Plantations were established on the same plot of land multiple times (from 2000-2017), with displacement of cultivators each time--likely entitled to forest rights under the FRA.
Case Analysis
The Gudio site is one of 5 sites of compensatory afforestation "compensating" for the diversion of 247.5 ha of forest land for the construction of a power line. The total amount of money received by CAMPA from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd is not disclosed on e-Green Watch.
The Gudio plantation is 50 ha of 'degraded notified forest.' The 10-year project began in 2012. 55,000 plants from 14 species were proposed to be planted with a budget of Rs. 68,19,885 (approximately 123 Rs/tree).
Satellite Imagery Analysis
The first images from 2000 show land under permanent cultivation in part of the site, with the rest covered by patchily surviving plantation. In 2004, new plantation seems to have been done on the whole site, including on the agricultural land. By 2013, the land which was under cultivation in 2000 is again under cultivation; while in rest of the site, sporadic survival of 2nd round of plantations can be seen. The 2017 imagery shows new plantation pits on the site, including on the cultivated land.
Implications
Plantations have been taken up on the same site thrice.
Twice plantations led to displacement of persons who were cultivating the forest land.
The agriculture is pre 2005, implying that it should have been recognized under FRA.
The per-tree costs appears inflated.
In this case, compensatory afforestation has clearly been used for evicting farmers from land being cultivated by them, and very likely eligible for recognition under Forest Rights Act.
e-Green Watch Record
