(a) the status of various bird sanctuaries in the country, location and State/UT-wise;
(b) whether there has been a decline in the number of birds and bird sanctuaries in the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether several bird sanctuaries are in precarious condition owing to lack of water and other amenities and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Bihar; and
(e) the corrective steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to(e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
****
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 319 REGARDING ‘BIRD SANCTUARIES’ BY SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI DUE FOR REPLY ON 11.8.2015
(a) State/UT-wise details of bird sanctuaries, as per information available with the Ministry, is given in the Annexure.
(b) and (c) Management and conservation of wildlife and its habitats including birds and bird sanctuaries is the responsibility of the concerned State / Union Territory Governments. The bird populations in Bird Sanctuaries and Protected Areas are generally safe. There is pressure on bird population due to various factors such as habitat destruction, habitat deterioration, spread of agriculture and invasive weeds, widespread and uncontrolled use of pesticides; and in few areas, illegal trapping and hunting for clandestine bird trade. Data on the decline in the number of bird are not collated in the Ministry.
The Ministry has not received any report regarding decline in number of birds in the country. There has not been any denotification of bird sanctuaries.
(d) and (e) Several wetlands have been notified as bird sanctuaries and are ideal habitats for migratory and residential birds. Management of water level in such wetlands is a challenge for the state governments at times. Due to inadequate rainfall, the level of water reduces leading to unfavourable conditions for the birds. However, recently, no State/Union Territory Governments, including Bihar, have reported that the bird sanctuaries in their respective States/Union Territories are in precarious conditions due to water shortage.
The following are the important steps taken by the Government for protection of bird sanctuaries:
(i) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for creating of a network of Protected Areas (PAs) for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.
(ii) Important species of birds, including migratory birds like, Black Necked Crane, Siberian Crane, White Spoonbill, etc. are listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby providing the highest degree of protection.
(iii) Twenty five wetland sites that have been notified as Ramsar Sites in India, under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
(iv) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 which, inter-alia, provides for a mechanism for protection, conservation and management of Wetlands, regulation of certain activities like withdrawal of water or diversion of water flow, harvesting of resources, dredging, aquaculture/ agriculture, discharge of treated effluent, conversion into non-wetland use and also constitution of the Central Wetland Regulatory Authority.
(v) Financial assistance is provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for protection and management of National Parks and Sanctuaries including Bird Sanctuaries.
***