HC seeks report on status of compensatory forests in industrial areas

Cuttack: Orissa high court has sought from the state govt a detailed report on the status of compensatory forests being created, especially following industrialisation in different parts.
The HC was hearing a petition seeking intervention against felling of trees on forest land in Dhinkia gram panchayat area of Jagatsinghpur district for an industrial unit. Chandan Mohanty, a resident of Dhinkia (Patana), filed the petition.
The order was issued on Thursday after senior advocate Ashok Kumar Parija, representing the company, submitted that the project proponent has deposited the money with the state govt for the purpose of plantation. Accordingly, the state has to file an affidavit stating how the money has been spent on the plantation, Parija submitted.
Taking it on record, the bench of Justice S K Panigrahi on Thursday said, "The state govt shall file a detailed affidavit regarding the number of sapling plantation across the all industrial projects sites of the state as well as along the road constructed by the National Highways Authority of India, state highway and also around any other development projects being undertaken by the state."
"The state has to give the details of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) fund lying with the state and how the said fund is being utilised for creation of compensatory forest on account of the deforestation made due to development projects including industrial projects," Justice Panigrahi said.
He directed the govt to file the affidavit within a month and listed the matter for hearing on May 14.
CAMPA scheme is an initiative to manage and plan the use of funds collected for compensatory afforestation, aiming to compensate for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.
On Sept 2, 2024, Parija had submitted that no illegality had been committed as the Union ministry of environment and forests had granted diversion of 1,083.69 hectares of forest land.
Since it is a greenfield project, it requires some forest clearance for setting up the unit and other activities in the area. But the project proponent will leave no stone unturned in creating forest in the vacant space. The company shall take steps to plant trees in and around the affected villages. They will also utilise their CSR fund for plantation of trees so that the people who are losing their forest will be benefited, Parija had assured the court.