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Core Purpose

Amends the 2017 notification declaring the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone to reconstitute its Monitoring Committee and define its functions.

Detailed Summary

This notification from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change amends its prior notification S.O. 2942(E) dated 6th September, 2017, which declared an Eco-sensitive Zone around the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya. Exercising powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1986, the Central Government substitutes paragraphs 5 and 6 of the original notification. The substituted paragraph 5 constitutes a Monitoring Committee for the Eco-sensitive Zone, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, East Jantia Hills, Jowai (ex officio). Its members include experts in ecology/biodiversity and environment/wildlife from reputed institutions or NGOs (nominated by Meghalaya Govt every three years), the Executive Engineer of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (ex officio), the Member-Secretary or Member of the State Biodiversity Board (ex officio), the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest or Head of Forest Force (ex officio), and the Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) as Member-Secretary (ex officio). The new paragraph 6 defines the functions of this Committee, primarily tasking it with scrutinising activities within the Eco-sensitive Zone (except prohibited ones) based on site-specific conditions for environmental clearances or regulatory referrals. The Member-Secretary, Collector, or Deputy Conservator of Forests is authorised to file complaints for violations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Committee may invite experts/stakeholders, must submit an annual action taken report by June 30th to the Chief Wildlife Warden, and is subject to directions from the Central Government.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-19042025-262537 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1761] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025/CHAITRA 27, 1947 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 17th April, 2025 S.O. 1794(E).— WHEREAS, the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and 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 the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide S.O. 2942 (E), dated the 6th September, 2017; 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. 2942(E), dated the 6th September, 2017; NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and 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 in the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide S.O. 2942(E), dated the 6th September, 2017 namely:- In the said notification, for paragraphs 5 and 6, the following paragraphs shall be substituted, namely: - "5. Monitoring Committee. — The Central Government here by constitute a Monitoring Committee consisting of the following persons, namely: - +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (i) | The Deputy Commissioner, East Jantia Hills, Jowai | Chairman,ex | | | | officio; | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (ii)| One expert in ecology and environment or Biodiversity from | Member; | | | reputed institution or university to be nominated by the | | | | Government of Meghalaya after every three years | | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (iii)| One representative of a non-governmental organisation working in | Member; | | | the field of environment or wildlife including heritage | | | | conservation to be nominated by the Government of Meghalaya | | | | after every three years | | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (iv)| Executive Engineer, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board | Member, | | | | ex officio; | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (v) | Member-Secretary or Member of the State Biodiversity Board | Member, | | | | ex officio; | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (vi)| Principal Chief Conservator of Forest or Head of Forest Force | Member, | | | | ex officio; | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ | (vii)| Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) | Member- | | | | Secretary, | | | | ex officio. | +-----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------+ 6. 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 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 as 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 Department, 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 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. 25/156/2015-ESZ] 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 number S.O. 2942(E), dated the 6th September, 2017.

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