LAHORE: The Punjab Rangers were declared a management authority for areas falling under “Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve” in terms of section 14(1) of the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020, The Friday Times (TFT) has learnt.
A senior official privy to this development confirmed TFT that execution of management agreement between Punjab Rangers and Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has also been approved.
What is the purpose of Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020?
It is pertinent to mention that secretary FW&F department recently in the 13th meeting of the caretaker provincial cabinet that the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 was enacted for the purpose of protection, preservation, conservation and management of ecologically important areas in September 2020.
The senior official maintained that the provisions of Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 envisaged various categories of areas as protected areas for protecting biological diversity, natural landscapes, ecological integrity and provided for sustainable use of wildlife resources.
What is a Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve?
“In this regard, 93 protected areas had been notified, amongst which a 5 miles strip along the Indo-Pak border belt area had been notified as “Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve,” the official recalled.
Who will look after the management of protected areas?
A senior official who was part of the meeting confirmed to TFT that the cabinet was further apprised that as per the statutory requirement under Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020, management of the protected areas shall be done by administrative departments or entities of the government or organizations and shall be called management authorities.
He maintained that the relevant provisions are 14 (1) from The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 which states that the management of protected area shall be performed by the administrative department or such entity of the government as the government may specify by notification in the official gazette.
Whereas, 14 (3) in The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 maintains that the administrative department or entity of the government or the organization to whom management of a protected area has been assigned under the preceding subsections shall be the management authority of that protected area.
Section 15 (3) of The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 states that the Management Authority shall manage the area exclusively for the purpose of which it is declared in accordance with the management plan under this Act.
A senior official also stated that under rule 6 of the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2022, The Management Authority shall develop the management plan in accordance with the condition mentioned in the rules.
Why has the Punjab Rangers been declared as Management Authority?
The senior official maintained that the Punjab Rangers had a strong presence and deterrence in the border belt area which stretched across ecologically and biodiversity significant areas of Punjab.
He stressed that the department was of considerate opinion that the Punjab Rangers is one of the prime implementation partners of Punjab Wildlife and Parks department in protection and preservation of wildlife in these areas.
He added that in this context, the case of declaring Punjab Rangers as Management Authority for the areas falling under “Border Belt Wildlife Reserve” was presented before Punjab Protected Areas Management Board in its 2nd Meeting held of January 17, 2023 and was approved accordingly.
Consequently, the cabinet was requested to consider and approve notifying Punjab Rangers as Management Authority and also give a node to execution plan.
“Accordingly, the cabinet was requested to consider and approve the draft Management agreement and draft notification duly vetted by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department,” a senior official said.
In the 13th cabinet meeting of the provincial caretaker government, these proposals were considered and approved.
A senior official privy to this development confirmed TFT that execution of management agreement between Punjab Rangers and Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has also been approved.
What is the purpose of Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020?
It is pertinent to mention that secretary FW&F department recently in the 13th meeting of the caretaker provincial cabinet that the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 was enacted for the purpose of protection, preservation, conservation and management of ecologically important areas in September 2020.
The senior official maintained that the provisions of Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020 envisaged various categories of areas as protected areas for protecting biological diversity, natural landscapes, ecological integrity and provided for sustainable use of wildlife resources.
What is a Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve?
“In this regard, 93 protected areas had been notified, amongst which a 5 miles strip along the Indo-Pak border belt area had been notified as “Border Belt Public Wildlife Reserve,” the official recalled.
Who will look after the management of protected areas?
A senior official who was part of the meeting confirmed to TFT that the cabinet was further apprised that as per the statutory requirement under Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020, management of the protected areas shall be done by administrative departments or entities of the government or organizations and shall be called management authorities.
He maintained that the relevant provisions are 14 (1) from The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 which states that the management of protected area shall be performed by the administrative department or such entity of the government as the government may specify by notification in the official gazette.
Whereas, 14 (3) in The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 maintains that the administrative department or entity of the government or the organization to whom management of a protected area has been assigned under the preceding subsections shall be the management authority of that protected area.
Section 15 (3) of The Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020 states that the Management Authority shall manage the area exclusively for the purpose of which it is declared in accordance with the management plan under this Act.
A senior official also stated that under rule 6 of the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2022, The Management Authority shall develop the management plan in accordance with the condition mentioned in the rules.
Why has the Punjab Rangers been declared as Management Authority?
The senior official maintained that the Punjab Rangers had a strong presence and deterrence in the border belt area which stretched across ecologically and biodiversity significant areas of Punjab.
He stressed that the department was of considerate opinion that the Punjab Rangers is one of the prime implementation partners of Punjab Wildlife and Parks department in protection and preservation of wildlife in these areas.
He added that in this context, the case of declaring Punjab Rangers as Management Authority for the areas falling under “Border Belt Wildlife Reserve” was presented before Punjab Protected Areas Management Board in its 2nd Meeting held of January 17, 2023 and was approved accordingly.
Consequently, the cabinet was requested to consider and approve notifying Punjab Rangers as Management Authority and also give a node to execution plan.
“Accordingly, the cabinet was requested to consider and approve the draft Management agreement and draft notification duly vetted by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department,” a senior official said.
In the 13th cabinet meeting of the provincial caretaker government, these proposals were considered and approved.