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Vigilance wing of Forest department crippled by deceit, incompetence and vested interest 5/2/2016 11:25:37 PM Abodh Sharma Early Times Report Jammu, May 2: Blame it on the criminal indifference of the officers designated from time to time; the Vigilance wing of State Forest Department has been incapacitated, with no tangible action against encroachers of forest land and their accomplices within the department for years. The scandalous inaction of these officers has not only encouraged the unholy nexus, but has piled up the pendency of such cases alarmingly. Sources in the department divulge that the State Vigilance Commission has come down heavily against the vigilance wing of the forest department for its dismal performance and the higher officials of the department have reportedly been put on notice to show substantial progress in cases of encroachment of forest land. Sources also divulged that an officer of the Indian Forest Services of the rank of conservator of forests who headed the vigilance wing for years, performed dismally below par, inviting the wrath of the SVC. While the vigilance wing is under censure for its poor performance, an official of the vigilance wing when contacted, divulged pleading anonymity that the department has never been serious about the vigilance as the staff and facilities provided to the wing were inadequate and impeded its effective functioning. He also divulged that the most cases of encroachment of forest land involved powerful politicians and it was difficult to proceed against them. "Everyone in the department knew that former Chief Ministers, senior Ministers, bureaucrats and their families have been accused in cases of encroachment of forest lands across the state, but they wanted the vigilance cell to be made scapegoat" the official said. It is pertinent to mention here that the politicians have not only encroached forest land and made palatial bungalows on them, they have allowed huge settlements of their followers and huge illegal colonies have come up on forest land in Jammu in areas like Sunjwan, Bathindi, Raika and Sidhra . Sources in the department apprehend that the latest change of guard in the Ministry of forest and environment would worsen the existing situation as the incumbent Minister is himself tainted in the cases of encroachment of government land. "He has not moral or ethical authority to curb the menace of encroachment of forest land which is being facilitated by the officials of the department themselves as the minister himself is tainted in the cases of encroachment of land and the cases are pending against him" said an officer of forest department pleading anonymity.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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