India achieved 85% of its compensatory afforestation target between 2019-24, but widespread CAMPA fund misuse and delays indicate serious governance gaps that undermine forest restoration efforts.
India secured 1,78,261 hectares of compensatory afforestation against a target of 2,09,297 hectares between 2019-20 and 2023-24, achieving 85% of the planned area, the Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has said in a report.
The report filed earlier this month revealed that utilisation of funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) varies sharply across states.
According to the report, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh recorded full achievement of their targets.
Madhya Pradesh planted 21,746.82 hectares, fully achieving its target of 21,107.68 hectares. Karnataka also met nearly its entire target, covering 2,761.26 hectares against 2,775.12 hectares. Arunachal Pradesh planted 20,719.46 hectares against 21,478.03 hectares, achieving 96.6%.
Uttar Pradesh reported 96.4% achievement, planting 5,877.16 hectares against 6,096.7 hectares. Assam covered 1,149.64 hectares against 1,191.82 hectares, achieving 93.8%.
Sikkim planted 609.52 hectares, achieving 92.3%, while Punjab achieved 4,019.72 hectares against 4,471.94 hectares, about 89.9%.
In contrast, Meghalaya had one of the lowest coverage, achieving only 114.56 hectares against a target of 514.76 hectares or 22.3%.
Manipur planted 666.94 hectares against 1,759.84 hectares, achieving 37.9%. Kerala covered 171.80 hectares against 433.06 hectares, achieving 39.7%.
West Bengal achieved only 748.25 hectares against 1,911.74 hectares, about 39.2%. Tamil Nadu planted 84.76 hectares against 262.39 hectares, achieving 32.3%. Andhra Pradesh reported 3,471.88 hectares against 8,663.46 hectares, covering only 40.1%. The report also reviewed the use of CAMPA funds during this period.
National CAMPA approved ₹38,516 crore for state annual plans between 2019-20 and 2023-24. States released ₹29,311 crore to their Forest Departments, of which ₹26,001 crore was utilised. This means only 67.5% of the approved outlay was spent.
Utilisation varied widely, with Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh utilising 100%, 100% and 97.8% of the funds released to them, respectively.
Afforestation Funds Misused Widely
While India has achieved 85% of its national afforestation target between 2019–20 and 2023–24, a Supreme Court–appointed Central Empowered Committee report revealed severe governance breakdowns in deploying CAMPA funds. According to TOI, Delhi has utilised only 23% of its CAMPA allocation, indicating a widespread misuse of allocated funds.
According to CNBC TV18, in Uttarakhand, a Comptroller and Auditor General audit found ₹13.86 crore diverted for inadmissible uses like iPhones, laptops, and building renovations—far from planting trees.
According to CAMPA guidelines, any afforestation should be carried out within a year or two growing seasons from the receipt of funds. However, the report found that afforestation was undertaken more than eight years after receiving final clearance in 37 cases. The delay resulted in a cost escalation amounting to ₹11.54 crore, reported CNBC TV18.
Such misappropriations, along with low sapling survival rates, point to the need for strict oversight, outcome-based budgeting and transparency to ensure real ecological restoration.
(With inputs from PTI.)
