(a) whether villagers are to be relocated from some of the tiger reserves in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, tiger reserve-wise;
(c) whether the Government has allocated/released any funds for this purpose;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether there has been adequate publicity of the matter through the local languages of
the villagers; and
(f) if not, the steps taken/being taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) & (f):- A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) & (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 49 ON RELOCATION OF VILLAGERS DUE FOR REPLY ON 28.7.2010.
(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) As reported by tiger States, around 48549 families are residing
inside the core or critical tiger habitat of 32 tiger reserves, as given at Annexure-I. Under
the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as amended in 2006, such areas are required to be kept as
inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation without affecting the rights of the Scheduled
Tribes and other forest dwellers. Such relocation is voluntary, on mutually agreed terms and
conditions. The package for relocation has been enhanced from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 10
lakh/family. Under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger, during the current
plan period, funding assistance has been provided to States as per Annexure-II. Advisory has
been issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority to States for giving publicity in the
local vernacular, while observing transparency in the whole process of village relocation.
(f) The milestone initiatives taken by the Government of India for conservation of tiger
and other wild animals are at Annexure-III.