Higher authorities of the Forest Department like Principal Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) SS Srivastava visited many places of Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts in the wake of allegation of corruptions in plantation works.
There were allegations that crores of rupees were bungled in plantation scheme, especially in NREGS. Besides it was also alleged that the local forest officials hand in glove with the mafias had encourage illegal excavation of morrum, timber theft and illegal saw mills, in the districts.
On May 7, Jajpur Road range officer was transferred to Cuttack Forest Research Centre by the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests, Angul, Sudarshan Panda. On May 12, with an office order of Cuttack DFO, two foresters each of Jajpur Road range and Dalijora range were transferred.
Jajpur Road forester Dattahari Nayak was transferred to Cuttack Division and Binjharpur forester Trilochan Behera was transferred to Raghunathpur section of Jagatsinghpur range. Similarly, Sashikanta Behera working at Choudwar check gate of Dalijora range was transferred to Jajpur Road. Ganesh Chandra Das was transferred from Dalijora range to Binjharpur.
The transfers were made after it was realised that the irregularities took place in connivance with the local forest officials. However, it is now demanded that the irregularities of crores of rupees under Cuttack Division by foresters, rangers and the DFO should be probed by the department or by the Vigilance and the erring officials should be brought to book.