New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has crossed a significant milestone in implementing India's Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) framework, with cumulative ABS disbursements exceeding Rs 200 crore.

According to an official release from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as part of this continuing effort, the NBA has sanctioned Rs 8.23 crore in ABS proceeds to 27 State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and 5 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs), arising from the access and utilisation of biological resources associated with Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia), Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Chilli (Capsicum annuum) and Onion (Allium cepa).

The ABS proceeds were realised from seed companies M/...