Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Fencing around Forest Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Malook Nagar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *287

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2020

## Fencing around Forest Areas

## *287. SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of attacks by Leopards and other wild animals on people living in villages adjacent to forest areas of Bijnaur, Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the  Government  proposes  to  install  solar  fencing  or  erect  any  other  kind  of fencing around the forest areas to ensure the safety of people living near forest areas;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  ensure  the  safety  of  wild  animals  and availability of adequate food for them so that they do not venture into residential areas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a), (b), (c) and (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) and (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*287 REGARDING 'FENCING AROUND FOREST AREAS' BY SHRI MALOOK NAGAR DUE FOR REPLY ON 13.03.2020.

- (a) Yes, Sir. As per the information received from the State Forest Department of Uttar  Pradesh,  six  persons  have  lost  their  lives  in  man-leopard  conflict  in Bijnaur District of Uttar Pradesh during the year 2019-2020.
- (b) The  Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  State  Governments  by providing  financial  and  technical  assistance  to  the  State/UT  Governments under  various  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  for  management  of  wildlife. Activities  such  as  construction/erection  of  physical  barriers,  such  as  barbed wire fence, solar powered electric fence, bio- fencing etc. are permitted under the schemes for ensuring safety of people living near forest areas.
- (c) and (d) Yes  sir.  The  Government  has  undertaken  steps  to  ensure  the  safety  of  wild animals and availability of adequate food which are as follows:
- i.   A  network  of  Protected  Areas  namely  viz.,  National  Park,  Wildlife Sanctuaries,  Conservation  Reserves  and  Community  Reserves  covering important wildlife habitat have been created all over the country by the respective  State  Governments/ UT Administrations under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.
- ii.         The  Ministry  has  issued guidelines in context of human-wildlife conflict to the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations dated 24th December, 2014 and 1st June, 2015.
- iii.         Periodic  awareness campaigns to sensitize, guide and advise the general  public  on  human-wildlife  conflict,  including  dissemination  of information through various forms of media.
- iv.         Ministry through its Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) namely 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)' provides funds to States  and  UTs  for  carrying  various  activities  for  habitat  improvement works  namely  restoration  of  natural  water  bodies,  creation  of  artificial ponds,  waterholes,  augmenting  food/fodder  sources  at  various  places within Protected Areas to minimize the human animal conflict.