March 3 2020

Introduction:

Financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1.51 crore has been sanctioned to Kaziranga National Park during the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-2020 under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Highlights:

•  Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo  stated  that Rs 94,46,585 and Rs 51,24,670 were sanctioned to Kaziranga National Park during the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-2020 respectively under CAMPA.
• Further, under the Project Tiger scheme, financial assistance of Rs 10.30 crore and Rs 22.81 crore were also sanctioned during the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively to Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, which includes Kaziranga National Park.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial assistance to Assam for management of wildlife in national parks and sanctuaries, including for protection of animals during flood under schemes such as Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger and CAMPA.

Govt of Assam Response:

• It has taken a number of steps to protect wildlife in national parks, including deployment of frontline forest staff.
•  In addition, the Assam Forest Protection Force, Special Rhino Protection Force, and Home Guards are supplementing the regular frontline forest staff to protect wildlife.
• Highlands and platforms have also been constructed in national parks to give shelter to animals during high flood.
• Anti-poaching camps in strategic locations have also been constructed with sufficient armed guards, besides deployment of boats during flood and use of modern technologies like ‘electronic eye’ for smart patrolling.

What is CAMPA?

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016

• Enacted by Parliament of India.
• Passed in 2016.
• It is an Indian legislation 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 purpose which would mitigate impact of diversion of such forest land.

History:

• In 2002, the Supreme Court of India observed that collected funds for afforestation were underutilized by the states and it ordered for centrally pooling of funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund.
•  The court had set up the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (National CAMPA) to manage the Fund.
• In 2009, states also had set up State CAMPAs that receive 10% of funds form National CAMPA to use for afforestation and forest conservation.