New Delhi: Forest officials having connections with smugglers carrying on their operations across the sensitive Champawat range in Uttarakhand (bordering Nepal) have smuggled and sold the forest produce in the last six years. A report after the inquiry into the game was submitted to the state’s Environment Minister Harak Singh Rawat on March 5 shows that the forest officers, including the top officer, were also involved in the racket that smuggled pine and sal (Shorea robusta) trees due to their immense commercial values and was sold at a much higher price in the international market.

The report accessed by news agencies revealed a well-networked gang operating under the garb of legitimate license provided to forest dwellers and villagers to extract and sell the limited quantity of forest produce from the trees on their own land. A large number of trees were cut down and smuggled out of the reserve forest areas with a bit of small help from everyone in the system. Since the terrain is treacherous one, the probe focused on random places for its findings. The corruption has crept so deep in the administration that Champawat’s District Forest Officer (DFO) AK Gupta wanted to remain on that lucrative position and had turned down his promotion for the same purpose. After the state government issued an order to promote him last year, Gupta fought against the offer of his own promotion in the court by arguing that he does not want to be promoted.

The report has recommended exemplary punishment for top forest officials including Gupta, arguing that in majority of cases pertaining to corruption, the action is limited to the lower level, thus helping the senior corrupt officials to get away with mere transfer.

The report submitted to the environment minister’s office said: “While examining the documents, a shocking fact was noticed that DFO (AK Gupta), despite serving here for the last 6 years, wants to remain on the position and has filed a writ petition in the high court against his own promotion. This is unprecedented because normally, government servant (sic) goes to the court for promotion whereas for the first time in history, an officer has approached the court to keep working on the lower level, ignoring the position as well as increment in the salary.”

The inquiry report suggested that Gupta was asked to record his statement in front of the inquiry officer, but he at last, decided against it, despite several repeated summons. The report has observed that a random check in certain areas of some districts revealed that around 200 precious trees were cut down within a year. The scale of the entire scam which involved huge sums could be gigantic.

Jai Raj, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand told that he had no knowledge of the extent of illegal logging of trees in Champawat but there are many other charges against Gupta and he has been attached (working without any portfolio). Jai Raj, who took over the office in February this year, said the state government is yet to decide to take any action on the report.

 “The government wants stern action and we are awaiting the final direction from the higher ups. It is not possible to assess the damage due to difficult terrain of the region but the department will move with disciplinary proceedings against those involved soon,” Jai Raj said.

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