Question : Linear Projects in Wildlife Areas

(a) whether the Government has approved “eco-friendly” guidelines framed by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) that entails safeguards for animals and birds to speed up approvals of linear projects in wildlife areas and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is planning to set up a databank of legislations that can aid in better conservation of flora, fauna and rivers and if so, the details thereof
(c) whether the Government has notified Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualification, Experience and Other Conditions of Members) Rules, 2017;
(d) if so, the details and its implications in present rules thereof; and
(e) the new steps / initiatives being taken by the Government for providing neat and clean environment to people in India?

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

(a) Yes, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has approved “Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructures on Wildlife” guidelines framed by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun. These guidelines provide standard template on structural and non-structural measures for mitigating the impact of roads, railway lines and power lines on wildlife including birds.

(b) Conservation of flora, fauna and rivers in the country is covered within the ambit of extant legislations which include the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, Biological Diversity Act 2002 and Rules and Regulations under these Acts. The Forest Service officers at the Central and the State levels are responsible for conservation and management of forests. Further the Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India are mandated with inventorisation and monitoring of flora and fauna of the country. The Namami Ganage Programme, a flagship programme of the Government is aimed at effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga.

(c) & (d) Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue has notified the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualification, Experience and Other Conditions of Members) Rules 2107 (copy enclosed).

(e) Government has taken a number steps for clean environment including promotion of afforestation through utilization of CAMPA funds, Urban Forest and School Nursery, Greening Highways, Railways and Banks of Ganga; Notification of eco-sensitive zones as buffer for protection around protected areas, installation of 24 X 7 real time air and effluent monitoring system pollution industrial units, upgradation of emission standards for many industries. Namami Gange Scheme for cleaning of Ganga river, revamping of the waste management rules, revamping comprehensive environment pollution index (CEPI), launch of national air quality index, intensive conservation and management of mangroves and coral reefs, ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement with target of reducing emission intensively of the Indian economy, increase of non-fossil fuel share of energy mix and increasing the carbons sink.

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