FCA / AUTHORITIES /

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)

In April 2004, the central government, under the orders of the Supreme Court, constituted the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for the management of money towards compensatory afforestatin, NPV and other money recoverable, in compliance of the conditions stipulated by the central government and in accordance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The headquarters of the authority are in New Delhi.

The CAMPA functions under the supervision of the central government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). Its jurisdiction extends to the whole of India.

Composition of CAMPA

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority functions through a ‘Governing body’ and an ‘Executive body’

Governing Body

Composition of the Governing Body

The Governing body of CAMPA consists of the following members:

Powers and Functions of the Governing Body

The powers and functions of the Governing Body of CAMPA shall include:

• Reviewing the broad policy framework of the CAMPA

• Monitoring the progress of the utilization of funds released by the CAMPA

• Approving the annual budget of the CAMPA for expenditure, subject to an overall ceiling of 10% of the average income from interest, etc. on establishment and capital expenditure, excluding income from funds received from user agencies in cases where the forest land diverted falls within protected areas declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 (see below under Compensatory Afforestation Fund)

• Appointing the CEO, Joint CEO and Deputy CEO

• Creating posts in CAMPA equivalent to the level of Deputy Inspector General of Forests and Assistant Inspector General of Forests, if necessary

• Approving the annual reports and audited accounts of the CAMPA

The Governing Body shall meet at least once in six months.

 Executive Body

Composition of the Executive Body

The Executive Body of CAMPA consists of the following members:

In addition to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), there is one Joint CEO of the level of Conservator of Forests and two Deputy CEOs of the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests to assist the Executive Body. These officers shall be appointed by the CAMPA on deputation basis for a period not exceeding five years after obtaining required clearances from the competent authority in the MoEF. The Governing body can create posts in CAMPA at the level of Deputy Inspector General of Forests and Assistant Inspector General of Forests to be filled on deputation. They shall be appointed for a period not exceeding five years on terms and conditions to be decided by the CAMPA with the concurrence of the central government in the MoEF.

Powers and Functions of the Executive Body

The Executive Body shall decide:

• Deployment of staff on contractual basis or on deputation

• Financial procedure of the CAMPA

• Delegation of financial or administrative powers

• Other day-to-day working in respect of receipt of funds

• Investment of funds

• Expenditure on establishment and other overheads including office accommodation. Subject to the approval of the annual budget by the Governing Body

Compensatory Afforestation Fund

The CAMPA shall be custodian of the ‘Compensatory Afforestation Fund’. The following shall be credited to such fund:

• Receipt of all monies from user agencies towards Compensatory Afforestation, Additional Compensatory Afforestation, Catchment Area Treatment Plan or for compliance of any other condition(s) stipulated by the central government while according approval under this Act

• The unspent funds already realized by the state/Union Territories shall be transferred to the CAMPA by the respective state/Union Territories to user agencies within six months from the date of issue of the order (S.O. 525(E), dated 23rd April, 2004) and any Compensatory Afforestation Funds which have not yet been realized shall be realized by the states and Union Territories and transferred to the CAMPA

• The funds recoverable from the user agencies in cases where forest land diverted falls within the protected areas notified under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 (Sections 18, 26-A or 35 of the Act) for undertaking activities related to protection of biodiversity and wildlife, shall be maintained separately

• Net Present Value (NPV) of the forest land diverted which may be realized pursuant to the Supreme Court’s order in 2002 (dated 30.10.2002 in I.A. No. 566 in Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995

• Money receivable in pursuance of the orders of the Supreme Court or the central government or any other competent authority authorized in this regard by the central government

Management of the Fund:

• The amount collected by the CAMPA shall be invested in Reserve Bank of India, Nationalized Banks, Post Office, government Securities, government Bonds and deposits.

• The non-recurring as well as recurring cost for the management of CAMPA, including the salary and allowances payable to its officers and staff, shall be met by utilizing a part of the income by way of accrued interest on the funds invested by the CAMPA, excluding funds received from user agencies in cases where the forest land diverted falls within protected areas declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 (see above)

• The expenditure incurred on independent monitoring and evaluation shall be borne by the CAMPA out of income by way of interest on the funds invested by the CAMPA, excluding funds received from user agencies in cases where the forest land diverted falls within protected areas declared under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 (see below under Compensatory Afforestation Fund)

• The CAMPA shall get the annual accounts audited internally as well as externally through chartered accountants who are on the panel of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the auditors shall be selected on the approval of the Governing Body

Disbursement of funds

• The money received for compensatory afforestation and additional compensatory afforestation may be used as per the site specific schemes received from the states and Union Territories along with proposals for diversion of forest land under this Act.
• The money received towards Net Present Value (NPV) shall be used for natural assisted regeneration, forest management, protection, infrastructure development, wildlife protection and management, supply of wood and other forest produce and other allied activities
• Monies realized from the user agencies in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s orders or decisions taken by the National Board for Wildlife (constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972) involving cases of diversion of forest land in protected areas shall form the corpus, and the income from it shall be used exclusively for undertaking protection and conservation activities in protected areas of the states and the Union Territories. In exceptional circumstances, a part of the corpus may also be used, subject to prior approval of the CAMPA
• CAMPA shall realize monies to the concerned state and Union Territory in predetermined installments through the state Level Management Committee as per the Annual Plan of Operation (APO) finalized by the concerned state and the Union Territory
• The monies received by CAMPA from a state or Union Territory and the income thereon after deducting expenditure incurrend by the CAMPA on its establishment cost, monitoring and evaluation on a prorata basis, shall be used only in that particular state or Union Territory

Monitoring and Evaluation of works implemented through the CAMPA funds

An independent system for concurrent monitoring and evaluation of the works implemented in the states utilizing the funds released by the CAMPA shall be evolved and implemented to ensure effective and proper utilization of funds, and services of the Regional Offices of the MoEF in this regard may also be utilized.

The CAMPA shall have the powers to order inspection and financial audit of works executed by utilizing CAMPA funds in any state or Union Territory.

The Executive Body of the CAMPA shall have the power to withhold or suspend the release of remaining funds if it is satisfied that the funds released to a particular state or Union Territory are not being utilized properly.

Other functions of the CAMPA

The CAMPA may establish Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) for undertaking compensatory afforestation, particularly involving large public sector undertakings (such as Power Grid Corporation, NTPC, etc.) which frequently require forest lands for their projects, in consultation with the central Empowered Committee.
The CAMPA may also consider evolving new mechanisms to generate additional sources of funds