Report on the constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees for Delhi, 17/06/2020
Status report by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Government of NCT of Delhi in the matter of Chandra Bhal Singh Vs Union of India & Others dated 17/06/2020.
The report was a follow up to the order National Green Tribunal order for setting up Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) as per Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and maintenance of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
The report said that as per the Act, no State Biodiversity Board should be constituted for a Union Territory (UT) and with respect to a UT, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) would exercise the powers and perform the functions of a State Biodiversity Board for that UT - provided that in relation to any UT, the NBA could delegate all or any of its powers or functions "under this sub-section to such person or group of persons as the Central Government may specify." In a meeting convened by NBA on September 30, 2019 it was decided that Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and NBA would act to expediate delegation of powers to a council like body in respect of UTs, so that they are able to discharge all the delegated functions and initiate action for achieving the targets like in states. This would help in constitution of BMCs and preparation of PBRs.
The National Biodiversity Authority has accordingly delegated its powers and functions vested with the NBA to the National Capital Territory of Delhi Biodiversity Council on December 31, 2019. The process of constituting the National Capital Territory of Delhi Biodiversity Council, was in progress, the report stated.