Re-deliberation on Forest and Nature Conservation Bill concludes
The House continued re-deliberation on the Forest and Nature Conservation Bill of Bhutan 2021 today in detail on the recommendations received from the National Council on the sections under chapter 2 and the rest of the Bill.
The House retained the original sections regarding the illegal extraction and harvest of timber as opposed to what the National Council had recommended. The National Council had recommended different grading of illegal fishing by use of poison, explosive or electrical device as (1) Fourth-degree felony, if use of explosive; or (2) Misdemeanor, if use of poison and electrical device. However, the House after deliberating on it retained it as“The grading of illegal fishing by use of poison, explosive or electrical device shall be petty misdemeanour”. Further, the House also retained the section on Fees and Service Charges, while the National Council had recommended it to be repealed.
The National Assembly resolved to incorporate all the other recommendations from the National Council on the Bill except for the recommendations on 30 sections. The 30 sections became disputed clauses and will go to the Joint Committee along with the sections on Definition. The house had also recommended the Joint Committee to look into and improve the translation of the wordings in the bill. The disputed clauses along with differences in definitions will be deliberated in a Joint Sitting in the upcoming Session.
The House endorsed the resolutions of the House on the re-deliberation of the Forest and Nature Conservation Bill of Bhutan 2021 with 40 members present and voting, and all members in favor of the Bill.
