CAMPA Fund Released To States – Free PDF Download

IN NEWS

• In a bid to promote forestry activities and boost afforestation across the nation, the central government on Thursday released a fund of Rs 47,436 crore.
• The top four states that received the highest CAMPA fund are-
• Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand that received funds of Rs 5,933.98 crore, Rs 5,791.70 crore, Rs 5,196.69 crore and Rs 4,158.02 crore respectively.
• Kerala received the least amount of only Rs 81.59 crore.

• Prakash Javadekar made it very clear that the CAMPA funds cannot be used for payment of salary, travel allowances, medical expenses, etc.

WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT?

• It will help to achieve the objectives of the NationallyDetermined Contributions of increasing forest and tree cover. (2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent)
• The move will help India re-green its forest and non-forest areas which have lost trees due to forest diversions.
• There will also be a balance between Development & Environment.

BACKGROUND

• SC ordered for establishment of Compensatory Afforestation Fund and CAMPA in 2001.
• In 2006, adhoc CAMPA was established.
• But due to absence of enabling rules, much of the funds collected had been left unspent.

COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION FUND ACT, 2016

• GOI came up with a well-defined Act, known as CAMPA to compensate the loss of forest area and to maintain the sustainability.
• The law establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.

ABOUT THE FUND

•  The Fund will receive payments for:

1.  Compensatory afforestation
2.  Net present value of forest (NPV)
3.  Other project specific payments

• The National Fund will receive 10% of these funds while the State will receive the 90%.
• Company diverting forest land must provide alternative land to take up compensatory afforestation.
• For afforestation, the company should pay to plant new trees in the alternative land provided to the state.

ABOUT THE RULES

• But the rules for operationalization of funds was notified in August 2018.
• 13 activities are permitted for funding

1. Plantation
2. Assisted natural regeneration of forests
3. Forest fire prevention
4. Pest and disease control in forests
5. Soil and moisture conservation works
6. Improvement of wildlife habitat

• 80% of the compensatory afforestation amount will be utilised by states for above listed works.
• The remaining 20% will be used for to strengthen forest and wildlife protection related infrastructure.
• Also the working plan will be taken up in consultation with the gram sabha or village forest management committee.

CONCLUSION

• The fund should efficiently be used only for afforestation and wildlife conservation activities.
• Restoring the existing forests is more important than creating new ones.
• The concept of outcome budgeting for allocation of funds must be adopted.

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