New Delhi, Apr 3 (IANS): The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has said that approximately, Rs 2 crore has been spent on inventorisation of 40 sacred groves and phyto-diversity characterisation of multiple sacred groves etc. in Meghalaya.

Sacred groves are community conserved land parcels with rich biodiversity, which usually have a significant religious connotation for protecting the community and can be notified as Community Conserved Areas under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Biodiversity Heritage Sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Replying to a question by Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala in March last week whether any study has been undertaken by the government to assess the potential of Sacred Groves in creating a sustainable future, Yadav said, over about last 8-9 years, the studies undertaken and completed for sacred groves in Meghalaya include inventorisation (Growing Stock Assessment) of 40 Sacred Groves; Phyto-diversity and Phyto-sociological characterisation of 10 Sacred Groves having an area of 216.76 Ha; preparation of management plans of 12 Sacred Groves and boundary survey for 133 Sacred Groves.

Rs 30 lakh was spent on the inventorization (Growing Stock Assessment) of 40 Sacred Groves project (2013-14). Rs 40 lakh was spent on boundary survey for 133 Sacred Groves in 2013-14; Rs 9.36 lakh for the same in 2014-15 and Rs 10.50 lakh in 2019-20.

Rs 20 lakh was spent on Phyto-diversity and Phyto-sociological characterisation of 10 Sacred Groves having an area of 216.76 Ha (2014-15) carried out by the Department of Environmental Studies NEHU, Shillong, the Minister said.

The wildlife conservation activities in the Sacred Grove notified as community reserve amounted to Rs 101.59 lakh between 2013-2021, the Minister added.