Arun Singh
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 10: The slackness on the part of Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority of State Forest Department can be gauged from the fact that it failed to maintain a Fixed Deposit Receipt Register (FDRR) of 277 FDRs of Rs 535.30 crore in the name of the Authority.
Sources told Early Times that the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) did not maintain a Fixed Deposit Receipt Register (FDRR) indicating details of FDR's existing in the name of the Authority. Moreover the bank confirmations indicating actual amount of FDRs, actual date of investments, reinvestment, date of maturity, interest earned etc., are also not available with CAMPA.
"Shockingly, CAMPA had kept details of 277 FDRs of Rs 535.30 crore on loose papers of which FDRs for Rs 321.81 crore had been shown existing in the name of the Accounts Officer PCCF, J&K (CAMPA) and FDR for Rs 223.49 crore as pledged to Central CAMPA, indicating variation with the FDR figures," they added further adding that the details of FDRs till 2013 are not available with the CAMPA.
In another instance, the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment had advised the State Government to keep CAMPA money in the form of fixed deposits in the name of the concerned Nodal Officer of the State in a nationalized bank till State CAMPA became operational, they said.
"Besides, as per CAMPA guidelines the afforestation money should be kept in interest bearing accounts. Contrary to this, money received by the State CAMPA was kept in current account during the period 2007-13 and the year end balances ranged between Rs 3.51 crore and Rs 230.74 crore, leading to a minimum interest loss of Rs 12.24 crore at saving bank rate and maximum of Rs 24.48 crore at Term Deposit Rate during the period," they informed.
They further said that the funds received by Territorial Divisions including Anantnag, Kamraj, Sindh, Langate, PP Lider, Shopian, Budgam, Tangmarg, Jammu, Bhaderwah, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Marwah, Batote and Udhampur from State CAMPA were also kept in current accounts resulting in loss of interest to the extent of Rs 39 lakh. |
