CAMPA funds should be used appropriately as per rules: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai

 The third meeting of the governing body of Chhattisgarh CAMPA was held today in Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. In the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Sai directed that the proper use of CAMPA funds should be done as per rules. He also provided necessary guidelines while doing a detailed review of the works being conducted under CAMPA in the meeting.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that 44 percent of Chhattisgarh state's land area is covered with forests. Our state has abundant forest wealth. Chhattisgarh ranks tenth in the country in terms of geographical area, while in terms of forest area, the state ranks third. CAMPA funds play an important role in the conservation and development of forests, hence it should be used on the basis of priorities as per the need.

The Chief Minister obtained information from the officials about the works related to forest development, forest protection, wildlife conservation and infrastructure development done in the past years under CAMPA funds. On this occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CAMPA) presented the progress made so far and the important works done under CAMPA funds before the Governing Body.

In the meeting, it was told that under CAMPA, works like plantation of trees in forest areas, restoration of forest villages, ground water conservation, conservation of Devgudis, upgradation of forest roads, construction of culverts and ramparts, pasture development, establishment of nurseries, construction of hi-tech barriers, plantation of trees on river banks, residential buildings for frontline staff, fire safety and wildlife management have been implemented.

The Governing Body of Chhattisgarh CAMPA was informed that from the year 2019-20 to 2024-25, a total amount of Rs 7297.55 crore has been received from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi in the interest-bearing public account of the state 'Chhattisgarh Compensatory Afforestation Fund', out of which Rs 4010.43 crore has been used in the last six years.

For the Annual Action Plan (APO) 2025-26 of CAMPA item, a plan of Rs 694.18 crore has been proposed by the State CAMPA to the National CAMPA of the Government of India, against which an approval of Rs 433.69 crore has been received so far.

Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Richa Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Panchayat and Rural Development Department Smt. Niharika Barik Singh, Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Basavaraju S., Secretary Housing and Environment Department Shri Ankit Anand, Secretary Forest and Climate Change Department Shri Amarnath Prasad, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Shri V. Srinivas Rao and other senior officers were present in the meeting.