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The state government today claimed that Odisha has emerged as the leading state in terms of implementation of CAMPA and creation of compensatory afforestation with around 96 per cent of achievement in the sector.
Chairing a State Level Steering Committee meeting of the State CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority), Chief Secretary A P Padhi directed the forest department to accomplish the targets of Ama Jungle Yojana (AMY) by 2019.
Padhi also asked the department to enhance the capacity of forest officials through qualitative training. He said a forest academy would soon be set up in the state to equip all forest officers and training institutes with required training materials.
"This year, conservation of sacred groove of the tribes and supply of Unnata chulah (biomass stoves) have been included in the Annual Operation Plan. The committee approved an ambitious Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for 2015-16 with the financial outlay of Rs 513 crore", Padhi said.
This is the biggest APO in the country for this year, officials said adding that earlier target was fixed to create 59,936.526 havtare compensatory afforestation as per the stipulations of compensatory afforestation rules.
"So far up to 2014-15 around 53,268.11 hectare compensatory afforestation has already been done recording a performance level of 96 per cent", Padhi said said, adding target has been set to complete the balance 4,046.97 hectare during 2015-16 APO.
Apart from this, security zone plantation and catchment area treatment plantation will be done over 1047 hectare, strip plantation will be done over 40,000 kms and 14,750 trees will be planted along the road sides", he stated, adding a financial outlay of Rs 52.94 crore has been done for this purpose in the APO 2015-16.
The chief secretary said 'Ama Jungle Yojana' (AJY) is
being implemented by the State government based on important lessons learnt from OFSDP with a total project cost of Rs 117 crore for six years. "It has been targeted to cover 2,000 Vana Surakshya Samities (VSS) in 30 forest divisions of the State during 2015-16 APO", he added.
The major activities under AJY include survey and demarcation of assigned areas to VSS, capacity building of VSS and SHG, implementation of soil and moisture conservation programmes, silvicultural operations and setting up of nursery and maintenance. Around Rs 22.41 corre has been allotted in APO budget for these activities, he said.
About 2,161 sacred groves have been identified in the State and a scheme named 'Integrated Development of Sacred Groves' has been approved with a financial outlay of Rs 15.96 crore for conservation and development of places of worship of various tribal communities.
Replying a query, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests Subash Swain said around 700 sacred grooves would be developed during APO 2015-16 with estimation of Rs 60.9 crore.
"Similarly target has been fixed for supply of 700 Unnata Chulahs at the cost of Rs 1500 each have also been included in the APO-2015-16", he said.
