The
Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Uttarakhand government for
its failure to file an affidavit in a case where the state government’s funds
for compensatory afforestation were misused to buy iPhones, laptops, and other
gadgets, according to a report by Bar and Bench.
The
Bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih stated that the State had provided no
explanation for why CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and
Planning Authority) funds were used to purchase iPhones, laptops, and other
gadgets.
Appearing
on behalf of the state, Advocate General SN Babulkar said he thought the case
was not scheduled for today and that an affidavit could be filed by today.
However, the Bench was not convinced.
“How did you not know the case was listed? You
either file the affidavit or ask your chief secretary to be present. This is an
important matter and of serious concern," the court said.
According to The Indian Express report, dated
February 21, 2025, an audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
revealed that the funds allocated for compensatory afforestation were diverted
by the Uttarakhand’s forest division to buy iPhones, laptops, fridges, coolers,
and for renovation of buildings.
According to the media report, a CAG report on
CAMPA’s work from 2019 to 2022 found that a big amount of Rs 13.86 crore was
used for activities other than compensatory afforestation where forest lands
were used for non-forest purposes. For example, for projects like industries or
infrastructure development.
According
to CAMPA rules, afforestation should happen within a year or two growing
seasons after receiving funds.
However,
the report found that in 37 cases, it was done more than eight years after
getting final approval. “This resulted in cost escalation of Rs 11.54 crore in
raising CA (compensatory afforestation),” the report said.
The
report also pointed out that only 33.51 per cent of the planted trees survived,
which is much lower than the required 60-65 per cent set by the Forest Research
Institute.
“In five divisions, 1,204.04 hectares of land
was not suitable for compensatory afforestation. The unsuitability of land
shows that the certificates of suitability furnished by the DFOs were incorrect
and issued without ascertaining the actual condition of the land. The
department did not initiate any action against the DFOs concerned for their
negligence,” the report said.
The
report further said that the state government did not pay Rs 275.34 crore in interest
from 2019-20 to 2021-22, even though CAMPA had requested it.
The
CAG report advised the state authority to set up proper budget checks to manage
finances well and stop the misuse of funds.