Skip to main content

Previous regime diverted 6000 hectares of forest land

Authorities fail to maintain records
3/28/2015
Nitesh Sangral 

Jammu, Mar 28:Owing to failure of the previous National Conference- Congress regime in the Jammu and Kashmir State, 6,281 thousand hectares of forest land was converted for non-forest purposes with any alternative. 

An audit of the program by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that encroachment of forest land had increased by 88 percent from 9214.53 hectares (March 2003) to 17,352 hectares (March 2012). Non-maintenance of books of accounts and non-adoption of Uniform Common Format of Accounts by State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) was noticed. 

The report points out, as lackadaisical attitude of the concerned authorities, the basic records including head-wise cash book, ledger account and others were not maintained separately and compensation receipt register didn't provide full details of afforestation compensation money, quantum and nature of land and sanction. The report also disclosed that the state forest policy was prepared in 2010-11 more than 23 years after formulation of National Forest Policy (1988). Working plans were prepared in five out of 30 territorial divisions (TDs) only.

 Due to non-formulation, finalization of working plans for all the TDs against earmarked funding of grant of Rs. 66.52 crore for the period 2012-13 to 2013-14, the Gol released Rs. 16.63 crore only resulting in short release of 49.89 crore. "Of the total expenditure of Rs. 520.67 crore (during 2009-10 to 2013-14), annual administrative expenditure ranged between 86 to 90 percent leaving a meager 10 to 14 percent funds for capital component. This was indicative of less spending on conservation and preservation activities, "an audit report stated.


The audit report further revealed that 6,281 hectares of forest land was diverted for non-forest use without alternate land being obtained. In 136 cases wherein 303.80 hectares of forest land was diverted, neither alternate non-forest land was identified by the TDs nor certificate of non-availability of non-forest land were obtained from the district administration. For 90 sanctions relating to diversion of 123.93 hectares of land for non-forest purpose, Net Present Value (NPV) and Compensatory Afforestation (CA) amounting to 13.40 crore had not been realized by CAMPA. 

The report says Forest Protection Force (FPF) was suffering from shortage of infrastructure, arms, ammunition and communication equipment. Out of the 23 units in the State field staff of 19 units is neither equipped nor trained in use of weapons.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GMC Jammu gets 15 more PG seats, Srinagar bags 29

Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report JAMMU, Mar 6: The State Health Ministry' claims regarding increase in PG seats in broad specialties have fallen flat as Medical Council of India has granted only 13 more PG seats to the Government Medical College Jammu, while GMC Srinagar has got 30, thanks for not conducting Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of faculty members. It is penitent to mentioned, Minister for Health Bali Bhagat assured Upper House that the Principal Secretary H&ME Department handed over the proposal for increase of 133 PG seats in GMC, Srinagar and 107 PG seats in GMC, Jammu, as one time increase in Medical Colleges of State for the year 2018-19. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, through its communication dated March 6, 2018, has conveyed its approval for admitting 15 students in GMC Jammu and 29 for Srinagar for 2018-19. As per notification, in GMC Jammu the total number of existing seats for MD Anaesthesiology was 5 while the seats available ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kishtwar MMS scam, again raises issue, how secure is our girls

Nitesh Sangral JAMMU, June 27: In yet another case of how our society is heading towards moral ruin, a recent case of sexual exploitation of B.ed girl has again exposed the vulnerability of our sisters and daughters. Though the accused have been arrested by the police while he was fleeing towards Kashmir, but it raises lot of question about the moral degradation of our society, which has long tradition of ‘Guru-Shiysha’ concept. Sources said that it could be a tip of the ice berg as there are number of people who are exploiting the innocent girls. However the concern is how to stop this menace which is like a curse on our society. A college student said that at times girls face mental harassment in shape of comments, sudden touch or lewd gestures from the teachers, but it is mostly ignored. Few days back, a teacher of a private college was arrested for allegedly making an obscene MMS of a student in mountainous Kishtwar district. 'The teacher identified as Tariq Qayoo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chopra murder case Ex-MLC Tarlochan Singh Wazir arrested by police

Nitesh Sangral JAMMU, June 9: In a major step to solve the brutal murder mystery of Chopra family, Special Investigation Team (SIT) today arrested Ex-MLC Trilochan Singh Wazir following the statement of Surinder Singh alias Kala, a transporter before the Judicial Magistrate. Singh has been arrested by the police under section 164-A of CrPC and has been placed under arrest. In his statement, Kala disclosed that in the month of August 2006 Ex-MLC Wazir asked him to meet him at his residence at Gandhi Nagar. Surinder Singh disclosed that on next date he went to the house of Tirlochan Singh Wazir at that time four other persons identified as Ajab Singh brother of Tirlochan Singh, Choudhary Nagar Singh, Sanjay Sharma and Raju Simblia were also present there. Kala said that these people were discussing about the loading of unloading of cement and Ajab Singh said that RB Chopra creates problems for them for loading and unloading of cements. “Upon this Trilochan Singh alias Talo as...
Post a Comment
Read more