Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 13: Blame it on the apathy and lack of accountability on part of its officers, the Forest Department has reportedly diverted funds worth crores meant for plantation on other works, giving a big setback to afforestation initiatives to maintain environment balance.
Sources told Early Times that in order to give thrust to the afforestation in the State, a huge fund allocation to the tune of Rs 39 crore was made to the department and same was disbursed among the Territorial Divisions but latter, overlooking the directions of the Steering Committee spent most of the funds on fencing works.
"Giving a damn to the guidelines of Steering Committee which had clearly directed to spend the entire amount for the plantation, the Forest Department spent only Rs 10 crore out of Rs. 39 crore defeating the main objective behind the allocation," they informed.
As a matter of fact, the Steering Committee had allocated approximately Rs 51 crore to the department for various components like plantation, soil and water conservation, forest protection and management, communication and mobility, capacity building, training, workshops etc under afforestation programme in the State and out of which Rs 39 crore had been allocated solely for plantation but Territorial Divisions of the Forest Division ignoring the guidelines spent only Rs 10 crore and rest Rs 29 crore in fencing, they maintained.
They further informed that the Steering Committee had issued directions to the Department from time to time to adhere to the guidelines but facts remains that no action to ensure increased spending on plantation component was taken at the end of Department. Astonishingly, the Forest Department spent Rs 19 lakh on activities like purchase of TVs, mobile sets, laptops, cameras, furniture and refreshment etc., which were not provided under the guidelines, they alleged.
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