Bhubaneswar, November 11: Union Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today alleged that Orissa lacked initiative to avail funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.
“I am somewhat surprised that Orissa government has not moved with the same speed as the other states,” Ramesh said in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Inspite of reminders, the state administration had not submitted its annual plan of operation (POO) for the year 2010-11. Submission of POO was essential for release of funds under CAMPA, Ramesh pointed out.
With non-submission of the annual POO, the state’s Rs 140 crore towards CAMPA fund remained non-released. The state had availed Rs 131 crore during the 2009-10 fiscal.
While Orissa was yet to avail the CAMPA funds, most other states including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattishgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand had received their dues for 2010-11, he said in the letter.
–Agencies