A compensatory afforestation plantation has been raised amongst trees from a previous plantation, with a budget of 29 lakhs to plant 10,000 trees where there is no space to do so.
Case Analysis
The Bagholi Plantation (Site 162,163,575) is a 25 ha site under the Compensatory Afforestation Scheme. It is is one of two sites meant to compensate for the diversion of 86 ha of revenue forest land for the construction of Nerla (Pagora) Lift Irrigation Scheme. The total paid to the Forest Department by the Executive Engineer of the Nerla (Pagoda) Lift Irrigation Scheme in Ambadi was Rs. 4.3 crore with 3.6 crore for compensatory afforestation.
The Bagholi Plantation, degraded notified forest land, has a budget of Rs. 29,60,748 to plant 10,000 saplings from 5 species (296 rs/sapling). This 1-year project was started in 2012.
Satellite Imagery Analysis
Satellite imagery from 2006 reveals a previous plantation on the same site. Though there is evidence of pits and saplings (2014, 2016, 2017), it is impossible that 10,000 saplings could fit between the already existing trees.
Implications
The CA plantation has been planted within an older plantation
The # of saplings seems inflated
The cost per tree seems very inflated - indicates fund mismangement
e-Green Watch Record
