Post News Network
Kendrapara, June 6: Lakhs of rupees under World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) for mangrove afforestation in Bhitarkanika National Park has been allegedly siphoned off since 2013.
According to sources, 65.52 hectare of forest land of Bhitarkanika was provided to two NGOs, Pallishree and APOWA, in May 2013 for mangrove afforestation, following a tender. However, just after three months, the afforestation area was reduced from 65.52 hectare to 46.6 hectare after a Global Positioning System (GPS) survey.
While `3.09 lakh was allotted under ICZMP to Pallishree for afforestation in 8.90 hectare land in Chakamanapur village by the forest department, APOWA was provided Rs 17.82 lakh for afforestation in 37.7 hectare land at five places – 13 hectare at Goja, 7 hectare at Charigharia, 3.5 hectare at Debendranarayanpur, 5.5 hectare at Chitaukolla and 8.7 hectare in Junusnagar.
However, less than a thousand saplings were planted in Chakamanapur and about 2-3 thousand saplings were planted in Debendranarayanpur, sources said.
Though, the NGOs had received funds for ‘maintenance under process’, the afforestation programme was not carried out by the NGOs in true letter and spirit of their contracts, locals alleged, adding a major portion of the fund was siphoned off by the NGOs and the officials concerned.
According to the guidelines, officials of the forest and the Coastal Management departments should assess the progress of the afforestation programme once in every three months. And on the basis of reports prepared by the officials, the NGOs were to be released funds.
Despite this, sources said, the NGOs managed to get Rs 14.43 lakh, including Rs 12.50 lakh by APOWA, for plantation and maintenance till May 31 last.
Even as only five per cent of mangroves saplings were planted in Chakamanapur, less than two per cent in Charigharia and 20 per cent in Debendranaryanpur, the official report said `93.97 lakh was spent for regenerating mangrove forest in 46.60 hectare, sources said.
Out of this, `65.08 lakh was spent for barricading the six project sites, whereas `22.43 lakh was spent for digging a canal and `20.83 lakh plantation of saplings, they added. However, the forest officials refused to comment on the allegations.