NBA to construct bio-diversity park in Chennai

Coimbatore, Feb 23 (UNI) National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) Chairman Dr S Kannaian today said a separate NBA campus in Chennai would have bio-diversity park, training facilities and staff quarters.

Talking to newspersons here, the Chairman said the government had agreed to provide land for the campus and construction would begin within three months.

The NBA would advise the government on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilisation of biological resources, selection and notification of the biodiversity heritage sites, he said.

He said the NBA takes measures to protect the biological diversity of the country as well as oppose the grant of intellectual property rights to foreign countries on any biological resources obtained from India or knowledge associated with such biological resources derived from India.

He said NBA had established a State Biodiversity Board (SBB) in 18 states in the country through the respective state governments.

Such SBBs would be established soon in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

To a question on controversial Sethusamudram Project would destroy coral reefs, Dr Kannaian said the formation of coral reefs was about 50 km away from the construction site.

The NBA has requested the Centre to allot Rs 25 crore in the 11th five year plan for the construction of new campus, he added.

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