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Central Government/Public Sector | Gujarat - India | PID: 170021
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For the first time, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the apex body for giving environment clearance, has permitted chief wildlife wardens of all states to grant permission in their respective forest spheres for laying water and optical fibre lines
Earlier, the Gujarat forest department had made its recommendation for policy change in the NBWL seeking delegation of powers to the chief wildlife warden for sanctioning drinking water pipelines within protected areas
In the past, a proposal for even laying a single meter pipeline or a cable, the proposal had to be first cleared by the state board for wildlife (SBWL). Later the proposal was forwarded to the NBWL with recommendations and observations of the SBWL
During the standing committee meeting of the NBWL, it was stated that the Gujarat government had sent a policy agenda for delegation of powers for sanctioning drinking water pipeline proposals falling inside Protected Areas. It was mentioned that a project like drinking water supply to the people cannot be delayed as this is a basic need for sustenance of human life as well as livestock, particularly in water-scarce areas
Gujarat government had proposed that if the power of taking an immediate decision for implementation of drinking water project is given to the Chief Wildlife Warden, then the immediate need of water supply during water scarce seasons can be taken care of During the meeting of the standing committee, NBWL member H S Singh said that regarding proposals for laying of drinking water pipeline and optical fibre cables along the roads inside the national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves, the authority for permission could be delegated to the State Board for Wildlife. He also suggested that the details of clearances given to such proposals should be furnished to the NBWL
In its minutes of the meeting where it was decided to delegate powers to CWWs, the NBWL noted that the standing committee had decided that henceforth Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWWs) would sanction proposals for laying drinking water pipelines and optical fiber cables for telecommunications inside national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves. "However, the CWWs would have to furnish the details every month of all such sanctioned proposals to the standing committee of the NBWL," the minutes read
Wildlife activists, however, claim that on the basis of this decision , highway and power projects will also start demanding clearances from state wardens
Former NBWL member Divyabhanusinh Chavda fears that such a move may affect the delicate ecology of the protected sanctuaries. "There is no sanctity of a national park," he said.
"This is a linear intrusion in the sanctuaries. Earlier, there were several checks and balances, first by SBWL and then by NBWL. Now after the latest decision, these checks and balances would not be there. Further, in several proposals, the NBWL also sent members to inspect and even lay down conditions," Chavda said. A former member of the NBWL said that now it would just be that the state government would pressurise the CWWs and get the file sanctioned even without going into the details of the project
| Updated on: 16 - Oct - 2017
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