GANGTOK, March 4: Not exactly a Green Bonus as promised by Jairam Ramesh but Sikkim and other green States has something to cheer with the 13th Finance Commission recommending that much of the Rs 5,000 crores grants for forestry promotion in the country would be linked to the number of approved working plans which the State Forest Department prepares.
Lately, States which high forest cover like Sikkim have been pressing upon the Centre for compensation as they carry the burden of maintaining green cover for the country through emphasis on forest conservation at the cost of developmental projects.
Accepting this viewpoint, the 13th Finance Commission has recommended that the Rs 5,000 grants for forest and environment conservation would be united but priority should be given to the preparation of working plans. Release of grants for the last three years is linked to progress in the number of approved working plans, said the commission.
Sikkim’s share in the grant in-aid for forests of Rs 5,000 crores recommended by the 13th Finance Commission is Rs 40.56 crores from 2010 to 2015. Among the Northeastern States, Arunachal Pradesh has been allocated the highest forestry grant of Rs 727.84 crores. The commission has stated that of the total grants released, 75 per cent can be used by States for development purposes. The remaining 25 per cent of the grants in these three years is for preservation of forest wealth and is meant to be an additionality to the States’ Budget for development of forestry and wildlife.
Release of grants in the last three years of the award period shall be linked to progress on approval of working plans, the commission said. The commission recorded that the forests of India constitute the first line of defence against pollution resulting from economic activity, whether of agricultural or industrial origin.
Recognizing this, the last finance commission had provided a grant of Rs 1,000 crores to States, distributed between them in accordance with the share accounted for by each in the total forested acreage in the country. (Agencies)