New Delhi, Dec 02: Lok Sabha today paved the way for setting up of a three-tier structure including an Apex National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at Chennai by passing a long pending legislation for proper conservation and use of biological resources. The biological diversity bill, passed by a voice vote, seeks establishment of State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), besides the NBA, to regulate access to the diverse plant and animal genetic resources in the country.
Winding up a debate on the bill, Environment and Forests Minister T R Baalu allayed fears that the measure could lead to exploitation and piracy of traditional knowledge saying government would provide adequate safeguards against any misuse of the law by multinational companies and others.
Steps would be taken to enhance capacity at village level through BMCs to ensure true empowerment of the people and provisions of the bill primarily addressed issues concerning access to genetic resources and associated knowledge by foreign individuals, institutions or companies, he said.


It also envisaged equitable sharing of benefits from these resources and knowledge with the country concerned.

Defending the decision to have NBA at Chennai, the minister said the city has rich bio-diversity as it is surrounded by Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Western Ghat, Eastern Ghat and wide range of flora and fauna.
Participating in the discussion, members expressed apprehensions that the bill may enable multinational companies and foreign agencies to grab many valuable knowledge and skills.

Bureau Report