The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started investigation into alleged misappropriation of Rs 11.833 million in the Sindh forestry development project.
According to sources of the Sindh forest department, the Sindh government launched a scheme for "reforestation of harvested and irrigated area for plantation over 2500 hectare in Thatta and Badin districts" at an estimated cost of Rs 61.55 million in 2002 to be completed by 2007.
An amount of Rs 11.833 million was released during the period between 2002-03 and 2003-04. Funds were utilised for planting works but during inspection it was found that planting didn't take place.
The official responsible for execution of the scheme is reported to have said that the plants had died due to poor maintenance. Subsequently, the finance department stopped further release of funds for 2004-05. The irregularity was pointed out to the department in April 2005 but no reply was given till date.
The finance department has directed the Sindh forest department to fix the responsibility for wastage of government money. Meanwhile, the NAB has also started investigation and its inquiry report would be conveyed to the auditor general.
Meanwhile, illegal woodcutting has been reported in Penah and Hunderani forests in sub-division Thatta under the patronage of influential feudals causing enormous financial losses to the provincial government.
The divisional forest officer, working plan division, who visited the Sindh forest development project along with working plan party to assess the damage, has reported that all plants, which attained some reasonable girth, were already completely felled and not a single tree was left worth generating revenue for the government.
The report further reveals that widespread woodcutting was going on in Hunderani forest. Intensity of illicit cutting has increased over the last month. No plot with tree growth has been spared. If this trend continues, the Hunderani forest will meet the same fate as that of Penah.
The report further indicates that the damage to Penah forest would be assessed on the basis of growth shown in management plan 2000.
It may be mentioned that the forestry being an open property with little staff to control is susceptible to local unauthorised woodcutting but the situation is further aggravated when influential feudals moving in power corridor start patronising this practice for their personal gains.
According to a report, when the department was free of political interference, 1610 offences were detected during three years, and an amount of Rs 5.59 million has been recovered as value plus compensation, while several officials have been dismissed and compulsorily retired from services.