Paving the way for the disbursement of nearly Rs 41,000 crore, earmarked for forest land and lying unspent for about four years, Parliament on Thursday passed the much awaited Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill 2015 following an extensive debate in the Rajya Sabha.
New Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave received accolades from treasury and Opposition benches to get the Bill cleared which was stuck for so long. Dave said that the concerns expressed by the members during the debate will be taken care of and expressed his gratitude for the consensus on the Bill.
Dave said the CAF Bill will ensure expeditious utilisation of accumulated unspent amounts available with the ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which is currently about Rs 41,000 crore.
The Rajya Sabha passed by voice vote the Bill, 2016 which has been hanging fire since May last year when it was approved by the lok Sabha. The bill seeks to provide for setting up of funds under the central public accounts and that of each State Government for undertaking plantation, assisted natural regeneration, protection of forests and forest related infrastructure development.
“The money available under this fund is huge. This fund is not of anybody but of Team India,” Dave said replying to the debate on the bill. He said the money would be “returned” to the states which have suffered deforestation on account of development. The minister said that bill has been prepared taking into account the Forest Right Act.
On the concern expressed by some members that the bill does not empower “forest dwellers, tribals and gram sabhas”, the minister assured the House that the rules under the law would be framed after necessary consultations with Gram Sabhas. He said the consultations with Gram Sabhas would even be recorded.
After his assurance, Congress member Jairam Ramesh said that he would not move amendment to the Bill. His party colleagues T Subbirami Reddy and Hussain Dalvai also did not move their amendments, leading to its smooth passage.
During debate, the Rajya Sabha members had asked the government to ensure “effective implementation” of the compensatory forest afforestation fund, with some seeking steps to protect the rights of tribals and other forest dwellers.