Lok Sabha Question No. 477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Demarcation of Buffer Zones
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan, Dean Kuriakose, Suresh Kodikunnil, N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 477 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Demarcation of Buffer Zones

## 477. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  observed  that  State  Forest  Department  is  not  adequately staffed  and  equipped  to  deal  with  man  animal  conflicts  and  if  so,  whether  sufficient number of forest service officers are posted as wildlife wardens in the country and if so, the details regarding the same for the State of Kerala across various divisions along with the details of steps taken to equip State Forest Departments by the Centre;
- (b) whether the Union Government initiated action on the order of Supreme Court regarding sensitive zone surrounding the protected forest and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  created  any  committee  to  study  the  scientific  manner  of demarcating buffer zones and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government as recommended by the committee;
- (d) whether the  Government will pass a law to  ensure that  the  Supreme  Count  verdict  on creating Buffer Zones is not applicable to inhabited areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any study by any agencies to ascertain the crisis faced  by  the  residents  in  these  buffer  zone  areas  that  were  incorrectly  included  in  the preliminary mapping and are likely to face eviction and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the  Government  of Kerala has given any representation to amend  the requirement of Buffer Zones as per the Supreme Court verdict and exempt Kerala from the Buffer zone order and if so, the details of actions taken thereon; and
- (g) whether the Government plans to change the boundaries of existing National parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the country within the reserve forest limits and if so, the details of steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) Management of forests and wildlife, including man-animal conflict, posting of forest service officers is primarily the responsibility of the respective States/Union Territories.

Ministry provides financial and technical support to the States/Union Territories under the Central Sponsored  Schemes  'Development  of Wildlife Habitat', 'Project Elephant' and 'Project Tiger' for conservation and protection of wildlife.

- (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has filed an application for modification/ clarification of the order dated 03.06.2022 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court regarding Eco-sensitive Zones around National Parks and sanctuaries and the matter is sub-judice.
- (c) The  Central  Government  has  constituted  an  Expert  Committee  for  examination  of proposals  related  to  Eco-sensitive  Zones  around  National  Parks  and  Sanctuaries comprising official  and  non-official  members  which  submits  its  recommendations  to the Central Government after such proposals, as received from the State Governments, have been examined within the Ministry and the proposals have undergone stakeholder consultations as per prescribed procedure.
- (d) There is no such proposal under consideration of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- (e) No, Sir.
- (f) Yes, Sir. As per the procedure laid down for notification of ESZ, the draft proposals related to finalization of ESZ received from the State Governments are examined in the Ministry  before  publication.  The  final  notification  is  published  after  examining  the claims and objections received after the draft notification.
- (g) State/Union Territories are empowered to alter the boundaries of National Parks  and sanctuaries on recommendations of National Board for Wild Life as per the provisions contained in Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

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