| MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE |
| UNSTARRED |
QUESTION NO: |
1516 |
| COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION SCHEME |
| SHASHI THAROOR |
Will the Minister of
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ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE |
be pleased to state:-
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(a) the total amount released to the States under the Compensatory Afforestation Scheme during each of the last three years along with the amount that stands utilised ;
(b) whether it has been recently pointed out/reported that such funds are being used for purposes other than afforestation such as repair of forest rest houses, purchasing i-pods, carpet, etc.; and
(c) if so, the measures adopted for appropriate utilization of these funds? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) a statement showing the funds released to State CAMPAs, constituted in terms of the State CAMPA Guidelines approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide their Order dated 10th July 2009 in IA No.2143, Writ Petition No.202 of 1995 : T N Godavarman Thirumalpad Vs UOI & Ors, against their Annual Plans of Operation for the last three years, viz., 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 is enclosed. In so far as utilization of funds is concerned, save in exceptional circumstances, funds are released to State CAMPAs only if 70% or more of the funds sanctioned to them in the past have been utilized ;
(b) & (c) the hon’ble Supreme Court of India have, in their judgment dated 12th March 2014 in the aforementioned Writ Petition directed, inter-alia, the National CAMPA Advisory Council will finalise and issue guidelines regarding the activities for which the use of CAMPA funds will not be permissible (such as foreign study tours) and the activities for which a ceiling on the use of the CAMPA funds will apply (such as purchase of vehicles and construction of residential/ office buildings), and also that these guidelines will be strictly followed by the State CAMPA. A decision in this behalf has been taken in the 5th meeting of the National CAMPA Advisory Council held on 24th November 2014 not only on the question of items of work not permissible and items of work on which an upper limit will apply, but also, on optimal segment-wiseutilization of the available funds. |
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