Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Efforts on to create awareness about Act

THANJAVUR: The National Biodiversity Authority is engaged in a major exercise of creating awareness about the Biological Diversity Act 2002 with a view to conserving bio-resources in the country, said Authority Chairman S. Kannaiyan on Sunday.

The Act had three aims: conservation of bio-diversity, sustainable use of bio-diversity and fair and equitable sharing of benefits, he told presspersons here. Section 3 of the Act prevented foreigners from taking any bio resource from the country. According to Section 4, technology transfer could take place only with the Authority’s approval. Section 5 dealt with collaborative research and Section 6 with Intellectual Property Rights.

The law also provided for stringent punishment of 10 years imprisonment and a huge fine in the event of violations.

For the convenience of implementation, a three-tier system had been formed. The National Biodiversity Authority would function at the national level, State bio-diversity boards at the State level and bio-diversity management committees at the local level. So far, the boards had been set up in 18 States. In Tamil Nadu, it would be set up in 20 days.

Mr. Kannaiyan said documentation of bio-resources at the local level was being done to prepare a people’s bio-diversity register. Kerala had started work in six districts.

The Authority had asked the Planning Commission for allotment of Rs.70 crore for the works to be done by the Authority. The amount would be utilised for all purposes including creation of bio-diversity parks at many places, conducting awareness and training programmes.

A training programme for teachers would be held here on Monday. The programme was jointly organised by the Authority and the Centre for Ecology and Research at Thanjavur.

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