Committee to probe tree-guard purchase scam sitting idle

Nagpur: The inquiry ordered twice by the state government into irregularities in purchase of tree-guards running into lakhs of rupees by the social forestry department (SFD) has turned out to be a nonstarter even after four months have elapsed.
The state government received complaints that under 50-crore tree plantation programme, SFD, while taking up roadside plantations, had spent huge amount on purchase of tree-guards by allegedly splitting amount below Rs3 lakh to skip the mandatory e-tendering process.

As per GR issued December 2016, purchases above Rs3 lakh should be done through e-tendering. Purchases above Rs3 lakh cannot be split into amount below that to avoid e-tender. Sources said it was general practice to split the tender in lots below Rs3 lakh to avoid e-tender, which is a serious financial irregularity, violating government guidelines.

Government on September 27, 2018, issued direction to PCCF office to examine whether purchase of tree-guards was as per rules or not by constituting a committee and asking it to submit report before October 15, 2018.

However, PCCF office did nothing for two months following which government itself constituted a three-member committee on December 3, 2018, under APCCF (SFD), Pune, with CCF (evaluation) as member and deputy conservator (resource utilization) as member-secretary. The committee was asked to submit report by December 15, 2018. A committee member said the inquiry had not begun and not a single meeting of committee has been held.

APCCF (SFD) DK Tyagi said, “We are waiting to get relevant information from DFOs concerned regarding tree-guards. We have been told to submit report by January 31.” Virendra Tiwari, APCCF (mantralaya), Mumbai, expressed displeasure over the lax probe. “The committee had sought extension till February but we refused. Already three months have been wasted. We have ordered disciplinary action against DFOs who are not submitting information,” Tiwari told TOI.

Sources said committee was reluctant to go ahead as junior officers have been asked to probe actions of a senior. On this, Tiwari said, “The probe is not against any person but into alleged irregularities.”

The government has has stated that 50-crore plantation scheme was very ambitious one and there should be transparency in all its procedures. However, with probe going nowhere, irregularities will not be exposed. TOI on October 25, 2018, highlighted the issue. “Delay in probe may lead to tampering of evidence,” said forest sources.