India achieved compensatory afforestation over 1,78,261 hectares against a target of 2,09,297 hectares from 2019-20 to 2023-24, reaching 85% of the planned area, according to a Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report filed this month. The report highlights significant variations in the utilization of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds across states.

Gujarat, Chandigarh, Mizoram, and Madhya Pradesh fully met their targets, with Madhya Pradesh planting 21,746.82 hectares against 21,107.68 hectares, and Karnataka covering 2,761.26 hectares against 2,775.12 hectares. Arunachal Pradesh achieved 96.6% (20,719.46 hectares against 21,478.03), Uttar Pradesh 96.4% (5,877.16 hectares against 6,096.7), Assam 93.8% (1,149.64 hectares against 1,191.82), Sikkim 92.3% (609.52 hectares), and Punjab 89.9% (4,019.72 hectares against 4,471.94).

Conversely, Meghalaya achieved only 22.3% (114.56 hectares against 514.76), Manipur 37.9% (666.94 hectares against 1,759.84), Kerala 39.7% (171.80 hectares against 433.06), West Bengal 39.2% (748.25 hectares against 1,911.74), Tamil Nadu 32.3% (84.76 hectares against 262.39), and Andhra Pradesh 40.1% (3,471.88 hectares against 8,663.46).

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Plantation survival rates varied widely. Arunachal Pradesh reported 40-75%, Assam 45-90%, Kerala 45-74%, Manipur 55-76%, and Meghalaya 40-70%. Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Jharkhand recorded 69-80%, 60-80%, 54-60%, 60-66%, and 78-98%, respectively.

The report reviewed CAMPA fund usage, with National CAMPA approving Rs 38,516 crore for state plans. States released Rs 29,311 crore to forest departments, utilizing Rs 26,001 crore—67.5% of the approved outlay. Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh utilized 100%, 100%, and 97.8% of released funds, respectively. Mizoram used 91%, Sikkim 97.7%, Karnataka 96.6%, Odisha 87.9%, and Chhattisgarh 95%. Gujarat spent 116% due to carryover balances. However, Tamil Nadu used 67.9%, Jammu and Kashmir 62.5%, Haryana 57.4%, West Bengal 81.1%, Delhi 26.9% (the lowest), Telangana 60.4%, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands 53.1%.

The CEC noted delays in annual plan submissions, late fund releases, and the absence of dedicated CAMPA offices as barriers to seasonal forestry operations. Weak monitoring of survival rates and complex fund release processes contributed to underutilization. Despite challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions, progress under the statutory framework was deemed significant.

The report warns that gaps in plantation survival and fund underutilization undermine CAMPA’s purpose, especially as natural forests are lost to development. The compensatory afforestation framework stems from the 1995 TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India case, where the Supreme Court mandated funding for afforestation to offset forest land diverted for non-forest use. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, and CAF Rules, 2018, established National and State CAMPA to manage these funds for afforestation, forest regeneration, wildlife protection, and ecological restoration.

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