Annual Plans for afforestation being prepared without survey
*Delayed utilization of funds badly affecting plantation drive
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 28: Astonishing it may sound but it is a fact that Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to realistically evaluate the impact of the developmental works on the forest areas and results of compensatory afforestation. Moreover, the funds for the plantations are not being utilized within the stipulated time-frame mainly because of slackness at the various levels in the Forest Department.
As per the operational guidelines for Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), the Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) is required to be prepared after conducting detailed survey to collect physical data for identifying the treatment measures like planting in trenches in hilly areas, pit planting with water harvesting measures in flat areas, etc.
However, during the audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, it came to the fore that in 27 Forest Divisions, no survey was conducted prior to preparation of Annual Plan of Operations (APOs), which instead were prepared on the basis of the financial limits fixed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). “No funds were released during 2015-20 for survey in respect of 27 selected divisions. The impact of development project on the forest area and results of compensatory afforestation could not be realistically evaluated in the absence of surveys”, the CAG said, adding “non-conducting of survey also resulted in disputes necessitating change of sites at three places for carrying out plantation”.
The Divisional Forest Officers stated that informal talks were held with the people residing in the area where forest closures were to be developed and provisions for survey and demarcation were proposed in the APOs but no funds were released for the purpose of survey. “The Additional PCCF CAMPA intimated in the month of July 2021 that several Implementing Agencies (IAs) have now projected fund requirements for survey works during 2021-22 in their APOs which have been approved”, the CAG said, adding “APCCF, CAMPA further stated in November 2021 that specific survey requirements projected by DFOs in APOs would be met”.
Similarly, the Operational Guidelines envisage that Implementing Agencies (IAs) should formulate APOs for the forthcoming financial year by August which after technical appraisal shall be put up to the executive committee during November. The APOs with breakup of proposed activities and estimated cost thereof shall be put up to the Steering Committee on whose approval shall be communicated to the IAs by December 31.
During the audit, the CAG noticed in the month of April 2021 delays between one month to 16 months in formulation of APOs by the IAs; between 21 days and eight months in accordance of approval by the Executive Committee and between 23 days and eight months in approval by the Steering Committee.
Due to delay in preparation and finalization of APOs, the utilisation of funds of Rs 18.69 crore was delayed. As a result, plantation of 10.694 lakh saplings for rehabilitation of 894.68 hectare of degraded forest, fencing of 3.03 lakh running feet, 1.17 lakh pasture patch development works, raising of 17.4 lakh nursery plants and 1,964 cum of dry rubble stone masonry (DRSM) could not be carried out in respective years of plan.
In 20 of the 27 test checked Forest Divisions, during 2015-2020, utilization of funds of Rs 5.72 crore was delayed affecting plans of plantation of 1.53 lakh saplings for rehabilitation of 159.37 hectare of degraded forest, fencing of 0.707 lakh running feet, 0.72 lakh of pasture patch development works, raising of 4.19 lakh nursery plants and 50 cum of dry rubble stone masonry (DRSM) could not be carried out.
The Additional PCCF stated in the month of November 2021 that meetings of Executive Committee were held in December of the preceding year for APOs of 2019-22 and meetings of the Steering Committee were also held well before commencement of financial year. They added that unspent amount wherever required is revalidated in the next financial year for completion of plantation works.
The Additional PCCF further stated that because of climatic conditions most of the afforestation works were being carried out during winter after melting of snow in February and due to short time period available for execution of works before close of the financial year some of the works spill over to the next financial year. The fact remained that climatic factors were not an unforeseen event and the Department should have factored them in implementation of APOs and timelines should have been adhered to, the CAG has mentioned in the report.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
