Question : Bio-Diversity Parks

(a) the number of biological parks and bio-diversity parks open to the common man in the country at present, State/UTwise;
(b) the revenue earned from such parks during the last four years and the budgetary allocation made by the Government for this purpose;
(c) the number of biological and biodiversity parks being run by the State Government in Maharashtra at present;
(d) whether the Government proposes to set up any such park in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan; and
(e) the difference in the lives of wild animals living in such parks and other wild life sanctuaries opened till date?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) As per information received from BSI, the Biodiversity Park concept was implemented for the first time in Delhi by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE) of the University of Delhi. Till date, the DDA has notified 6 Biodiversity Parks: (i) Yamuna, (ii) Aravalli, (iii) Neela Hauz, (iv) Tilpath Valley, (v) Northern Ridge, and (vi) Yamuna Riverfront.

Of these 6 Biodiversity Parks, Yamuna and Aravalli Biodiversity Parks are fully functional and have become Nature Reserves of Delhi/open to the public.

(b) No budgetary allocation has been made by the Ministry for any of the parks. No entry fees is charged by DDA from Members of the public visiting these parks.

(c) As per information received from Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, biodiversity Parks are not maintained by them. However, as informed by BSI, the Baner-Pashan Biodiversity Park is a proposed 200 hectare protected region currently under development in the Baner and Pashan suburbs of Pune, by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The park is being constructed to protect the biodiversity near and around the Baner Hill and its spur, the Pashan Hill.

(d) No such proposal has been received in this regard.

(e) No specific differences in the lives of wild animals living in biodiversity parks and other wildlife sanctuaries can be seen. However, the underlying principle of Biodiversity Park is to recreate self-sustaining ecosystems with native flora and fauna characteristics of the area for enhancing the quality of urban environment and will have conservation, educational and cultural values.

These recreated biological communities along with different components of the ‘park’ will serve: (i) as a repository of gene pools of vanishing flora and fauna, including rare, endemic, economic and threatened elements; (ii) lung for the urban surroundings; (iii) place for recreation; (iv) as a tool for promoting environmental awareness and education and (v) as a living laboratory for conservation scientists, ecologists and environmentalist.

*****