Forest vigilance and flying squad without taking action; Police vigilance in search of corrupt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite complaints of corruption in the forest department surfacing, the forest vigilance and flying squad, which are supposed to investigate them, are not taking action. It is alleged that many complaints are being settled and fake reports are being prepared to protect the corrupt. The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is directly investigating to put an end to this. Operations like Vanaraksha and Jungle Safari will be intensified.

It is the Flying Squad that usually investigates information and complaints provided by the department's intelligence about irregularities committed by forest department officials and recommends action. However, officials say that the Flying Squad has not been investigating or conducting raids on the complaints received for the past few years. They also point out that no action is taken even if complaints are filed regarding dumping of waste in the forest, illegal trafficking of trees like sandalwood and teak, and negligence of forest department officials.

Cases get covered up

The Flying Squad range officer who investigated the smuggling of venomous snakes and western blind snakes in Thiruvananthapuram was suspended before submitting the report, which had caused controversy. He was then reinstated based on a High Court order. Officials say that after this, political interference was used to prevent action from being taken on the investigation report in this case and that an attempt was made to cover up the case. Due to this, many officials of the Flying Squad are staying away from the investigations. The Forest Vigilance Department, on the other hand, is pretending not to have noticed all these issues.

No inspection in the public sector

The Forest Vigilance has directed the concerned authorities to pass the bills for construction within the forest, including those undertaken by public sector institutions, without inspection. The proposal is that forest officials should only carry out general supervision of the work of government-approved agencies. The decision was made at a meeting of top forest vigilance officials held in Silent Valley last month. Officials allege that with this, private individuals who take over contracts in the name of public sector institutions and the department officials behind them are committing widespread irregularities.