MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

(Legislative Department)

New Delhi, the 5th February, 2003/Magha 16, 1924 (Saka)

The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 5th February, 2003, and is hereby published for general information:

THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ACT, 2002

No. 18 OF 2003

[5^th February, 2003]

An Act to provide for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

WHEREAS India is rich in biological diversity and associated traditional and contemporary knowledge system relating thereto.

AND WHEREAS India is a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity signed at Rio de Janeiro on the 5th day of June, 1992;

AND WHEREAS the said Convention came into force on the 29th December, 1993;

AND WHEREAS the said Convention reaffirms the sovereign rights of the States over their biological resources;

AND WHEREAS the said Convention has the main objective of conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of utilization of genetic resources;

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to provide for conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of utilization of genetic resources and also to give effect to the said Convention.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty‑third Year of the Republic of India as follows:–

CHAPTER - I

Preliminary

1. Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:

Provided that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.

2. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,–

(a) "benefit claimers" means the conservers of biological resources, their byproducts, creators and holders of knowledge and information relating to the use of such biological resources, innovations and practices associated with such use and application;

(b) "biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological complexes of which they are part, and includes diversity within species or between species and of eco‑systems;

(c) "biological resources" means plants, animals and micro‑organisms or parts thereof, their genetic material and by‑products (excluding value added products) with actual or potential use or value, but does not include human genetic material;

(d) "bio‑survey and bio‑utilization" means survey or collection of species, subspecies, genes, components and extracts of biological resource for any purpose and includes characterization, inventorisation and bioassay;

(e) "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority or, as the case may be, of the State Biodiversity Board;

(f) "commercial utilization" means end uses of biological resources for commercial utilization such as drugs, industrial enzymes, food flavours, fragrance, cosmetics, emulsifiers, oleoresins, colours, extracts and genes used for improving crops and livestock through genetic intervention, but does not include conventional breeding or traditional practices in use in any agriculture, horticulture, poultry, dairy farming, animal husbandry or bee keeping;

(g) "fair and equitable benefit sharing" means sharing of benefits as determined by the National Biodiversity Authority under section 2 1;

(h) "local bodies" means Panchayats and Municipalities, by whatever name called, within the meaning of clause (1) of article 243B and clause (1) of article 243Q of the Constitution and in the absence of any Panchayats or Municipalities, institutions of self‑government constituted under any other provision of the Constitution or any Central Act or State Act;

(i) "member" means a member of the National Biodiversity Authority or a State Biodiversity Board and includes the Chairperson;

(j) "National Biodiversity Authority" means the National Biodiversity Authority established under section 8;

(k) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made 1 under this Act;

(l) "regulations" means regulations made under this Act;

(m) "research" means study or systematic investigation of any biological resource or technological application, that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof to make or modify products or processes for any use;

(n) "State Biodiversity Board" means the State Biodiversity Board established under section 22;

(o) "sustainable use" means the use of components of biological diversity in such manner and at such rate that does not lead to the long‑term decline of the biological diversity thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations;

(p) "value added products" means products which may contain portions or extracts of plants and animals in unrecognizable and physically inseparable form.

CHAPTER - II

Regulation of Access to Biological Diversity

Certain persons not to undertake Biodiversity related activities without approval of National Biodiversity Authority

3. (1) No person referred to in sub‑section (2) shall, without previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority, obtain any biological resource occurring in India or knowledge associated thereto for research or for commercial utilization or for bio‑survey and bio‑utilization.

(2) The persons who shall be required to take the approval of the National Biodiversity Authority under sub‑section (1) are the following, namely:

(a) a person who is not a citizen of India;

(b) a citizen of India, who is a non‑resident as defined in clause (30) of section 2 of the Income‑tax Act, 196 1;

(i) not incorporated or registered in India; or

(ii) incorporated or registered in India under any law for the time being in force which has any non‑Indian participation in its share capital or management.

Results of research not to be transferred to certain persons without approval of National Biodiversity Authority

4. No person shall, without the previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority, transfer the results of any research relating to any biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India for monetary consideration or otherwise to any person who is not a citizen of India or citizen of India who is non‑resident as defined in clause (30) of section 2 of the Income‑tax Act, 1961 or a body corporate or organization which Is not registered or incorporated in India or which has any non‑Indian participation in its share capital or management.

Explanation.‑ For the purposes of this section, "transfer" does not include publication of research papers or dissemination of knowledge in any seminar or workshop, if such publication is as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government.

Sections 3 and 4 not to apply to certain collaborative research projects

5.(1) The provisions of sections 3 and 4 shall not apply to collaborative research projects involving transfer or exchange of biological resources or information relating thereto between institutions, including Government sponsored institutions of India, and such institutions in other countries, if such collaborative research projects satisfy the conditions specified in sub‑section (3).

(2) All collaborative research projects, other than those referred to in sub‑section (1) which are based on agreements concluded before the commencement of this Act and in force shall, to the extent the provisions of agreement are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or any guidelines issued under clause (a) of sub‑section (3), be void.

(3) For the purposes of sub‑section (1), collaborative research projects shall-

(a) conform to the policy guidelines issued by the Central Government in this behalf;

(b) be approved by the Central Government.

Application for intellectual property rights not to be made without approval of National Biodiversity Authority

6.(1) No person shall apply for any intellectual property right, by whatever name called, in or outside India for any invention based on any research or information on a biological resource obtained from India without obtaining the previous approval of the National Biodiversity Authority before making such application.

Provided that if a person applies for a patent, permission of the National Biodiversity Authority may be obtained after the acceptance of the patent but before the seating of tile patent by the patent authority concerned:

Provided further that the National Biodiversity Authority shall dispose of the application for permission made to it within a period of ninety days from the date of receipt thereof.

(2) The National Biodiversity Authority may, while granting the approval under this section, impose benefit sharing fee or royalty or both or impose conditions including the sharing of financial benefits arising out of the commercial utilization of such rights.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person making an application for any right under any law relating to protection of plant varieties enacted by Parliament.

(4) Where any right is granted under law referred to in sub‑section (3), the concerned authority granting such right shall endorse a copy of such document granting the right to the National Biodiversity Authority.

Prior intimation to State Biodiversity Board for obtaining biological resource for certain purposes

7. No person, who is a citizen of India or a body corporate, association or organization which is registered in India, shall obtain any biological resource for commercial utilization, or bio‑survey and bio‑utilization for commercial utilization except after giving prior intimation to the State Biodiversity Board concerned:

Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the local people and communities of the area, including growers and cultivators of biodiversity, and vaids and hakims, who have been practicing indigenous medicine.

CHAPTER - III

National Biodiversity Authority

Establishment of National Biodiversity Authority

8.(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established by the Central Government for the purposes of this Act, a body to be called the National Biodiversity Authority.

(2) The National Biodiversity Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.

(3) The head office of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be at Chennai and the National Biodiversity Authority may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, establish offices at other places in India.

(4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall consist of the following members,

(a) a Chairperson, who shall be an eminent person having adequate knowledge and experience in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and in matters relating to equitable sharing of benefits, to be appointed by the Central Government;

(b) three ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government, one representing the Ministry dealing with Tribal Affairs and two representing the Ministry dealing with Environment and Forests of whom one shall be the Additional Director General of Forests or the Director General of Forests;

(c) seven ex officio members to be appointed by the Central Government to represent respectively the Ministries of the Central Government dealing with –

(i) Agricultural Research and Education;

(ii) Biotechnology;

(iii) Ocean Development;

(iv) Agriculture and Cooperation;

(v) Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy;

(vi) Science and Technology;

(vii) Scientific and Industrial Research;

(d) five non‑official members to be appointed from amongst specialists and scientists having special knowledge of, or experience in, matters relating to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources, representatives of industry, conservers, creators and know ledge‑holders of biological resources.

Conditions of service of Chairperson and members

9. The term of office and conditions of service of the Chairperson and the other members other than ex officio members of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

Chairperson to be Chief Executive of National Biodiversity Authority

10. The Chairperson shall be the Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties, as may be prescribed.

Removal of members

11. The Central Government may remove from the National Biodiversity Authority any member who, in its opinion, has-

(a) been adjudged as an insolvent; or

(b) been convicted of an offence which involves moral turpitude; or

(d) so abused his position as to render his continuance in office detrimental to the public interest; or

(e) acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member.

Meetings of National Biodiversity Authority

12. (1) The National Biodiversity Authority shall meet at such time and place and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings (including the quorum at its meetings) as may be prescribed.

(2) The Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority shall preside at the meetings of the National Biodiversity Authority.

(3) If for any reason the Chairperson is unable to attend any meeting of the National Biodiversity Authority, any member of the National Biodiversity Authority chosen by the members present at the meeting shall preside at the meeting.

(4) All questions which come before any meeting of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson or, in his absence, the person presiding, shall have and exercise a second or casting vote.

(5) Every member who is in any way, whether directly, indirectly or personally, concerned or interested in a matter to be decided at the meeting shall disclose the nature of his concern or interest and after such disclosure, the member concerned or interested shall not attend that meeting.

(6) No act or proceeding of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be invalidated merely by reason of-

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the National Biodiversity Authority; or

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member; or

Committees of National Biodiversity Authority

13. (1) The National Biodiversity Authority may constitute a committee to deal with agro‑biodiversity.

Explanation‑ For the purposes of this sub‑section, "agro‑biodiversity" means biological diversity, of agriculture related species and their wild relatives.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub‑section (1), the National Biodiversity Authority may constitute such number of committees as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions under this Act.

(3) A committee constituted under this section shall co-opt such number of persons, who are not the members of the National Biodiversity Authority, as it may think fit and the persons so co‑opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee and take part in its proceedings but shall not have the right to vote.

(4) The persons appointed as members of the committee under sub‑section (2) shall be entitled to receive such allowances or fees for attending the meetings of the committee as may be fixed by the Central Government.

Officers and employees of National Biodiversity Authority

14.(1) The National Biodiversity Authority may appoint such officers and other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.

(2) The terms and conditions of service of such officers and other employees of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be such as may be specified by regulations.

Authentication of orders and decisions of National Biodiversity Authority

15. All orders and decisions of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chairperson or any other member authorized by the National Biodiversity Authority in this behalf and all other instruments executed by the National Biodiversity Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of an officer of the National Biodiversity Authority authorized by it in this behalf.

Delegation of powers

16. The National Biodiversity Authority may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any member, officer of the National Biodiversity Authority or any other person subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, such of the powers and functions under this Act (except the power to prefer an appeal under section 50 and the power to make regulations under section 64) as it may deem necessary.

Expenses of National Biodiversity Authority to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India

17. The salaries and allowances payable to the members and the administrative expenses of the National Biodiversity Authority including salaries, allowances and pension payable to, or in respect of, the officers and other employees of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

CHAPTER - IV

Functions and Powers of the National Biodiversity Authority

Functions and powers of National Biodiversity Authority

18.(1) It shall be the duty of the National Biodiversity Authority to regulate activities referred to in sections 3, 4 and 6 and by regulations issue guidelines for access to biological resources and for fair and equitable benefit sharing.

(2) The National Biodiversity Authority may grant approval for undertaking any activity referred to in sections 3, 4 and 6.

(3) The National Biodiversity Authority may-

(a) advise the Central Government on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources;

(b) advise the State Governments in the selection of areas of biodiversity importance to be notified under sub‑section (1) of section 37 as heritage sites and measures for the management of such heritage sites;

(4) The National Biodiversity Authority may, on behalf of the Central Government, take any measures necessary to oppose the grant of intellectual property rights in any country outside India on any biological resource obtained from India or knowledge associated with such biological resource which is derived from India.

CHAPTIER - V

Approval by the National Biodiversity Authority

Approval by National Biodiversity Authority for undertaking certain activities

19.(1) Any person referred. to in sub‑section (2) of section 3 who intends to obtain any biological resource occurring in India or knowledge associated thereto for research or for commercial utilization or for bio‑survey and bio‑utilization or transfer the results of any research relating to biological resources occurring in, or obtained from, India, shall make application in such form and payment of such fees as may be prescribed, to the National Biodiversity Authority.

(2) Any person who intends to apply for a patent or any other form of intellectual property protection whether in India or outside India referred to in sub‑section (1) of section 6, may make an application in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the National Biodiversity Authority.

(3) On receipt of an application under sub‑section (1) or sub‑section (2), the National Biodiversity Authority may, after making such enquiries as it may deem fit and if necessary after consulting an expert committee constituted for this purpose, by order, grant approval subject to any regulations made in this behalf and subject to such terms and conditions as it may deem fit, including the imposition of charges by way of royalty or for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject the application:

Provided that no such order for rejection shall be made without giving an opportunity of being heard to the person affected.

(4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall give public notice of every approval granted by it under this section.

Transfer of biological resource or knowledge

20.(1) No person who has been granted approval under section 19 shall transfer any biological resource or knowledge associated thereto which is the subject matter of the said approval except with the permission of the National Biodiversity Authority.

(2) Any person who intends to transfer any biological resource or knowledge associated thereto referred to in sub‑section (1) shall make an application in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the National Biodiversity Authority.

(3) On receipt of an application under sub‑section (2), the National Biodiversity Authority may, after making such enquiries as it may deem fit and if necessary after consulting an expert committee constituted for this purpose, by order, grant approval subject to such terms and conditions as it may deem fit, including the imposition of charges by way of royalty or for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject the application:

Provided that no such order for rejection shall be made without giving an opportunity of being heard to the person affected.

(4) The National Biodiversity Authority shall give public notice of every approval granted by it under this section.

Determination of equitable benefit sharing by National Biodiversity Authority

21.(1) The National Biodiversity Authority shall while granting approvals under section 19 or section 20 ensure that the terms and conditions subject to which approval is granted secures equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of accessed biological resources, their by‑products, innovations and practices associated with their use and applications and knowledge relating thereto in accordance with mutually agreed terms and conditions between the person applying for such approval, local bodies concerned and the benefit claimers.

(2) The National Biodiversity Authority shall, subject to any regulations made in this behalf, determine the benefit sharing which shall be given effect in all or any of the following manner, namely:

(a) grant of joint ownership of intellectual property rights to the National Biodiversity Authority, or where benefit claimers are identified, to such benefit claimers;

(b) transfer of technology;

(c) location of production, research and development units in such areas which will facilitate better living standards to the benefit claimers;

(d) association of Indian scientists, benefit claimers and the local people with research and development in biological resources and bio‑survey and bio‑utilization;

(e) setting up of venture capital fund for aiding the cause of benefit claimers;

(f) payment of monetary compensation and non‑monetary benefits to the benefit claimers as the National Biodiversity Authority may deem fit.

(3) Where any amount of money is ordered by way of benefit sharing, the National Biodiversity Authority may direct the amount to be deposited in the National Biodiversity Fund:

Provided that where biological resource or knowledge was a result of access from specific individual or group of individuals or organizations, the National Biodiversity Authority may direct that the amount shall be paid directly to such individual or group of individuals or organizations in accordance with the terms of any agreement and in such manner as it deems fit.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the National Biodiversity Authority shall, in consultation with the Central Government, by regulations, frame guidelines.

CHAPTER - VI

State Biodiversity Board

Establishment of State Biodiversity Board

22.(1) With effect from such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this behalf, there shall be established by that Government for the purposes of this Act, a Board for the State to be known as the (name of the State) Biodiversity Board.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no State Biodiversity Board shall be constituted for a Union territory and in relation to a Union territory, the National Biodiversity Authority shall exercise the powers and perform the functions of a State Biodiversity Board for that Union territory:

Provided that in relation to any Union territory, the National Biodiversity Authority may delegate all or any of its powers or functions under this sub‑section to such person or group of persons as the Central Government may specify.

(3) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and he sued.

(4) The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:

(a) a Chairperson who shall be an eminent person having adequate knowledge and experience in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and in matters relating to equitable sharing of benefits, to he appointed by the State Government;

(b) not more than five ex officio members to be appointed by the State Government to represent the concerned Departments of the State Government;

(c) not more than five members to be appointed from amongst experts in matters relating to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.

(5) The head office of the State Biodiversity Board shall be at such place as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

Functions of State Biodiversity Board

23. The functions of the State Biodiversity Board shall be to–

(a) 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;

(b) regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilization or bio‑survey and bio‑utilization of any biological resource by Indians;

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

Power of State Biodiversity Board to restrict certain activities

24.(1) Any citizen of India or a body corporate, organization or association registered in India intending to undertake any activity referred to in section 7 shall give prior intimation in such form as may be prescribed by the State Government to the State Biodiversity Board.

(2) On receipt of an intimation under sub‑section (1), the State Biodiversity Board may, in consultation with the local bodies concerned and after making such enquires as it conservation, may deem fit, by order, prohibit or restrict any such activity if it is of opinion that such activity is detrimental or contrary to the objectives of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity or equitable sharing of benefits arising out of such activity:

Provided that no such order shall be made without giving an opportunity of being heard to the person affected.

(3) Any information given in the form referred to in sub‑section (1) for prior intimation shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed, either intentionally or unintentionally, to any person not concerned thereto.

Provisions of sections 9 to 17 to apply with modifications to State Biodiversity Board

25. The provisions of sections 9 to 17 shall apply to a State Biodiversity Board and shall have effect subject to the following modifications, namely:

(a) references to the Central Government shall be construed as references to the State Government;

(b) references to the National Biodiversity Authority shall be construed as references to the State Biodiversity Board;

Provisions of sections 9 to 17 to apply with modifications to State Biodiversity Board.

CHAPER - VII

Finance, Accounts and Audit of National Biodiversity Authority

Grants or loans by the Central Government

26. The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, pay to the National Biodiversity Authority by way of grants or loans such sums of money as the Central Government may think fit for being utilized for the purposes of this Act.

Constitution of National Biodiversity Fund

27.(1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called the National Biodiversity Fund and there shall be credited thereto ‑‑

(a) any grants and loans made to the National Biodiversity Authority under section 26;

(b) all charges and royalties received by the National Biodiversity Authority under this Act; and

(c) all sums received by the National Biodiversity Authority from such other sources as may be decided upon by the Central Government.

(2) The Fund shall be applied for–

(a) channeling benefits to the benefit claimers;

(b) conservation and promotion of biological resources and development of areas from where such biological resources or knowledge associated thereto has been accessed;

Annual report of National Biodiversity Authority

28. The National Biodiversity Authority shall prepare, in such form and at such time each financial year as may be prescribed, its annual report, giving a full account of its activities during the previous financial year and furnish, to the Central Government, before such date as may be prescribed, its audited copy of accounts together with auditors report thereon.

Budget accounts and audit

29.(1) The National Biodiversity Authority shall prepare a budget, maintain proper accounts and other relevant records (including the accounts and other relevant records of the National Biodiversity Fund) and prepare an annual statement of account in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor‑General of India.

(2) The accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor‑General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the National Biodiversity Authority to the Comptroller and Auditor‑General of India.

(3) The Comptroller and Auditor‑General of India and any other person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor‑General generally has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the National Biodiversity Authority.

(4) The accounts of the National Biodiversity Authority as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor‑ General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government.

Annual Report to be laid before parliament

30. The Central Government shall cause the annual report and auditor's report to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before each House of Parliament.

CHAPTER - VIII

Finance, Accounts and Audit of State Biodiversity Board

Grants of money by State Government to State Biodiversity Board

31. The State Government may, after due appropriation made by the State Legislature by law in this behalf, pay to the State Biodiversity Board by way of grants or loans such sums of money as the State Government may think fit for being utilized for the purposes of this Act.

Constitution of State Biodiversity Fund

32.(1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called the State Biodiversity Fund and there shall be credited thereto‑

(a) any grants and loans made to the State Biodiversity Board under section 31;

(b) any grants or loans made by the National Biodiversity Authority;

(c) all sums received by the State Biodiversity Board from such other sources as may be decided upon by the State Government.

(2) The State Biodiversity Fund shall be applied for‑

(a) the management and conservation of heritage sites;

(b) compensating or rehabilitating any section of the people economically affected by notification under sub‑section (1) of section 37;

(d) socio‑economic development of areas from where such biological resources or knowledge associated thereto has been accessed subject to any order made under section 24, in consultation with the local bodies concerned;

(e) meeting the expenses incurred for the purposes authorized by this Act.

Annual report of State Biodiversity Board

33. The State Biodiversity Board shall prepare, in such form and at such time in each financial year as may be prescribed, its annual report, giving a full account of its activities during the previous financial year, and submit a copy thereof to the State Government.

Audit of accounts of State Biodiversity Board

34. The accounts of the State Biodiversity Board shall be maintained and audited in such manner as may, in consultation with the Accountant‑General of the State, be prescribed and the State Biodiversity Board shall furnish, to the State Government, before such date as may be prescribed, its audited copy of accounts together with auditor's report thereon.

Annual Report of State Biodiversity Board to be laid before State Legislature

35. The State Government shall cause the annual report and auditor's report to be laid, as soon as may be after they are received, before the House of State Legislature.

CHAPTER - IX