RTI for Chhattisgarh Forest Department — Achanakmar TR, Indravati TR, FRA Tribal Rights and CAMPA Fund Records

Chhattisgarh is defined by its forests. With approximately 44% of its geographical area under forest cover — one of the highest forest cover ratios among all Indian states — Chhattisgarh's ecology, tribal culture, and political landscape are inseparable from its forests. Three tiger reserves, multiple wildlife sanctuaries, and vast stretches of Sal-dominant forest in the Bastar plateau host some of India's most significant biodiversity. They are also home to large and historically marginalised Adivasi (tribal) communities — Gond, Baiga, Halba, Dhurwa, Muria, and others — who have cultivated and depended on these forests for generations. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a critical tool for holding the Chhattisgarh Forest Department accountable on a range of issues: the management and security of tiger reserves, forest land encroachment, the recognition of tribal forest rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006, the deployment of CAMPA funds for afforestation, and wildlife crime records.

This guide explains what information you can obtain from the Chhattisgarh Forest Department through RTI, how to file correctly, and how to pursue the appeal process up to the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC) if records are withheld.

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department as a Public Authority

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. This means every office in the department's hierarchy — the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) at Van Bhawan, Raipur; Chief Conservators of Forests (CCFs); Conservators of Forests (CFs); Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) at the forest division level; Field Directors of tiger reserves; and Wildlife Wardens of wildlife sanctuaries — is bound by the Act and obligated to respond to RTI applications within the statutory 30-day period.

The Forest Department manages forests under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (now the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023), and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. It is also the nodal implementing agency for CAMPA (the Compensatory Afforestation Fund) in the state.

Chhattisgarh's Forest Landscape: Protected Areas and Context

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

Located across Mungeli and Bilaspur districts in north-central Chhattisgarh, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve covers the Maikala hill range, which forms a critical corridor between Kanha Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) and the Chhattisgarh forests. The reserve hosts tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, chital, sambar, and a significant population of gaur (Indian bison). Achanakmar is part of the Central India Tiger Landscape, one of the priority conservation zones identified under Project Tiger. The DFO, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Mungeli) is the primary CPIO for reserve-specific records.

Indravati Tiger Reserve

Situated in Bijapur district in the heart of the Bastar region, Indravati Tiger Reserve is one of India's most remote and difficult-to-access tiger reserves. The reserve, which runs along the Indravati River, is surrounded by Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected forest and shares its landscape with communities that have faced protracted conflict. Despite these challenges, Indravati TR hosts a significant tiger population and one of the last viable populations of wild dog (dhole) in central India. Its very remoteness means that public oversight of forest management, encroachment, and wildlife crime is limited — making RTI an important accountability mechanism. The Field Director, Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bijapur is the CPIO for reserve records.

Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Located in Gariaband district in eastern Chhattisgarh, Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve has a distinct conservation significance: it is one of India's last surviving habitats for the wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee), a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The wild buffalo is genetically and ecologically distinct from the domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The reserve also protects gaur, tigers, leopards, and other fauna. Population monitoring of wild buffalo in Udanti-Sitanadi is a subject of ongoing conservation concern, and census data, mortality records, and poaching ATRs are valuable information for researchers, journalists, and civil society.

Barnawapara, Sitanadi, and Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuaries

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary (Mahasamund district) protects a mix of teak and miscellaneous forests and is known for its sloth bear and leopard populations. Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary (Dhamtari/Gariaband) and Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary (Jashpur) are part of the broader protected area network in Chhattisgarh. DFO offices for each division serve as CPIOs for sanctuary-specific records.

Bastar's Sal Forests and Tribal Communities

The Bastar region in southern Chhattisgarh is home to some of India's densest remaining Sal (Shorea robusta) forests and a large population of Adivasi communities — Gond, Baiga, Halba, Dhurwa, Muria, and others. These communities have cultivated forest land and harvested minor forest produce for generations. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 was enacted specifically to reverse the "historical injustice" done to such communities by colonial-era forest laws. Implementation of FRA in Chhattisgarh — particularly in Bastar — has been contested, with a significant number of claims reported as rejected or pending, making RTI a crucial tool for communities seeking to verify the status of their claims.

What Information Can You Obtain Through RTI?

Tiger Reserve Census and Incident Records

The Forest Department conducts periodic tiger and prey animal censuses in all tiger reserves. This data — including methodology, population estimates, trend comparisons with earlier census cycles, and camera trap records — is held by the tiger reserve Field Director's office and the state-level Project Tiger/Wildlife Wing. Through RTI, you can obtain:

1. The latest tiger census report for Achanakmar or Indravati Tiger Reserve, including the estimated number of tigers, the method used (camera trap grid or pugmark census), and a comparison with the previous census
2. Prey animal census data (chital, sambar, gaur, wild pig) for the reserve
3. Incident reports for tiger or wildlife deaths inside the reserve — whether by poaching, natural causes, snaring, or vehicle collision
4. Conflict incident records — human-wildlife conflict cases (cattle kill, crop damage, human injury) reported in villages around the buffer zone, and the compensation paid or pending

Forest Land Encroachment ATRs

Forest encroachment — clearing or cultivating forest land without authorisation — is a persistent problem in Chhattisgarh's forests. The Forest Department is responsible for detecting encroachments, recording them, and taking legal action under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Forest Conservation Act. Through RTI, you can request:

1. The list of encroachments detected in a specific Forest Beat, Range, or Division during a given year, including area, survey number, and location
2. The action-taken report (ATR) on a specific encroachment — whether a case was registered under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, whether the encroacher was served a notice, whether eviction was carried out, and the current status of the file
3. The total area under encroachment in a Division, and the area for which FRA titles have been recognised versus the area identified as non-FRA encroachment
4. Whether any forest land in a specific village or area has been recorded as deemed forest under the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs Union of India Supreme Court directions, and the status of those records

Forest Rights Act 2006 — Adivasi Claim Status

The Forest Rights Act, 2006 creates a tripartite structure for claim verification: the Gram Sabha (village assembly), the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC), and the District Level Committee (DLC). The Forest Department is a member of both the SDLC and the DLC. Through RTI filed with the DFO's office (for forest-side records) and the Collector's office (for DLC records), Adivasi communities can obtain:

1. The total number of individual forest rights (IFR) claims filed in a village or Gram Panchayat, disaggregated by tribe where possible (Gond, Baiga, Halba, Dhurwa, Muria, etc.)
2. The number of claims approved, rejected, and pending at each level (Gram Sabha, SDLC, DLC)
3. For rejected claims, the specific reason recorded for rejection — whether the Forest Department objected, on what grounds, and whether the applicant was given an opportunity to be heard before rejection (as required by the FRA and the 2012 Rules)
4. Whether the Gram Sabha passed a resolution in support of specific claims and whether that resolution was forwarded to the SDLC
5. The area and location (khasra/survey numbers) of forest land for which titles have been issued in a village
6. The status of community forest rights (CFR) claims, including whether the community has been granted rights over the entire forest area it has been traditionally using

FRA-related RTI in Bastar is particularly significant because rejection rates and pending claims in the region have been high, and communities often lack access to official records of their own claims.

CAMPA Fund Utilisation

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund — governed by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 and managed at the state level by the State CAMPA authority under the PCCF's supervision — channels funds collected from project proponents who divert forest land to non-forest use. These funds are used for afforestation, forest protection, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Through RTI, you can obtain:

1. The Annual Plan of Operations (APO) prepared by the Chhattisgarh State CAMPA authority for a specific financial year — this document lists every sanctioned work, the division where it is to be executed, and the allocated amount
2. Expenditure records — how much of the sanctioned CAMPA amount was actually spent in a specific forest division, on which works, and the physical and financial progress
3. Utilisation certificates and third-party inspection reports for completed CAMPA works
4. Whether any CAMPA-funded plantation work was carried out on forest land already encroached, or whether the plantation survival rate meets prescribed norms
5. The total CAMPA funds held by the state at the PCCF's office and the balance unspent at the end of each financial year

CAMPA funds are often substantial — running into hundreds of crores for states with high forest diversion like Chhattisgarh — and poor utilisation or diversion of these funds is a significant governance concern.

Udanti-Sitanadi Wild Buffalo Census and Poaching Records

The wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) population in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve is among India's most fragile and monitored. Conservation status data, mortality records, and poaching incident ATRs for this population are held by the Field Director, Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Gariaband. Through RTI you can obtain:

1. The latest wild buffalo census — population estimate, methodology, and trend comparison with previous surveys
2. Mortality records for wild buffalo in the reserve over the past three years — whether deaths were from poaching, snaring, disease, or natural causes
3. Any hybridisation survey data if the department has assessed genetic mixing between wild buffalo and domestic buffalo — a known conservation threat
4. The status of anti-poaching measures — number of anti-poaching camps, patrol routes, and personnel deployed specifically for wild buffalo protection

Wildlife Crime and Poaching ATRs

Wildlife poaching — of tigers, wild buffalo, gaur, elephants, bears, and reptiles — is a persistent threat across Chhattisgarh's forests. The Forest Department registers wildlife crime cases under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, investigates them, and files chargesheets. Through RTI, you can obtain:

1. The number of wildlife crime cases registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in a specific reserve or division during a given year
2. The species involved in each case (tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, elephant, pangolin, etc.) and the nature of the offence (poaching, live trapping, transit of wildlife parts)
3. The current status of each case — whether a chargesheet has been filed, the case is in court, accused persons have been arrested or are absconding, or the case has been closed
4. Any inter-state wildlife crime cases investigated with other state forest departments or the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
5. Seizures of wildlife parts, trophies, or live animals made in the division during the period, and the disposal of seized items

How to File RTI with the Chhattisgarh Forest Department

Step 1: Identify the Right Office

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department is organised into multiple circles, divisions, and ranges. For information specific to a tiger reserve, file with the Field Director's office of that reserve. For division-level forest land, encroachment, or FRA records, file with the DFO's office for that division. For state-level consolidated data, CAMPA policy, or matters that cut across multiple divisions, file with the PCCF's office, Van Bhawan, Raipur.

If you are unsure which office holds the records you need, file with the office most likely to hold them, and the CPIO is obligated under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act to transfer your application to the correct office within five days, notifying you of the transfer.

Step 2: File Online

The correct online portal for filing RTI with Central Government bodies is rtionline.gov.in. However, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department is a state government body, and RTI applications addressed to it should be filed through the Chhattisgarh state RTI portal at rti.cg.gov.in. Check the portal for the listed CPIOs. You may also submit your application by post or in person to the relevant DFO or PCCF office, paying the ₹10 fee by Indian Postal Order (IPO) or court fee stamp.

Step 3: Draft Your Requests Precisely

Each information request should be framed as a separate numbered item. Be specific about:

• The name of the forest reserve, division, range, or village you are asking about
• The time period for which you seek data (financial year, calendar year, or a specific date range)
• The type of document you want — inspection report, census report, ATR, APO, utilisation certificate, claim register — so the CPIO can locate the specific record
• Whether you want certified copies (which are admissible as evidence before courts and tribunals) rather than plain summaries

Vague questions produce vague responses. Precise, document-oriented questions are far more effective.

Fee and Timeline

Application fee: ₹10 under the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. BPL cardholders are exempt — attach a self-attested photocopy of your BPL ration card with the application.

Response timeline:

• 30 days from the date of receipt: the standard deadline under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act
• 48 hours from receipt: if the information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person — for example, if a forest eviction is ongoing or if a community faces an immediate threat to its livelihood from forest diversion — the CPIO must respond within 48 hours under the Section 7(1) proviso. State the life and liberty nexus explicitly in your application.
• 35 days: if your application is transferred to another office under Section 6(3), the receiving office has 30 days from the date it receives the transferred application

First Appeal under Section 19(1)

If the Forest Department does not respond within 30 days, or if the response is incomplete, evasive, or unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable, addressed to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — a senior Forest Department officer above the CPIO's rank, such as the Conservator of Forests or CCF for the circle.

Your First Appeal should include a copy of the original RTI application with filing proof, the CPIO's response (if any), a clear statement of what was not provided, and the specific relief you seek. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with written reasons).

Second Appeal to the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC)

If the First Appeal does not produce a satisfactory outcome, file a Second Appeal with the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act. CGIC — not the Central Information Commission (CIC) — is the correct second-appeal authority for all Chhattisgarh state government bodies, including the Forest Department. The CIC has jurisdiction only over Central Government public authorities.

File the Second Appeal with CGIC within 90 days of the FAA's order or the expiry of the FAA's response period (CGIC may condone delay for sufficient cause). Attach the complete record: original RTI application with proof of filing, the CPIO's response, the First Appeal with proof of filing, and the FAA's order or a statement that no order was received.

CGIC has the power to:

• Order the Forest Department to provide the requested information
• Impose a penalty of ₹250 per day on the defaulting CPIO under Section 20(1), up to a maximum of ₹25,000, if the Commissioner finds the denial was without reasonable cause
• Award compensation to the complainant for loss or detriment caused by the information denial
• Recommend disciplinary action against the erring CPIO under Section 20(2)

The burden of proving that the denial was justified rests on the CPIO — not on the applicant.

Special Considerations for Naxal/LWE-Affected Districts

Filing RTI for forest records from Bijapur (Indravati TR), Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Kanker, and other LWE-affected districts in Bastar requires awareness of two exemption clauses that a CPIO may legitimately invoke:

• Section 8(1)(a): Information whose disclosure would prejudicially affect the security of the State, strategic interests, or sovereignty and integrity of India — this may cover operational security details of anti-poaching or security deployments inside the forest
• Section 8(1)(h): Information that would impede the process of investigation of an offence or apprehension of an offender — this may cover active wildlife crime investigations or ongoing operations

However, these exemptions do not cover routine forest records: census data, encroachment ATRs, FRA claim registers, CAMPA fund utilisation, or mortality records are not security-sensitive and must be provided. If a CPIO refuses on broad security grounds, request a specific written statement of which exemption applies to which portion of the information sought. Under Section 10 of the RTI Act, a CPIO must provide access to the non-exempt, severable portion of a record even if part of it is exempt.

Tips for Effective RTI with the Chhattisgarh Forest Department

1. Name the specific reserve or division. Chhattisgarh has over 30 forest divisions. Addressing your application to the right DFO or Field Director — rather than the PCCF for all matters — speeds up the response and reduces the chance of your application being transferred multiple times.

2. For FRA matters, file with both the DFO and the Collector. FRA records are split between the Forest Department (which provides the field-level input on forest land status) and the Revenue/Tribal Welfare Department (which holds the DLC records and title distribution registers). A coordinated pair of RTI applications to both offices produces a complete picture.

3. Request specific documents, not summaries. "Provide a copy of the APO for CAMPA works in Bijapur Division for 2024–25" will produce more usable information than "give details of CAMPA." Specific document requests anchor the CPIO to an identifiable record.

4. Use the 48-hour provision for imminent threats. If a community faces immediate eviction from forest land while FRA titles are pending, or if a wildlife emergency is ongoing, invoke the life and liberty provision under the Section 7(1) proviso explicitly and state the specific nature of the threat.

5. Keep a complete paper trail. Save your application, fee receipt, acknowledgement, CPIO's response, First Appeal, FAA's order, and Second Appeal filing. If you later approach a High Court, the NGT, or the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) with RTI-obtained documents as evidence, a documented chain of how you obtained the information adds substantial credibility to your submission.

6. Second appeal goes to CGIC — never CIC. This is a common mistake. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department is a state body. Its second-appeal authority is the Chhattisgarh Information Commission (CGIC) under Section 19(3). Filing with the Central Information Commission will result in your appeal being returned as not maintainable.