New Delhi, Aug 27 (KNN) The Government today launched an e-payment module, with an objective to make the payment of compensatory levies receivable in lieu of diversion of forest land quicker and more transparent.
 
Launching the e-payment module here today, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, said that the module will end delays in the deposit of compensatory levies.
 
The Minister said that technology must be used to the advantage of all and that the Government’s endeavour has been to simplify administrative procedures, without compromising on environmental safeguards.

The payment through the e-payment module has to be made to the designated account, depending on the State in which the forest land, proposed to be diverted, is located. The deposit of compensatory levies through the e-portal will be optional till August 31, 2015. 
 
However, the payment of compensatory levies by User Agencies will be accepted only through the e-module from September 1, 2015. With the activation of the e-payment portal, no payments will be accepted other than through the portal, unless specifically ordered by Ad-hoc CAMPA.
 
Initially, payments will be permitted through two modes – online challan mode through RTGS and NEFT and offline challan mode.
 
The CAMPA had been created by the Supreme Court by Order dated 29th/30th October 2002. Based on the decisions taken in the Ad-hoc CAMPA, the procedure of per-verification of credits in the State-wise accounts of the Ad-hoc CAMPA had been in operation.
 
Before Stage II (final approval) under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Ad-hoc CAMPA is first required to certify whether the compensatory levies have been credited to the respective accounts. Till now, the verification of receipt of compensatory levies in the Ad-hoc CAMPA has been done manually, involving various steps and is a time-taking process.
 
“The launch of e-payment module will end such delays”, said an official statement. (KNN Bureau)