Lok Sabha Question No. 3366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Afforestation Programmes under Green Credit Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3366

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Afforestation Programmes under Green Credit Programme

## 3366.   DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  afforestation  or  biodiversity  conservation projects in North Bengal particularly in Jalpaiguri, under the Green India Mission and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps being taken to mitigate the recurring human-wildlife conflicts in forested areas of Jalpaiguri; and
- (c) whether  the  adequate  compensation  has  been  provided  to  affected  families,  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  National Mission for a Green  India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India's forest cover and responding to Climate Change by undertaking plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas. GIM activities in the State of West Bengal were started in the FY 2019-20. GIM follows landscape approach and as per the approved perspective plan of West Bengal the activities  are  being  taken  up  in  five  landscapes/districts  namely  Bankura,  Birbhum,  Burdwan, Purulia and Paschim Medinipur. So far, a sum of Rs. 10.95 crores have been released to the State of West Bengal for creation of plantation/eco-restoration under Green India Mission.

(b)  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  issued  holistic  advisories/ guidelines  to  the  States  and  Union  Territories  on  6 th February  2021  and  3 rd June,  2022.  The Ministry  has  also  issued  species-specific  guidelines  to  deal  with  human-wildlife  conflict situations.

(c)  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  for  conservation  of  wildlife  and  its habitats under the Centrally Sponsored schemes - 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger and Elephant'. The activities supported under the scheme include construction/erection of physical  barrier  such  as  barbed  wire  fence,  solar  powered  electric  fence,  bio-fencing  using cactus,  boundary  walls  etc.  to  prevent  of  wild  animals  into  crop  fields.  The  Ministry  has enhanced ex-gratia payment for human casualties due to human-wildlife conflict from Rs. 5.0 lakh to Rs. 10.0 lakhs under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat.

A  network  of  Protected  Areas  namely  viz.,  National  Park,  Sanctuaries,  Conservation Reserves  and  Community  Reserves  covering  important  wildlife  habitat  have  been  created  all over the country under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to conserve wild animals and their habitats.

In accordance with provisions contained under Section 33 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Ministry has issued guidelines for the process of management planning for Protected Areas  and  other  process  of  management  planning  for  Protected  Areas  and  other  landscape elements.

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