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OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5034
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026
Relaxation of Forest Regulations in Don Area, VTR
5034. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that within the Don area of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve
(VTR) in Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha Constituency, there are two Panchayats with a population of
approximately 15,000 to 20,000 and the residents of this inaccessible terrain have to travel to
Ramnagar, Bagaha, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur or Patna for better medical treatment;
(b) if so, whether the Government is also aware that in cases of emergency, even critically ill
patients are denied entry or exit through the forest during late-night hours, forcing them to spend
the night at the Forest Department's barriers; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to relax its regulations in the interest of the forest-
dwelling population of the Tiger Reserve and the Don area?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a), (b) & (c) Yes, as reported by the State, there are two Gram Panchayats viz., Naurangiya and
Bankatwa Karmahiya located in the Don area, surrounded by the forests of Valmiki Tiger Reserve
(VTR). There are no such reports of residents from these two Gram Panchayats under reference
having been stuck/stopped at the check-posts on the forest roads, in case of medical emergencies.
The residents are using the forest roads to access the nearby towns and they have
unrestricted access to use the forest roads. These roads are repaired and maintained every year by the
VTR administration to facilitate unhindered movement of vehicles. To provide access to the better
medical facility to the residents of these two Gram Panchayats exclusively two ambulances are being
operated and maintained by the VTR administration.
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