By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: The Government of India has approved Rs 163 crore for different activities under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for Jammu & Kashmir.
In its meeting held on June 1 in New Delhi, the executive committee of National Authority has given its approval to the deferred activities of the annual plan of operations proposed by the Jammu & Kashmir Government for financial year 2022-23 under CAMPA scheme.
Documents in possession of The Precious Kashmir reveal that the Authority gave its nod after the J&K government submitted clarifications and detailed justifications of deferred activities.
In its meetings held in March this year, the executive committee had only approved Rs 117. 61 crore out of the proposed outlay of Rs 297. 65 crore. It had deferred several proposals and sought clarification from authorities of the J & K Government about them.
The activities approved by the National Authority include animal rescue centers, silvicultural operations in forests, improvement of wildlife habitat, casual engagement for protection of forests and wildlife and advertisement and publicity.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act is a law that seeks to provide an appropriate institutional mechanism, both at the Centre and in each State and Union Territory, to ensure expeditious utilization in efficient and transparent manner of amounts released in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
