Parliament Question: Ecosystem Conservation and CCUS Expenditure in Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 109 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2026 Ecosystem Conservation and CCUS Expenditure in Odisha *109 SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether satellite alerts and drones are deployed for forest fire management in Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts in Odisha and if so, the details of financial incentives provided to Van Suraksha Samitis; (b) whether Central funds allocated over the last three years for the Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary and Satkosia Tiger Reserve ecosystem around the Daspalla region were fully utilised and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether agro-forestry projects are active in Boudh and Kandhamal districts for Tribals and Scheduled Caste communities, if so, the details thereof along with the details of National Highway (NH) expansion plantation fund utilised by the Forest Department during the last three years; and (d) the total expenditure incurred under the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology fund over the last three years, along with zero-plastic protocols in eco-sensitive zones such as Daringbadi and Belghar? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV) (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 109 DUE FOR REPLY ON 27.07.2026 REGARDING ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AND CCUS EXPENDITURE IN ODISHA ASKED BY SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI (a) As per information received from the State Forest Department of Odisha, the satellite alerts are used for forest fire management. However, use of drones for the forest fire management in Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts in Odisha have not been deployed for forest fire management as per the report. The Ministry, through its organization, the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, has developed a robust satellite imagery-based system, FAST 3.0 (Forest Alert System), and the Van Agni Geo-portal to disseminate satellite-based forest fire alerts to the State Forest Departments, including Odisha and other stakeholders. These alerts are generated using MODIS sensors (1 km × 1 km) and SNPP-VIIRS sensors (375 m × 375 m). As per the information received from the State Forest Department of Odisha, financial incentives amounting to ₹26.70 lakh have been provided to 315 Van Suraksha Samitis(VSS) for forest fire management in Kandhamal and Nayagarh districts during the last three years. Of these, 23 VSS in Phulbani Forest Division were provided incentives amounting to ₹5.00 lakh, 150 VSSs in Nayagarh Forest Division received ₹7.50 lakh, and 142 VSS in Balliguda Forest Division received ₹14.20 lakh. No financial incentive was provided to VSS under Mahanadi Wildlife Division during the said period. (b) The Ministry has provided financial assistance under the Project Tiger component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, which includes Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, during the last three financial years. The details are as under: Year Funds allocated & Utilised (Amount in ₹ ) 2023-24 60,42,412 2024-25 26,96,375 2025-26 33,14,955 (c) As per the information received from the State Forest Department of Odisha, no expenditure has been incurred during the last three years on agro-forestry projects for Tribals and Scheduled Caste communities in Boudh and Kandhamal districts. However, compensatory afforestation under CAMPA has been carried out along the National Highway-57 as a part of road widening project in Boudh district of Odisha covering 49 Road Kilometres during 2024-25 with an expenditure of ₹2.59 crores. (d) As per information provided by CEO, State Authority, CAMPA, Odisha there is no expenditure incurred under Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology fund over the last three years, along with zero-plastic protocols in eco-sensitive zones such as daringbadi and Belghar. *****