Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Jan 13 : J&K’s Forest department has directed its different agencies to expedite the utilization of funds under the compensatory afforestation fund scheme after the Finance Department advised it to approach it for further release of funds after spending the already released amount in full.
In a communique, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) has written to different agencies involved in implementation of the compensatory afforestation fund scheme to expedite utilization of already released amount in full. “It is requested to advise all the implementing agencies under your administrative control to expedite utilization of released funds in full, “reads the letter written by Sarvesh Rai, additional principal chief conservator of forests and chief executive officer, CAMPA.
The move comes after the Finance department’s observations over the Forest department’s request for releasing of remaining funds under the scheme.
In its observations, the Finance department has advised the Forest department to approach it after utilization of already released funds in full.
The compensatory afforestation funds are used for the treatment of catchment areas, forest management, wildlife protection and managing human-wildlife conflicts.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act was enacted in 2016 to manage the monies received from the user agencies towards compensatory afforestation, additional compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, net present value and all other amounts recovered from such agencies under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980—(KNO)
