Question : Compensatory Afforestation Fund

(a) whether about Rs. 50,000 crore has been collected as Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) in lieu of forestland diverted under the Forest(Conservation) Act, 1980, for non-forest purposes such as industrial projects like mining and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Union Government has notified the draft Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Rules, 2018 to facilitate utilisation of over Rs. 50,000 crore among States to expand India’s forest cover and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether environmentalists and forest rights activists are criticizing the draft Compensatory Afforestation Fund(CAF) Rules stating they violate Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and if so, the response of the Union Government thereto;
(d) whether organizations and activists working for the rights of forest dwellers have repeatedly pointed out that the CAF Act, by design, is flawed and needs repealing or amendment to ensure safeguards for the protection of rights of tribals and forest dwellers; and
(e) if so, the response of the Government thereto?

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

(a) Yes, as on this date Rs. 50213.424 Crore is available in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund managed by ad-hoc CAMPA which includes principal amount and interest accrued on the principal amount. The details are given in annexure-A.

(b) (c) (d) & (e) Yes, the Compensatory Afforestation Rule 2018 has been published in the gazette dated 17th February 2018 for public comment. The details are available on the website http://egazette.nic.in/(S(ss2o5yvoxew0sktoi2nxtrc3))/EnhancedSearch.aspx. The comments of various stakeholders have been sought from public affected by CAF Act 2016 and their comments will be considered while finalizing Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rule 2018.
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