Rajshahi, Sep 07 (V7N) - Recent allegations suggest that at least one crore taka was misappropriated in a reforestation initiative for roads and highways in northern Bengal. This alleged embezzlement occurred through the Executive Forestry Division of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) Operation Division (Western Region) in Rajshahi. Funds allocated for the fiscal years 2021-2023 were meant for planting various saplings, including forest, fruit, medicinal, and ornamental types. Reports indicate that less than 25% of these saplings are visible along the roads.

The plan involved hiring a caretaker (mali) for each kilometer through contractors, with a monthly expense of Tk 10,000 per mali. However, no caretakers have been seen maintaining the saplings. An internal RHD investigation has uncovered these significant discrepancies.

Field investigations show that for the fiscal year 2021-22, saplings were supposed to be planted along a 14 km stretch of the Bogura-Nagao-Mahadebpur-Patnitola-Dhamoirhat-Joypurhat highway, totaling 28,000 saplings. In reality, only about 25% of these saplings were actually planted. Bus driver Azgar Ali, who travels this route twice daily, reported never having seen any caretakers for the saplings, and noted that saplings were only planted once over the past two years. Other road users, like Nader Ali, observed that the actual number of saplings planted was far less, with perhaps only around 1,000 saplings, most of which have died due to lack of care.

Similarly, for an additional 10 km stretch of the same road, 20,000 saplings were to be planted, but the situation was the same. Over 83 km of eight highways in the northern region, a total of 161,600 saplings were planned for planting during the 2021-2023 fiscal years.

A report by Mahmudul Hasan, the forestry officer for Bogura and Pabna regions, indicates that the actual number of saplings planted was not as reported. According to the report, dated May 28, only 89,629 saplings were alive. Inspections on May 11 and May 22 revealed that many saplings had died due to insufficient care, and the required number of caretakers/malis were not deployed. The officer had previously notified the contractors of these issues, but no corrective measures were taken.

Anonymous RHD officials have revealed that the reported number of saplings is likely exaggerated. The report seems to be crafted to partially shield the contractors and officials involved. On-the-ground inspections might show an even lower number of surviving saplings, with estimates suggesting that only about 30,000 saplings are alive along the 83 km.

Sources from RHD state that about 2,000 saplings were supposed to be planted per kilometer by contractors. The contractors were also required to employ one mali per kilometer for maintenance, according to the tender documents. However, contractors billed Tk 83 lakh monthly for 83 malis, totaling Tk 19,92,000 over two years. In reality, only about 30 malis were employed. The average cost per sapling was billed at Tk 26.91.

The total expenditure for planting 161,600 saplings was Tk 43,32,000. Additionally, in the Khulna division, over Tk 50 lakh was spent on saplings under the same department, with similar issues reported. It is estimated that at least one crore taka was embezzled under the reforestation program over the two fiscal years.

When contacted, Bipul Kundu, the Executive Forestry Officer of RHD Operation Division (Western Region), Rajshahi, commented, "I am not aware of any such report. However, no irregularities occurred under the reforestation program. There may have been some minor issues over the two-year period, but these have been addressed by the contractors."

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