**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer from the Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Ayush to Unstarred Question No. 1149 in the Lok Sabha, addressed on December 5th, 2025. The question concerns the conservation of medicinal plants in the Satpura mountain range, including the Patalkot, Pachmarhi, and Matkuli areas, and plans for a research center. The response indicates that the government is not implementing specific schemes for these areas but does provide financial assistance for Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs) under a central sector scheme.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scheme Implementation:** The Government is NOT currently implementing any specific scheme for the conservation of medicinal plants in the Satpura mountain range of Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency, including Patalkot, Pachmarhi, and Matkuli areas.
* **Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs):**
* Under the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush, a provision exists to establish MPCDAs for the conservation and protection of medicinal plants.
* Project-based financial assistance of Rs. 20,000 per hectare is provided to State Forest Departments for establishing MPCDAs, as per scheme guidelines.
* The document lists 11 MPCDAs in the state of Madhya Pradesh that are supported under this scheme, each with a supported area of 200 hectares. The MPCDAs are: Amrakantak, Barman, East Batkakhapa, East Chhindwada, Tamia, Pandurna, Dindori, Bhoribandh, Mavai, Kattiwara, and Karahal.
* **Identification and Protection Programs:** No special program is currently proposed for the identification, survey, and declaration of protected areas for rare medicinal plant species in Patalkot, Pachmarhi, and Matkuli areas.
* **Medicinal Research Center:** The Government currently has no plans to establish a Medicinal research center in Pachmarhi and Matkuli.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** *Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary (MP of Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency)*
* **Impact:** The absence of specific schemes for the Satpura mountain range, including the Patalkot, Pachmarhi, and Matkuli areas, and the lack of immediate plans for a research center, may impact the region's conservation efforts and research capabilities.
* **Action Required:** Understand that the government is not currently implementing a scheme specifically for the conservation of medicinal plants in the Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency but to understand the possibilities of utilising the pre-existing MPCDA program.
**Stakeholder:** *State Forest Departments (Specifically, the state of Madhya Pradesh)*
* **Impact:** The State Forest Departments of MP are eligible for financial assistance to establish MPCDAs.
* **Action Required:** The State Forest Departments of MP should be aware of the opportunity to apply for and utilize the provided financial assistance.
**Stakeholder:** *Residents of Patalkot, Pachmarhi, and Matkuli Areas*
* **Impact:** No immediate change. Long term impacts may relate to conservation efforts.
* **Action Required:** None.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: Union government ministry responsible for developing and promoting alternative medicine systems in India.
Central Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants: A scheme under the Ministry of Ayush for the conservation of medicinal plants.
National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB): Under the Ministry of Ayush, responsible for coordinating all matters relating to medicinal plants, including conservation.
Madhya Pradesh: Indian state where Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs) are located.
Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs): Areas established for the conservation and protection of medicinal plants.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
ADMITTED UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1149
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05TH DECEMBER, 2025
“Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Areas of Mountain Range”
1149. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing a scheme for the conservation of natural medicinal
plants in the Satpura mountain range of Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency, especially in
the Patalkot, Pachmarhi and Matkuli areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any special programme proposed for the identification, survey and declaration
of protected areas for these rare medicinal plant species;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of Government’s plans to establish a medicinal research centre in Pachmarhi and
Matkuli?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b): The Government is not implementing any scheme for the conservation of medicinal plants in
the Satpura mountain range of Hoshangabad Lok Sabha Constituency, especially in the Patalkot,
Pachmarhi and Matkuli areas.
However, under National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush’s “Central
Sector Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants”
there is a provision to establish Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs) forconservation / protection of medicinal plants including Rare species in their natural habitats. For
establishing MPCDAs, as per provision of scheme guidelines, project based financial assistance @ Rs.
20,000 per ha. is provided to State Forest Departments. The MPCDAs supported under above said
scheme in state of Madhya Pradesh are as detailed below:
S.No. Name of MPCDAs Supported
Area (in ha.)
1. Amrakantak 200
2. Barman 200
3. East Batkakhapa 200
4. East Chhindwada 200
5. Tamia 200
6. Pandurna 200
7. Dindori 200
8. Bhoribandh 200
9. Mavai 200
10. Kattiwara 200
11. Karahal 200
(c) & (d): Currently, there is no special program proposed for the identification, survey and declaration
of protected areas of these rare medicinal plant species in the Patalkot, Pachmarhi and Matkuli areas.
(e): Currently, the Government has no plan to establish a Medicinal research center in Pachmarhi and
Matkuli.