Mumbai, Nov. 28 -- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 5.34 crore to around 85 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Maharashtra as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fair and equitable benefit sharing under India's Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework.

The beneficiary BMCs are located across various Nagar and Gram Panchayats in Wada Tehsil of Palghar district and within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The funds will be channelled through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

The disbursement stems from a case in which a company accessed soil microorganisms belonging to the Bacillus genus for developing probiotic products.

The NBA noted that nearly 15 per cent of ABS applications involv...