Union Government launches E-Payment Module to deposit compensatory levies into CAMPA Funds

Union Government has launched an e-payment module to make the payment of compensatory levies into the Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Authority (CAMPA) Funds.
It was launched by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi in order to make these payments for diversion of forest land quicker and more transparent.
The e-payment module has a designated account for the payment purpose, depending on the States in which the forest land is proposed to be diverted. Initially, the payments will be allowed through two modes viz. online challan mode through RTGS and NEFT and offline challan mode.
The deposit of compensatory levies through the e-portal will be optional till August 31, 2015 and will be accepted only through the e-module from 1 September 2015.
With the launch of the e-payment portal, henceforth no payments will be accepted other than through the portal or unless specifically ordered guidelines issued by Ad-hoc CAMPA.

What is CAMPA Fund?

• Levies are imposed on development projects that seek land inside a Reserved Forest or a Protected Area (PA) in a sanctuary or a national park.
• These collected levies are accrued in the CAMPA Funds which are to be utilised to plant trees elsewhere in order to ostensibly compensate the loss of forest due to development projects.
• It should be noted that the CAMPA has been created on the order of the Supreme Court in October 2002.
• The Ad-hoc CAMPA decides the procedure of per-verification of credits of levies in the State-wise accounts.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015