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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 33
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026
Conservation of Kulik Bird Sanctuary
33. SHRI KARTICK CHANDRA PAUL:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state
(a) whether the Government recognises the national and international conservation significance
of the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary (Kulik Bird Sanctuary), which supports about 32–40 per cent
of South Asia's breeding population of the Asian Openbill Stork and recorded over 1,00,000 birds
in the 2025 census;
(b) the details of funds allocated and released under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) during the last five years, year-wise;
(c) whether the Government is aware of threats such as poaching of migratory birds, pollution of
the Kulik River and aquatic weed infestation within the sanctuary, and the remedial measures
taken thereon;
(d) whether there is any proposal to declare the sanctuary a Ramsar Site;
(e) the steps taken to develop it as a major eco-tourism destination in North Bengal; and
(f) whether any proposal has been initiated for international recognition, including through
UNESCO or Birdlife International?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (f) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the State Governments/Union Territory
Administrations for declaration of National Parks and Sanctuaries. Considering the importance of
conservation of birds and their habitats, the State of West Bengal has notified an area of 1.3 sq.kms
as the Raiganj (Kulik) Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985. The conservation, protection and management
of National Parks and Sanctuaries, is undertaken by the concerned States/Union Territories, in
accordance with approved Management Plan, as provided under Section 33 of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, which, inter-alia, include protection, habitat management, eco-tourism
activities and monitoring of wildlife and their habitats.
The details of funds released under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ‘Integrated Development
of Wildlife Habitats’ during the last five years is Rs.1,20,105.20 lakhs, out of which an amount
of Rs. 3,328.51 lakhs was released to the State of West Bengal. The details of funds released to
State of West Bengal during the last five under this scheme is as below:
(Rs. In lakhs)
2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
845.13 231.36 907.88 609.10 735.04
Proposals for seeking international recognition of a protected area, inter alia as a Ramsar Site, are
submitted by the concerned State Government as per established procedure in this regard.
However, no such proposal was received in the Ministry for the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary.
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