The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has directed the Odisha Government to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh every month for not complying with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directive. The penalty has been imposed for the non-compliance of the NGT’s directive pertaining to the setting up of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) and Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) by the State government. 

The Odisha government has been asked to pay the monthly fine amount to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as per the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) norms. The fund will be utilized for environmental conservation, sources said. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to set up a Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) and preparation of Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers (PBR) on March 30, 2020. As per the order issued in 2018, the deadline for the formation of BMC and preparation of PBR was January 31, 2020.

But the government failed to comply with the directives, hence NBA has directed the State government to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh per month to Central Pollution Control Board from February 2020 onwards. Odisha government officials said that the State is committed to achieve 100% formation of BMCs and preparation of dynamic PBRs at all levels till December 31, 2020 or after normalization of the present Covid-l9 pandemic situation.

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