September 14th 2024.
Recent reports have revealed that forest fires in Bhubaneswar have seen a significant increase of 208% from 2019 to 2021. This is despite the large amount of funds allocated for the protection and management of forests through the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, presented in the Assembly, highlighted the alarming rise in forest fires and damage to forest areas, with a staggering 300% increase in 2021 compared to 2019. It is disturbing to note that even with an expenditure of Rs 58.84 crore on fire protection from CAMPA funds, the numbers continue to rise.
The CAG report also shed light on the unfortunate deaths of 51 elephants in Athagarh and Dhenkanal forest divisions due to preventable causes. This was a result of inadequate forest foot patrolling, improper use of trap cameras, and other protection measures. The report also pointed out that necessary works, such as constructing elephant and reptile underpasses, were either in progress or not initiated even after two to four years of Stage II approval.
Out of the total CAMPA funds of Rs 2,284.98 crore received, only Rs 2074.44 crore could be utilized by the state between 2019 and 2022. What's even more concerning is that the annual accounts of state CAMPA have not been finalized since its inception in 2009. Furthermore, an amount of Rs 56.82 crore was irregularly used from out-of-state CAMPA funds for various construction works. In another instance, Rs 248.06 crore was diverted from CAMPA funds to Ama Jangala Yojana. Additionally, the Forest Department failed to realize a net present value of Rs 88.40 crore at the revised rate in nine cases where forest land was diverted for more than five years without Stage-II/final approval.
Moreover, the Monitoring and Evaluation wing of the state Forest Department did not undertake any monitoring or evaluation activities during 2019-22. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the state CAMPA, which was formed to accelerate the activities of compensatory afforestation and their management. Shockingly, the state CAMPA was established nine years after the notification of CAMPA guidelines by the Union government. This has resulted in a shortfall of 6,995.97 hectares in achieving the compensatory afforestation target since the enactment of Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
In conclusion, the CAG report has highlighted several crucial issues that need immediate attention from the concerned authorities. The rise in forest fire incidents and deaths of elephants due to preventable causes is alarming and calls for urgent action. The state CAMPA needs to be more efficient in utilizing funds and ensuring proper monitoring and evaluation of activities. The delay in its formation and the failure to achieve the compensatory afforestation target are major concerns that must be addressed promptly. It is crucial to prioritize the protection and management of forests to maintain their ecological balance and preserve our natural resources for future generations.
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