According to an officer privy to preparation of the government reply, not a single officer from the revenue department has been held responsible for the illegality in Ramgad. Though the forest department issues the no objection certificate, revenue department is equally responsible for allowing mining.
Officer suspended
The reply names five officials of the forest department. An officer has already been suspended.
Two deputy commissioners, a forest settlement officer and a deputy conservator of forests have been let scot-free. One of the deputy commissioner occupies a prime post in Bangalore while the other is a revenue commissioner. Sources said the IAS lobby and some politicians do not “allow” to name certain officers responsible for the illegality.
The Central Empowered Committee in its recommendations has said that the Principal Chief Secretary (Forests) should be directed to conduct an inquiry into the role of deputy conservator, conservator of forests and other officials on their inaction and processing the proposal for diversion of the forest land. The government, in its reply has stated that the Principal Secretary to Forest, Ecology and Environment department would conduct an inquiry.
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