6. Insertion of new sections 5A to 5C.- After section 5 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:-
"5A. Constitution of the National Board for Wild Life.-(1) The Central Government shall, within three months from the date of commencement of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002, constitute the National Board for Wild Life consisting of the fo lowing members, namely:- (a) the Prime Minister as Chairperson; (b) the Minister in-charge of Forests and Wild Life as Vice-Chairperson; (c) three members of Parliament of whom two shall be from the House of the People and one from the Council of States; (d) Member, Planning Commission in-charge of Forests and Wild Life; (e) five persons to represent non-governmental organisations to be nominated by the Central Government; (f) ten persons to be nominated by the Central Government from amongst eminent conservationists, ecologists and environmentalists; (g) the Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of the Ministry or Department of the Central Government dealing with Forests and Wild Life; (h) the Chief of the Army Staff; (i) the Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of the Ministry of Defence; (j) the Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; (k) the Secretary to the Government of India in-charge of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance; (l) the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Welfare; (m) the Director-General of Forests in the Ministry or Department of the Central Government dealing with Forests and Wild Life; (n) the Director-General of Tourism, Government of India; (o) the Director-General, Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun; (p) the Director, Wild Life Institute of India, Dehradun; (q) the Director, Zoological Survey of India; (r) the Director, Botanical Survey of India; (s) the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute; (t) the Member-Secretary, Central Zoo Authority; (u) the Director, National Institute of Oceanography; (v) one representative each from ten States and Union territories by rotation, to be nominated by the Central Government; (w) the Director of Wild Life Preservation who shall be the Member-Secretary of the National Board.
(2) The term of office of the members other than those who are members ex officio, the manner of filling vacancies referred to in clauses (e), (f) and (v) of sub-section (1), and the procedure to be followed in the discharge of their functions by the members of the National Board shall be such, as may be prescribed.
(3) The members (except members ex officio) shall be entitled to receive such allowances in respect of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as may be prescribed.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the office of a member of the National Board shall not be deemed to be an office of profit. 5B. Standing Committee of the National Board.-(1) The National Board may, in its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee for the purpose of exercising such powers and performing such duties as may be delegated to the Committee by the National Board.
(2) The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson, the Member-Secretary, and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.
(3) The National Board may constitute committees, sub-committees or study groups, as may be necessary, from time to time in proper discharge of the functions assigned to it. 5C. Functions of the National Board.-(1) It shall be the duty of the National Board to promote the conservation and development of wild life and forests by such measures as it thinks fit.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the measures referred to therein may provide for- (a) framing policies and advising the Central Government and the State Governments on the ways and means of promoting wild life conservation and effectively controlling poaching and illegal trade of wild life and its products; (b) making recommendations on the setting up of and management of national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas and on matters relating to restriction of activities in those areas; (c) carrying out or causing to be carried out impact assessment of various projects and activities on wild life or its habitat; (d) reviewing from time to time, the progress in the field of wild life conservation in the country and suggesting measures for improvement thereto; and (e) preparing and publishing a status report at least once in two years on wild life in the country.".
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