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| Forest officials, contractor 'loot' Yatra funds | | Amarnath Yatra-2016 | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, July 7: What can be termed as an open loot of government money, influential employees of the Forest Department deputed on Yatra duty have allegedly joined hands with a contractor to mint money meant for providing firewood on government rates to pilgrims visiting the Amarnath Cave.
Highly placed sources told Early Times that Forest department employees and officials, who have not been transferred from their respective positions for the past over 20 years, tactically swallow the money in nexus with the contractor besides grace the palms of higher officials including department head.
"Every year forest department allots a huge amount to holy Yatra for providing firewood to pilgrims at higher altitudes were temperature dips on the traditional Amarnath route," sources said.
They said that tenders are being floated and lowest bidder is allotted the contractor of keeping the firewood for pilgrims available on all halting spots.
"If a contractor is given the contract of rupees 30 lakhs then he has to dump the firewood worth of same amount according to rules but, he actually dumps firewood worth of 2-3 lakhs after taking Block Officer and other forest department officials, who are assigned to check the quantity and availability of firewood into confidence," an insider said.
He said that officials are taking advantage of absence of any monitoring mechanism.
"It is a camp director of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board who is looking after the base camp or halting spot but they themselves hardly know about such frauds," official sources said.
Sources said that forest officials including foresters and block officers aren't being transferred because they know the tact's how to swallow the money. Interestingly department calls such employees experienced. "This is fact, Pilgrims are always in hurry they always want to precede towards cave so only few Yatries purchase the firewood," they said.
"Former Forest Minister was well aware of this fraud but he never showed any courage to take action against such employees. It seems Choudary Lal Singh-Forest Minister is not yet aware of this loot otherwise he would have transferred the blue-eyed employees." they added.
An official confirmed to Early Times that employees currently managing Yatra were overstaying. "It is fact many employees haven't been shifted from last over many years. But power of shifting lies with Forest conservator," he said.
He said that this year forest department has to dump 4000 quintals of firewood at different halting spots enrooted to holy cave. "Our staff and others monitor the dumping of firewood besides it is camp director of state government or SASB who checks it regularly," officer said.
Javeed Geelani, Conservator Forests South, when contacted assured action against erring employees. "Any employee against we will receive complaints or is overstaying at his position will be removed to ensure transparency," he said.
He said that they have a transparent system in place to monitor the dumping of firewood. "4000 quintals is estimated quantity but contractor gets money for the consumed firewood for which department has a sound mechanism in place," he added. |
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