Question : Wildlife Sanctuaries

(a) the details of National and State level wildlife sanctuaries in the country State/UT-wise;
(b) the funds sought, sanctioned/released and utilised for the said sanctuaries during each of the last three years and the current year, Sanctuary and State-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to set up new wildlife sanctuaries in the country and expand the existing ones and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(d) whether there are reports of encroachment and shrinking forest cover in the said sanctuaries, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken thereon, Sanctuary and State-wise; and
(e) whether the Government has any proposal to connect/link the wildlife sanctuaries and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a)Details of Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country is given in the Annexure-I.

(b)State-wise, Sanctuary-wise details of funds sought, sanctioned and utilised during the last three years and the current year under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ is given in the Annexure –II.

(c)At present there is no proposal to set up wildlife sanctuary or expanding the existing sanctuary under the consideration of the Ministry.

(d)The management and protection of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks including prevention of encroachment is the responsibility of the concerned State/ Union Territory Government. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the Chief Wildlife Wardens and other authorised officers in the States/Union Territories for prevention and detection of wildlife offences including encroachment and to initiate prosecution proceedings against the offenders. The information about encroachment in Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park and action taken thereon by the concerned State Government and shrinking forest cover in the said sanctuaries is not compiled in the Ministry.

(e)There is no proposal to connect/link the wildlife sanctuaries under the consideration of the Ministry.

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