Lok Sabha Question No. 1072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: Endangered Bird Species
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1072

TO BE ANSWERED ON  08.02.2019

## Endangered Bird Species

## 1072.  SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  conserve  and  improve  the  population  of endangered bird species of the country;
- (b) the details regarding endangered birds whose population continues to decline in spite of schemes and programmes of the Government to protect them;
- (c) whether  power  transmission  lines  across  forests  are  one  of  the  reasons  for  the declining bird population and if so, details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken to address the issues relating to protection of endangered birds and removal of power transmission lines in forests/national parks/wildlife sanctuaries?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The steps taken by the Government to conserve and improve the population of endangered  animals  including  bird  species  of  the  country  is  given  in  the

## Annexure.

- (b) There is no specific report indicating declining of bird population in the country in  spite  of  schemes.  However,  the population  of    Jerdon's  Courser  and  Great Indian Bustard are still  critically endangered.
- (c) Studies conducted by Wildlife Institute of India have reported mortality of birds in and around Desert National Park due to power line collision. The western dry regions  of  India  such  as  deserts  and  grasslands  of  Rajasthan,  Gujarat  and Maharashtra are particularly affected by power-line impacts on birds.
- (d) The  Ministry  has  already  initiated  preventive  measures  to  address  the  issues relating to protection of endangered birds due to linear infrastructure development.  Wildlife  Institute  of  India  (WII)  in  consultation  with  the  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change,  National  Tiger  Conservation  Authority, National Highway Authority and World Bank has published a document namely 'Ecofriendly  Measures  to  Mitigate  Impacts  of  Linear  Infrastructure'  which  included procedural guidance on mitigating power-lines passing through Protected Areas.  The Standing  Committee  of  NBWL  in  its  47 th Meeting  held  on  25 th January,  2018 recommended that in future user agencies involved in linear infrastructure development  should  take into  consideration the advisory made in the guidelines of the Wildlife Institute of India  while  designing the  linear infrastructures  inside the Protected Areas, notified Eco Sensitive Zone area around PAs.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1072 REGARDING 'ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES' BY SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI DUE FOR REPLY ON 8.2.2019.

The  steps  taken  to  conserve  and  improve  the  population  of  endangered  animals  including bird species of the country include:

- i. Protected Areas, viz.,  National  Parks,  Sanctuaries,  Conservation  Reserves  and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have been created all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals, birds  and their habitats.
- ii. Financial assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', which inter-alia ,  includes  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats,  Project  Tiger  and  Project Elephant, for providing better protection to wildlife including birds  and improvement of habitat.
- iii. A  specific  component  of  'Recovery  programmes  for  saving  critically  endangered species  and  habitats'  is  provided  in  the  on-going    Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'  for focused conservation  action on 21 identified critically    endangered  species  including  bustards,  Edible-nest  Swiftlet,  Nicobar megapode,  Jerdon's  Courser  and  vultures. Financial assistance is provided  to States/UT Governments for recovery programme of the critically endangered species of birds and animals.
- iv. The  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  provides  for  punishment  for  violation  of  its provisions. The Act also provides for forfeiture of any equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence(s).

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