Nagpur: A day after the state government went gaga over exceeding the 13 crore plantation target by planting over 15.88 crore seedlings, information sought under RTI Act has exposed that about 60,000 saplings planted in 68 hectare forest area in Hingni range under Wardha division have failed completely and Rs60 lakh spent on these plantations in 5 years (2012-16) have gone down the drain.
In May 2018, acting on reports appearing in vernacular dailies on plantation irregularities exposed by social worker Dinesh Majethia, a resident of Hirapur (Wardha), state government had ordered inquiry into the matter.
The information received under RTI reveals that one APCCF from Nagpur TK Choubey visited the plantation sites on May 18 and 22, along with officials concerned and found that the complaints and reports on failed plantations were true.
The documents show that in Jogapur beat over 27,000 saplings were planted on 25 hectare zudpi jungle land in survey number 14. In Raipur beat too, over 31,000 saplings were planted in two phases on 42.88 hectare land in 2012. Even replacements did not survive. The report states that considering five-year expenditure on various ground work to maintain these saplings, a loss of Rs60 lakh has been incurred.
The report states that saplings were planted at unsuitable sites resulting in complete failure. RTI also reveals wrong site selection and lack of supervision by senior officials.
TOI had earlier exposed quoting department’s own evaluation reports (492 & 501) how plantations fail due to improper site selection, wrong species selection, poor planting stock and protection, lack of involvement of local people as some of the major reasons for failure.
In Raipur beat in survey number 34, 35, 36 & 38, plantation under CAMPA was undertaken in two stages — one by planting 400 seedlings in 2012 and 1,111 seedlings in 2016, have failed miserably.
The report says that tall seedlings costing above Rs60 per plant were planted in the 2nd phase, excluding cost of Rs17 per seedling in the first phase. Still growth and survival is unsatisfactory.
Enquiry officer recommended strict action against all officials concerned and recovery of infructuous expenditure from them of the amount misappropriated. Based on the report, on June 28, state government directed PCCF office to initiate disciplinary action against all erring officials.
However, in a U-turn, the government on July 11, has ordered re-inquiry by the evaluation department and submit a report by July 16, but this report has not been submitted yet. It seems the government is trying to shield guilty officers.
PCCF & head of forest force (HoFF) UK Agrawal said, “CCF (evaluation) has been asked to conduct inquiry in some of the plantation sites in Hingni.”
Wardha deputy conservator for forest (DyCF) Sunil Sharma refused to comment on the report. “I had just accompanied the inquiry officer to the plantation sites,” Sharma said.
In the past evaluation reports have repeatedly recommended immediate and strict action against erring officials for misappropriation of government money and serious irregularities in plantations but unfortunately no one is held accountable.
