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Forest lands diversion on fast track
State Forest Department has stepped up the process of according forest clearances to various development projects under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
Departments are now submitting their requirements for diversion of the forest land and remitting the amount online towards the CAMPA fund
Hyderabad: State Forest Department has stepped up the process of according forest clearances to various development projects under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
According to the Forest Department sources, proposals have been received for the diversion of forest lands mainly for Mission Bhagiratha(MB), laying of roads and cables as well as for Singareni Collieries. In Bhadradri-Kothagudem area the Forest Department officials had already started issuing demand notices to the Mission Bhagiratha and Singareni Collieries.
``Unlike in the past, the departments concerned have been submitting their requirements for the diversion of the forest land and remitting the amount online towards the CAMPA fund.
Following this, the Forest department has been issuing Stage I and II, clearances,” said a senior official from the department. Under Stage I, the departments identify the lands needed to execute their project and carryout the survey of the same. On verification of the same, the SFD gives clearances for Stage I.
Following this, the alternative lands shown should be mutated in favour of Forest Department in the revenue records. Besides, the departments concerned will have to make remittances for planting and growing trees in the alternative lands.
Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official said that initially they had faced problems in the mutation of lands in favour of the Forest Department in the revenue records and remitting the funds. However, starting from the current financial year, the entire process has been put on fast track.
Most of the project works like Mission Bhagiratha need forest lands admeasuring around 10 hectares. Diversion of such smaller extent of lands would not in any way adversely affect the forest ecosystem and the Forest Department feels there would not be any legal hurdles with regard to the clearances, the official pointed out.Works related to Mission Bhagiratha are in execution stage at several places in the forest lands the official added.
By V R C Phaniharan
