Chennai: It has been 13 years since National Biodiversity Act (NBA) was implemented, but the nodal body has been able to set up only 20 biodiversity management committees (BMCs) in panchayats of the state.
The Biological Diversity Act 2002 mandates all local bodies to setup biodiversity management committees to: preserve and promote local biodiversity, prepare people’s biodiversity register and maintain data medicinal plants used by traditional healer. The committee – to be constituted by local members of the village – has been a non-starter, due to various factors like lack of interest from the National Biodiversity Authority and communal disturbances.
An official from the board said, “Although 41,000 committees were established throughout the country, Tamil Nadu has approximately 20 BMCs. According to the biodiversity Act, each panchayat should possess a BMC to keep a check on the biodiversity hotspots”.
Even though it is the responsibility of the local panchayats to form BMCs, the fact that the board whose primary goals is sensitising the public, failed to do so.
When asked about the proceedings, the official told DC that they had issued guidelines and operational part of BMCs in 2013.
Explaining the problem in forming the BMC, a villager from Sivagangai said, “It is mandatory to include a person from scheduled tribe in the committee. Upper caste people have raised their objection to it.”
What is a sacred grove?
A grove comprises patches of natural vegetation dedicated to the local deity. One can see a water body and offerings — in the form of terracotta animals — at a grove, which is protected by the local community. Even though, terracotta horses are often seen in Tamil Nadu, some parts like Amman koil grove on East Coast Road, maintained by fishermen sheltered elephant offerings, a rarity, which remain a mystery to naturalists.
