(a) whether the Government has received any proposals from various State Governments including
Jharkhand for declaration of some areas as Critical Wildlife Habitats in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Ministry has given approval for any of the proposals;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (f) The Government of Odisha had forwarded proposals to the Central Level Committee for
notification of Chilka Nalaban Sanctuary, Gahirmatha Sanctuary and Chandaka Sanctuary as Critical
Wildlife Habitats under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006. These proposals were considered by the Central Level Committee and were
found to be incomplete. Therefore, the State Government was requested to submit revised proposal,
which has not been received in the Ministry of Environment and Forests so far. However, no
proposals from any other State/Union Territory Governments, including Jharkhand have been received
in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, for declaration as Critical Wildlife Habitats. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests has initiated steps for the ‘Implementation Protocol for
determination and notification of Critical Wildlife Habitats’ in accordance with the provisions of
the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,
2006.