Lok Sabha Question No. 3626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Protection of One-horned Rhinoceros
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3626

TO BE ANSWERED ON  16.03.2018

## Protection of One-horned Rhinoceros

## 3626.  SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  any  special  scheme  for  protection  of  world famous one-horned Rhinoceros of Assam;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds being provided to State of Assam under the said scheme;
- (c) whether the efforts being made by the State Government for Rhinoceros protection meet the purpose/achieve the aims of scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)and(b) One-horned  rhinoceros  is  one  of  the  seventeen  species  identified  for Recovery  programme  for  critically  endangered  species,  a  component under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Integrated  Development  of Wildlife Habitats'. Under this scheme Central assistance is provided for the recovery and protection of seventeen  species in the country.

The  funds  provided  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Project Tiger'  for  protection  and  conservation  of  tigers  in  National  Parks  of Assam  also  provides protection and conservation to other animals including one-horned Rhinoceros.

Details  of  funds  provided  to  Assam  under  CSS-  'Project  Tiger'  and 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' during the current financial year is given in the Annexure.

- (c) and (d) Following steps  has been taken by the State Government for protection of Rhinoceros :
- i. The  armed  personnel  in  Kaziranga  National  Park  have  been deployed. Presently, 382 numbers of Assam Forest Protection Force personnel, 119-Armed Home Guards besides the regular Forest  Staff  have  been  deployed  in  Kaziranga  National  Park. 50 additional Home Guards have been deployed in Kaziranga National Park recently.
- ii. Sophisticated  weapons  like  INSAS  Rifles  and  SLR  has  been procured  by  the  State  Government  for  use  in  Kaziranga National Park for anti poaching activities.
- iii. For soliciting cooperation from fringe villagers around Kaziranga National Park and assist in curving Rhino poaching, 50 numbers of Eco-development Committees have been registered  through  which  development  works  in  the  villages are being taken up.
- iv. Arrangement has been made to keep 24 hours surveillance on the  park  through  Electronic  Eye  Surveillance  System  and drones.
- v. A Special Task Force (STF) headed by an Additional Director General of Police has been constituted by the Government of Assam to curb Rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park.
- vi. Number  of  anti-poaching  camps  have  been increased in Kaziranga  National  Park  to  increase  effective  surveillance  in and around the Park.
- vii. Joint  operation  by  Forest,  Police  and  STF  is  also  conducted regularly to nab the suspected poachers and joint patrolling is also carried out regularly.

****

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF  THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3626 REGARDING 'PROTECTION OF ONEHORNED RHINOCEROS' RAISED BY SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH DUE FOR REPLY ON 16.3.2018

## Details of funds released to Assam under CSS-'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' (IDWH) and 'Project Tiger' during 2017-18

(Rs. in lakh)

| S.No.   | Name of PAs                           | Funds released   | Funds released   |
|---------|---------------------------------------|------------------|------------------|
|         |                                       | IDWH             | Project Tiger    |
| 1       | Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary           | 31.39            | -                |
| 2       | Deepar beel Wildlife Sanctuary        | 14.71            | -                |
| 3       | Bherajan-Borajan Podumani WLS         | 16.37            | -                |
| 4       | Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary             | 20.23            | -                |
| 5       | Panidihing Bird Sanctuary             | 20.21            | -                |
| 6       | Barail Wildlife Sanctuary             | 21.82            | -                |
| 7       | East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary | 14.56            | -                |
| 8       | Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary          | 7.54             | -                |
| 9       | Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary         | 25.34            | -                |
| 10      | Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary       | 26.83            | -                |
| 11      | Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary        | 14.99            | -                |
| 12      | Dibru -Saikhowa National Park         | 29.37            | -                |
| 12      | Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary             | 4.03             | -                |
| 13      | Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary            | 15.03            | -                |
| 14      | Nambor Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary    | 9.02             | -                |
| 15      | Dehing patkai Wildlife Sanctuary      | 4.49             | -                |
| 16      | Kaziranga National Park               | -                | 1126.27          |
| 17      | Manas National Park                   | -                | 439.79           |
| 18      | Orang National Park                   |                  | 264.21           |
|         | Total                                 | 275.93           | 1830.27          |