Arunachal undertakes afforestation in 16,560 hectares of land under CAMPA: Mama Natung

 OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government has carried out an afforestation programme on 16,560.46 hectares of land in the state during 2022-23 under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme, the state assembly was informed on Tuesday. Responding to a question raised on the second day of the monsoon session of the assembly by Congress MLA Wangling Lowangdong, Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung informed that an amount of Rs 196.93 crore was sanctioned by the national authority (CAMPA) under the environment, forest, and climate change ministry to the state for the year 2022-23.

The minister informed that under the compensatory afforestation component, preparatory works were undertaken on 2,986.23 hectares, the creation of plantations on 4,459.16 hectares, and the maintenance of plantations on 24,177.35 hectares of land in the state during 2022-23. Under the catchment area treatment plan component, the creation of plantations was carried out on 1,200 hectares, while the maintenance of plantations was done on 6,000 hectares, Natung said, adding that under the net present value component, plantations were carried out on 10,901.61 hectares during the year. The minister said that the allocation of funds to the forest divisions is based on compensatory afforestation schemes, integrated wildlife management plans, and catchment area treatment plans as approved by the Centre. "Compensatory afforestation component is taken on identified land as per approval of the Centre, while the integrated wildlife management plan is based on the approved 10-year wildlife conservation and mitigation plans," the minister said.

The catchment area treatment plan is based on an approved plan against the Kameng Hydroelectric Project under the Bomdila forest division in the West Kameng district and the Pare Hydroelectric Project under the Sagalee forest division in the Papumpare district of the state, Natung said, adding that funds are allocated to the officers for taking up activities under the Annual Plan of Operation (APO) through the executing agencies, including the range officers. Responding to a supplementary from Lowangdong regarding the disparity in distribution of CAMPA funds, the minister informed that funds under the scheme are provided only to those areas where deforestation is going on due to major projects like road construction, the setting up of transmission lines, and the installation of power projects.

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