In a recent blitz of vigilance operations conducted by the Forest Department at various eco-tourism centers and agencies, serious irregularities have been unearthed. These inspections revealed a concerning pattern where income that should have gone into the government treasury was diverted by employees using the Google Pay system to redirect funds to their own families.

Employees were found collecting parking fees and boat ride charges directly through their personal Google Pay accounts, instantly depositing the amounts into their own bank accounts. Investigations spanning the last six months unveiled widespread evasion practices, including undisclosed transactions and under-the-table deals. Allegations surfaced indicating that hoteliers were making monthly payments of Rs 40,000 to employees at Thekkady's boating center.

Moreover, these inspections revealed numerous other irregularities across multiple locations. These included the unauthorized sale of forest products, unrecorded parking fee collections, procurement of tools without proper permissions, among other violations.

The absence of stringent checks and audits at government offices handling cash transactions, especially in Forest Development Centers and eco-tourism hubs, has allowed for such malpractices to thrive. The lack of oversight and periodic inspections at these centers has facilitated an environment conducive to corruption and exploitation.

This issue extends beyond isolated incidents, with similar scams occurring across various tourist centers, such as the infamous parking fee extortion at Sabarimala prior to the implementation of efficient parking management methods.

To curb these evasions and irregularities, establishing a robust system of regular checks and audits at government offices handling cash transactions is imperative. It's crucial to enforce strict follow-up procedures for detected cases to deter future misconduct and prevent the recurrence of such financial malpractices.