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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-22032025-261816
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 1319] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025/PHALGUNA 29, 1946
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th March, 2025
S.O. 1337(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 Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-
II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O. 2277(E), dated the 1st July, 2016;
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. 2277(E), dated the 1st July, 2016;
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. 2277(E), dated
the 1st July, 2016, namely:-
In the said notification, for paragraphs 5 the following paragraph shall be substituted, namely: -
"5. Monitoring Committee. (1) There shall be a Committee to be known as Monitoring Committee
constituted by the Central Government which shall comprise of the following persons specified in the
Table below, namely:—
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| | | |
+=====+==========================================================================================+=====================+
| (i) | The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Government of Punjab | Chairman, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (ii)| Representative of Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, Government of Punjab | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (iii)| Representative of the Regional Office, Punjab State Pollution Control Board | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (iv)| One representative of Non-governmental Organisations working in the field of environment | Member; |
| | to be nominated by the Government of Punjab from time to time every three years | |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (v) | Representative of Department of Rural Development and Housing Department, Government of Punjab | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (vi)| Representative of Agricultural, Government of Punjab | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (vii)| Representative of District Collector of Patiala | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (viii)| An expert in the area of ecology from reputed Institution or University to be nominated | Member; |
| | by the Government of Punjab from time to time every three years | |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (ix)| Member, State Biodiversity Board | Member, exofficio; |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
| (x) | Divisional Forest Officer (In-charge of Protected Area) | Member Secretary. |
+-----+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------+
(2) 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. 1553 (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.
(3) The activities not covered in the Schedule to the notification referred to in sub-paragraph (2) and are
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.
(4) 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.
(5) The Monitoring Committee may invite representative or expert from Department concerned,
representative from industry associations or stakeholders to assist in its deliberations depending on the
requirements on case to case basis.
(6) 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
pro-forma specified in Annexure-IV
(7) 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. 25/23/2014-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. 2277(E), dated the 1st July, 2016.