In a shocking development, massive financial irregularities have been revealed in Uttarakhand by a Central Audit which has disclosed that funds amounting to Rs 13.86 crore meant for forest conservation have been used to buy iPhones, laptops and office decor items! A shocking report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for the financial year 2021-22 has revealed that the forest and health departments, and the Workers Welfare Board used public funds without planning and permission.
The report, which was tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly during the Budget Session on Friday, reveals that the Workers Welfare Board spent Rs 607 crore without permission from the government between 2017 and 2021. Rules for the transfer of forest land have been violated.
CAMPA Funds used for building renovation, fighting court cases
The report has revealed that funds worth almost Rs 14 crore from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) – which works to mitigate the impact of forest land diversion – were diverted for other activities. These funds were used to buy laptops, fridges, and coolers, besides other purposes like renovation of buildings and even fighting court cases, as revealed by the CAG report!
The CAG report also highlighted 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.
As per the guidelines issued by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), afforestation should be carried out within a year or two growing seasons after getting the funds, but the CAG report has revealed that it took more than eight years to conduct compensatory afforestation in 37 cases.
The report has also pointed out that land was selected in a wrongful manner under the CAMPA scheme. Forest land transfer rules have also been violated. In 52 cases between 2014 and 2022, work was started without the DFO’s permission.
“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 (Divisional Forest Officer) 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 reads.
Other irregularities flagged by CAG Report
Other irregularities flagged by the CAG report include low survival rate of the planted trees and distribution of expired medicines in government hospitals of the state. Between 2017 and 2022, survival rate of the planted trees was only 33%, lower than the 60-65% mandated by the Forest Research Institute. Talking about distribution of expired medicines, at least three government hospitals had stocks of 34 expired medicines and some of those had expired more than two years ago.
The report further highlights the shortage of super specialist doctors in Uttarakhand. At least 70% of posts for specialist doctors in the hilly areas and 50% of such posts in the plains are vacant, the report disclosed.
Reacting to the CAG report, opposition party Congress has accused the state government of wasting public funds, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has said he has ordered a probe into matters related to his department.
