Goa’s proposed spending on forest management and allied activities for 2026-27 has been scaled down by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which approved Rs 37.19 crore against the state’s proposal of Rs 43.77 crore.
The approval, representing a cut of nearly 27 per cent from the proposed outlay, was granted at the 40th meeting of the National CAMPA Executive Committee held on August 11.
Despite the reduction from Goa’s demand, the sanctioned amount is substantially higher than the Rs 14.96 crore allocated to the state in 2025-26 and Rs 13.74 crore in 2024-25.
The National CAMPA approved the entire Rs 11.84 crore sought by Goa for compensatory afforestation over 80 hectares.
However, several other components covering forest management, biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection received reduced allocations.
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One of the steepest cuts was made under Rule 5(3) of the CAF Rules, 2018. Against Goa’s proposal of Rs 4.86 crore, only Rs 2.44 crore was sanctioned.
The category includes modern nurseries, biodiversity conservation, communication and information technology equipment, inspection paths and forest roads, fire lines, watchtowers and check posts, besides monitoring and awareness activities.
The allocation for modern nurseries was reduced from the proposed Rs 33.60 lakh to Rs 15.66 lakh.
Goa’s separate proposal of Rs 50 lakh for conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity was rejected.
Similarly, the state had sought Rs 1.86 crore for communication and information technology equipment, but only Rs 38.60 lakh was approved.
The allocation for construction, upgradation and maintenance of inspection paths, forest roads, fire lines, watchtowers and check posts was also cut substantially, from Rs 41.25 lakh to Rs 14.50 lakh.
Under Rule 5(2), Goa had proposed Rs 19.64 crore for a range of activities, including assisted and artificial regeneration, protection of plantations and forests, forest-fire prevention, soil and moisture conservation, wildlife habitat improvement, animal rescue facilities and biodiversity management.
The National CAMPA approved Rs 15.47 crore under this head, reducing the proposal by more than Rs 4.17 crore.
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Among the affected components, funding for plantation and forest protection was reduced from Rs 4.67 crore to Rs 3.90 crore, while forest-fire prevention and control was cut from Rs 2.85 crore to Rs 2.11 crore.
The allocation for soil and moisture conservation was brought down from Rs 2.16 crore to Rs 1.75 crore, while the proposed spending on wildlife habitat improvement was reduced from Rs 3.54 crore to Rs 2.13 crore, a report stated.
The management of biological diversity and biological resources also saw a significant reduction, with the proposed Rs 1.29 crore allocation being brought down to Rs 44.81 lakh.
The approved plan thus retains funding for compensatory afforestation while reducing several of Goa’s proposed allocations for forest protection, biodiversity and wildlife-related activities.
Source: https://nenews.in/goa/national-campa-cuts-goas-proposed-forest-management-outlay-by-nearly-27/64898/