The Union Cabinet of the Council of Ministers approved on April 20, 2016, the amendments to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 (CAF Bill) on April 20, 2016. The CAF Bill aims to utilize in an efficient and transparent manner, accumulated amounts available with the ad – hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Agency (CAMPA) aggregating to approximately Rs. 40,000 crores in accordance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Utilization of such amounts shall be towards mitigation of impact of diversion of forest land for non – forest purposes in a timely manner.
The amendments as approved by the Union Cabinet includes, requirement of prior consultation with State Governments for making of rules under the CAF Bill, establishment of state funds for Union Territories as part of the public account of the Government of India, voluntary relocation of communities from protected forest areas, alterations to the governing body of the National Authority and prescribing a time limit of three months for decisions of the Executive Committee of the National Authority for approval of annual plan of operations.
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