The Forest Department of Odisha engaged in “irregularities” in plantation efforts that resulted in the unnecessary use of tax dollars, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The severe gap in planting objective attainment throughout the time suggested fixation of unrealistic targets, according to the CAG report on Performance Audit of “Assessment of Plantation Activities” spanning the period from 2013–14 to 2017–18.
Due to a lack of coordinated planning among Ranges, Divisions, and Forest Headquarters, the long-term planning and fixing of annual targets could not be accomplished.
“The state has to create its own State Forest Policy (SFP), in accordance with the National Forest Policy, by taking into account the regional geoclimatic circumstances. Lack of SFP evolution led to poor planning for increasing the state’s green cover. According to the report, the Forest Divisions were operating without approved working plans or working schemes.
According to the report, field workers neglected to properly maintain plantation journals, which prevented the audit from validating the execution of plantations. These details included pre- and post-planting data, complete year-by-year expenditure with an abstract, quarterly inspections by Range Officers (ROs), and authentication by the person in charge of the plantation (a forester or forest guard).
It was noted in the report that there was no coordination between Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) and District Rural Development Authorities (DRDAs) when planning the plantation projects carried out under MGNREGS in a division, despite the fact that the “Sal” species is the main indigenous species of Odisha.
Accountant General Viswanath Singh Jadon stated at a press conference on Monday that neither the DFOs nor the department had access to information on the total number of job cards holders in a division that had an impact on the implementation of the plantation.
According to the report, 191 out of 485 plantations were unsuccessful, and the department incurred unproductive expenses totaling Rs 13.17 crore as a result. The reasons for failure included improper site selection for plantations in dense forest and a delay in the submission of project proposals for plantations by Divisional Forest Officers.
Aside from this, the report stated that the failure to deliver funding for maintenance operations starting in the second year had a negative impact on the ability of plantations managed under MGNREGS to survive.
It stated that because the three-year target for compensating afforestation programmes under CAMPA was not met, the forest cover could not be made up for the forest land that was diverted.
The CAG reported that after physically inspecting 41 plantings, its audit team and forest authorities discovered 20 failed plantations and seven moderately successful plantations, totaling unproductive expenditures of Rs 2.67 crore.
The planting activities are concentrated in regions that are easily accessible, such as the land along the pathways, leaving the degraded sections in the centre of the forest unplanted, according to the aerial survey of the plantation sites conducted by UAVs. Despite the fact that few teak species persisted, the quality of growth in terms of height achieved fell short of expectations.
It was found that activities to conserve soil moisture, such as creating staggered trenches, either weren’t undertaken or were carried out ineffectively; trenches weren’t dug perpendicular to the terrain slope. As a result, the plantings failed, resulting in a loss of Rs 68.36 lakh.
Although planting of seedlings was actually not undertaken in the Aided Natural Regeneration (ANR) without gap plantation, the cost norm provided for watch and ward during the entire regeneration period of four years, the report added. It also noted the irregular release of funds in one instalment during the first year of bamboo plantation without ensuring the survival percentage in violation of norms of guidelines. This unwise provision resulted in unnecessary spending of Rs. 63.19 crore.
Despite the fact that many aspects of block plantings and urban plantations were comparable, the CAG determined that the urban plantations’ allocation of man days was set at an unreasonablely high level, resulting in an unnecessary additional expense of Rs 39.80 crore.
99 lakh rupees were wasted or unnecessarily expended due to excessive spending on various components or going over budget. Unregular spending of Rs 14.82 crore was caused by the improper distribution of funds for fence and third-year upkeep under Urban Tree Plantation, it claimed.
The audit stated that because financial processes were not followed, Rs 69.12 lakh was paid for watering costs without a request for quotes.
Due to a lack of coordination and ineffective monitoring, the CAG stated that avenue plantations were entirely destroyed as a result of road expansion. No monies for such damages were sought against User Agencies (UAs) to replace the damaged plantations.
In a similar manner, bamboo plantations were carried out inside of forests with a canopy cover of more than 40%. Due to inadequate light availability, clump growth was not optimal in such sites, which resulted to the failure of the sites.
Different plantations performed differently, and this variance in performance was related to differences in the site quality, species chosen, and level of management. According to the audit, plantations in 251 sites had failed as a result of inadequate management and site selection.
According to the report, field level officers’ inspection and surveillance, particularly that of the Range Officers, fell short of the required standards.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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