Withdraw Compensatory Afforestation Fund rules: Ramesh to Vardhan

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today urged Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan to withdraw the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Rules, saying the notification issued last week was a "blatant breach" of assurances given by the government in Parliament.

In a letter to Vardhan, Ramesh said the CAF Rules were notified without addressing concerns about violation of the Forest Rights Act.

"I firmly believe that the present CAF Rules should be withdrawn and put on hold. The least I expect is that solemn assurances given by your distinguished predecessor on the floor of the Rajya Sabha after consensus arrived at the chamber of Arun Jaitley, (then) Finance Minister and Leader of the Rajya Sabha, on July 28, 2016, are honoured in letter and spirit," the former environment minister said.

Ramesh also said that he would take up the matter with Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

"I think this is a fit case of moving a privilege motion against you as well," Ramesh said in his letter to Vardhan.

The notification of the rules in the present form is a "blatant breach" of assurances given by the late Anil Madhav Dave, the then minister of environment, in the Rajya Sabha on July 28, he said.

The CAF Rules 2018 were notified on August 10.

The compensatory afforestation fund rules will pave the way for transfer of over Rs 50,000 crore to states and boost efforts towards restoration and enhancement of forest wealth, Vardhan had said yesterday.

The CAF Act will come into force from September 30 this year, he had said.