The Joint Sitting of the Parliament finally adopted the Forest and Nature Conservation Bill of Bhutan 2021 today. The Bill was first introduced in December 2021. Among the 68 members present in the house, 66 approved the Bill. It was supposed to be approved on Friday but was postponed due to four disputed clauses. The joint committee of the Bill was then directed to revisit the clauses.
The National Assembly recommended adding a new section to the Bill which would allow the Roads Department to cut or trim trees that obstruct commuters on the road. However, the National Council recommended doing away with the section. The Joint Sitting, today, agreed to remove the section.
“We have decided to remove the section because Chapter 13 of the Road Act of Bhutan 2013 has mentioned provisions related to roads, sidewalks, or any other pathways in detail. Moreover, Chapter 15 has rules regarding roads where section 208 of the act mentions the subject in more detail than the proposed section after Section 47 of the Bill,” said Ugyen Tshering, Lamgong-Wangchang MP.
Moreover, the Joint Committee also decided to allow issuing forestry clearance within 500 metres of monasteries and Dzongs for the developmental activities of the monuments. However, the Prime Minister raised his concern about the clause.
“Before, forestry clearance for roads and water were given not only for the monasteries but for any village beyond the 500-meter radius. However, according to a report presented by the Joint Committee, when they say developmental activities are only for the monasteries and Dzongs, the settlements beyond 500 meters of the area will not be able to get electricity, water and roads. Therefore, the meaning of the section has changed.”
Since the section was already adopted, the speaker requested that the house consider and note down the concern.
The Bill was adopted after making some minor word changes to two other clauses.
Singye Dema
Edited by Kipchu
