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
