The Governor’s administration in Jammu and Kashmir has ordered audit of all the works taken up in the forest department in the past five years, as part of the ongoing comprehensive review exercise.
Acting on directions of the State Administrative Council (SAC), the forest department has initiated a process for verification of the works taken up under the Compensatory Aforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and other schemes.
“We have ordered audit of all the works taken up under CAMPA, centrally sponsored scheme and capital expenditure,” commissioner secretary Forests, Saurabh Baghat told Greater Kashmir.
During the past three years, the forest department has come under sharp criticism for discriminating against Kashmir division in allocating funds under the CAMPA.
The forest ministry under Bali Baghat and Lal Singh in the previous PDP-BJP government had faced flak for allocating meager funding to Kashmir under different programs.
The opposition NC and Congress legislators had repeatedly targeted the ministers over their “step-motherly” treatment with Kashmir.
Officials told Greater Kashmir after imposition of Governor’s rule in the state the forest department has ensured both the regions get equal funding under CAMPA.
“The department was catering only to Kathua district in last three years, instead of entire J&K. It seemed that it was meant only for Kathua as 40-50 percent funding under CAMPA went to it,” an official said.
Two regional committees have been formed to carry out physical verification of works with reference to approved annual work programme executed under different schemes.
The committees, one each for Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, have been directed to submit their reports to state-level committees within one month, according to an order issued by the office of PCCF.
The state-level committee shall submit its final report to the PCCF by October 4.