Lok Sabha Question No. 106 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Elephant Corridors in Odisha
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## Elephant Corridors in Odisha

- *106. MS CHANDRANI MURMU:

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

- (a) the  number  of  minor  and  major  Elephant  Corridors  around  mining  areas  in  the  country including Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh districts in Odisha; and
- (b) the effect of mining on these Corridors and the details of precautionary steps taken by the Government for the safety of these Corridors around mining areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (b) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO. *106  REGARDING  'ELEPHANT  CORRIDORS  IN ODISHA' DUE FOR REPLY ON 25.07.2022

- (a) The Elephant Task Force Report, 2010 titled 'Gajah' has identified 27 priority I and 61 priority II elephant corridors in the country including Odisha.  The details are given in Annexure.
- (b) The  management  of  wildlife  habitats  including  elephant  corridors  is  primarily  the responsibility of  State  Governments/UT Administrations. In case forest land falling in any  wildlife  habitat  is  diverted  for  mining  or  any  other  developmental  use,  Wildlife Management Plan and/or wildlife mitigation plan are prepared and implemented by the respective State Government, and protection and conservation measures are also taken accordingly.

In addition, the following measures taken by Ministry also help in protecting elephant corridors:-

- (i) The Ministry provides financial and technical assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Project Elephant' for protection and conservation of elephants and their habitats in the country.
- (ii) The report 'Gajah' of the Elephant Task Force constituted by the Ministry have identified critical elephant corridors in the country and suggested the following points for securing the elephant corridors.
- a. Creation of Community or Conservation Reserve,
- b. Declaring  the  corridor  as  high  priority  Ecologically  Sensitive,  Area  under Environment Protection Act 1986 with maximum regulation of ecologically destructive activity,
- c. Declaring corridor land as Reserved Forest or Protected Forest under Indian Forest Act,
- d. Community forests under the Forest Rights Act,
- e. Increase boundary of existing Protected Area and make corridor part of the existing Protected Area.
- (iii) The Ministry had requested the State Governments/UT Administration s to assess the feasibility of protecting elephant corridors.
- (iv) Critical  elephant  habitats  are  notified  as  'Elephant  Reserve'  for  focus  and synergy  in  elephant  conservation  and  to  reduce  conflict.  The  notification  is carried out with the approval of Steering Committee formed in the Ministry.  So far  31  Elephant  Reserves  have  been  established  in  14  major  elephant  States. Approval  has  been  accorded  for  notification  of  32 nd Elephant  Reserve  in  the State of Tamil Nadu.
- (v) Report  on  Land-Use  and  Land-  Cover  Classification  of  Elephant  Reserves  in Odisha has been prepared by  the Ministry  and  forwarded to the State on 13th January, 2022.

***

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 106 RAISED BY MS CHANDRANI MURMU REGARDING 'ELEPHANT CORRIDORS IN ODISHA' DUE FOR REPLY ON 25.07.2022.

## Elephant Corridors identified by Elephant Task Force 'Gajah'

| Priority I Elephant Corridors   | Priority I Elephant Corridors             | Priority II Elephant Corridors   | Priority II Elephant Corridors                   |
|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                           | Elephant Corridor                         | S.No.                            | Elephant Corridor                                |
| 1.                              | Chilla-Motichur                           | 1.                               | Kansrau-Barkote                                  |
| 2.                              | Rawasan-Sonanadi (Via Landsdown)          | 2.                               | Motichur-Gohri                                   |
| 3.                              | South Patlidun-Chilkiya                   | 3.                               | Rawasan-Sonanadi (Via Bijnor FD)                 |
| 4.                              | Malani Kota                               | 4.                               | Chilkiya-kota                                    |
| 5.                              | Simlipal-Satkosia                         | 5.                               | Fatehpur-Gadgadiya                               |
| 6.                              | Baula-Kuldhia                             | 6.                               | Gora Rankhu and Gorai-Tanda                      |
| 7.                              | Kotgarh-Chandrapur                        | 7.                               | Kilpura-khatima-surai                            |
| 8.                              | Buxa-Ripu at Sankosh                      | 8.                               | Lagga Bagga - Kishenpur                          |
| 9.                              | Ankua-Ambia                               | 9.                               | Mahilong-Kalimati                                |
| 10.                             | Pakke-Doimara at Dezling                  | 10.                              | Chandil-Matha                                    |
| 11.                             | Pakke-Papum at Longka Nullah              | 11.                              | Dalma-Chandil                                    |
| 12.                             | Kalapahar-Daigurung                       | 12.                              | Dalma-Rugai                                      |
| 13.                             | Kaziranga- Karbi Anglog at Panbari        | 13.                              | Jhunjhaka-Banduan                                |
| 14.                             | Kaziranga- Karbi Anglong at Kanchanjuri   | 14.                              | Dalapani-Kankrajhor                              |
| 15.                             | Pakke-Doimara at Tipi                     | 15.                              | Dumriya-Nayagram                                 |
| 16.                             | Baghmara-Balpakram                        | 16.                              | Dumriya-Kundaluka and Murakanjia                 |
| 17.                             | Siju Rewak                                | 17.                              | Leda-Bera                                        |
| 18.                             | Edayarhalli-Doddasampige                  | 18.                              | Anjadbera-Bichaburu                              |
| 19.                             | Kaniyanpura-Moyar                         | 19.                              | Karo-Karampada                                   |
| 20.                             | Anaimali at Punachi                       | 20.                              | Badampahar-Dhobadhobil                           |
| 21.                             | Anaimalai between Siluvaimedu- Kadamparai | 21.                              | Badampahar-Karida East                           |
| 22.                             | Chamranagar-Talamalai at Muddahalli       | 22.                              | Kahneijena-Anantpur                              |
| 23.                             | Kalamali - Singara and Avarahalla         | 23.                              | Tal-Kholgarh                                     |
| 24.                             | Moyar-Avarahalla                          | 24.                              | Nuahgaon-Baruni                                  |
| 25.                             | Tirunelli - Kudrakote                     | 25.                              | Mahananda-Kolbari and Tukriajhar                 |
| 26.                             | Buoolavampatti-Attapadi                   | 26.                              | Apalchand-Mahananda                              |
| 27.                             | Anaimalai at Waterfalls Estate            | 27.                              | Apalchand-Gorumara                               |
|                                 |                                           | 28.                              | Apalchand-Kalimpong at mal block (Via Sylee)     |
|                                 |                                           | 29.                              | Apalchand-Kalimpong at mal block (Via Meenglass) |
|                                 |                                           | 30.                              | Chapramari-Kalimpong                             |

|   31. | Rethi-Central Diana                                             |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|    32 | Rethi-Moraghat                                                  |
|    33 | Dumchi-Rethi                                                    |
|    34 | Titi-Dumchi                                                     |
|    35 | Buxa- Titi (Via Torsa)                                          |
|    36 | Buxa- Titi (Via Beech and Barnbari)                             |
|    37 | Nemati - Chilapata                                              |
|    38 | Pakke-Papum at Seijosa Nullah                                   |
|    39 | Durpong-Doimukh at Khundakhuwa                                  |
|    40 | Dulung-Subansari                                                |
|    41 | D'ering - Mebo at Sigar Nalah                                   |
|    42 | D'ering - Mebo at Kongkul                                       |
|    43 | Kotha Burhidihing                                               |
|    44 | Upper Dihing East - Upper Dihing West Block at Bogapani         |
|    45 | Upper Dihing East - Upper Dihing West Block Between Golai-Pawai |
|    46 | Kukurakata-Bagser at Amguri                                     |
|    47 | Charduar-Singri Hill                                            |
|    48 | Saipunj-Narpuh                                                  |
|    49 | Rewak-Imangiri                                                  |
|    50 | Nokrek-Imangiri                                                 |
|    51 | Ranggira-Nokrek                                                 |
|    52 | Karadikkal-Madeswara                                            |
|    53 | Tali                                                            |
|    54 | Chamrajnagar- Talamalai at Punjur                               |
|    55 | Talamalai-Guttiyalattur                                         |
|    56 | Avarahalla-Sigur                                                |
|    57 | Kalhatti-Sigur at Glen Corin                                    |
|    58 | Nilambur Kovilakam - New Amarambalam                            |
|    59 | Periya at Pakranthalam                                          |
|    60 | Kottiyur-Periya                                                 |
|    61 | Kallar at Gandhapallayam                                        |