Afforestation funds were spent on iPhones, laptops and building renovation in Uttarakhand, CAG finds
As per CAMPA guidelines, after the receipt of funds, afforestation should be conducted within a year, or two growing seasons. However, the report flagged that in 37 cases, compensatory afforestation was executed after more than eight years of getting final clearance.
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A CAG report flagged the low survival of the planted trees, which, at 33.51%, is much lower than the mandated 60-65% as per the Forest Research Institute.Purchase of iPhones, laptops, fridges and coolers; renovation of buildings; court cases – these were some of the areas where funds allocated for compensatory afforestation were diverted by Uttarakhand’s forest divisions, according to an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
A CAG report on the functioning of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in the 2019-2022 period showed that Rs 13.86 crore was diverted for various activities other than compensatory afforestation – under which forest lands being used for non-forest purposes, like industry or infrastructure development, is mandatorily accompanied by afforestation efforts on at least an equal area of land.
As per CAMPA guidelines, after the receipt of funds, afforestation should be conducted within a year, or two growing seasons. However, the report flagged that in 37 cases, compensatory afforestation was executed after more than eight years of getting final clearance. “This resulted in cost escalation of Rs 11.54 crore in raising CA (compensatory afforestation),” the report said.
The report also flagged the low survival of the planted trees, which, at 33.51%, is much lower than the mandated 60-65% as per the Forest Research Institute.
“In five divisions, 1,204.04 hectares of land was not suitable for compensatory afforestation. The unsuitability of land shows that the certificates of suitability furnished by the DFOs were incorrect and issued without ascertaining the actual condition of the land. The department did not initiate any action against the DFOs concerned for their negligence,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the state government also did not discharge interest liability of Rs 275.34 crore from 2019-20 to 2021-22 despite requests from CAMPA, the report said.
Further, there was an approved Annual Plan of Operations, which was to be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 76.35 crore against which no fund was released to the implementing agencies during the 2019-22 period, according to the report.
The CAG report also flagged that the CEO of CAMPA released funds to the forest divisions and implementing agencies without the necessary approval of the Head of Forest Force from July 2020 to November 2021, as directed by the Principal Secretary (Forest) in July 2020.
The CAG report recommended that the state authority institute proper budgetary control checks for robust financial management to prevent the diversion or misappropriation of funds.
The CAG also flagged instances of unauthorised approvals for forest land diversion by the Uttarakhand government without the central government’s nod as mandated.
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