Question : CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT PROGRAMME

(a) whether the Government proposes to develop Critical Wildlife Habitat Programme in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a), (b) and (c) Section 4(2) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 provides that, after satisfying the conditions specified in the aforesaid section, the forest rights recognized under the Act may subsequently be modified or resettled for creating inviolate areas for wildlife conservation in critical wildlife habitats of National Parks and Sanctuaries. The `critical wildlife habitat` means such areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries where it has been specifically and clearly established, case by case, on the basis of scientific and objective criteria, that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation as may be determined and notified by the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests after open process of consultation by an Expert Committee, which includes experts from the locality and a representative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Government is committed to implement the provisions of the said Act.