(a) whether any directions have been issued to Forest Survey of India (FSI)/ Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) to complete the faunistic survey of the geographical area by a given period of time for exploration and survey of faunal resources in the country;
(b) if so, whether the survey has since been completed;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, the reasons therefor;
(e) the money spent so far in this regard; and
(f) the further action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R.BAALU)
(a) Yes, Sir. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has been given set priorities for completion of Survey and taxonomic studies of faunal resources in the country. The domain of the Forest Survey of India (FSI) is assessment of forest cover and its activities are not related to faunistic survey.
(b)(c)&(d) The Zoological Survey of India has completed survey, inventorisation and taxonomic studies as per schedule covering 12 ecosystems and several other conservation areas from different geographic zones except in Jammu and Kashmir and some North Eastern States due to law and order problems and paucity of trained manpower.
(e)&(f) During the Ninth Plan period an amount of Rs. 20.57 crores has been spent on salary, survey, infrastructure development etc. No separate accounting is maintained specifically for Survey work .The Government has initiated several steps including training and capacity building in taxonomy so as to cover the gap areas.