Question : Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act- 2016

(a) the present status of the release of mandatory rules under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (CAF) of the Ministry;
(b) whether Rules are yet to be formulated under CAF, if so, the reasons therefor and the time by which the said rules is likely to be notified;
(c) the details of consultations which have taken place in the last one year on formulations of the Rules;
(d) whether there has been any engagement with civil society organizations in this regard, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the total amount spent on afforestation drives of various states during each of the last three years, States/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) The rules under CAF Act are in the process of formulation.
(b),(c) & (d) Yes. The rules are under preparation in consultation with the States/UTs/Stakeholders. In the last one year, extensive consultations have been undertaken involving States / Union Territories, Departments of Central Government, including Ministry of Finance, Integrated Finance Division of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and other stakeholders and Comptroller and Auditor General. Five such important meetings/consultations have been held so far.

(e) The fund released upto 30.11.2017 to different States/Union Territories from Compensatory Afforestation Fund managed by Ad-hoc CAMPA is placed at Annexure-A. No fund has been transferred to the States/Union Territories under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016. The fund released under Ad-hoc CAMPA are being used by States / Union Territories for compensatory afforestation and other ancilliary activities.

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