PANJIM, MARCH 8
Goa government’s failure to spend the money sanctioned to the State under National Afforestation Programme (NAP) has given a major financial blow to the implementation of this ambitious scheme in Goa.
As per the reply by Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh in the Rajya Sabha, funds provided to Goa under NAP during 2003-04 were not fully utilized.
The ministry has been regularly monitoring the progress and also highlighted it in various meetings with the Government of Goa, the reply mentions.
Ramesh has said that the Goa Government has been requested to refund the unspent amount.
Since Goa government did not respond, the state was kept out during the distribution of finances under NAP for the years starting from 2007 till 2010.
The State, however, was given Rs 25 lakh during financial year 2010-11 under the scheme, which was much lower than what other States got.
The minister said that the ministry has reviewed the NAP guidelines based on the feedback from the implementing States and other stakeholders, as well as mid-term evaluation of the programme.
“It was considered desirable, inter alia, to further decentralise the scheme administration to the states, modify the institutional arrangements, streamline the fund flow, and add two new components with a view to enhance the delivery of the programme,” Ramesh added.
Although, lost funds under NAP, Goa has already received money under CAMPA, from which the state has upgraded its infrastructure.
Officials stated that CAMPA fundings for 2011-12, which is to the tune of Rs 10 crore will be utilized for afforestation and also soil conservation.
“The department is also expected to come out with the vision document which will decide how CAMPA funds will be utilized in next decade,” a senior official said.
