Lok Sabha Question No. 2615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Protection of Coral Reefs
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Subhas Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2615

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Protection of Coral Reefs

## 2615.  DR. SUBHAS SARKAR:

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

- (a)   whether any steps have been taken to protect coral reefs in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that the black and white corals are being harvested for jewellery making in Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether laws regulating gathering of corals are being properly implemented and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether the Government is aware of the rampant use of plastics in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, despite a ban and if so, the corrective measures taken in this regard; and
- (e)   whether a National Coral Reef Institute has been established to facilitate research on Coral Reefs and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

(a)  &  (c)      The  Government  has  taken  steps  to  protect  and  sustain  coral  reefs  in  the country through promotional as well as regulatory measures. The promotional measures have  been  implemented  through  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  under  National  Coastal Mission Programme of the Ministry at four sites namely Lakshadweep, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar and Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands for restoration, monitoring, conservation and management of coral reefs.

Regulatory measures are implemented through Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification  (2019)  under  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986;  the  Wild  Life (Protection) Act, 1972; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and rules under these acts as amended from time to time.

All  the  hard  corals  i.e.  Scleractinian  coral  species  are  protected  under  the  Wildlife (Protection)  Act,  1972  and  listed  in  Schedule-I  category  which  prevents  collection  of live  and  dead  corals.  In  addition,  major  coral  reefs  areas  in  the  country  have  been declared as Protected Areas.

(b)    No  corals  are  collected  from  the  country  for  jewellery  making.  And,  no  such incidence of harvesting and trade of black and white corals for jewellery making or any other purpose are reported from the territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Gulf of Kutch.

(d)    The  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Pollution  Control  Committee  (ANPCC)  under  the Department of Science &Technology, Andaman  and Nicobar Administration is effectively implementing the ban on uses of single use plastic in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Carriage and use of plastic in forest and protected areas are strictly prohibited and is regulated effectively by the frontline staff of the Department of Environment and Forests of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

(e)    National  Coral  Reef  Research  Institute  is  functioning  in  the  Zoological  Survey  of India  (ZSI),  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Regional  Centre,  since  2002  in  project  mode. Presently, only Andaman and Nicobar Administration allotted 2.0 acres of land near Port Blair to ZSI in free of cost to construct the building and other amenities for the institute.

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