PARADIP: The Forest Department is in the dock over irregularities in plantation of trees on Jagatsinghpur- Machgaon road. A Vigilance inquiry brought to the fore misappropriation of funds in the fencing work, as against the estimated ` 1.5 lakh per km, only Rs 85,000 was shown. In addition, no tender was floated for the work. Even as the Vigilance Department directed the authorities concerned to initiate action against the corrupt forest officials, more skeletons tumbled out of its closet. Sources said IFFCO’s Paradip unit had deposited Rs 41.77 lakh with the divisional forest officer, Cuttack towards plantation programme under its corporate social responsibility. The same amount was allocated to forester, Jagatsinghpur for plantation on Kandarpur-Machgaon road. Another Rs 62.35 lakh was placed at its disposal under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for plantation along the same road in the district. Following allocation of funds, the Department had reportedly expedited plantation on either sides of the road. The Works Department, however, had advised the forest officials to take up plantation 10-12 feet away from the pucca road as there was a proposal for its expansion.The forester of Jagatsighpur has been accused of ignoring the advice and planting trees just three feet away from the road. The Works Department reportedly took up the matter with the district administration and the higher authorities of the Forest Department. Then followed numerous complaints of funds being siphoned off through violation of guidelines for plantation of trees and a Vigilance inquiry was ordered into the allegations. Vigilance Inspector Sarat Kumar Sahu said the role of the forester has come under a cloud since the Forest Department did not float tender for the fencing work. Meanwhile, Vigilance SP Amulya Kumar Mohanty directed the Forest Department to take the forester to task for misappropriation of funds. But no action has yet taken been taken against him.
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