After CAMPA, fraud in JICA project in Uttarakhand! Officers surrounded for irregularities worth lakhs, investigation started
An Indian Forest Service officer has been accused of irregularities of more than 20 lakhs in his tenure of less than 3 months. This matter has come to light when the Forest Department is already in the dock due to the CAG report. Investigation is going on regarding illegal expenditure under the CAMPA scheme. In this way, after the Union Budget, questions are being raised about the project funded by Japan.
These days the Uttarakhand Forest Department is presenting its clarification regarding the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). Actually, the CAG report has revealed illegal budget expenditure under the Uttarakhand Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme. In which it has been told that the budget for afforestation received from the Government of India was spent on purchasing equipment like iPhones, fridges, coolers.
Not only this, many other irregularities have also been mentioned in the report. The special thing is that after this matter came to light, there is a stir in the Forest Department and orders have also been given to investigate this entire report. Let us tell you that the CAG report was presented on the floor of the House on the third day of the Assembly Budget Session. Many rigging and irregularities were exposed in the CAG report.
This matter had not yet cooled down in the Forest Department that the Forest Department officials have once again come into the limelight due to the case of the JICA project. Actually, the matter is related to illegal purchase in the JICA project. The big thing is that the IFS officer on whom these allegations have been made, his tenure in the project was less than 3 months. That is, this Indian Forest Service officer has been accused of irregularities of more than Rs 20 lakh in a tenure of less than 3 months.
This is a case related to irregularities in JICA
This case related to irregularities in JICA project is of the year 2022. Indian Forest Service officer Bharat Bhushan Martolia was posted as Deputy Project Director in the project from 19 July 2022 to 14 October 2022. This IFS officer of the year 2016 batch has been accused of irregularities in the purchase of Rs 20 lakh 23 thousand while in the project.
The big thing is that the case regarding the irregularities in the tenure of less than 3 months is pending for the last several years. However, in January 2023, an explanation was sought from IFS officer Bharat Bhushan Martolia, but it could not be investigated then.
These points will be in focus during the investigation
In this case related to the amount of lakhs in the JICA project, many points are to be investigated. The first point of investigation will be whether bills were passed despite IFS officer Bharat Bhushan Martolia not having the right to pass the bill during the deployment?
The IFS officer had the right to make payments only up to 5 lakhs. In such a situation, were cheques of more than 5 lakhs also given? Third, the goods that were purchased. Did it reach the project office. In this way, the investigating officer has to investigate on various points. The investigation of the case has been given to Rajaji Tiger Reserve Director Coco Rosso.
Martolia is posted in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
IFS officer Bharat Bhushan Martolia is currently posted in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The special thing is that Martolia is also retiring in the month of March. This is currently a preliminary investigation of his tenure in the project and if any irregularities are found, further action will be taken against him.
At present, this whole matter is now stuck on the investigation report of Rajaji Tiger Reserve Director Coco Rosso. However, when Bharat Bhushan Martolia was asked for clarification in this matter during the year 2023, his answers were not found satisfactory. After this, the Chief Project Director wrote a letter to the Forest Department to investigate the matter. On the other hand, when the media spoke to Bharat Bhushan Martolia, he said these things.
He is not aware of the investigation order. As far as the question of purchases made during his tenure is concerned, he is ready to answer whatever aspects will come in the investigation. All the bills passed during his tenure were passed at the level of Chief Project Officer. – Bharat Bhushan Martolia, IFS officer
Chief Forest Conservator Half Dhananjay Mohan has confirmed the investigation into the irregularities of lakhs of rupees in the JICA project.
The investigation in this matter has been given to the senior officer of the department. Further action will be taken on the case after the investigation report. – Dhananjay Mohan, Chief Forest Conservator Half, Uttarakhand Forest Department
What is JICA project
JICA means Japan International Cooperation Agency. As the name suggests, this project is being run in the country with the cooperation of Japan. In this project, environment related works are done through forest panchayat. The first phase of this project has been completed in Uttarakhand and now the approval of the second phase is awaited. Uttarakhand has received more than Rs 500 crore in the first phase through this project.
