Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 10: Jammu and Kashmir is yet to evaluate the works carried out under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme over the years in the new Union Territory.
Government in July last year had decided to evaluate the CAMPA works by a third party to ensure greater transparency.
“The third party will evaluate the CAMPA works undertaken as per annual plan of operations of 2012-13 to 2018-19. The agency has to carry out third party monitoring of the CAMPA works,” the document reads.
“There is a need to technically evaluate these ongoing efforts. Based on the learning, we need to plan a way forward. Also, the state CAMPA guidelines stipulate that an evaluation methodology of the works implemented has to be evolved and implemented to ensure effective and proper utilization of the fund,” they read.
However a senior official said that there has been no progress in this regard. “We don’t know whether the government will evaluate CAMPA works in coming months. We don’t even know why works under CAMPA have not been evaluated since announcement by the government,” the official said.
Under CAMPA, several activities have been taken up for conservation and development of natural forests, afforestation of degraded forest areas, forest protection, forest fire management, management of wildlife habitat, capacity building, research development, and infrastructure development. In 2018, the State Administrative Council had directed the forest department to undertake internal evaluation of the multi-crore works under CAMPA scheme since 2012.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had earlier criticized the government for diverting CAMPA funds meant for preservation of forests to others purposes like purchasing of TV seats and furniture.
Constituted in 2009, the CAMPA scheme was launched with an objective of conservation, protection, regeneration and management of existing natural forests, wildlife and their habitat, and raising site specific compensatory afforestation.
Under CAMPA, large-scale activities have been taken up to accelerate conservation of natural forests, management of wildlife, capacity building, research and development, infrastructure development in the sector and other allied works. |
