Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-01042025-262182
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 1488]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th March 2025
S.O. 1506 (E).-WHEREAS the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by
sub-section (1), clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules,
1986, issued a notification to declare an Eco-Sensitive Zone around Thol Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat in the
Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O.421 (E), dated the 9th
February, 2015;
AND WHEREAS the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient in the public
interest to amend the said notification;
AND WHEREAS sub-rule (4) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 provides that whenever
it appears to the Central Government that it is in the public interest to do so, it may dispense with the
requirement of notice under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986;
AND WHEREAS the Central Government is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to dispense with
the requirement of notice under clause (a) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules,
1986 for amending the notification number S.O. 421 (E), dated the 9th February, 2015;
Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-
section (2) and sub-section(3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with
sub-rule (4) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes
the following amendments in the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii),
vide number S.O. 421 (E), dated the 9th February, 2015, namely:-
In the said notification, For paragraph 5, the following paragraphs shall be substituted, namely:-
"5. Monitoring Committee.- The Central Government hereby constitute a monitoring Committee
consisting of the following persons, namely: -
(i) Additional Chief Secretary (Forests and Environment), Government of Chairman, ex-officio;
Gujarat
(ii) Director, Department of Environment, Government of Gujarat Member, ex-officio;
(iii) One representative of a Non-Governmental Organisation working in the Member;
field of Environment or Wildlife (including heritage conservation) to be
nominated by the Government of Gujarat from time to time every three
years
(iv) An expert in the area of ecology and environment from reputed Member;
institution or University of the State of Gujarat to be nominated by the
Government of Gujarat from time to time every three years.
(v) Representative of the Department of Urban Development, Government Member, ex-officio;
of Gujarat
(vi) Regional Officer, State Pollution Control Board Member, ex-officio;
(vii) Member Secretary or Member, State Biodiversity Board Member, ex-officio;
(viii) District Collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Mehsana or their Members, ex-officio;
representatives
(ix) Deputy Conservator of Forests of Gandhinagar and Mehsana or their Members, ex-officio;
representatives
(x) Deputy Conservator of Forests, Thol Wildlife Sanctuary Member, ex-officio;
(xi) Conservator of Forests, North Gujarat Wildlife Circle, Gandhinagar Member Secretary,
ex- officio.
5A. Functions of Monitoring Committee.- (1) The Monitoring Committee shall, based on the actual
site-specific conditions, scrutinise the activities covered in the Schedule to the notification of the
Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests, vide number S.O. 1533
(E), dated the 14th September, 2006, and are falling in the Eco-sensitive Zone, except for the
prohibited activities as specified in the Table under paragraph 4 thereof, and referred to the Central
Government in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change or the State Environment
Impact Assessment Authority, as the case may be, for prior environmental clearances under the
provisions of the said notification.
(2) The activities not covered in the Schedule to the notification referred to in sub-paragraph (1) and
falling in the Eco-sensitive Zone, except for the prohibited activities specified in the Table under
paragraph 4 thereof, shall be scrutinised by the Monitoring Committee based on the actual site-
specific conditions and referred to the concerned regulatory authorities.
(3) The Member-Secretary of the Monitoring Committee or the Collector or the Deputy Conservator of
Forests shall be competent to file complaint under section 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 against any person who contravenes the provisions of this notification.
(4) The Monitoring Committee may invite representative or expert from the Department concerned,
representative from industry associations or stakeholders to assist in its deliberations depending on
the requirements on case to case basis.
(5) The Monitoring Committee shall submit the annual action taken report of its activities for the period
up to the 31st March of every year by the 30th June of that year to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the
State in proforma specified in Annexure-IV.
(6) The Central Government may give such directions in writing, as it deems fit, to the Monitoring
Committee for effective discharge of its functions.".
[F. No. 25/18/2012-ESZ/RE]
Dr. S. KERKETTA, Scientist "G"
Note. - The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3,
Sub-section (ii), vide S.O. 421(E), dated the 9th February, 2015.