Lok Sabha Question No. 2832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Mangrove Forests
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2832

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

## Mangrove Forests

## 2832. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

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

- (a) the total area of mangrove forests in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  financial  assistance  provided  to  each  State  and  Union  Territories during the last three years for the protection of mangrove forests;
- (c) whether  the  Union  Government  proposes  to  provide  financial  assistance  to  State Government of Kerala to take over mangrove forests situated in private lands in the State;
- (d) if so, the derails thereof; and
- (e) the measures taken by the Government for protection of mangrove forests?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As per  the  latest  Forest  Survey  of  India  (FSI)  Report  titled  'India  State  of  Forest  Report (2019)',  the  mangrove  cover  in  the  country  is  4,975  sq.  km.  The  details  of  total  area  of mangrove  forest  in  the  country  during  last  6  years,  State/Union  Territories-wise  are  as follows:
- (b) The details  of  the  financial  assistance  provided  to  the  coastal  States/  Union  Territories during the last three years for the protection of mangrove forests is as under:

| State/UT       | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   | Assessment Year (Area in Sq.km)   |
|----------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|                | 2009                              | 2011                              | 2013                              | 2015                              | 2017                              | 2019                              |
| Andhra Pradesh | 353                               | 352                               | 352                               | 367                               | 404                               | 404                               |
| Goa            | 17                                | 22                                | 22                                | 26                                | 26                                | 26                                |
| Gujarat        | 1,046                             | 1058                              | 1103                              | 1107                              | 1140                              | 1177                              |
| Karnataka      | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                                 | 10                                | 10                                |
| Kerala         | 5                                 | 6                                 | 6                                 | 9                                 | 9                                 | 9                                 |
| Maharashtra    | 186                               | 186                               | 186                               | 222                               | 304                               | 320                               |
| Odisha         | 221                               | 222                               | 213                               | 231                               | 243                               | 251                               |
| Tamil Nadu     | 39                                | 39                                | 39                                | 47                                | 49                                | 45                                |
| West Bengal    | 2,152                             | 2155                              | 2097                              | 2106                              | 2114                              | 2112                              |
| A&N Islands    | 615                               | 617                               | 604                               | 617                               | 617                               | 616                               |
| Daman& Diu     | 1                                 | 2                                 | 1.63                              | 3                                 | 3                                 | 3                                 |
| Puducherry     | 1                                 | 1                                 | 1                                 | 2                                 | 2                                 | 2                                 |
| Total          | 4,639                             | 4,663                             | 4,628                             | 4,740                             | 4,921                             | 4,975                             |

(  in lakhs)

| S. No.   | State/UT         |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |
|----------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | Andaman &Nicobar |    138.6  |     0     |    275    |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh   |      0    |     0     |      0    |
| 3        | Goa              |      0    |     0     |      0    |
| 4.       | Gujarat          |    801.07 |   123.25  |    684.16 |
| 5.       | Karnataka        |     52.38 |   107.848 |    124.69 |
| 6.       | Kerala           |    156.85 |   138.72  |    106.92 |
| 7.       | Orissa           |     89.42 |   102.58  |    122.11 |
| 8.       | Tamil Nadu       |     89.71 |   100.606 |     64.94 |
| 9.       | West Bengal      |    125.57 |   376     |    196.46 |
| 10.      | Lakshadweep      |      0    |     0     |      0    |
|          |                  |   1453.6  |   949.09  |   1574.28 |

- (c) and (d) No  financial  assistance  is  provided  by  the  Ministry  to  the  State  Government  of Kerala to take over mangrove forests situated in private land in the State of Kerala.
- (e) The  Government  has  taken  steps  to  protect  and  enhance  mangrove  forests  in coastal States/Union Territories through promotional as well as regulatory measures.  The  promotional  measures  are  being  implemented  through  a  Central Sector  Scheme namely 'Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs' under National Coastal Mission Programme of the Ministry.

Regulatory  measures  are  implemented  through  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  (CRZ) Notification (2019) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Biological Diversity Act, 2002; and rules under these acts as amended from time to time.

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