GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd August. The Lok Sabha passed a bill on Tuesday that seeks to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, by inserting a new chapter to ensure proper implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
In his reply to the debate on the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021″>2021, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that development and protection of the environment were not opposed to each other.
He stated that appropriate development work can be carried out while keeping environmental concerns in mind. He said that environmental conservation is the government’s constitutional duty. He also said that the government is dedicated to wildlife conservation.
According to the minister, the country’s protected areas have increased from 693 to 987 in the last eight years, including 52 tiger reserves.
He stated that the government operates on the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam principle.
In response to some members from West Bengal, Yadav stated that protecting the Sundarbans is the government’s constitutional responsibility.
The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (the Act) provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental with a view to ensuring the ecological and environmental security of the country.
India is a party to the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Convention) which requires that appropriate measures are taken to enforce the provisions of the Convention.
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill 2021″>2021 proposes to amend the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
It proposes to amend the preamble to the Act so as to include the aspects of “conservation” and “management” of wildlife which are covered by the Act and rationalise and amend the Schedules to the Act for the purposes of clarity.
It also proposes to insert a new chapter for proper implementation of the provisions of the Convention in India, insert provisions to enable control of invasive alien species and insert a provision to allow the State Boards for WildLife to constitute Standing Committees.
The bill proposes to make amendments for better management of protected areas.
It seeks to insert an explanation so as to provide that certain permitted activities such as, grazing or movement of livestock, bona fide use of drinking and household water by local communities shall be considered non-prohibitive under section 29 of the Act.
It also seeks to insert provisions for better care of seized live animals and disposal of seized wildlife parts and products, to allow for transfer or transport of live elephants by a person having ownership certificates in accordance with conditions prescribed by the Central Government. Agency inputs
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