Notice served on six IFS officers & 3 State Forest Service Officers for irregularities in tender process: Forest Minister
Raipur: Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar replied told the House that irregularities were found in 33 out of 37 tenders invited by Forest Department for different works.
The Minister was replying to the question of Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dharamlal Kaushik during the Question Hour of the House. Kaushik alleged irregularities in tenders invited by Forest Department, Government of Chhattisgarh. Kaushik asked the Forest Minister about irregularities in tenders and action taken against the officers responsible for the same.
Akbar said that 6 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers and three State Forest Service officers were found guilty in the case of irregularity. The Forest Department served show-cause notice to these officers and sought their reply within 15 days. Disciplinary action is being taken against the guilty officers under All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969 and Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules-1966. However no one has been made the investigating officer, Akbar told the House.
Kaushik said that the officials were found guilty in 2020 for irregularities in the tender process but action was not taken immediately.
Kaushik said that the State Purchase Rule was not followed by the State government. Minister Akbar assured that action will also be taken against those responsible officers and tender rules will also be followed.
Congress MLA from Khujji Chhanni Chandu Sahu raised the issue of illegal transportation of sand during the Question Hour.
She wanted to know from the Forest Minister about number of registered cases of illegal transportation of sand in Khujji constituency.
The Minister replied that one case of illegal transportation of sand was registered in 2021-22 and action was taken under Indian Forest Act 1927. Rs 10,000 fine was imposed in the case, the Minister added.
BJP MLA Dhamrudhar Pujari raised the issue of tendu patta collection and bonus in the House. The BJP MLA asked Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar about date for payment of tendu patta bonus. The MLA also alleged that the State government is not paying tendu patta bonus to the beneficiaries. Minister Mohammad Akbar in his reply said that the audit will be done and after that payment will be made.
Jaijaipur Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Keshav Prasad Chandra asked about the sanctioned works being carried out in Janjgir-Champa district under District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Trust in the financial year 2021-22.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel replied that the meeting of Governing Council and Managing Committee of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) was held in Janjgir-Champa, in which works were sanctioned.
MLA Chandra alleged that without approval, works were carried out from DMF fund. The MLA demanded an inquiry in this matter. The Chief Minister said that no complaint was received and if any complaint is received, the matter will be examined.
Dhamtari BJP MLA Ranjana Dipendra Sahu raised the issue of construction of water tank, extension of pipeline and water tap connections in the Houses. BJP MLA Sahu asked Public Health Engineering Department Minister Guru Rudra Kumar about number of convergence of schemes.
Minister Guru Rudra Kumar replied that 145 work orders had been issued and 127 works are underway and 18 works are yet to start. Four works have been converged to Jal Jeevan Mission due to non-receipt of amount from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Minister added. The MLA also alleged that 10 water tanks were under construction in Dhamtari assembly constituency and after construction of water tanks, four works were converged with the Jal Jeevan Mission that was a gross violation of guidelines of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
