Zero CAMPA fund from Centre for Nagaland

•    Forest Dept forfeited Rs 5000-6000 crore over five  years 
•    Mandatory service in remote districts for promotions

Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | March 19

According to the forest department, Nagaland is the only state in India that has forfeited funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). CAMPA is a statutory body established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act for promoting afforestation activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.

Principal Director, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, (EFCC), Y Kikheto Sema made the disclosure at a conclave of Nagaland Forest Officers held at the Nagaland Police Complex, Chümoukedima, on March 19, where the state EFCC Minister, CL John was a special guest. “For the last 5 years, the Government of India has released (approximately) Rs 5883.6 crore to 34 states except Nagaland,” Sema said. While seven north-east states have availed roughly Rs 2322 crore over the same period, he said that it is a “big zero” for Nagaland. (Refer table for NE state-wise funding).  

CAMPA funds to NE states (over 5 years)

The Principal Director estimated that the state has missed out on approximately Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crore. He attributed the loss to the department's failure to conduct forest damage assessments during major infrastructure projects, such as railway and highway constructions, and the state’s rigid land-holding culture. While Article 371(A) protects land ownership by the community, he said that it has been misinterpreted in ways that prevent the state from claiming compensatory funds from the central government. “It is the duty of the forest officers to educate our people. We have missed the bus,” he said.

This unique situation has had the community having greater say over land and forest, and the state government owning less than 5 percent of the state’s total forest cover. Nagaland has only 3 state protected forests— Ntangki National Park, Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary and Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary. 

While stating that the state is struggling to protect even these three, he insisted on the Forest department taking the initiative to encourage creation of more ‘Community reserved forests.’ He called for integrating climate change and forest conservation not only in the school curriculum, but also in Sunday school and church sermons.  

As per the Indian State of Forest Report 2023, Nagaland recorded the highest forest decline in India between 2013 and 2023, losing almost 800 square kilometres. He added that the state has seen a 5 percent decline in forest cover in just 10 years.

Transfer & Postings
Sema also revealed that the department is working to introduce reform in the transfer and posting of its personnel making it mandatory to serve in remote districts as a prerequisite for promotions. 

Commenting on this, Minister CL John said that the department will be categorising postings into 3 Zones— A, B and C, where Zone C will comprise of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak, and Shamator districts. He said, “We are considering a rule that no officer will be promoted unless they have served at least once in a Zone C district.”

Elephant trouble 
The Minister addressed the dilemmatic situation facing the department regarding human-elephant conflict. Attributing it to depleting foraging grounds, he said, “Elephants kill humans, but we can't put elephants in jail. But if humans kill an elephant, they go to jail. This is a very difficult situation to talk about.” He urged officers to implement practical measures to protect both villagers and wildlife.
He further said that the hunting culture in the state is damaging Nagaland’s image. He said even “high-ranking” government officials go hunting with bodyguards and guns.

Transparency 
The Minister also insisted on maintaining transparency in the handling of forest revenue. He noted that the state has recently started imposing royalties on timber and areca nut originating from outside the state, and stressed that these funds must be accurately recorded.

Agar policy  
He highlighted the need for an ‘Agarwood policy,’ noting that due to the lack of a policy, Nagaland's farmers are selling products at “distress prices”, well below the market value. A plan is in the pipeline to partner with the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI) to introduce artificial inoculation technology to enhance the local agarwood industry.

Vedpal Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force, described the conclave as the first of its kind for the Department. The main idea, he explained, is for the Department’s leadership to convey their ideas to field functionaries while also listening to their on-ground experiences. “Broadly, it is a dialogue across different bureaucratic levels of the department to improve the functioning,” Singh said.

Legality of taxation by Forest Dept

Speaking to the media on the sideline of the conclave, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CL John stated that royalties are collected at entry and exit gates for mineral items entering from neighboring states. He maintained that the department has permission from the state government. 

PCCF Vedpal Singh explained that forest produce is governed by the rules of the respective state governments. He said that timber sent from Nagaland to Assam is taxed by the Assam government, while timber entering Nagaland from Assam is subject to Nagaland's royalty and Transit Permit (TP) charges.

On the missed CAMPA funds, Principal Director, Y Kikheto Sema said a committee has been formed to address the matter.