Implement new CAMPA guidelines strictly: Mishra

Nagpur: CK Mishra, secretary, ministry of environment, forest & climate change (MoEFCC), on Wednesday lauded the Maharashtra forest department efforts to implement state-of-the-art information technology module.
Mishra, who is on a daylong visit to Tadoba on Thursday, halted in the city and addressed senior forest officials at Van Bhavan, state forest department’s headquarters. He visited Command & Control Room at Van Bhavan, and held deliberations on various issues.

Mishra asserted need for augmenting the quality of forests and to suitably modify existing laws to internalize the social and economic aspirations of society as well as to match with ongoing socio-economic transformation. Mishra also appreciated IT initiatives of Maharashtra forest department and mulled its implementation on pan India basis, which would help in improving and augmenting the forest administration of the country.

The top MoEFCC official also appreciated pro-active role of state government for adequate budgetary provision for forestry and wildlife activities. “After delegation of administrative and financial power of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning (CAMPA), the state has great responsibility to strictly follow guidelines of Centre and no deviation from that should be allowed,” he added.

He also affirmed that state forest department state-of-the-art IT model has helped overcome problem of monitoring various forest initiatives. He gave several suggestions regarding exchange of forest officials with other state forest departments to help in implementation of forestry programmes in administration.

Umesh Kumar Agrawal, principal chief conservator of forests (HoFF), apprised him about forest department’s recent initiatives which have helped register substantial increase in area under mangroves, bamboo and water bodies within forests.

Praveen Srivastava, PCCF for IT & Policy, presented information about 50 crore plantation drive, GIS cell, Hello Forest 1926, Green Army Maharashtra and provision of real-time information of all projects to the citizens.

Following this, Nitin Kakodkar, PCCF (wildlife), presented information about wildlife conservation and protected areas of the state and ecotourism.

Sheshrao Patil, PCCF (production & management), A Ashraf, member-secretary of Maharashtra Biodiversity Board (MSBB), N Rambabu, managing director of FDCM, G Saiprakash, PCCF (budget & planning), Kanwarjit Singh, APCCF with MoEFCC’s regional office, and senior forest officials were present.