Information pertaining to Right to Information Act

(i) The particulars of the organization, functions and duties

Particulars of the organization

The West Bengal Biodiversity Board is the statutory agency for ensuring proper implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to conserve the biological diversity, encourage sustainable use of resources and ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of genetic resources.

Functions of the WBBB

1. advise the State Government, subject to any guidelines issued by the Central Government, on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources;

2. regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilization or bio-survey and bio-utilization of any biological resource by Indians:

3. perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act or as may be prescribed by the State Government.

• Recent initiatives by the WBBB

The Board has adopted certain approaches to achieve effective conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of biodiversity components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources, which include :

• Formation of BMC’s in every phytoecological zone of West Bengal.

• Conducting workshops for PBR’s under these BMC’s.

• Conducting biodiversity related workshops for different target groups viz. Bureaucrats, School & College teachers, Universities, College & School students and NGOs.

• Building awareness regarding biodiversity conservation for the community.

• Identification of ‘Heritage Sites’ & ‘Sacred Groves’.

(ii) The powers and duties of its officers and employees

Being framed.

(iii) The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability

(iv) The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

Being framed.

(v) The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions

1. In the absence of existing Service Rules of the W.B.B.B., the Board will follow the West Bengal Service Rules.

b) Adoption of Procurement Policy of Goods, Services and Works 2005

The W.B.P.C.B. has adopted a procurement policy of goods, services and works, the salient features of which are given below. Similar procedures are followed/adopted by the W.B.B.B.

1. i) Cash Purchase shall be made up to the estimated value of Rs. 3,000/- from reliable vendors.

ii) Spot quotation shall be collected at least three quotations from bonafide,

resourceful and experienced vendors/suppliers/contractors for an estimated value

of Rs.3,000/- to Rs.7,000/-.

iii) Quotation notice shall be displayed in Notice Board for an estimated value of Rs. 7,000/- to Rs. 75,000/-.

iv) Open tender shall be invited through paper notification for an estimated value exceeding Rs.75,000/-

2. Tender document shall be handed over to the prospective bidders with a nominal cost for an estimated value exceeding Rs.7,000/- and the document shall be divided into four parts, Part I: Qualification, Part-II: Technical bid, Part-III: Financial Bid and Part-IV: General terms and conditions.

3. Tender/quotation shall be opened and evaluated by the committee constituted by the Board on the date and time mentioned in the bid document.

4. At the time of evaluation, price preference shall be given to all registered SSI units of the State, all industrial units of large/medium sector owned/managed by the State Government, State based medium/large unit only for selection of vendors/contractors.

5. The same committee may negotiate only with the lowest bidder.

6. Normally at least three quotations are required for evaluation, except for sophisticated analytical instruments/specialized works for which single bid may be accepted for processing.

7. The Board shall allow purchases to be made from works to be executed directly by the Cooperative Societies, Public sector undertaking, Statutory Body, SSI Unit etc.

8. The Board may enlist the suppliers/contractors for any supplies/services through paper notification. Once the enlistment is made, the Board shall invite quotation/tender from the enlisted parties without going for an open tender.

9. In case of the sophisticated instruments, the Board may invite the offers for specified branded items from different dealers/distributors/manufacturers of that particular branded item without going for open tender. Spare parts and consumables for sophisticated instruments and office appliances shall be procured directly from the manufacturer/sole agent.

10. In the case of sophisticated instruments , computer servers, networking equipment etc. AMC/CMC may be awarded directly to the manufacturer or its authorized service center/dealer/channel partners.

11. The Board may issue the repeat order based on earlier order issued following the procurement policy.

c) Publication

No such as yet , as the Board is newly formed.

d) Environment Protection Manuals

No such as yet , as the Board is newly formed.

(vi) a statement of the categories of documents that are held by its or under its control

The People’s Biodiversity Registers are being prepared.

(vii) The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof

Identification of NGOs engaged in biodiversity conservation related activities is in process.

(viii) A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public

Recommended Committees :-

I. Biodiversity Inventory Committee

1) Dr. Silanjan Bhattacharya, Dept. of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Kolkata

2) Dr. D. C. Pal, Scientist (Retd.), Botanical Survey of India

3) Mr. Mantu Biswas, Botanist (Retd.), Botanical Survey of India

4) Representative of Botanical Survey of India

5) Representative of Zoological Survey of India

6) Chief Conservator of Forests (Research)

7) Director, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of W. B.

II. Agricultural Biodiversity Committee

1) Prof. Pranab Chatterjee, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya

2) Dr. Tapas Ghosh, Bose Institute, Kolkata

3) Dr. Subhendu Chatterjee, Additional Director of Agriculture (Research), Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal

4) Dr. Basudeb Chatterjee, District Horticulturist, Krishnanagar

5) Dr. Niladri Bhowmick, North Bengal Agricultural University.

6) Jt. Director, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of W. B.

III. Wetland Biodiversity Committee

1) Prof. P. K. Mukherjee, Dept. of Botany, University of Calcutta

2) Prof. N. C. Dutta (Retd.), Dept. of Zoology, University of Calcutta

3) Dr. L. K. Banerjee (Retd.). Joint Director, Botanical Survey of India

4) Prof. S. C. Santra, Dept. of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani

5) D. F. O. Wetland Research

6) Jt. Director, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of W. B.

IV. Heritage & Sacred Grove Committee

1) Mr. S. Barari, Chief Environment Officer, Dept. of Environment, Govt. of

West Bengal, Convener

2) Prof. N. Paria, Dept. of Botany, University of Calcutta

3) Representative of Zoological Survey of India

4) Representative of Botanical Survey of India

V. Awareness Committee

1) Dr. A. K. Banerjee, Ex-senior World Bank Forestry Specialist, Convener

2) Mr. K. C. Gayen, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wild Life &

Biodiversity, Dept. of Forest, Govt. of West Bengal

3) Dr. S. D. Chatterjee, Addl. Director of Agriculture (Research), Dept. of

Agriculture, Govt. of W. B.

(ix) A directory of its officers and employees

(x) The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations

ANNEXURE – I

(xi) The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made

ANNEXURE – II

(xii) The manner of execution of subsidy programmes including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes

Not applicable.

(xiii) Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it

Not applicable.

(xiv) Details in respect of the information, available to or held by its, reduced in an electronic form

All information available in website.

(xv) The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use

As available with the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.

Website : www.wbpcb.gov.in/biodiversity/index.shtml

(xvi) The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers

Being positioned.

(xvii) Such other information as may be prescribed