What are the persistent implementation challenges in the utilisation of CAMPA funds by States? Suggest reforms.

Q. What are the persistent implementation challenges in the utilisation of CAMPA funds by States? (15 marks, 250–350 words)

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and CAMPA Rules, 2018 gave statutory form to Supreme Court-mandated levies on forest diversion, and the Centre transferred about ₹47,436 crore of accumulated funds to States in 2019 [1]. Yet money released has not translated into restored forests, exposing deep absorption and governance gaps.

Persistent implementation challenges - Chronic under-utilisation: large balances lie idle with State CAMPA authorities, with annual expenditure trailing releases and interest accruals in several States [2]; parked funds mean deferred ecological compensation. - Land scarcity and unclear titles: suitable non-forest land equivalent to the diverted area is hard to procure, as land competes with agriculture and industry, and title disputes stall transfers; no comprehensive field survey of land available for afforestation has been undertaken [3]. - Diversion and poor plantation quality: compliance audits of State Compensatory Afforestation Funds have flagged expenditure on inadmissible, non-forestry works, multi-year delays causing cost escalation, and plantation survival well below prescribed norms [4]. - Capacity and monitoring deficits: thin frontline staffing, weak third-party verification, and self-reported plantation data limit accountability; Net Present Value realisation and afforestation progress are reviewed only periodically. - Community exclusion: plantations on common or forest-dwelling lands without Gram Sabha consent breed conflict and undermine survival.

Suggested reforms - Link tranche release to outcome indicators — survival rate, canopy gain — rather than plan outlay. - Institutionalise geospatial monitoring through satellite imagery and a dedicated GIS lab, with public dashboards and independent third-party audit. - Create State land banks of degraded forest land and complete a national survey of afforestable land [3]. - Widen productive spending across statutorily permitted heads — assisted natural regeneration, biodiversity enrichment, wildlife habitat improvement, fire control and soil-water conservation [5] — including species-recovery and sacred-grove restoration projects. - Route micro-planning through Gram Sabhas and JFM committees for local stewardship.

Effective CAMPA use is less a funding problem than a delivery problem. Outcome-linked disbursal, technology-based verification and community co-management can convert idle balances into measurable forest gain, advancing Article 48A's mandate and India's forest-cover and net-zero commitments.

(~325 words)

Sources: 1. Centre releases Rs. 47,436 crores for afforestation to various states (PIB, MoEFCC) — quantum of CAMPA funds transferred to States 2. Fund utilisation of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (PIB, MoEFCC) — State-wise releases versus low utilisation and idle balances 3. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 — PRS Legislative Research — land scarcity, unclear titles, absence of a field survey of afforestable land 4. Chapter IV: Detailed Compliance Audit on State Compensatory Afforestation Fund, CAG of India (2024) — diversion to inadmissible works, delays and low plantation survival 5. CAMPA funds utilized for compensating the loss of forest land and ecosystem services (PIB, MoEFCC) — statutorily permitted heads of CAMPA expenditure