Interim report by National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in compliance to the National Green Tribunal order of March 18, 2020. The matter relates to formation of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and preparation of People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and to utilize funds under CAMPA and constitute a State level PBR Monitoring Committee for all the local bodies of the states. NGT had also directed the defaulting states to deposit Rs. 10 lakhs per month starting from February 1, 2020 to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) till such time, the task was fully completed.

The NBA had informed the Chief Secretaries of all the states about the orders of the Tribunal for taking necessary actions to complete the BMC formation and PBR preparation. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown announced by Government, there was no significant progress in the formation of BMCs and preparation of PBRs since February 2020, said the NBA report.

State Biodiversity Board, Uttarakhand and State Biodiversity Board, Goa have informed NBA that they had completed the BMC formation and PBR preparation in all their local bodies by January 31, 2020 and conveyed the same to NBA, which was ascertained and found correct. Uttarakhand has completed the formation of BMCs in all the 7991 local bodies and prepared the PBRs for all the 7991 BMCs. Similarly, Goa has completed the formation of BMCs in all the 205 local bodies and prepared the PBRs for all the 205 BMCs.

State Biodiversity Board, Kerala has informed NBA that as per the Kerala State Biological Diversity Rules, 2008 framed as per the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, they have completed the formation of BMC at the Grama Panchayat, Municipality and Corporation levels. According to the SBB, Kerala, the biodiversity wealth of the state has been captured by the PBR preparation at these three levels and preparing PBR at block and district levels would only amount to duplication of work and incurring of additional cost. They have therefore requested to remove the state from the list of defaulting States. As SBB, Kerala has completed the work in accordance with the Kerala State Biodiversity Rules, NBA had recommended that the state be exempted from paying the monetary penalty Rs. 10 lakhs.

In addition the members of the MoEFCC-NBA PBR Monitoring Committee had undertaken visits to different states in February 2020, to evaluate the quality of PBRs prepared by the BMCs. During the visit, it was found that the PBRs were prepared on a fast track basis by Uttar Pradesh. As the PBRs prepared by Uttar Pradesh were not in line with the guidelines circulated by NBA, Uttar Pradesh Government has been requested to prepare the PBRs as per the existing guidelines.

Note: Uploaded to the NGT site on June 3, 2020