PUNJAB BIODIVERSITY BOARD COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIODIVERSITY

• BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES CONSTITUTED AND PEOPLE`S BIODIVERSITY REGISTERS PREPARED AT ALL LEVELS OF PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

Chandigarh, May 24:

Punjab Biodiversity Board in collaboration with Rural Development & Panchyats and Local Government departments commemorated UN proclaimed International Day for Biological Diversity, 2021 on the theme of “We are part of solution for Nature” by organizing State Level Function on Monday through virtual mode for the benefits of Rural and Urban Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) set up recently in the entire state under Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Speaking on the occasion, Manpreet Singh, Director, Rural Development and  Karandeep Singh, Deputy Secretary, Local Government motivated the Rural & Urban BMCs, to take up Biodiversity conservation activities with their jurisdiction under the guidance of Board. They assured that all the necessary steps with continued support & handholding of Punjab Biodiversity Board would be taken up in operationalizing the 22 District, 150 Block & 13260 Village BMCs of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) including opening of Bank account of each BMCs in a phased manner.

Earlier, Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board informed that Board is going to take up training and capacity building for newly constituted BMCs,  People Biodiversity Registers (PBR’s) quality enhancement and generating awareness in phased manner, starting with  5 blocks namely Phagwara (District Kapurthala), Banga & Nawanshahr (District SBS Nagar) and Sri Muktsar Sahib & Malout (District Sri Muktsar Sahib) during the Fiscal Year 2021-22 under Government of India`s Special Component Plan.

Sharing his vision and experiences on the importance of biodiversity & nature to mankind and our planet earth, Dr. V.B Mathur, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India, appreciated the proactive approach adopted by Punjab Government for strengthening the BMCs.

Discussing various activities taken up by BMCs, Dr. Gurharminder Singh, Principal Scientific Officer of Board emphasized developing few BMCs in each District as model ones, which can act as role model for others and help in adoption of best practices for biodiversity conservation.

The Punjabi version of three documentaries films on Biodiversity Act, BMCs & PBR prepared by NBA and Board were released & screened on the occasion. Besides, one Handbook for BMCs prepared by Board was also released and e -copies of same would be distributed to all BMCs of Punjab. The films would be extensively used for training BMCs about their functions, roles & responsibilities.

Notably, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) play crucial role in achieving the objectives of the Biodiversity Act, 2002. These committees set up u/s 22 of Act by Local Bodies i.e PRI for rural areas & Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in urban areas, form the core of institutional set up to effectively implement the Biological Diversity Act. These local level, statutory bodies are vested with enormous responsibility under the Act and considered vital to realize the objectives of conservation, sustainable use and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of biological resources for commercial utilization.

It may be recalled that the 100% constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and preparation of People`s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) at all levels of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) at 22 District, 150 Block & 13,260 Village Level and 167 Urban Local Bodies in compliance of NGT directions in O.A. 347 of 2016 has already been completed in the State with the constant support & handholding of Punjab Biodiversity Board. The NGT vide order Dated December 16, 2020 in the said matter has waived off the penalty of Rs. 10 lacs per month w.e.f. February 1, 2020 imposed on the State Government.

The Function was attended by around 900 participants including ADCs(D), DDPOs, BDPOs, Panchyat Secretaries, Sarpanches & members of rural BMCs as well as Executive Officers of MCs & members of Urban BMCs.