2038. DR. VINAY KUMAR PANDEY ‘VINNU’:
SHRI NRIPENDRA NATH ROY:
SHRI NARAHARI MAHATO:
DR. SUCHARU RANJAN HALDAR:
SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:
SHRI S. PAKKIRAPPA:
SHRIMATI SHRUTI CHOUDHRY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of incidents related to illegal poaching of wild animals, bio-diversity thefts and smuggling of endangered species have come to the notice of the Government during the last three years, State-wise;
(b) the number of said cases pending in courts at present and the time since they are pending;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to clear the pending cases;
(d) whether the Government proposes to formulate any advance scheme to protect the rare species of animals which are on the verge of extinction in the country; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a)to (c) Implementation of the provisions of laws relating to protection of wild animals and their habitats including the endangered species and bio-diversity, and detection, apprehension and prosecution of such offences is the primary responsibility of the concerned State/Union Territory Governments. Some incidences of poaching and smuggling of wildlife do come to the notice of the Central Government. However, the details of illegal poaching, smuggling of wildlife, etc. and the status of prosecutions in such cases in various Courts in the country have not been collated in the Ministry.
(d) & (e) The Ministry of Environment and Forests is providing financial and technical assistance to the State/Union Territory Governments for protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitats under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes like ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and Project Elephant’. However, no new advance scheme is envisaged by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in this regard.
The important steps taken by the Government to protect wildlife are as given below:
(i)Rare and endangered species of wildlife are included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby according them highest degree of protection.
(ii)Stringent punishments have been provided for in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for violation of provisions of the Act.
(iii)Sixteen species of wild animals have been identified under the component ‘Recovery programme for saving critically endangered species and habitats’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, wherein financial assistance is given to State Governments for recovery programme of the species.
(iv)India is signatory to all major international conventions relating to conservation and management of wildlife, including endangered species of wildlife.
(v)Research and monitoring activities on wildlife are promoted by the Government through reputed research organizations.
(vi)Important habitats of wildlife, including endangered species have been notified as Protected Areas under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for better conservation and protection of wildlife and their habitats
(vii)The enforcement agencies in the country have been imparted training on search, seizure and identification of wildlife parts/articles.
(viii)Special Coordination Committee (SCC) consisting of heads of apex intelligence, enforcement agencies including exit point agencies and international border guarding organizations has been constituted to bring synergy amongst different agencies in combating wildlife crime.
(ix)Inter-agency coordination meetings are held at Regional level regularly to address inter-agency issues regarding coordination of enforcement efforts and sharing of information.
(x)A Manual on Wildlife Species in trade’ has been published by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to be used by other enforcement agencies as reference book in identification of wildlife and wildlife parts/products