Section Text
1 [8. Establishmentof National Biodiversity Authority.--
(1) Witheffect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint, there shall beestablished by the Central Government for the purposes of this Act, a body tobe called the National Biodiversity Authority.
(2) TheNational Biodiversity Authorityshall be a body corporate bythe name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with powerto acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and tocontract, and shall bythe said name sue and be sued.
(3) The head office of the National BiodiversityAuthority shall beat Chennai and the National Biodiversity Authority may, with the previousapproval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.
(4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall consist of the following members,namely:--
(a) a Chairperson, who shall be an eminent person having adequate knowledgeand experience in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversityand in matters relating to equitable sharing ofbenefits, to be appointed by the Central Government;
(b) three ex officiomembers to be appointed by the Central Government,one representing the Ministry dealing with Tribal Affairs and two representing theMinistry dealing with Environment and Forests of whom one shall be the Additional Director General of Forestsor the Director General of Forests;
(c) seven ex officiomembers to be appointed by the Central Government torepresent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with--
(i) Agricultural Research andEducation;
(ii) Biotechnology;
(iii) Ocean Development;
(iv) Agriculture andCooperation;
(v) IndianSystems of Medicine and Homoeopathy;
(vi) Science and Technology;
(vii) Scientific and IndustrialResearch;
(d) fivenon-official members to be appointed from amongst specialists and scientistshaving special knowledge of, or experience in, matters relating to conservationof biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out ofthe use of biological resources, representatives of industry, conservers,creators and knowledge-holders of biological resources.
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1.Effective from 01.10.2003