Environment Minister Chairs 88th Wildlife Standing Committee Meeting

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Jan: The 88th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) was held in New Delhi on Sunday under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.

During the meeting, the Committee examined 70 proposals related to public utility services, defence needs and infrastructure projects located in and around Protected Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Eco-Sensitive Zones, in accordance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Officials said deliberations balanced ecological sensitivity with the need for essential services.

Key proposals included drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, establishment of primary and community health centres, road widening projects, installation of 4G mobile towers and laying of transmission lines. The Committee also discussed a medium irrigation project in Madhya Pradesh aimed at providing drinking and irrigation water in the Bundelkhand region while improving water availability for wildlife and gharials.

The Standing Committee further reviewed 17 defence-related proposals, mainly from Ladakh and Sikkim, concerning strategic infrastructure in border and high-altitude areas. These were recommended keeping national security priorities in mind, along with strict wildlife mitigation measures and environmental safeguards.

The meeting also reviewed the Action Taken Report (ATR) on earlier decisions, particularly policy reforms and improvements to the PARIVESH portal used for environmental clearances. Members agreed that wildlife conservation policies and compliance mechanisms would be further strengthened in upcoming meetings.

The SC-NBWL is a statutory body under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, mandated to advise the government on wildlife conservation while ensuring sustainable development around protected areas.