A B Sharma
Early Times Report
Rajouri, May 11: The Social Forestry department Rajouri recently has sprung up with few surprises regarding allocation of various works to different people over last two years and instead have withdrawn money through self cheques.
The scam surfaced when Early Times dug into the illegal transactions made in the department under the knowledge of District Forest officer, Ranger and a junior assistant who, the people of the area allege are involved in the illicit business.
The figures available with Early Times about illegal transactions made through self cheques withdrawn by the department disclose that a total sum of Rs 15, 72, 727 was withdrawn since July 2014.
The breakup of the amount month wise include Rs 244350 drawn in July 2014, Rs 150225 in Nov 2014, Rs 16,500 in Dec 2014, Rs 49050 in Jan 2015, Rs118800 in Feb 2015, Rs 5400 in July 2015 , Rs 2,03200 in Aug 2015 , Rs 19125 in Sept 2015 , Rs 189825 in Nov 2015 , Rs 67650 in Dec 2015 , Rs 125625 in Jan 2016, Rs 99650 in Mar 2016, Rs 224227 in July 2016 and Rs 65100 in Aug 2016.
All these transactions have been made through self cheques and payment disbursed in fake names by taking the thumb impression of the people against some little money paid them to or not paid at all.
As per the rules and the guidelines of the payment in any department, no self cheque can be released in favour of anybody against the works one by the labour and amount is to be transferred to his account through GPRS system.
The people of the area allege that when a senior officer o the department is queried about such malpractice being held in the department, he shied away from giving any rationale answer said that vigilance department should take up this issue so that facts can be revealed to the public.
It is in place to mention here that vigilance department to have earlier written a letter to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rajouri to explain the content and the mode of transactions made for disbursing money to the workers under various works, but Social Forestry department had not responded to the call.
The people of the area also say that Social Forestry Department should call all the workers whose thumb impressions have been taken in wake of money disbursed to them for various works so that a clear and transparent picture emerges.
They hold these three officers viz DFO, Range Officer and Junior assistant Social Forestry Department Rajouri to be hand in glove in making such transactions and eating on the state exchequer.
People have appealed to the Commissioner Secretary Saurabh Bhagat and the Forest Minister Rajeev Jasrotia to take the cognizance of the matter and hold the guilty responsible by initiating action against them. |
