New Delhi: “As per unaudited figures available, the total principal amount available with the Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in various State accounts net of releases to the States and to the National CAMPA Advisory Council projects, was Rs.23901 crore as on March 31, 2014; Rs.26297 crore as on March 31, 2015; and Rs.27201 crores as on March 31 2016. The Interest accrued on the said amount varies with the variation in the interest rates.
The Supreme Court of India who had, by their Order dated 10th July 2009 in Writ Petition No.202/1995 permitted the release of an amount of Rs.1,000 (One thousand) crore annually for the period 2009-10 to 2013-14, have by their later judgment dated March 12, 2014 in the above mentioned Writ Petition, permitted the release of funds to the extent of 10% of the principal amount. The releases are to be made from out of the interest accrued.
The release is subject to the Annual Plan of Operation prepared by state governments which is in turn formulated in terms of the Guidelines for State CAMPAs which have the approval of the Supreme Court.
A multi-pronged strategy is in place for monitoring of the works undertaken under CAMPA which inter-alia include, calling for, analysis, and feedback on the Quarterly Progress Reports submitted by the State CAMPAs to the Ad-hoc CAMPA, monitoring of Projects through loading of polygons of works undertaken, on the e.Green Watch portal, managed by the National Informatics Centre and third party monitoring to be undertaken by independent agencies.”
This was stated by Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Anil Madhav Dave, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
