So far, the State Government has received around Rs1,155 crore from the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) since 2009-10 and has undertaken a slew of projects across the State.
Activities like compensatory afforestation, subsidiary silvicultural operations, development of degraded forest, wildlife protection, water and soil conservation, seedling distribution, capacity building of the forest staff and infrastructural development have been undertaken.
It was all revealed at the meeting held under chairmanship of the Chief Secretariat on Thursday. Department Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra outlined the issues for discussion.
Padhi directed the department to complete all plantation activities by July-end.
About 90 per cent of the allotted funds have been utilised by forest divisions so far, stated Addition PCCF Subash Chandra Swain.
He said, so far, six Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) have been implemented in the State with Adhoc CAMPA fund starting form 2009-10. The APO for 2016-17 envisaging an estimate of around Rs517 crore was discussed and finalised at the meeting.
So far, compensatory afforestation has been undertaken in 53,115 hectares and subsidiary bamboo operation has been done in 3,74,485 hectares.
Bald hill plantation has been done over 917 hectares and block plantation done over 32,621 hectares. Around 11,34,517 seedlings have been distributed to people interested for plantation. Water and soil conservation measures have been taken over 1,48,162 hectares. Inside the forest areas 498 water bodies have been created and 15 mega nurseries have been developed.
Among others, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, PCCF Dr Ajit Pattnaik and PCCF Sidhant Das were present.