Parliamentary panel gets extension, report on CAF Bill to be delayed

NEW DELHI: Report on a bill which seeks to pave way for expeditious utilisation of funds realised for forest land but diverted to non-forest purposes in a transparent manner, is set to be delayed as the parliamentary panel examining the measure has been granted a fresh extension.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology and Environment and Forest headed by former Union minister Ashwani Kumar had sought a fresh extension to present its report on the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill 2015 which is the brainchild of Environment Ministry.

The Bill was referred by Rajya Sabha Chairman to the Committee on May 21 this year for examination and report was to be submitted within a period of three months.

This was, however, extended upto October 1, 2015.

"On the request made by the chairman of the Committee, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has granted further extension of time upto the first day of the winter session (2015) of the Rajya Sabha for presentation of the report," a Rajya Sabha bulletin said.

With the fresh extension, any progress on the bill is likely to happen in the winter session.

The Winter session of the Parliament usually takes place from the third week of November to third week of December. The government is yet to take a call on the dates of the winter session.

The Bill, once passed will also ensure utilisation of accumulated unspent funds already available with Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar had recently said that government has planned to bring the CAF Bill 2015 in the Winter Session of Parliament.

The Bill will also ensure utilisation of accumulated unspent funds already available with Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

States will get Rs 40,000 crore from CAMPA after passage of the bill and that would be additional funds for them, Javadekar had said.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in May this year.