A few members of the National Council raised concerns about having different rules for biological corridors during the deliberation of the Biological Corridor Nine Bill of Bhutan 2023. The members said the Biological Corridor Nine Bill has only four prohibitions while the rules on Biological Corridors for the other eight Biological Corridors have several prohibitions. The Natural Resources and Environment Committee of the National Council presented the amendments and committee’s recommendation on the Bill today.
According to the amendments on the Biological Corridor Nine Bill made by the National Assembly, commercial activities such as quarrying, mining, logging and destroying wildlife are prohibited.
The National Council’s Natural Resources and Environment Committee also accepted it.
However, a few members raised their concerns as the Bill has just four prohibitions without any explanation. They emphasised on having uniform and fair legislation for all biological corridors.
“Today there are only four prohibitions. Before, for all the eight biological corridors, there were fourteen prohibitions. And stating in the Act that the four prohibitions will only apply to the Biological Corridor Nine and not to other corridors means we have double standards,” said Ugyen Tshering, Eminent Member.
“What are the restrictions imposed on the existing biological corridors? If we look here, the Biological Corridor Nine has only four prohibitions. Only when we understand it, we can know the differences and review them,” said Jamyang Namgyal, Pema Gatshel MP.
“As the rules are different for Biological Corridor Nine and the other existing eight corridors, there will be challenges when it is reviewed in the future. In the offence section, it is stated that the offence and the penalties will be levied according to the rules of the biological corridor that has existed before. Hence, rules must be reviewed,” said ema Tashi, Sarpang MP.
After a lengthy discussion, the house decided to re-deliberate on the matter tomorrow along with a few other sections.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee’s chairperson informed the house about the benefits of having the Biological Corridor Nine.
“If the people’s private land falls under such proposed area, firstly the people can opt for land substitution. The forestry officials said that the principle of the conservation of the forest in our country is to have co-habitants. They say co-habitant is the charm of our conservation. To solve the human-wildlife conflict, we have the Bhutan Trust Fund that is willing to give us 15 million ngultrum which will be invested in solving it,” said Ugyen Tshering, Chairperson of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee.
The Biological Corridor Nine will connect Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. It will cover five Gewogs of Trashi Yangtse and one Gewog of Trashigang.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Tshering Zam
