Question : Conservation of Great Indian Bustard

(a) whether the population of the Great Indian Bustard is on the decline in the country and the said species is on the verge of extinction;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has received proposals regarding Species Recovery Plan of Gujarat State for Rs. 187.13 crores for the Great Indian Bustard in 2014 and rationalisation of the boundaries of Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary from the State Government of Maharashtra;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken so far in this regard; and
(e) the measures taken by the Government for conservation of the Great Indian Bustard including the funds allocated for the purpose during the last three years and the current year?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)&(b) Yes, Sir. The Great Indian Bustard is one of the critically endangered species of bird in India and is confined to 6 states viz., Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Population of this species is estimated to be less than 300. The population of this species is declining due to alteration of important bustard habitats due to industrialization, mining, intensive agricultural practices etc.

(c)&(d) The State Government of Gujarat has submitted a Species Recovery Plan of Rs.187.13 crores for the period of ten years for Great Indian Bustard to Union Government for financial assistance during 2014-15. The proposal has been examined in the Ministry.

The proposal for rationalization of Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary was received by the Ministry. The proposal was recommended by the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife in its 36th meeting held on 4th November 2015. The recommendation of the Standing Committee has been forwarded to the State Government of Maharashtra.

(e) Great Indian Bustard has been identified as one of the species under the component ‘Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’. Financial assistance of Rs. 65.36 lakh and Rs. 110.63 lakh has been provided to State Government of Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively during the current financial year 2015-16 under this component for conservation of Great Indian Bustard.

Financial assistance is also provided to the State Governments for protection of Great Indian Bustard habitats under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’. A list of such Protected Areas along with details of the funds released during last three years and the current year under this scheme is given in the Annexure.

Further, the National CAMPA Advisory Council in its 6th meeting held on 8th July, 2015 has approved an amount of Rs 33.85 crores in duration of 5 years for the project entitled habitat improvement and conservation breeding of the Indian Bustard- an integrated approach’. This project is to be coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India. The amount of Rs. 9.95 crores has been released during the first year, 2015-16.

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