Modi govt gives nod for changes in Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015

How will the legislation help

Apart from facilitating timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will also result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in the rural areas, especially the backward tribal areas.

• Javadekar had yesterday said,"We have received report of standing committee. Suggestions given by the committee has been incorporated. The Bill will be tabled in the Parliament in the coming session. We hope that all parties will support it," Javadekar said.
• The amendments include deleting some of environmental services for which credible model to assess their monetary value does not exist while it also provides for prior consultation with states for making a rule under it.
• The amendments provide for use of monies realised from the user agencies in lieu for forest land diverted in protected areas for voluntary relocation from protected areas.
• It also provides for including secretaries of Ministries dealing with Space and Earth Sciences as members of governing body of the National Authority while it also increases the number of expert members in governing body of National Authority from two to five.