Forest Flying Squad (FFS) or Internal Vigilance Department stationed at Brahmapur appeared before Lokayukta Odisha on October 16 vide Case-no-LY-300/2023 to explain about the inquiry conducted at Muniguda Forest Range of Rayagada Forest Division. On a complaint dated 15.6.2022 made by Rasmi Ranjan Dora, Rabindra Patakhandal and Badal Tah belonging to TDP Associates against corruption by Muniguda forest range in Rayagada, the Internal Vigilance led by Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Nilendra Narayan Singh Dalapati conducted the inquiry in several phases.
The TDP Associates complained about massive corruption amounting to crores of rupees in implementing programmes like Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC), Loose Boulder Check Dams (LBCD), Bald Hill Plantations, etc in 28 Vana Sangrakhyan Samitis (VSSs) of Muniguda Forest Range.
According to the findings of draft inquiry report of FFS, the SMC work has been executed through contract vouchers. No muster roll has been maintained in the work.
Range Officer PK Mishra, Muniguda Forest Range, has not supervised any plantation work of Jamjodi Baldhill but allowed all vouchers without any field verification. There are 789.825 cum of volume deviation found from 2,409 dug staggered trenches. There are 250 staggered trenches not dug in the Jamjodi Baldhill plantation. 4,000 cft of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) not used in the plantation. Most of the staggered trenches done were recently dug. The SMC works like staggered trench and LBCD are done on contracts without maintaining any muster roll. The seedlings planted and staggered trenches are done only after complaint has been made. Hence, misappropriation of Government money to the tune of Rs 9,22, 246 is estimated to have been committed in Jamjodi Baldhill Plantation. The site selection at Jamjodi is not suitable for Baldhill plantation. The plantation site is surrounded by valuable species like Sal, Piasal, Bahada, Harida, Asan, etc. The plantation site is also having good germination of the same species.
In Haduguda ANR, plantation work has been done after a complaint was made. The VSS register has a few false signatures. The number of meetings actually held is less compared to the resolution register record. The VSS members are not aware of actual quantity of work executed. There are 5,174 seedlings planted in the assigned area against 10,000 seedlings. In place of 1,450 staggered trenches in the cash book, only 455 have been dug with volume deviation of 100.12 cum. Hence, misappropriation of Rs 5, 98, 727 is estimated.
Similarly, in Rengalpadu ANR, 5,298 seedlings are planted in the assigned area against 10,000. 1,787 staggered trenches have been booked on the cash book but only 688 dug with volume deviation of 154.8 cum. Misappropriation to the tune of Rs 6, 10, 058 is alleged. In Rachuli ANR, 5,169 seedlings were planted in the assigned area against 10,000. 1,514 staggered trenches have been booked in the cash book but only 550 have been dug with volume deviation of 222.75 cum. Hence, misappropriation of Rs 6, 40, 955 is estimated. So, recovery of total misappropriated Government money amounting to Rs 27, 71, 986 may be initiated as quickly as possible from all responsible forest officials, the draft inquiry report mentioned.
The Range Officer has neither submitted tour diary nor vehicle logbook of vehicle engaged in Muniguda Forest Range since his joining. The Division Office has no record of DFO’s tour diary. The tour diary of two ACFs has no instances of field verification/inspection of four plantations under Muniguda range. No supervision of field work during preparatory year as well as first year of plantation of Jamjodi Baldhill plantation, Haduguda, Rengalpadu and Rachuli ANR plantations has been done by any higher forest official like ACF or DFO. The verification of the document like muster roll, voucher and nursery journal is also not done but countersigned and passed. The DFO and Ranger passed all the vouchers of the project executed under CAMPA without any field verification as well as related documents. This directly encourages field staff to swindling the Government money without any actual work. The blind support of DFO, Rayagada Forest Division cannot be ruled out. The FFS holds the Ranger, DFO, Accounts Staff squarely responsible for the misappropriation and recommended appropriate action against them. It also recommended transfer of the tainted Forest Ranger Mishra. In the meantime, the DFO has been apprehended by the State Vigilance and the Forest Ranger-Muniguda has been transferred.
During the appearance before Lokayukta, Dalapati said that the inquiry was completed only in four plantation areas out of 28 spots as per the complaint of the TDP Associates. Because of staff shortage and Dalapati’s transfer order, the inquiry for the balance 24 project sites is yet to be conducted. The Lokayukta has ordered Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) at Bhubaneswar to get the inquiry done within a reasonable period exclusively by another officer and submit the report by 26.12.2023, ie, next date of hearing.