State to take up compensatory afforestation on 5428 ha land

The state government has targeted to cover 5428 hectares (ha) of land under compensatory afforestation in 2015-16.

This was decided at a meeting of the steering committee of State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), chaired by chief secretary GC Pati recently.

Subash Chandra Swain, chief conservator of forests (CCF) said, compensatory afforestation has been done on 42,910 ha up to March 31, 2014. This apart, afforestation has also been done over 5,540 ha during 2014-15.

Compensatory afforestation is done against forest land diverted for industrial and other purposes. The total requirement for compensatory afforestation against forest land diversion for various projects has been pegged at 42727 ha.

J D Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), while outlining issues for discussion relating to compensatory afforestation and implementation of annual action plan for 2014-15, apprised the committee on the remarks of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG). CAG had said, around 95 per cent of the compensatory afforestation of the country has been done in Odisha alone, said a government release.

The chief secretary stressed on involvement JFM (Joint Forest Management) committees and VSSs (Vana Surakshya Samities in ANR (assisted natural regeneration) and compensatory afforestation activities.

The annual action plan for 2014-15 involves an outlay of Rs 527.67 crore. The activities include compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, conservation, regeneration and management of natural forests, forest protection, control and prevention of forest fire, pillar posting and maintenance of forest boundaries, strengthening of range offices, wild life management, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, research activities and other infrastructural development.