Forest funds worth over Rs 13 crore spent on iPhones, laptops, court cases in Uttarakhand: CAG report

The CAG report flagged a low survival rate of the planted trees. (Courtesy: AP file photo)

Funds amounting to Rs 13.86 crore, meant for forest conservation, were diverted and used for purchasing iPhones, laptops, refrigerators and other decoration items, a central audit has found.

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on the functioning of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in the 2019-2022, in Uttarakhand's forest divisions, funds meant for compensatory afforestation were diverted to "inadmissible activities". These activities included the state's Harela scheme, tiger safari work, renovation of buildings, expenses on official visits, court cases and purchases of gadgets and stationery.

The report, tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 21 during the Budget session, stated that the Workers Welfare Board spent Rs 607 crore without permission from the government between 2017 and 2021.

The findings suggest nearly Rs 14 crore worth funds from the CAMPA - which works to mitigate the impact of forest land diversion - were diverted for buying laptops, iPhones, fridges and coolers, renovation work and even fighting court cases, as per a report on NDTV.

CAMPA comes under the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry. The CAMPA guidelines suggest afforestation should be carried out within a year or two growing seasons after getting the funds. However, the CAG report flagged that it took over eight years to conduct compensatory afforestation in 37 cases.

The report flagged a low survival rate of the planted trees. During 2017-22, it was only 33%, lower than the 60-65% mandated by the Forest Research Institute, it pointed out.

"In five divisions, 1,204.04 hectares of land was not suitable for compensatory afforestation. The unsuitability of land shows that the certificates of suitability furnished by the DFOs (Divisional Forest Officer) were incorrect and issued without ascertaining the actual condition of the land. The department did not initiate any action against the DFOs concerned for their negligence," Indian Express said citing the report.

The CAG report also highlighted that the CEO of CAMPA released funds to the forest divisions and implementing agencies without the necessary approval of the Head of Forest Force from July 2020 to November 2021, as directed by the Principal Secretary (Forest) in July 2020.