Lok Sabha passes bill to unlock Rs 41,000 crore for afforestation

In a rare display of bonhomie between the Opposition and treasury benches in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, a bill which will pave the way for “unlocking” of nearly Rs 41,000 crore earmarked for forest land, which is lying unspent for about four years, was passed in the Upper House.

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill 2015 will ensure expeditious utilisation of accumulated unspent amounts available with the ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, which is currently around Rs 41,000 crore. Around 90 per cent of the amount will go to states and the remaining will be there with the Centre.

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar, while replying to debate on the bill, said it is an important legislation because it unlocks the amount which was lying unused since 2012-13. As the money is going into the public account, he said now the scrutiny can be done both at the Central and state level. This bill is also important on account of the commitment made by India in the Paris climate meet and to achieve the target of increasing the forest cover to 33 per cent from the current level of about 21-22 per cent.