CAG finds fault with diversion of forest land

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 14: The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the audit of expenditure incurred by the Government of Odisha in the economic sector for the year ended March 2013 was tabled in Odisha Assembly here on Monday.The report dealt with Odisha Government’s Works Department, Department of Water Resources, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Forest and Environment.According to the report, to check of records in 11 forest divisions revealed (January to March 2013) that the Ministry of Environment and Forests had accorded approval of 1348 hectares of forest land from November 2002 to April 2009 in favour of 10 user agencies for non-forestry purposes for which Rs.97.80 crore towards NPV (net present value) was due to realization at revised rates.“However, only Rs.73.04 crore was realised from the user agencies.Balance amount of Rs.24.77 crore was neither realised nor was project approval canceled despite passage of four to 11 years,” the CAG said in its report.“Government stated (February 2014) that out of Rs.24.77 crore, a sum of Rs.2.44 crore has already been deposited by one user agency.“In the remaining 10 cases, defaulting user agencies are being pursued by the concerned Divisional Forest Officers and Department for early deposit of the NPV of Rs.22.33 crore,” the CAG noted in its report.Government further stated that steps will be taken against the defaulting user agencies in case of further delay in depositing NPV, the report added.