(News) Bundelkhand plantation scam haunts again

News : Bundelkhand plantation scam haunts again

Despite the state government giving a clean chit to itself over Bundelkhand plantation scam, the issue continues to simmer. Now with the UP Congress deciding to rake up the issue again, the district administration in Jalaun has ordered a re-survey of the plantation done in several sites in the district.

Around four crore saplings with an estimated cost of over Rs 400 crore were planted in seven drought hit districts of Bundelkhand in July and August this year with an aim to check desertification and depletion of ground water. Following allegations of mass bungling to the tune of Rs 200 crore in plantations, two monitoring teams were sent by the central government, which, however, in their verification reports expressed satisfaction. Subsequently, the state government gave itself a clean chit saying that over 90% plants have survived.

However, congress party leaders accused central teams to be hand in glove with the state government officers and demanded an independent inquiry. The Jalaun district unit of Congress also alleged massive bungling in plantation. UPCC secretary Ram Sharan Jatav, who has been deputed by the party to monitor plantations done in Jalaun, even claimed that the district magistrate has issued recovery notices of over Rs 2.5 crore after detecting large scale irregularities in the drive. "This supports our claims of a big scam,'' he said. | Read more..

Courtesy : Timesofindia.indiatimes.com