Lok Sabha Question No. 364 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: Rapid Loss of Green Cover in Protected Areas of Assam
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 364

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## Rapid Loss of Green Cover in Protected Areas of Assam

## 364.     SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of a satellite imagery-based study revealing significant loss of forest and grassland cover within Panidihing Bird Sanctuary in Assam due to conversion of protected land into cropland and built-up areas;
- (b) if so, the extent of decline in forest cover, core forest and grassland within the sanctuary and the increase in cropland during the said period;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  examined  the  findings  regarding  limited  patrolling  and inadequate protection enabling smallholder agriculture inside the sanctuary;
- (d) the steps taken  or  proposed  to  prevent  encroachment,  land-use  change  and  habitat fragmentation in Panidihing Bird Sanctuary and other protected areas of Assam; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  satellite-based  monitoring,  enforcement mechanisms and periodic ecological audits of protected areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d)   As informed by the State of Assam, no area of Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is converted to crop land & build up areas and agriculture is not practiced inside the Sanctuary. The important steps taken for protection of Protected Areas in Assam, including Panidihing Sanctuary are:

- (i) Regular patrolling by frontline forest staff, including GPS enabled patrolling, joint patrols with district administration and strengthening of anti-encroachment drives.
- (ii) Surveillance measures such as installation of trap cameras, drone surveys, GPS monitoring, wireless  communication,  intelligence  gathering  for  monitoring  and  detection  of  illegal activities.
- (iii) Physical demarcation of boundaries, through  boundary pillars, signages to prevent encroachment.
- (iv) Habitat management activities like removal of invasive species, restoration of wetlands and grasslands.
- (v) Constitution of Eco-Development Committees (EDC's) in fringe villages and carrying out awareness programmes.
- (vi) Constitution of Rapid response teams, strengthening of enforcement against forest offences including encroachment.
- (vii)   Coordination with Departments such as Revenue, Police, local administration to prevent land conversions and ensuring timely action against violations

(e)  The State of Assam has informed that detection of encroachments and assessment of land use changes are done frequently and protection measures through regular patrolling, surveillance, anti- encroachment  drives  and  coordination  with  Eco  Development  Committees  are  also  undertaken. Further,  periodic  ecological  assessments  and  habitat  monitoring  are  conducted  and  necessary corrective measures are undertaken based on the findings for long term conservation.