Lok Sabha Question No. 2894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Buffer Zones
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2894

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## Buffer Zones

## 2894. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received any recommendations from the State Government of Kerala  regarding  demarcation  of  buffer  zones  around  protected  areas,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  decision  regarding  demarcation  of  buffer  zones around protected areas in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  National  Board  for  Wildlife  has  any  proposal  to  change  the  boundaries  of protected areas in the State of Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  and  measures  being  taken  to  minimize  the  human-animal  conflict  happening across Kerala;
- (e) whether the present forest laws make it complicated for a common man residing close to forest areas to obtain various permits; and
- (f) if so, the details of the steps taken to simplify the existing forest laws in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) and (b) 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.
- (c) Ministry has not received any proposal for alteration of boundaries of protected areas  in  the  State  of  Kerala  for  consideration  of  the  National  Board  for  Wild Life/Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life in the recent past.
- (d) The  important  steps  taken  by  Government  to  minimize  the  human-animal conflict in the country including  Kerala are as follows:
- i. The  Ministry  has  released  species  specific  guidelines  on  21.03.2023    for mitigation  of  Human  -Elephant,  -Gaur,  -Leopard,  -Snake,  -Crocodile,  -

Rhesus Macaque, -Wild Pig, -Bear, -Blue Bull and -Blackbuck Conflict as well as Guidelines for cross cutting issues such as cooperation between the forest  and  media  sector  in  India;  occupational  health  and  safety  in  the context  of  human-wildlife  conflict  mitigation;    crowd  management  in human-wildlife conflict related situations and addressing health emergencies  and  potential  health  risks  arising  out  of  human-wildlife conflict situations.

- ii. The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  issued guidelines  to  States/UTs  on  3 rd June,  2022  for  preventing  and  managing human-wildlife conflict including crop damage caused by wild animals.
- iii. An  advisory  on  dealing  with  human-wildlife  conflict  was  issued  by  the Ministry  to  all  States/UTs  in  February  2021.  The  advisory  recommends coordinated  interdepartmental  action,  identification  of  conflict  hot  spots, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, establishment of rapid response teams, formation of State and District level committees to review the  quantum of ex-gratia relief,  and  prompt  payment of relief  to  affected persons.
- iv. Payment of ex-gratia amount to victims of wild animal attack is provided with  a  view  to  reduce  human  wildlife  conflict.  The  Ministry  on  9 th February,  2018  enhanced  the  ex-gratia  payment  on  death  from  Rs.  2.00 Lakh per person to Rs. 5.00 Lakh per person with increase in amount for ex-gratia in case of injury to human as well.
- v. The Ministry has issued guidelines for development of linear infrastructure in Wildlife and its adjacent areas to mitigate human -wildlife conflict.
- vi. The Central Government provides financial assistance to State Governments  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  'Development  of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for management of wildlife and human-wildlife conflict in and around protected areas and conducting awareness campaigns to sensitize and advise the general public.
- vii. The Ministry provides support to State Governments to organize awareness generation, training  and capacity building programmes on human-wildlife conflict.
- viii. Advance  technology  like  radio  collaring,  E-surveillance  are  also  used  in human wildlife conflict mitigation.
8. (e) No Sir.
9. (f) In view of above, question does not arise.

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