Centre Rejects Karnataka’s Request to Use CAMPA Funds for Village Relocation from National Parks

Bengaluru: The Union Government has rejected Karnataka’s proposal to use state CAMPA funds for the rehabilitation of families living inside protected forest areas, dealing a setback to the state’s efforts to relocate residents from national parks.

In a written reply to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by BJP MP Jaggesh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said the National CAMPA Advisory Committee had not approved Karnataka’s proposal.

Although Karnataka has more than ₹1,300 crore available under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, commonly known as CAMPA, the state requires approval from the national authority before the funds can be utilised.

The proposal, submitted by a committee headed by the state’s Chief Secretary, sought the release of ₹100 crore to rehabilitate families residing inside Kudremukh National Park. The state argued that relocating these settlements would help reduce the growing number of human wildlife conflicts in the region.

The Union Minister said the proposal could not be approved because it contained several deficiencies. He added that the Karnataka Government had been informed about the shortcomings and asked to address them.

The issue gained urgency after two people awaiting relocation from Kudremukh National Park were killed in separate elephant attacks last year. Following those incidents, then Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had directed officials to speed up the process of securing CAMPA funding for rehabilitation.

With the Centre rejecting the request, the rehabilitation programme is likely to face further delays, raising concerns among families awaiting relocation from the protected forest area.