mission is being implemented, State/UT-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  various  instances  of  improper disposal of plastic waste at zoos and sanctuaries and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to prevent the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b) Yes Madam. Ministry have undertaken the following efforts to implement Swachh  Bharat  Mission in  Protected  Areas  (National  Parks,  Wildlife Sanctuaries) and Zoos in India:
- i. 21  Protected  Areas  across  India  were  selected  to  take  up  the cleanliness and sanitation awareness generation activities in furtherance of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan .
- ii. Advisories  on  Waste  Management in  and  around  Protected  Areas (PAs) were issued on 27 th October, 2016 and on 9 th June, 2017 to all States and UTs Forest Department to segregate the wastes into bio-degradable and non bio-degradable wastes.
- iii. States were advised to take 'Green Pledge' and carry out

sensitization and cleanliness drives in and around villages situated in  the  vicinity  of  PAs  by  involving  staff  of  forest  department, students and Self Help Groups.

- iv. Ministry has issued an O.M. to all States/ UTs dated 29 th June, 2017 and intimated about the extension of Swacchta Pakhwada (Cleanliness fortnight) till 31 st December, 2017.
2. (c) Swacch Bharat programme were conducted by State/UT Forest Department  in  the  following  Protected  Areas  and  Zoos  by  involving officials and staff, local people, children and visitors:
3. (d) No  reports  have  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Ministry  for  instances  of improper disposal  of  plastic  waste  at  zoos  and  sanctuaries.  However,  all PAs  and  Zoos  were  advised  to  ban/prohibit  plastic  and  polythene  inside their premises and make them plastic free zones by 31 st May, 2018.

|   S. No. | Protected Area/Zoo                     | State/UT                  |
|----------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        1 | Corbett Tiger Reserve                  | Uttarakhand               |
|        2 | Sundarbans Tiger Reserve               | West Bengal               |
|        3 | Kaziranga Tiger Reserve                | Assam                     |
|        4 | Kanha Tiger Reserve                    | Madhya Pradesh            |
|        5 | Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary             | Andhra Pradesh            |
|        6 | Flamingo Wildlife Sanctuary            | Maharashtra               |
|        7 | Chilika and Gahrimatha Sanctuary       | Odisha                    |
|        8 | Harishankar Zoo                        | Odisha                    |
|        9 | National Zoological Park               | New Delhi                 |
|       10 | Kanpur Zoological Park                 | Uttar Pradesh             |
|       11 | Chandigarh Forest Range                | Chandigarh                |
|       12 | Various Forest Ranges and Forest beats | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |

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