JOIN USPAC suggests action against CS
The project was taken up during 1997-2003 in the Nagarahole National Park.
The committee in its report, which was tabled in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, said the irregularities in the implementation of the project caused a loss of Rs 6 crore to the government. The Lokayukta, in its report submitted in 2004, had accused Annaiah, the then DCF, of misappropriation of funds. The Lokayukta had also recommended a departmental inquiry into the issue.
The committee, headed by Siddaramaiah, noticed that the Forest Department had taken 20 months to transfer the records, required to conduct the departmental enquiry, to the office of the Principal Conservator of Forests (PCF). Later the PCF took 14 months to submit charge sheets against Annaiah, seven other IFS officers and 132 other employees of the department accused in the misappropriation to the government. Again, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) took 14 more months to issue the charge sheets to the IFS officers involved.
The committee had taken serious note of delay at all levels and recommended disciplinary action against the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Secretary of Forest, Environment and Ecology department and Principal Conservator of Forests.
Penalty recovery
The committee said the government failed to recover the penalty of Rs 139.15 crore from Kuduremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) for extending the mining area illegally. The government had slapped the fine against the company for violating the Forest Act. The company moved against the government’s decision and won the case in the High Court.
The government failed to file a special leave petition before the Supreme Court against it within 90 days. The government took eight months to file the petition and lost the only option to recover the penalty. The committee recommended disciplinary action against Principal Secretary, Secretary and Principal Conservator of Forests for the lapses.