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Core Purpose

Amendment to the notification establishing an Eco-sensitive Zone around Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary to modify the constitution and functions of the monitoring committee.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a notification dated April 29, 2025, under powers conferred by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Section 3) and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (Rule 5(4)), to amend its previous notification S.O. 1816(E) dated June 7, 2017. The original notification had declared an Eco-sensitive Zone around the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya. Finding it necessary and expedient in the public interest, the Central Government amended the 2017 notification by substituting paragraphs 5 and 6. The new paragraph 5 constitutes a Monitoring Committee for the Eco-sensitive Zone, comprising ex officio members including the Conservator of Forests Meghalaya, Chief Forest Officer Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, a representative from the Revenue Department Ri-Bhoi District, a Member-Secretary or Member of the State Biodiversity Board, and the Divisional Forest Officer Khasi Hills Wildlife Division (as Member-Secretary), along with nominated members such as an expert in ecology/environment/biodiversity and a representative from a relevant non-governmental organisation. The new paragraph 6 outlines the functions of this Monitoring Committee, which include scrutinizing activities within the Eco-sensitive Zone based on site-specific conditions, referring activities for prior environmental clearances under S.O. 1533(E) dated September 14, 2006, or to concerned regulatory authorities (excluding prohibited activities), empowering the Member-Secretary or Collector or Deputy Conservator of Forests to file complaints under Section 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, allowing the committee to invite experts or stakeholders, and requiring the submission of annual action taken reports to the Chief Wildlife Warden. The requirement for public notice under Rule 5(3)(a) was dispensed with under Rule 5(4).

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-30042025-262773 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1889] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025/VAISAKHA 9, 1947 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 29th April,2025 S.O. 1932(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 Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O. 1816(E), dated the 7th June, 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. 1816(E), dated the 7th June, 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, Forest and Climate Change, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide S.O. 1816 (E), dated the 7th June, 2017, namely:- In the said notification, for paragraphs 5 and 6, 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) The Conservator of Forests (Territorial and Wild Life), -Chairman, ex officio; Government of Meghalaya (ii) Chief Forest Officer, Khasi Hills Autonomous District -Member, ex officio; Council (iii) A representative from the Revenue Department, Ri-Bhoi -Member, ex officio; District Nongpoh (iv) 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 (v) One representative of a non-governmental organisation -Member; working in the field of environment or wildlife including heritage conservation to be nominated by the Government of Meghalaya after every three years (vi) Member-Secretary or Member of the State Biodiversity -Member, ex officio; Board (vii) Divisional Forest Officer, Khasi Hills Wildlife Division, -Member-Secretary, Shillong 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 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 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. 25/24/2015-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. 1816 (E), dated the 7th June, 2017.

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