Gujarat Govt demands Rs.482 crore of CAMPA fund from center

Gujarat Government has demanded immediate release of Rs.482 crore from the adhoc Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund submitted by the state government against the forest land diverted for the not-forest activities. CAMPA fund is meant for development of alternate forest areas development to compensate the loss of forest area in the state.

Sources close to the development informed that,“As per the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act,1980, permission of the Central Government is required for use of forest land for non forest purpose. The Central Government stipulates certain conditions while according such permission, including Compensatory Afforestation at the cost of the user agency. Supreme Court in its order of 2002 directed the Central Government to impose Net Present Value (NPV) for the diversion of forest land and also directed to constitute a body for management of Compensatory Afforestation Funds for afforestation, forest development and conservation. Accordingly, the Central Government had constituted an authority known as Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in 2004. SC also directed on 5-05-06 to constitute ad-hoc body of CAMPA. Ad-hoc CAMPA has directed State Governments to transfer all the unspent funds received towards compensatory afforestation into account of Ad-hoc CAMPA.”

“Accordingly the State Government had transferred an amount of Rs. 482.34 crores to CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation -Rs. 132.62 crores and Net Present Value- Rs. 349.72 crores) Prior to this, funds received were deposited to the State Government and the State Government was carrying out compensatory afforestation by making regular budgetary provisions. However, with formation of the Ad-hoc CAMPA, the funds are first transferred to them and then Ad-hoc CAMPA is supposed to release the funds back to the State as per the proposals received through the State level Steering Committee.” added the sources.

Till July 2009, no funds were released to the State, inspite of repeated requests and submission of necessary documents. An amount of Rs.24.96 Crores was released for the State against total requirement of Rs.43.16 Crores on dt.20-8-09.