SC pulls up Bhopal municipal corporation for flouting Solid Waste Management Rules (DownToEarth)

  • 05 Dec 2023

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Why is it in the News?

There is non-compliance with the provision of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the Supreme Court observed December 1, 2023 after going through the affidavit filed by the corporation.

What is About Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)?

  • The Supreme Court of India, in 2001, mandated the creation of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
    • Initially, an ad-hoc CAMPA was established in 2006 to manage the Compensatory Afforestation Fund.
  • (CAMPA) are meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.
  • National CAMPA Advisory Council has been established as per orders of The Hon’ble Supreme Court with the following mandate:
    • Lay down broad guidelines for State CAMPA.
    • Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPA.
    • Make recommendations to State CAMPA based on a review of their plans and programmes.
    • Provide a mechanism to State CAMPA to resolve issues of an inter-state or Centre-State character.

CAMPA Act:

  • To address the loss of forest area and ensure sustainability, the Government of India introduced the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Act.
  • This legislation establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund in the Public Account of India and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund in the Public Account of each state.
  • These funds receive payments for compensatory afforestation, net present value of forests (NPV), and other project-specific payments.
  • The National Fund gets 10% of these funds, while the State Funds receive the remaining 90%.
  • As per the Act, companies diverting forest land must provide alternative land for compensatory afforestation.
  • For afforestation purposes, companies are required to pay for planting new trees in the alternative land provided to the state.