PATHANAMTHITTA: A good part of the crores of rupees allocated annually to forest conservation committees and ecotourism centres are being siphoned off. These were found one by one in the vigilance inspection of the police. A report was also given. However, no action has been taken against the culprits. There is also no proposal to repay the siphoned amount. Instead, the forest department is providing a class on how to spend the funds.

The funds were mainly allocated for works such as fireline, planting and gully construction. Rs 2,000 crore was allocated from 2002 to 2023. The estimates of the utilization of the amount during this period were examined. The inspection was conducted in January last year in the name of 'Jungle Safari'. Many of the expense records are missing. Proper auditing has also not been done. It was found that even section forest officers and beat officers were involved in the irregularities. The financial transactions were made without discussing them with the Forest Conservation Committee executive committee and the general body. The cash transaction is not recorded in the cash book.

How to show figures

A three-day class on managing funds is being conducted for the secretaries of the Forest Conservation Committee and eco-development centre. The class is about how to spend money and how to keep the figures accurate. The explanation is that the only problem that occurred was that the receipts and accounts were not maintained. Accusations are being pacified by suggesting that these data should be kept online.

Siphoning money showing that works that were never done are done

• Forged document was created showing that civil works were done. Work was done by benamis of people including superiors. The profits were divided
• Money was accounted under the name of those who did not work. The bank accounts used for this include those of the relatives of the forest conservation committee president.

Forest Conservation Committees: 400

Eco Development Centres: 190

The training class is for online transactions and to avoid a repeat of the lapses in managing funds and managing records

Ayush Kumar Khori, Konni DFO