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Core Purpose

Amends the notification declaring the Eco-Sensitive Zone around Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab, specifically substituting the paragraph on the Monitoring Committee.

Detailed Summary

This notification by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change amends the previous notification S.O. 350(E), dated February 6, 2017, which declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone around Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary in Punjab, exercising powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. The amendment substitutes paragraph 5 of the original notification to detail the constitution and functions of the Eco-Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee. The Monitoring Committee is constituted with the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Punjab, as Chairman, and includes representatives from various Punjab Government departments (Rural, Urban, Agriculture), Punjab State Pollution Control Board, a nominated environmental NGO representative, a nominated expert in ecology/environment, the District Collector of Patiala, a member of the Punjab State Biodiversity Board, and the Divisional Forest Officer (In-charge of Protected Area) as Member Secretary. The committee is mandated to scrutinise activities within the Eco-Sensitive Zone based on site conditions, referring activities specified in S.O. 1533(E) of September 14, 2006, (prohibited ones excepted) to the Central Government or State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for prior environmental clearance. Other activities in the zone (not in S.O. 1533(E) and not prohibited) are also scrutinised and referred to relevant regulatory authorities. Designated members can file complaints under Section 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for contraventions. The committee is required to submit annual action taken reports to the Chief Wildlife Warden by June 30th.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-22042025-262618 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1783] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025/VAISAKHA 2, 1947 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 22nd April, 2025 S.O. 1816(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 the Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary, Punjab in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide S.O. 350(E), dated the 6th February, 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. 350(E), dated the 6th February, 2017; 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 S.O. 350(E), dated the 6th February, 2017, namely:- In the said notification, for paragraph 5, the following paragraph shall be substituted, namely: - "5. Monitoring Committee. - (1) The Central Government hereby constitutes a Monitoring Committee consisting of the following persons, namely: - (i) Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Government of Punjab (ii) Representative of Department of Rural Department, Government of Punjab (iii) Regional Officer, Punjab State Pollution Control Board (iv) One representative of Non-Governmental Organisations working in the field of environment to be nominated by the Government of Punjab from time to time every three years (v) One expert in the area of ecology and environment to be nominated by the Government of Punjab from time to time every three years (vi) Representative of Urban Department, Government of Punjab (vii) Representative of Department of Agricultural, Government of Punjab (viii) Representative of District Collector, Patiala (ix) Member of the Punjab State Biodiversity Board (x) Divisional Forest Officer (In-charge of Protected Area) (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 S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006, and are falling in the Eco-sensitive Zone, except for the prohibited activities 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 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 the Department, representative from the industry associations or the stakeholders to assist the committee in its deliberations depending on the requirements on case to case basis. (6) The Monitoring Committee shall submit the action taken report annually of its activities for the period up to the 31st March of every year to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State by the 30th June of that year in pro- forma specified in Annexure-III. (7) The Central Government may give such directions in writing, as it deems fit, to the Monitoring Committee for effective discharge of its functions.". -Chairman, ex officio; Member, ex officio; - Member, ex officio; -Member; -Member; Member, ex officio; Member, ex officio; Member, ex officio; Member, ex officio; -Member Secretary, ex officio. [F. No. 25/28/2014-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. 350(E), dated the 6th February, 2017.

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