**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 364 in Lok Sabha, concerning the rapid loss of green cover in protected areas of Assam, specifically in the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, and was scheduled to be answered on February 2nd, 2026. The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses concerns about land conversion, declining forest cover, inadequate patrolling, and proposes measures to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. The State of Assam reports that no area of the sanctuary has been converted to cropland or built-up areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Status of Land Conversion:** The State of Assam reports that no area of Panidihing Bird Sanctuary has been converted to cropland or built-up areas, and agriculture is not practiced within the sanctuary.
* **Protection Measures in Protected Areas of Assam (including Panidihing Sanctuary):**
* Regular patrolling by frontline forest staff, including GPS-enabled patrolling and joint patrols with district administration.
* Strengthening of anti-encroachment drives.
* Surveillance measures using trap cameras, drone surveys, GPS monitoring, wireless communication, and intelligence gathering.
* Physical demarcation of boundaries using boundary pillars and signage to prevent encroachment.
* Habitat management activities, including removal of invasive species, restoration of wetlands, and grasslands.
* Constitution of Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) in fringe villages to conduct awareness programs.
* Constitution of Rapid response teams to strengthen enforcement against forest offenses, including encroachment.
* Coordination with Departments such as Revenue, Police, local administration to prevent land conversions and ensure timely action against violations.
* **Monitoring and Assessment:** The State of Assam conducts frequent detection of encroachments, assessment of land use changes, and implements protection measures through regular patrolling, surveillance, anti-encroachment drives, and coordination with Eco Development Committees.
* **Corrective Measures:** Periodic ecological assessments and habitat monitoring are conducted, and necessary corrective measures are undertaken based on the findings for long-term conservation.
**Impact Analysis**
**State of Assam**
* **Impact:** Required to implement and maintain the outlined protection and monitoring measures.
* **Action Required:** Continue regular patrolling, surveillance, habitat management, coordination with relevant departments, and execution of corrective measures based on ecological assessments.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overseeing the conservation efforts and addressing concerns raised regarding the protected areas.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the implementation of protection measures by the State of Assam and potentially provide support for strengthening these measures, including satellite-based monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
**Local Communities (Fringe Villages)**
* **Impact:** Involvement through Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) in awareness programs and potentially affected by restrictions on resource use within the protected areas.
* **Action Required:** Participate in awareness programs and collaborate with authorities through EDCs to support conservation efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Union ministry responsible for environmental and forestry policies, answering questions related to green cover loss.
Panidihing Bird Sanctuary: Protected area in Assam, India, the subject of concerns regarding loss of green cover and encroachment.
Assam: Indian state where Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is located and responsible for implementing protection measures.
Eco-Development Committees (EDC's): Committees constituted in fringe villages to conduct awareness programs and assist in enforcement, mentioned in protection measures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 364
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Rapid Loss of Green Cover in Protected Areas of Assam
364. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of a satellite imagery–based study revealing significant loss
of forest and grassland cover within Panidihing Bird Sanctuary in Assam due to conversion
of protected land into cropland and built-up areas;
(b) if so, the extent of decline in forest cover, core forest and grassland within the sanctuary and
the increase in cropland during the said period;
(c) whether the Government has examined the findings regarding limited patrolling and
inadequate protection enabling smallholder agriculture inside the sanctuary;
(d) the steps taken or proposed to prevent encroachment, land-use change and habitat
fragmentation in Panidihing Bird Sanctuary and other protected areas of Assam; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to strengthen satellite-based monitoring, enforcement
mechanisms and periodic ecological audits of protected areas and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) As informed by the State of Assam, no area of Panidihing Bird Sanctuary is converted to
crop land & build up areas and agriculture is not practiced inside the Sanctuary. The important steps
taken for protection of Protected Areas in Assam, including Panidihing Sanctuary are:
(i) Regular patrolling by frontline forest staff, including GPS enabled patrolling, joint patrols
with district administration and strengthening of anti-encroachment drives.
(ii) Surveillance measures such as installation of trap cameras, drone surveys, GPS monitoring,
wireless communication, intelligence gathering for monitoring and detection of illegal
activities.
(iii) Physical demarcation of boundaries, through boundary pillars, signages to prevent
encroachment.
(iv) Habitat management activities like removal of invasive species, restoration of wetlands and
grasslands.
(v) Constitution of Eco-Development Committees (EDC’s) in fringe villages and carrying out
awareness programmes.
(vi) Constitution of Rapid response teams, strengthening of enforcement against forest offences
including encroachment.
(vii) Coordination with Departments such as Revenue, Police, local administration to prevent
land conversions and ensuring timely action against violations
(e) The State of Assam has informed that detection of encroachments and assessment of land use
changes are done frequently and protection measures through regular patrolling, surveillance, anti-encroachment drives and coordination with Eco Development Committees are also undertaken.
Further, periodic ecological assessments and habitat monitoring are conducted and necessary
corrective measures are undertaken based on the findings for long term conservation.