Government
of India has formulated a scheme titled “National Afforestation
Programme” by merging of four IXth Plan Centrally Sponsored
Afforestation Schemes of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
namely; Integrated Afforestation and Eco-Development Projects (IAEPS),
area oriented fuel wood and fodder projects scheme, (AOFFPS), Conservation
and Development of Non-Timber Forest Produce including Medicinal
Plants scheme (NTFP) and Association of Schedule Tribes and Rural
Poor in regeneration of degraded forests (ASTRP) with a view to
reduce multiplicity of the schemes and institutionalizing peoples
participation in project formulation and its implementation.
The
scheme would be implemented under two tier setup namely; the Forest
Development Agencies and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).
The two tier approach apart from building capabilities at the grass
roots level would also empower the local people to participate in
the decision making process. FDA can be constituted at the territorial
/ wild life forest division level and it will be a registered society
under Societies Registration Act. At the Grass root level, the JFMCs
(in case of Andhra Pradesh VSS/EDCs) will be an implementing agency.
Activities
of FDAs
? Implementation of centrally sponsored afforestation
schemes.
? Other beneficiaries oriented activities like agro forestry, avenue
plantations.
? Take steps for value addition and marketing of produce.
? Inventorisation of land and other natural resources.
? Environmental education.
? Awareness and active association in protection against poaching
and illicit felling of timber.
? Establishment and management of decentralized nurseries with marketing
arrangements.
? Assist in management of CPRs.
? Address socio-economic needs of people.
? Management of existing captive water resources in the villages.
? Active involvement in forest fire fighting operations.
? Monitoring of activities of local NGOs.
Functions of
FDAs
Approve plans for all afforestation related
activities in forest fringe villages, including the micro plans.
Provide support and assistance to VSS for micro planning.
Organize training and awareness programmes.
Implementation of water harvesting and soil conservation measures
with appropriate approvals.
Inter se prioritization for scheme and activity wise financial
outlays.
Decide entry point activities.
Formulate guidelines for utilization and sharing of usufruct as
per the policy of state government.
Improvise technological improvements.
Develop Guidelines for employment generation opportunities.
Coordinate and Monitor the activities of their constituent VSS.
Conceptualize innovative schemes, viz. establishment of botanical
gardens, sacred groves etc.
Deal with contingencies such as drought, flood and forest fires.
Coordinate with DRDAs and other relevant government departments
to dovetail their schemes and programmes with afforestation schemes
so that watersheds can be developed in a holistic manner.
Status of FDA
in Andhra Pradesh
Number of FDAs approved by GOI
during 2002-2003 13
Number of VSSs / EDCs involved 615
The project period for FDAs 2002-03 to 2006-07
Total amount sanctioned for the project period Rs.41.13 Crores
Amount sanctioned for 2002-03 Rs. 9.33 Crores
Amount utilized during 2002-03 Rs. 1.95 Crores
The amount of Rs. 9.33 Crores earmarked for
the year 2002-2003 was released to respective FDAs for carrying
out various activities as approved by Government of India. As the
amounts were released during the last quarter of the financial year
2002-03, an amount of Rs. 1.95 Crores only was utilized during the
year 2002-03 and the balance is being utilized during the year 2003-04.
During the year 2003-2004, another 20 FDA
projects in different divisions for the VSS/EDCs which do not have
any assured source of funding have been prepared and submitted to
Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, National
Afforestation and Eco-Development Board for approval. These projects
involve 942 No. of VSS/EDCs with a financial outlay of Rs 110.28
Crores.
Statement of FDA projects Sanctioned
by Government of India
Project period -2002-03 to 2006-07
Sl. No.
|
Name of the FDA
|
Total amount
sanctioned (Rs. in akhs)
|
Total area in Ha. proposed
|
No.of VSS/ EDCs
|
Amount released for 2002-03 (Rs. In lakhs)
|
1
|
Ananthapur
|
395.18
|
2240
|
60
|
96.00
|
2
|
Eluru
|
387.78
|
2000
|
60
|
82.00
|
3
|
Giddalur
|
501.96
|
2100
|
49
|
103.0
|
4
|
Guntur
|
252.57
|
1500
|
60
|
58.00
|
5
|
Kurnool
|
380.86
|
2400
|
60
|
103.00
|
6
|
Krishna
|
219.42
|
1000
|
36
|
51.00
|
7
|
Nalgonda
|
373.84
|
2500
|
60
|
89.00
|
8
|
Rangareddy
|
388.67
|
1600
|
57
|
70.50
|
9
|
Paloncha
|
249.60
|
2000
|
50
|
98.76
|
10
|
Achampet (WL)
|
242.24
|
1600
|
44
|
41.00
|
11
|
Atmakur (WL)
|
225.14
|
1250
|
25
|
55.00
|
12
|
Markapur WL
|
265.43
|
1400
|
28
|
43.00
|
13
|
N.Sagar (WL)
|
231.05
|
1500
|
26
|
43.00
|
Total :
|
4113.74
|
23090
|
615
|
933.26
|
|