Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Environmental Conditions And Condition Of Forest In Assam . on 10 May, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> title: Regarding environmental conditions and condition of forest in Assam .
SHRIMATI BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY (GUWAHATI): Madam, I would like to draw your attention to the condition of the environment and forests of Assam.… (Interruptions) Due to cutting and felling of the trees, 70 per cent forest cover has been lost.… (Interruptions) Not only the forest, even the hills of Assam have been levelled.… (Interruptions) As a result, the silt comes to the river and bed of the river is coming up.… (Interruptions) It has caused landslide in such a way that in one month time, 50 people have been killed in the landslide.… (Interruptions) And because of this, without any obstruction, heavy silt, sand and stone come down to the plains and it causes a heavy flood and it breaches the embankment also.… (Interruptions) So, this is a very difficult position.… (Interruptions) I would like to say that nearly 73 per cent embankments in the rivers have been breached because of siltation. … (Interruptions) The Government of India has rendered Rs. 414 crore but that has not been spent at all.… (Interruptions) So, due to cutting of the forest, the wild animals like rhinos are killed like anything. Already 1400 rhinos are killed either by smugglers or due to natural death.
HON. SPEAKER: What is your demand?
13.00 hours SHRIMATI BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY : It is because of the nefarious nexus between police, forest guards and smugglers, rhino horns are sent to China through Nagaland and through Myanmar.The price of one horn is about Rs. 1,50,000. That is why, I request the Minister of Environment and Forests not to sleep over this degraded condition but to act positively.
HON. SPEAKER: Shri Bhairon Prasad Mishra and Shri Rodmal Nagar, Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel and Shri P.P. Chaudhary, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shri Sudheer Gupta and Dr. Manoj Rajoria are permitted to associate with the issue raised by Shrimati Bijoya Chakravarty.