The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the reported misuse of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds by the Uttarakhand government. Allegations have surfaced that funds intended for forest conservation were spent on items such as iPhones and other non-related expenses. The court has called for a detailed response from the state’s chief secretary.
Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, presiding over the case, directed the chief secretary to submit an affidavit clarifying the expenditures. This directive follows a damning report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which pointed to several financial irregularities in the handling of CAMPA funds from 2019 to 2022.
The CAG report highlighted unauthorized purchases, including iPhones, laptops, fridges, and air coolers, as well as expenses on office renovations and personal uses, which are not permitted under the fund’s guidelines. Furthermore, the report criticized the state for not depositing interest totaling Rs 275.34 crore, despite multiple requests from CAMPA authorities.
In response to the findings, the state government admitted to depositing Rs 150 crore of the interest liability in July 2023 but has yet to account for the remaining sum. The Supreme Court has set a deadline of March 19 for the affidavit, warning that failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could result in the chief secretary being summoned to appear in person.
This scrutiny is part of the ongoing 1995 public interest litigation (PIL) TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India, which focuses on environmental conservation and forest preservation. The court emphasized the critical importance of CAMPA funds in enhancing India’s green cover and stressed the need for strict accountability to ensure these resources are used appropriately for environmental conservation.
