Lok Sabha Question No. 3317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Compensatory Afforestation Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3317

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.07.2019

## Compensatory Afforestation Programme

## 3317.   SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  irregularities  in  Compensatory  Afforestation Programme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  concerns  have  been  raised  by  the  environmentalists  regarding  dependence  of monoculture plantations threatening the indigenous ecological diversity;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the action taken by the Government to address the said issues?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a)&(b) Sir,  the  Compensatory  Afforestation works have been done by the State Forest Departments from the fund collected from the user agencies and deposited in the Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  (CAF).  These  funds  are  managed  by  the Compensatory  Afforestation  Management  and  Planning  Authority  (CAMPA). The funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) are utilised as per the activities  mentioned  in  the  Annual  Plan  of  Operation  (APO)  approved  by  the Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary of the concerned State of the State Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority.

As per the information provided by State Governments, compensatory afforestation has been done over 3, 52,806 ha from Compensatory Afforestation Fund till  2018.  Concurrent  monitoring  and  third  party  monitoring  of  the  works undertaken from Compensatory Afforestation Fund have been done by the State Government  and  no  such  irregularities  have  been  reported  to  the  Ministry. However, one complaint has been received through the Prime Minister's Office vide letter No. PMOPG/D/2019/0187377 dated 12 th June, 2019 for irregularities in  afforestation  works  in  Chhattisgarh.  The  Ministry  has  written  to  the  State Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority to inquire into the matter and take appropriate corrective measures.

- (c) - (e) The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018 have been notified, which came into effect on 30 th September, 2018. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rule, 2018 was prepared in consultation with various stakeholders including environmentalists and concerns  raised  by  the  environmentalists  regarding  monoculture  plantations  has been  addressed  by  including  Explanation  1(c)  of  Rule  5  of  the  Compensatory Afforestation  Fund  Rules,  which  provides  that  afforestation  and  plantation  of indigenous  plant  species  shall  be  undertaken  in  consultation  with  the  local communities dependent on forests. The compensatory afforestation is done as per the  approved  Annual  Plan  of  Operation,  in  consonance  with  the  working  plan prescriptions of the forests in the States. State Governments have been advised to ensure  that  afforestation  of  indigenous  species  is  done  to  maintain  indigenous ecological diversity.

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