For forest dept officials, money grows on trees

NASHIK, NOV 24: Large-scale irregularities in tree planting undertaken by the Forest Department in the tribal areas of Igatpuri and Harsul i...

NASHIK, NOV 24: Large-scale irregularities in tree planting undertaken by the Forest Department in the tribal areas of Igatpuri and Harsul in Nashik district have been detected following an investigation by Assistant Conservator of Forests, P D Rajput.

The probe reveals that bogus vouchers were prepared and the planting did not adhere to prescribed norms in a scam amounting to Rs 5 lakh.

In l997, trees were planted under the Reforestation on Degraded Forests RDF-1 scheme of the Maharashtra Forestry Project in Igatpuri. Accordingly, saplings were planted on over 40 hectares in Shirsate, 50 hectares in Sonoshi and 50 hectares in Bhandardarawadi. The trees selected were Cieba Pantandra Semal, Bamboo and Khair, which grow faster than other species. Records indicate that the norms were followed strictly.

However, in Shirsate, a mysterious fire gutted a plantation area of over 12 hectares on February 23, l998. The survival rate of the trees at other sites was found to be around 20 per cent. A FirstOffence Report was registered on the incident on February 26 by Rajput.

In another incident, trees planted on 50 hectares at Ninavi, on 25 hectares at Chandryachi Meth under the RDF-1 and on 50 hectares at Samundi Kojoli under the Protection of Forests scheme were found to be done in a questionable manner. In both cases, inquiries revealed that the planting was done haphazardly and the pits were not dug according to the norms. As a result, the plants failed to take root properly and the survival rate fell. According to Rajput, the planting was done before the l998 monsoon.

In yet another discovery, it was found that bogus vouchers had been prepared while paying labour bills. The Forest Department had undertaken plantation on 25 hectares at Gavandh, near Harsul. It was found that the name of the same tribal woman, Kusum Babu Renjad, figured twice in the vouchers, implying that she had been paid Rs 490 twice for working at the site from November 5 to 20, l998.

However, the investigation revealed thatthe lady had worked for only five days at the site and had been paid only Rs 150. Sarpanch of the Gavandh village group Gram Panchayat, Pandharinath Kisan Lahare, has testified that there is no other woman by the name Kusum Babu Renjad in the village. The lady, in turn, has testified that she had worked there only for five days and was paid Rs 150. Further investigations are on.