Lok Sabha Question No. 2715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Voluntary Relocation from Protected Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2715

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Voluntary Relocation from Protected Areas

## 2715. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to increase the financial package offered for voluntary relocation from protected areas, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether challenges in identifying suitable land for resettlement have delayed voluntary relocation from protected areas, if so, the details thereof and actions taken to address the same, especially in Kerala;
- (c) the details of relocated villages, compensation disbursed and pending payments, if any, under the scheme for 'Development of Wildlife Habitats', State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether there has been a delay in voluntary relocation from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, if so, the reasons therefor and timeline for the completion of relocation;
- (e) the details of households relocated and resettled from protected areas in the Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency, the status of the compensation and the handholding support provided to relocated communities, if any; and
- (f) the details of eligible households awaiting relocation from protected areas in the said Constituency including information on partially relocated settlements?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (f) Management of Protected Areas is primarily the responsibility of the respective State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administrations.  The  Ministry  also provides financial assistance to State Governments & Union Territory Administrations under the Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  'Development  of Wildlife Habitats' for conservation and management of wildlife and development of its habitats. It includes financial assistance for voluntary relocation of villages from the Protected Areas.

In March 2023, the financial assistance for voluntary relocation under the scheme has been increased the rate from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs per family  by the Ministry. The voluntary village relocation is implemented by the concerned States and  Union  Territories,  and  for  its  effective  implementation  District  Level Committees are constituted by the concerned States and Union Territories.

The financial assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme -'Development of Wildlife Habitats' scheme is provided to the States and Union Territories as  per the Annual Plan of Operations (APO) received and availability of budget. Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1107 Lakhs (Rs 553.5 Lakhs in 2023-24 and Rs 553.5 Lakhs  in  2024-25)  has  been  released  as  Central  share  for  voluntary  village relocation of 246 families in the State of Kerala under Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme.

Village relocation from Protected Areas is a voluntary process requiring willingness of the concerned families and availability of resources for completion of  voluntary relocation. As per  information  provided  by  the  State of Kerala, an amount of Rs 2670 lakhs has been disbursed for voluntary village relocation of 10 villages, involving 267 families from Wayanad Sanctuary.

*****