Lok Sabha Question No. 1130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Projects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1130

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2019

## Environmental Clearance for Projects

## 1130.  SHRI VENKATESH BABUT.G

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

- (a) whether  a  large  number  of  projectswere  pending  with  the  Union  Governmentsince long for want of environmentalclearance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwiseand the reasons for such unduedelay particularly for the State ofTamil Nadu;
- (c) whether the Government/NationalBoard of Wildlife (NBWL) have clearednumber of pending  proposals including theprojects habitation/adjoining  areas  ofendangered animals; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  thesteps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protectfauna  and flora and the depleting forestcover in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b) As per the National Informatics Centre (NIC), as on date one hundred and seventy project proposals are in various stages of appraisal in the Ministry for more than one hundred and five days of which seven project proposals pertain to the State of Tamil Nadu.

(c)  The  Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife considers various development projects  falling  inside  the  Protected  Areas  and  within  eco-sensitive  zone  of  the  Protected Areas in accordance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act. 1972 subject to the conditions and mitigation measures imposed by the State Chief Wildlife Warden for the protection of flora and fauna. The Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Lifeconsidered 687 projects during  August  2014  to  January  2019,  out  of  which  682  projects  were  recommended  and  5 projects were rejected.

- (d)     The Government has taken several steps to protect fauna and flora and the forest cover in the country, which inter-alia include:
- (i) Legal protection has been provided to wild animals and some species of plants against hunting  and  commercial  exploitation  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life  ( Protection) Act, 1972.
- (ii) A  network  of  Protect  Areas  namely  viz.  National  Parks,  Wildlife  Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserving covering important wildlife habitat

have  been  created  all  over  the  country  under  the  provisions  of  the  Wild  Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve flora fauna.

- (iii) Special programmes like 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' have been launched for conservation of these endangered aperies and their habitats.
- (iv) A  specific  component  of  'Recovery  programmes  for  saving  critically  endangered species and habitats' is provided in the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ' Development of Wildlife Habitats' for focused conservation action on selected critically endangered species.
- (v) In  addition  to  provision  of  stringent  punishment  for  the  offenders,  the  wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of  any  equipment  ,  vehicle  or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence (s).
- (vi) Financial and technical assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes for providing better protection to wildlife including endangered species and improvement of its habitat.
- (vii) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been empowered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders.
- (viii) The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has been set up to ensure Co-ordination among various officers and State Governments in connection with the enforcement of law for control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products.
- (ix) Financial assistance is provided under Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  of Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats  and  Project  Tiger  for  voluntary  relocation  of villages from within the Protected Areas. This helps in relocating people away from wildlife rich habitats and thus reducing conflict situations.

********