(a) whether large number of death of wild animals in various accidents in the country
have come to the notice of the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to protect critical wildlife corridors in the country
from large infrastructural projects;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (Dr. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)
(a) and (b) Details of all the cases of death of wild animals in the country are not collected
in the Ministry. However, as per the available information with the Ministry, the total number
of major wild animals died in various accidents in the country during the last three years and
the current year is given in the Annexure.
(c) to (e) Protection of critical wildlife corridors from various activities including, inter
alia, infrastructural activities is part and parcel the objective of sustainable development.
For ensuring a workable environmental balance, all projects seeking diversion of forest land
for non-forestry use are appraised by the Forest Advisory Committee constituted under the
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, before the Ministry considers approval. In case such projects
are located within notified Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park, the recommendation of the
Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife is also mandatory. Projects covered under
the EIA Notification 2006 also have to undergo appraisal and approval of the National or
State level EIA Authority. The activities specified in the schedule of notification, if
located within 10 km of a Wildlife Sanctuary or a National Park, are appraised at National
EIA Authority level.
In case of cases involving tiger habitats, the Section 38O(1)(g) of the Wild Life (Protection)
Act, 1972 has empowered the Tiger Conservation Authority to ensure that the tiger reserves and
areas linking one protected area or Tiger reserve with another protected area or Tiger reserve
are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, except in public interest and with the
approval of the National board for wildlife and on the advice of the Tiger conservation authority.