Lok Sabha Question No. 3461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3461

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu

## 3461.  THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

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

- (a) whether the natural forest cover is depleting over the last decade and if so, the status of forest cover in the country and the funds allocated during the last five years, State/UTwise;
- (b)     the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  notify  various  Wildlife  Sanctuaries  as  big  cat reserves in view of the reports of leopard and tiger sightings and habitations;
- (c)     whether the State Governments have approached the Central Government in this regard, if so, the response of the Government thereto; and
- (d) whether the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has accorded any proposal for creation of new tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Forest  Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization  under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote sensing supported by intensive ground verification and field data from the National Forest Inventory.

As per ISFR 2023, the forest cover of the country is 7,15,342.61 square kilometer which is 21.76% of the total geographical area of the country. In the last ten years, the forest cover of the country has increased from 6,98,712.36 square kilometer to 7,15,342.61 square kilometer. Thus there has been an increase of 16,630.25 square kilometer in the forest cover of the country between ISFR 2013 and ISFR 2023. The  State/UT  wise  details  of  the  forest  cover  during  last  ten  years  is  given  in Annexure-I.

The protection, conservation and management  of  forest is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forest of the country which  include, the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927;  the  Van  (Sanrakshan  Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the State Forest Acts and Rules.  Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change  issues  advisories  to  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  to  protect forest and trees.

The  Ministry  provides  technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States  /UTs  for protection, conservation and management of the forests in the country.  The funds provided  under  the  various  schemes  support  the  efforts  of  States  and  Union Territories  to  enhance  forest  and  tree  cover  through  ecological  restoration measures such as afforestation within and outside forest areas, forest landscape restoration, habitat improvement, soil and water conservation, protection activities, and other related interventions.

This  includes  funds  from  the  Central  Government  under  various  schemes  and programmes  such  as  National  Mission  for  a  Green  India  (GIM),  Forest  Fire Prevention  and  Management  Scheme  (FPM),  Nagar  Van  Yojana  (NVY), Integrated Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats,  and  Mangrove  Initiative  for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI). The state-wise funds released by the Central Government under above schems during the last five years are given in Annexure-II(a)to(e).

Further,  a  plantation  campaign  ' एक पेड़ माँ क े नाम #Plant4Mother'  has  been launched on the occasion of World Environment Day 2024 and in the current year also to undertake plantation activities across the country.  This campaign follows the 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole of Society' approach with participation of all stakeholders for increasing the green cover in the country. The campaign has contributed large scale plantation aiding the enhancement of green cover in the country.

- (b)to(d) The proposals received from the State Governments have been considered as per provisions  of  the  Section  38V  of  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972.  The National Tiger Conservation Authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has given in-principle approval to Sunabeda and Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuaries in the State of Odisha; Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in the State of  Bihar;  Kumbhalgarh    Wildlife  Sanctuary  in  the  Sate  of  Rajasthan;  Malai Mahadeshwara Hills  Wildlife  Sanctuary  in  the  State  of  Karnataka,  and  Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in the State of Arunachal Pradesh for notification as a Tiger Reserve.

No such proposal has been received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu.

Annexure-I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461 due for answer on 11.08.2025 regarding Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## State/UT wise details of decadal change in Forest Cover between 2013 and 2023 as per ISFR 2023

(In square kilometer)

| Sl.No.   | State/UT                           | Forest Cover (2013)   | Forest Cover (2023)   | Decadal Change in Forest Cover between 2013 & 2023   |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                     | 26,043.53             | 30,084.96             | 4,041.43                                             |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 66,966.09             | 65,881.57             | -1,084.52                                            |
| 3        | Assam                              | 27,564.90             | 28,313.55             | 748.65                                               |
| 4        | Bihar                              | 7,283.55              | 7,532.45              | 248.90                                               |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh                       | 55,606.96             | 55,811.75             | 204.79                                               |
| 6        | Delhi                              | 180.32                | 195.28                | 14.96                                                |
| 7        | Goa                                | 2,219.00              | 2,265.72              | 46.72                                                |
| 8        | Gujarat                            | 14,507.77             | 15,016.64             | 508.87                                               |
| 9        | Haryana                            | 1,583.38              | 1,614.26              | 30.88                                                |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh                   | 14,683.00             | 15,580.35             | 897.35                                               |
| 11       | Jharkhand                          | 23,815.38             | 23,765.78             | -49.60                                               |
| 12       | Karnataka                          | 36,170.68             | 39,254.27             | 3,083.59                                             |
| 13       | Kerala                             | 18,383.95             | 22,059.36             | 3,675.41                                             |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh                     | 77,522.00             | 77,073.44             | -448.56                                              |
| 15       | Maharashtra                        | 50,632.00             | 50,858.53             | 226.53                                               |
| 16       | Manipur                            | 16,961.16             | 16,585.46             | -375.70                                              |
| 17       | Meghalaya                          | 17,241.48             | 16,966.84             | -274.64                                              |
| 18       | Mizoram                            | 18,978.16             | 17,990.46             | -987.70                                              |
| 19       | Nagaland                           | 13,017.35             | 12,222.47             | -794.88                                              |
| 20       | Odisha                             | 50,544.71             | 52,433.56             | 1,888.85                                             |
| 21       | Punjab                             | 1,790.78              | 1,846.09              | 55.31                                                |
| 22       | Rajasthan                          | 16,086.00             | 16,548.21             | 462.21                                               |
| 23       | Sikkim                             | 3,358.00              | 3,358.40              | 0.40                                                 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu                         | 24,245.21             | 26,450.22             | 2,205.01                                             |
| 25       | Telangana                          | 19,956.62             | 21,179.04             | 1,222.42                                             |
| 26       | Tripura                            | 7,948.65              | 7,584.77              | -363.88                                              |
| 27       | Uttar Pradesh                      | 14,359.72             | 15,045.80             | 686.08                                               |
| 28       | Uttarakhand                        | 24,508.00             | 24,303.83             | -204.17                                              |
| 29       | West Bengal                        | 1,7101.98             | 16,832.33             | -269.65                                              |
| 30       | A&N Islands                        | 6,711.00              | 6,732.92              | 21.92                                                |
| 31       | Chandigarh                         | 17.26                 | 25.00                 | 7.74                                                 |
| 32       | Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman &Diu | 219.96                | 225.62                | 5.66                                                 |
| 33       | Jammu &Kashmir                     | 20,948.27             | 21,346.39             | 398.12                                               |
| 34       | Ladakh                             | 1,478.00              | 2,285.92              | 807.92                                               |
| 35       | Lakshadweep                        | 27.02                 | 27.06                 | 0.04                                                 |
| 36       | Puducherry                         | 50.52                 | 44.31                 | -6.21                                                |
|          | Grand Total                        | 6,98,712.36           | 7,15,342.61           | 16,630.25                                            |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461  due  for  answer  on  11.08.2025  regarding  Tiger  Reserve  in  Tamil  Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## State-wise details of funds released under the Green India Mission during the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25)

| Sl. No.   | States            | Total Funds released   |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    | 2.02                   |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh | 34.71                  |
| 3         | Chhattisgarh      | 7.88                   |
| 4         | Haryana           | 47.73                  |
| 5         | Himachal Pradesh  | 17.09                  |
| 6         | Jammu &Kashmir    | 36.72                  |
| 7         | Karnataka         | 17.05                  |
| 8         | Kerala            | -                      |
| 9         | Madhya Pradesh    | 68.44                  |
| 10        | Maharashtra       | -                      |
| 11        | Manipur           | 31.03                  |
| 12        | Mizoram           | 90.25                  |
| 13        | Odisha            | 64.82                  |
| 14        | Punjab            | 11.44                  |
| 15        | Sikkim            | 36.28                  |
| 16        | Uttarakhand       | 147.38                 |
| 17        | West Bengal       | 1.52                   |
| 18        | Uttar Pradesh     | 5.43                   |
|           | Total             | 619.79                 |

(Rs. In Crores)

Annexure-II(b) Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461  due  for  answer  on  11.08.2025  regarding  Tiger  Reserve  in  Tamil  Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand Prevention & Management Scheme (FPM) during the year 2020-21 to 2024-25

Details of fund released to State/UT's under Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire (Rs in Lakh)

| S. No.   | States/UTs                |   Funds released |
|----------|---------------------------|------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh            |          289.41  |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh         |          672.13  |
| 3        | Assam                     |            0     |
| 4        | Bihar                     |          416.41  |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh              |          292.45  |
| 6        | Gujarat                   |          616.84  |
| 7        | Goa                       |           76.175 |
| 8        | Haryana                   |           17.52  |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh          |          615.215 |
| 10       | Jharkhand                 |          466.23  |
| 11       | Karnataka                 |          633.67  |
| 12       | Kerala                    |         1264.16  |
| 13       | Madhya Pradesh            |         2253.84  |
| 14       | Maharashtra               |         1425.44  |
| 15       | Manipur                   |          708.83  |
| 16       | Meghalaya                 |          211.04  |
| 17       | Mizoram                   |          357.59  |
| 18       | Nagaland                  |          568.49  |
| 19       | Odisha                    |         1917.22  |
| 20       | Punjab                    |           47.52  |
| 21       | Rajasthan                 |          308.56  |
| 22       | Sikkim                    |          288.715 |
| 23       | Tripura                   |          252.725 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu                |          739.24  |
| 25       | Telangana                 |          369.56  |
| 26       | Uttar Pradesh             |          340.84  |
| 27       | Uttarakhand               |          971.2   |
| 28       | West Bengal               |          211.56  |
| 29       | A &NIslands               |           60     |
| 30       | Chandigarh                |           55.69  |
| 31       | D&N Haveli and Daman &Diu |            0     |
| 32       | Jammu &Kashmir            |            0     |
| 33       | Lakshadweep               |            0     |
| 34       | Delhi                     |            0     |
| 35       | Puducherry                |           43.4   |
| 36       | Ladakh                    |            0     |
|          | Grand Total               |        16491.7   |

Annexure-II(c) Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461  due  for  answer  on  11.08.2025  regarding  Tiger  Reserve  in  Tamil  Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## State/UT-wise details of funds released for the projects under Nagar Van Yojana in last five years

(Rs in crores)

| S.No.   | State/UT          |   Total funds released |
|---------|-------------------|------------------------|
| 1       | Andaman &Nicobar  |                   0.56 |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh    |                  99.14 |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh |                   0.8  |
| 4       | Assam             |                   1.7  |
| 5       | Bihar             |                   4.42 |
| 6       | Chandigarh        |                   0.13 |
| 7       | Chhattisgarh      |                   6.9  |
| 8       | Goa               |                   2.05 |
| 9       | Gujarat           |                   7.43 |
| 10      | Haryana           |                   4.49 |
| 11      | Himachal Pradesh  |                   4.86 |
| 12      | Jammu &Kashmir    |                  15.09 |
| 13      | Jharkhand         |                  18.11 |
| 14      | Karnataka         |                  22.15 |
| 15      | Kerala            |                   9.5  |
| 16      | Madhya Pradesh    |                  55.23 |
| 17      | Maharashtra       |                   5.09 |
| 18      | Manipur           |                   1.44 |
| 19      | Meghalaya         |                   2.43 |
| 20      | Mizoram           |                  21.72 |
| 21      | Nagaland          |                  21.97 |
| 22      | Odisha            |                  18.71 |
| 23      | Punjab            |                   5.94 |
| 24      | Rajasthan         |                  26.88 |
| 25      | Sikkim            |                  10.86 |
| 26      | Tamil Nadu        |                  12.23 |
| 27      | Telangana         |                  24.73 |
| 28      | Tripura           |                   5.05 |
| 29      | Uttar Pradesh     |                  29.13 |
| 30      | Uttarakhand       |                   2.9  |
| 31      | West Bengal       |                   2.77 |
|         | Total             |                 444.43 |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461  due  for  answer  on  11.08.2025  regarding  Tiger  Reserve  in  Tamil  Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## Details of funds released to State/ UT Government under CSS-'Development of Wildlife Habitats' during last five years

(Rs in lakhs)

| S.No.       | Name of States/UTs   |   Total funds released |
|-------------|----------------------|------------------------|
| 1           | A& N Islands         |                160.89  |
| 2           | Andhra Pradesh       |                  0     |
| 3           | Arunachal Pradesh    |               2726.1   |
| 4           | Assam                |               2008.7   |
| 5           | Bihar                |                952.39  |
| 6           | Chandigarh           |                 63.27  |
| 7           | Chhattisgarh         |                735.23  |
| 8           | Goa                  |                116.54  |
| 9           | Gujarat              |               1333.16  |
| 10          | Haryana              |                576.527 |
| 11          | Himachal Pradesh     |                765.5   |
| 12          | Jammu &Kashmir       |                224.178 |
| 13          | Jharkhand            |                364.61  |
| 14          | Karnataka            |               3516.77  |
| 15          | Kerala               |               3082.2   |
| 16          | Madhya Pradesh       |               2669.21  |
| 17          | Maharashtra          |               1673.23  |
| 18          | Manipur              |                816.56  |
| 19          | Meghalaya            |               1427.17  |
| 20          | Mizoram              |               1377.3   |
| 21          | Nagaland             |               4124.06  |
| 22          | Odisha               |               4502.02  |
| 23          | Rajasthan            |               1403.56  |
| 24          | Sikkim               |               1180.45  |
| 25          | Tamil Nadu           |               1893.41  |
| 26          | Telangana            |                 36.59  |
| 27          | Uttar Pradesh        |               1433.23  |
| 28          | Uttarakhand          |               2031.87  |
| 29          | West Bengal          |               2237.64  |
| 30          | Puducherry           |                  5.22  |
| 31          | Lakshadweep          |               1536.66  |
| 32          | Delhi                |                  0     |
| 33          | Tripura              |                786.21  |
| 34          | Ladakh UT            |                316.29  |
| Grand Total | Grand Total          |              46317.9   |

Annexure-II(e) Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3461  due  for  answer  on  11.08.2025  regarding  Tiger  Reserve  in  Tamil  Nadu asked by Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## State/UT Wise details of funds  released under MISHTI since inception in 2023-24

(Rs in Crore)

| S. No   | State/UT       |   Total funds released as 1st instalment |
|---------|----------------|------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Gujarat        |                                   6.2    |
| 2       | West Bengal    |                                   3.74   |
| 3       | Kerala         |                                   0.666  |
| 4       | Puducherry     |                                   1.94   |
| 5       | Andhra Pradesh |                                   4.709  |
| 6       | Odisha         |                                   0.7027 |
| Total   | Total          |                                  17.9617 |