Deputy CM Treks Through Forest Amid Allegation Of Corruption In Plantation

Balangir: Amid allegations of irregularities in tree plantations taken up in some parts of Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo undertook a trekking through a forest area in Balangir district to ascertain the situation.

Acting on complaints about irregularities, Singh Deo himself made a surprise visit to verify the tree plantation undertaken at Budharaja Hills under the Patnagarh forest range in the district.

Besides trekking through the forest, the Deputy CM also spoke to the officials concerned and enquired with locals to find out the truth about corruption.

Sources said though lakhs of rupees were sanctioned by the government for forestation programme in Budharaja Hills, the money meant for tree plantation was allegedly misappropriated by officials without proper utilisation.

Voicing concern over alleged irregularities in plantation activities, the Deputy CM there seems to be serious lapses in the forestation programme as there was no visible sign of any tree plantation being carried out in the area.

However, the Balangir DFO Sudarshan Behera maintained that the forest department had carried out the plantation activities in the area. The Deputy CM was shown all the tree plantations, he said, terming the allegations as false and baseless.