Timely utilisation of forest funds stressed

BHUBANESWAR: The Forest Department has been advised to adopt more  and more web-based monitoring system in the implementation of compensatory afforestation programme.Presiding over the steering committee meeting of the Compensatory Fund Management and Planning Authority (Campa) here on Tuesday, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik emphasised on timely utilisation of funds and protection of forests under joint forest management system. In April, the steering committee had approved an annual action plan of  Rs. 169.89 crore which was later revised to Rs. 214.64 crore. The State Government received Rs.139 crore from the central authority during January, 2011. The Government has so far provided Rs. 79 crore to different implementing agencies for these works. Additional Action Plan of Rs. 325 crore for  strengthening forest protection in joint forest management (JFM) mode has also been approved in the meeting.  JFM envisages active involvement and participation of people for protection and enrichment of forests through Vana Sanrakshana Samitis (VSSs). It has been decided that in the first phase 5,000 such VSSs will be included in the programme over a period of five years from 2011. Meanwhile, 11,995 VSSs have been constituted.  Efforts will be made to constitute more VSSs in the forest fringe villages. The major activities of VSSs will be assisting natural regeneration, planting of the species as per choice of community and protection of forest through micro planning.It was also decided that Vana Chetana Kendras will be set up in VSS areas to provide a platform for interaction, capacity building of the community and awareness activities for better implementation of the programme. In the initial phase, 2,500 such centres will be built and each VSS will be assigned 1,000 hectare of forest for growth and protection. The Chief Secretary advised principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) PN Padhee to explore the possibilities of having one single bank account of Campa funds for all the districts and State for expediting allocation, utilisation and monitoring of funds.  Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, Aurobindo Behera, Principal Secretary, Finance, Jugal Kishore Mohapatra and senior officers of the Forest Department were present.