Lok Sabha Question No. 1796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Impact of Water Diversion Project on Biodiversity
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1796

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## Impact of Water Diversion Project on Biodiversity

## 1796.   SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  studies  on  the  impact  of  waterdiversion projects on the biodiversity in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the State of Goa, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of budget outlays and actual expenditure of the Ministry for the State of Goa in the last ten years, year-wise; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to conserve biodiversity in the Western Ghats including Goa?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Ministry has not undertaken any studies on the potential impact of water-diversion projects on the biodiversity within the National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries situated in  the  State  of  Goa.  Conservation  and  protection  of  the  Wildlife  and  its  habitat  is primarily the responsibility of the State/Union Territory Governments. The Ministry provides technical and financial assistance to the State/Union Territory Governments.
- (b) Ministry has released funds to the tune of Rs. 197.644 lakhs to State Government of Goa under Central Sector Scheme - Development of Wildlife Habitats during last ten years.
- (c) A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  conservation  of biodiversity in the Western Ghats including Goa. Some of the important steps are as follows:
- i. Financial  assistance  is  provided  to  States  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored Schemes  of  'Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats',  'Project  Tiger'  and 'Project  Elephant'  for  activities  like  creation  and  maintenance  of  water holes for wild animals in Protected Areas, soil and moisture conservation measures,  establishment  of  anti-poaching  camps,  strengthening  wildlife veterinary care, eradication of weeds, creation and maintenance of fire lines, awareness generation.
- ii. Financial assistance is provided to States for the recovery programme for saving critically endangered species and habitats under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'.
- iii. Rare and endangered species of animals found in the Western Ghats have been listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby providing them highest degree of protection.
- iv. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation of  its  provisions.  The  Act  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of  any  equipment, vehicle or weapon that is used for committing wildlife offence.
- v. Wild Life Crime Control Bureau has been set up to gather intelligence about poaching  and  unlawful  trade  in  wild  animals  and  animal  articles  and  to achieve  inter-state  and  trans-boundary  coordination  in  enforcement  of wildlife laws.
- vi. The Ministry has formulated the 3rd 'National Wildlife Action Plan' for a period of 2017 to 2031 to save wild animals in the country. The Plan focuses on landscape approach in conservation of all wildlife irrespective of where they occur. It also gives special emphasis to recovery of threatened species of wildlife while conserving their habitats which includes terrestrial, inland aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems.
- vii. In order to further strengthen conservation of wildlife, Eco- Sensitive Zones are notified around National Parks and Sanctuaries under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

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