Debt on account of diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, July 20: The different central and Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory's departments owe Rs 390 Crore to Forest department on account of diversion of forestland for non- forestry purposes.
Official documents in our possession lay bare that a total of Rs 390.48 Crore is outstanding against various user agencies on account of diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes.
These details have been revealed in the agenda note circulated by the department for 25th meeting of executive committee of Jammu & Kashmir Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
The user agencies are required to pay cost of compensatory afforestation in lieu of the forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes, apart from the value of ecosystem goods and services of forests, termed ‘Net Present Value'.
According to the document, a total of 13902 hectares of forestland has been diverted for non-forestry purposes during the period from 1990 to March 2020.
Post re-organisation of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, the transfer of forest land for non-forestry purposes is being governed under Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) 1980. Prior to the bifurcation of J&K into two UTs, the process used to be governed under J&K Forest (Conservation) Act 1997.
Before October 31, 2019, a high-level committee headed by J&K's Chief Secretary and comprising top bureaucrats and officials of Forest department would decide on transfer of forestland for non-forestry purposes.
Now, Union Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change will decide on these matters.
