Lok Sabha Question No. 1106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary

## 1106. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the threats faced by over two lakh people inhabited around the  Malabar  Wildlife Sanctuary of Kozhikode in view of the recent orders  and notifications issued in this regard;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to tackle grievances of such inhabitants living in the surrounding areas of the Sanctuary; and
- (c) the further steps taken by the Government to ensure peace and harmony for the human settlements and safety of wild animals?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change hasrecently issued draft notification for Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ)ofMalabar Wildlife Sanctuary based on the proposal of State Governmentof Kerala vide S.O. 2634(E) dated 05.08.2020. An area to an extent varying from 0 (zero) to 1.0 kilometre around the boundary of Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary has been proposed as ESZ which mostly includes Reserved forests, Kutyadi Hydro Electric Project and rest being non forest area having few human habitations in 13 villages having a total population of about 10000, the land mostly includes plantations such as rubber and  coconut which are permitted in the ESZ area. There is a provision for submitting grievances and remarks in connection to the draft notification within 60 days from the date of issue  of  draft  notification.  The  final  notification  will  be  issued  only  after considering and studying all these complaints or remarks on the draft notification.
- (c) The important steps taken by the Government to ensure peace and harmony for the human settlements and safety of wild animals are as follows:
- i. Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the  State/Territory  Governments under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  of  Integrated  Development  of

Wildlife  Habitats,  for  providing  better  protection  to  wildlife  including rare  species  of  animals,  improvement  of  their  habitat  and  to  ensure harmonious existence of human settlements with wild animals.

- ii. The  local  communities  are  involved  in  conservation  measures  through eco-development activities who help the forest department in protection of wildlife.
- iii. Rare and endangered species found in India, like Tiger, Snow Leopard, Great Indian Bustard, Gangetic Dolphin, Dugong, etc. have been listed in Schedule-I  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972,  thereby  providing them highest degree of protection.
- iv. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for stringent 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).
- v. Wildlife  Crime  Control  Bureau  coordinates  with  State/UTs  and  other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.

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