KAILASHAHAR, Jan 19 (TIWN): Years of deliberate negligence and laxity in penalising officials indicted in the irregularities have rooted corruption deep into the system of Forest Department. Allegation came against Tripura Forest Dept. for embezzling atleast Rs. 55 lakhs, under Central Govt’s project & JICA project at Kailshahar. Reportedly, under a Central funded Forestation work project, which was undertaken by Tripurta Govt in the year 2016 massive embezzlement was held. The project was further funded by JAICA which estimated around Rs. 55 lakhs with the target of foresting in 3 areas totaling 47 hectors. The project was instructed to cover 10 hector lands of Jalai Forest Range Office, 35 hectors at Samarubpar and 2 hectors at Shib Bari.

However, the project which as undertaken in the year 2016, ended with half done work, whereas the full expenditure has been shown in the report book.  

Moreover, due to lack of maintenance hundreds of plants are dying dry but the ADF,  Range Officer all are maintaining a silent role in this regard. 

The fund of Rs. 55 lakhs also included the expense of maintenance charge of the plants, but due to the negligence of the Forest Dept. the fund went fully waste.

The Jalai Range office, is located just 8 KM away from the town left in miserable condition, but the Range Office is just for name-sake whereas no water supply no arrangement for plants maintenance are available there.

Zinda Debbarma was the then Forest Range Officer  and the ADFO’s name is Bidyut Chowdhury but none of them had shown any interest to take care of the issue.

On the one hand CPI-M led State Govt although boosts about the so called 'massive development', but due to corruption across its Departments the development is under threat.

Non-cooperation of the State Govt. is halting various Central projects, which has bound the Central Govts to cut funds under many schemes.