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.
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