( FDA ) FOREST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY


          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


 

Main_Menu | Home