Funds for forestry and wildlife conservation
	16:26 IST

LOK SABHA An amount of about Rs. 5,400 crore has been received by the Ad-hoc body of CAMPA from various States / Union Territories towards Compensatory Afforestation, Net Present Value (NPV), Protection and Conservation of National Parks / Sanctuaries, etc. No funds have been released from the ad-hoc CAMPA to the States, so far. The Supreme Court of India, vide order dated 29.10.2002 in WP(C) No. 202 of 1995, directed that the Net Present Value (NPV) of the forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes with the prior approval of the Central Government, shall be paid by user agencies in addition to other usual payments for Compensatory Afforestation, Conservation and Protection of National Parks / Sanctuaries etc. The Court also directed that a body shall be constituted for management of the funds received on account of diversion of forest land. In compliance of the above order, the Ministry of Environment and Forests issued a notification dated 23.04.2004 for constitution of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The process of obtaining Cabinet approval to the CAMPA notification is under way. Meanwhile, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, on 05.05.2006, observed that CAMPA had still not become operational, and constituted an Ad-hoc Body of CAMPA in the Ministry of Environment and Forests for transfer of all the funds lying unutilized with the State / Union Territory Governments. The funds deposited in ad-hoc CAMPA are meant for utilization for protection and conservation of forests and wildlife, etc. as directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. These funds shall be utilized after obtaining the Cabinet approval to the CAMPA Notification. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri S. Regupathy in a written by Smt. Rupatai Diliprao, Nilangakar Patil and Shri Asaduddin Owaisi in the Lok Sabha today. KP:PM