Lok Sabha Question No. 254 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Sacred Groves in Meghalaya
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 254

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 21.03.2022

## Sacred Groves in Meghalaya

## 254. SHRI VINCENT H PALA:

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

- (a)     whether any steps have been undertaken to promote Sacred Groves in Meghalaya for a sustainable community -driven future and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Whether  any  funds  have  been  allocated  and  released  for  the  preservation  of  these Sacred Groves and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) Whether any study has been undertaken by the Government to assess the potential of Sacred Groves  in creating a sustainable future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): Statement is laid on the table of the House.

***

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (c)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question  No.  254  to  be  answered  on  Monday,  the  21 st March,  2022  on Sacred groves in Meghalaya by SHRI VINCENT H PALA

- (a) to(c) Sacred  groves  are  community  conserved  land  parcels,  which  usually  have  a significant  religious  connotation  for  protecting  the  community,  and  can  be notified as Community Conserved Areas under Wildlife(Protection) Act 1972, and Biodiversity Heritage Sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The  Ministry  supports  protection  and  conservation  of  Sacred  groves  with  a strong emphasis on community involvement and eco-development activities.

The details of funds released for the activities in respect of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya  by  the  Department  of  Forestsand  Environment,  Government  of Meghalaya are at Annexure .

The  details of studies  undertaken  and completed  for  Sacred groves in Meghalaya are as follows:

1. Inventorisation (Growing Stock Assessment) of 40 Nos Sacred Groves
2. Phytodiversity and Phytosociological characterisation of 10 Nos Sacred Groves having an area of 216.76 Ha
3. Preparation of Management Plans of 12 Nos Sacred Groves
4. Boundary Survey for 133 Sacred Groves

***

Annexure referred in reply to the Lok Sabha starred question No. 254 due for answer on 21 st March, 2022 regarding 'Sacred groves in Meghalaya'raisedby Shri Vincent H Pala, Hon'ble Member of Parliament

## The details of fund released in the past for the preservation of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya

(i)

|   S.No. | Activity                                                                                                                                              | Year      | Fund Released (in Rs.)   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|--------------------------|
|       1 | Inventorisation (Growing Stock Assessment) of 40 Nos Sacred Groves in Meghalaya                                                                       | 2013-2014 | 30,00,000                |
|       2 | Boundary Survey of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya                                                                                                         | 2013-2014 | 40,00,000                |
|       3 | Phytodiversity and Phytosociological characterisation of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya carried out by Department of Environmental Studies NEHU, Shillong | 2014-2015 | 20,00,000                |
|       4 | Boundary Survey of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya by Meghalaya Biodiversity Board                                                                         | 2014-2015 | 9,36,000                 |
|       5 | Boundary Survey of Sacred Groves in Meghalaya                                                                                                         | 2019-2020 | 10,50,806                |
|       6 | Wildlife conservation activities in the Sacred Groves notified as Community Reserves.                                                                 | 2013-2021 | 1,01,59,788              |