Over 30 people died due to attack by tigers in the country in 2015-16, the Government said on Monday, asserting that such deaths have shown a decreasing trend.
As per the latest information received from the States, the number of people dead due to tiger attack is showing a decreasing trend, said Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
However, total number of human deaths due to elephant attack had increased to 462 in 2015-16 from 390 in the preceding year. But despite this, no proposal has been received from the respective State Governments for additional funds for providing safe passage for these animals, he said.
Funding is provided to the various tiger range States and reserves under Project Tiger on their demand in the Annual Plan of Operation for various activities, he said. He further informed that the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 is being reviewed, to enable provisions for more stringent punishments for hunting of wild animals.
Replying to another query, Dave informed the Upper House on Monday that ninety per cent of project applications were granted environmental clearance by the Government in 2015 as compared to about 54 per cent in 2014. The statutory provisions laid down for carrying out the process of grant of prior environmental clearance ensures that ecological security is not compromised,” the Minister said.
He further informed that the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 governs the process of grant of prior environmental clearance for activities mentioned in the schedule of the notification. The process of environmental clearance includes screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal among others,
he said.
Replying to another question, on pollution, Dave said that his Ministry has notified draft rules for Ambient Air Quality Standards with respect to noise in Airport Noise Zone In October this year. As per the draft rule, the noise standard proposed for existing busy airport is 70 decibels (db)during the day time and 65 db during night time whereas in respect of other existing airports and upcoming new airports, the proposed limit is 65 dB during day time and 60 dB during night time. The draft rules also provide for tolerance limit of 10 dB, said the Minister.