After finding ‘misappropriation’ of trees worth several lakhs of rupees, Rohtak Conservator of Forest (CF) has sought department’s permission for lodging an FIR against Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rohtak and Deputy Range Officer (DRO), Meham.
The CF (Rohtak), G Raman, has shot off a communiqué to Chhotu Ram Jotriwal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Forest Department in this regard alleging that the DFO Rohtak, Kuldeep Singh, and the DRO Meham, Shamsher Singh, have not only misappropriated the forest property but also tried to cover up their ‘misdeed’ by instigating farmers to pressurise the department in their favour.
The DFO Rohtak informed him that a large numbers of trees had fallen on the lakhan Majra-Meham and lakhan Majra-Dhanana road under the jurisdiction of Meham Forest Range in the storm on October 14 last, said Raman in the letter.In his report sent to the CF (Rohtak) regarding the fallen trees, the DFO Rohtak informed that as many as 495 trees had been lying in the fields following the storm causing damage to the standing crops over there, said the letter.
He also urged the CF to expedite the process of handing these trees over to Haryana Forest Development Corporation, Rohtak, at the earliest stating that farmers had already lodged a complaint against the department with Rohtak Deputy Commissioner (DC) and were also mulling over to lodge the complaint to Haryana Chief Minister in this regard, said the communiqué.
“Suspecting something fishy, the CF G Raman then directed Range Officers (ROs) Jhajjar and Matanhel to probe into the matter to find out the veracity. Significantly, the inquiry officials in the inquiry found 87 trees lying on the spot while 181 out of remaining 408 trees were missing from there. Besides, 106 dry and 28 green standing trees and 91 were also found in trunk position there,” said the letter.
It seems that the DFO hand in glove with the DRO Meham has misappropriated the forest property and is also making all efforts to protect him by using pressure tactic under the guise of farmers, said Raman in the letter.Meanwhile, Chhotu Ram Jotriwal, the PCCF, said “I have not yet received any letter from the CF (Rohtak) in this regard hence can not say anything.”
Refuting the allegations of misappropriation of forest assets, the DFO Kuldeep Singh said “No official inquiry has so far been ordered to check numbers of trees fallen in my area hence, all the allegations are baseless.”