By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 17 Jun: The Forest Department never ceases to be in controversies, whether it is related to illegal felling of trees or negligence in firefighting. Yet another scam has emerged from the department. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal ordered a detailed high level investigation as soon as the scam came to his notice. Incidentally, this alleged scam is related to irregularities in the development of Neergarh Water Falls which is located in the assembly constituency of Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal.
After a complaint of irregularities in a scheme surfaced here, departmental minister Subodh Uniyal ordered an inquiry. The surprising thing is that a direct complaint of irregularities in the scheme was submitted to Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal. Expressing displeasure over the alleged scam, the forest minister has ordered Conservator of Forests in Garhwal to investigate the matter.
It may be recalled that Neergarh Water Falls site was being developed under a forest department project but now complaints of irregularities have surfaced in this project. Interestingly, a direct complaint was made before Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal in this regard, probably owing to the fact that the project site falls in his own assembly constituency of Narendranagar. Actually, this entire matter is related to the assembly constituency of Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has taken a serious note appeared strict on the complaint of irregularities regarding the scheme in his own assembly constituency. He immediately issued instructions to get the details of the issue in the case. The investigation of the case has been handed over to Conservator of Forests, Garhwal, Akash Verma.
It is being claimed that under a scheme related to the protection and management the forests, the construction of waterfall was carried out in Narendra Nagar Forest Division last year through the state finance sector. An amount of Rs 1 crore was also sanctioned for this. With this amount, the Neergarh Water Falls was to be reconstructed and rejuvenated. However, reports received indicated that the work not only remains incomplete but the quality of construction also is poor. It is also alleged that despite the work not being completed, advance payment was also made to the implementing agency.
In his instructions issued to Conservator of Forests Garhwal Akash Verma, Uniyal insisted that the related investigation should be completed in an impartial and timely manner, so that the truth can be revealed in the case and action taken against the guilty at the earliest.
