Formation of wildlife board before SC hearing: Javadekar

Apex court had last week noted that nomination of board members was not in consonance with provisions of Wildlife Protection Act

The prime minister headed-National Board for Wildlife will be fully constituted before the next hearing of the apex court, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said here on Tuesday.

“All the procedures will be followed before the hearing. The process has begun,” Javadekar told Business Standard on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the ministry’s achievements in 100 days.  

Last week, the court had asked the Centre to put on hold the decisions taken by the board’s standing panel, noting the nomination of board members was not in line with the Wildlife Protection Act.

The Centre had notified the reconstitution of the board with three non-government members, instead of the mandatory 15, after its term had expired last year. All these approvals had the consent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The board, which reviews and approves projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries, should have 47 members —  19 are ex-officio members, three members of Parliament, 15 experts and 10 government officials — according to the rules.