Himachal Pradesh gets 1660 crores under CAMPA system from National Compensatory Afforestation Deposits under Ministery of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on 29th Aug,2019.Shri Govind Thakur ,Minister of Forest & Environment of Himachal Pradesh participated in meeting of Forest ministers of all states in Prayavaran Bhawan ,New Delhi on 29th Aug,2019.He raised many issues related with Himachal Pradesh. He also met with Shri Prakash Javadekar,Union Minister for Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change after the meeting and apprised him about various issues related with forest and environment. [caption width=1056]Shri Govind thakur recieving the cheque of Rs-1660 crore of CAMPA from Shri Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in New Delhi,29th August,2019.[/caption] Shri Govind Thakur ,Minister of Forest & Environment of Himachal Pradesh said that I am grateful to Shri Prakash Javadekar ji and Chief minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur ji for giving special attention to our issues and concerns. He said that the fund released by Central government will be utilized for expansion of forest cover,awareness campaign,creation of forest infrastructure and sustainable development. Following Issues related to CAMPA were raised by Shri Govind Thakur:-

1. Transfer of funds from National Authority to State Authority as envisaged under CAF Act., 2016 and CAF Rules, 2018.
2. Approval of APO of HP State Authority amounting to Rs. 157 Cr Submitted to the National Authority.
3. Simplification of accounting procedure for spending money under State CAMPA Fund by taking out the treasury mode and resorting to old system.
4. Making provision of hiring vehicles by the field functionaries in the rules to curb forest offenses and fire menace.
5. Making provision of maintenance of office/ residential building of front line staff under infrastructure development in the rules.

Following issues related to Forest Department were raised by the minister Shri Govind Thakur :-

• Bringing State of Himachal Pradesh under MOEF &CC Regional Office Chandigarh instead of Regional Office Dehradun as per past arrangement for according forest clearance under FCA, 1980 to expedite approval of development projects.

• Delegation of power to the State Govt. for according forest clearance of projects under FCA, 1980 involving forest land upto the extent of 5 Ha. Instead of 1 Ha limit fixed presently to boost pace of development.
• Issue of Guidelines regarding execution of ECO Tourism activities considering the same as forestry activities.

What is CAMPA?

Due to certain discrepancies in the implementation of compensatory afforestation, some NGOs had approached The Hon’ble Supreme Court for relief.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court on 10th July 2009 issued orders that there will be a Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) as National Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Environment & Forests for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of compensatory afforestation activities.

Objectives of CAMPA

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensation forest land diverted to non-forest uses.

National CAMPA Advisory Council has been established as per orders of The Hon’ble Supreme Court with the following mandate:

• Lay down broad guidelines for State CAMPA.
• Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPA.
• Make recommendations to State CAMPA based on a review of their plans and programmes.
• Provide a mechanism to State CAMPA to resolve issues of an inter-state or Centre-State character.

State CAMPA

The Hon’ble Supreme Court also approved the guidelines prepared by the MoEF for utilizing CAMPA funds by an agency to be constituted in the states and to be known as The State CAMPA. Some of the important points in the guidelines are highlighted here:

• The State CAMPA would presently receive funds collected from user agencies towards compensatory afforestation, additional compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, Net Present Value (NPV) and all other amounts recovered from such agencies under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and presently lying with the Adhoc CAMPA.
• The State CAMPA would administer the amount received from the Adhoc CAMPA and utilize the funds collected for undertaking compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, conservation and protection of forests, infrastructure development, wildlife conservation and protection and other related activities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• State CAMPA would provide an integrated framework for utilizing multiple sources of funding and activities relating to protection and management of forests and wildlife.Its prime task would be regenerating natural forests and building up the institution engaged in this work in the State Forest Department including training of the forest officials of various levels with an emphasis on training of the staff at cutting edge level (forest range level). In short, the department would be modernized to protect and regenerate the forests and wildlife habitat.

The guidelines also talk about establishment of an independent system for concurrent monitoring and evaluation of the works implemented in the States utilizing the funds available. In sum, the prime task of State CAMPA would be regenerating natural forests and building up the institution engaged in this task in the State Forest Department.