Rs 21.17 crore from District Mineral Foundation spent on plantation in a 12 months

By Express News Service

ROURKELA: The Forest division has come beneath scanner for reportedly spending over Rs 21.17 crore on plantation drives from Sundargarh District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, principally in Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) space. 

If an RTI reply from the DMF is to be believed, Rourkela Forest Division (RFD) spent Rs 21.17 crore in its six ranges, majority of the quantity being spent in RMC limits beneath Panposh vary. The huge plantation programmes had been purportedly carried out throughout the monsoon season in 2020. 

Accordingly, for synthetic regeneration (AR) in Rourkela, block plantation was carried out over 100 hectare (ha) for above Rs 1.90 crore. Under aided pure regeneration (ANR), 600 ha was coated with 400 crops per hectare for above Rs 2.21 crore. Similarly, one other ANR plantation was carried out over 700 ha with 200 crops per hectare for Rs 1.90 crore. 

Under city tree plantation, 30,000 saplings had been planted within the metropolis for greater than Rs 1.68 crore and over Rs 1.41 crore spent on planting of 30,000 saplings with three years upkeep price. Over Rs 2.42 crore was spent for elevating 10 lakh seedlings for distribution in Rourkela. 

A complete of over Rs 7.33 crore was spent for plantation of 20 lakh seedlings in six ranges together with Rourkela beneath Panposh. Separately, over Rs 1.41 crore was spent on plantation of 25,000 timber with three years upkeep in Rajgangpur municipality, Rs 77.64 lakh for planting of 15,000 saplings in Birmitrapur city and Rs 22.58 lakh for five,000 saplings in Kuanrmunda with three years upkeep. 

What raises doubt is the truth that the world beneath RMC limits spreading over almost 53 sq km is just about bald with no thick greenery. Besides, the town is missing open house and synthetic forests depart little scope for block plantation or ANR over such an unlimited stretch of 100 ha to 700 ha. 

In distinction, the jurisdiction of Rourkela Steel Plant unfold over almost 48 sq km, wears a thick inexperienced cover with about 53 lakh timber grown over the past six many years. Senior Congress chief Rashmi Ranjan Padhi, who obtained the RTI reply from the DMF, alleged it’s nothing however a plantation rip-off.

The Vigilance ought to dig out the reality behind the spending of such a whopping quantity of Rs 21.17 crore on plantation in RFD. Since DMF fund is concerned, it’s a match case for probe by the CBI and CAG audit, he added. It was carried out throughout the tenure of tainted Additional PCCF (Afforestration & Planning) Abhay Kant Pathak.

Contacted, Rourkela DFO Yeswant Sethi mentioned since he took cost not too long ago, he’s not conscious of the whole DMF fund spending. He would have the ability to remark after going by means of the recordsdata, the DFO added.