(a) whether the Government has any plan to develop/conserve Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the fund allocated/sanctioned during the last three years for the said purpose;
and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to protect wildlife in the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a) Yes, Sir. The management Action Plan for Conservation and Development of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve includes the management of the buffer zone and the transition zone in a way that ensures local community participation in conservation and utilization of the resources in a sustainable way. The Plan evolves ways and means by which economic well-being of the local people is secured. It includes setting up of horticultural nurseries and their plantation, nursery of medicinal plants, minor irrigation structures, facilities for cultivation of vegetables, supply of seedlings/ grafting, creation of fishery ponds, water conservation check dam, improvement of footpaths, land reclamation of lower hill valleys, river bank plantation, development of rural tourism and creation of community reserve forest. Besides these, camps for medical awareness and education are organized in different places.
(b). So far, Rs. 575.211 lakh have been released for implementation of Management Action Plan in the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. Rs. 150.00 lakh was released during the year 2014-15. No fund was released during 2013-14 and 2015-16
(c) Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is home to various ranges of species and is rich in wildlife. A sustained awareness campaign has been launched by the State Government about the conservation of wildlife and sustainable development. In this endeavour, Government has declared Community Forests as Community Reserves within the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in order to protect wildlife.
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