Millions allotted for Chure Conservation Program unaccounted for

LAHAN, July 13: The President Chure Conservation Program (PCCP) was launched by the government in the fiscal year 2010/2011 with emphasis on plantation in the deforested Chure region that spreads across the Tarai. The District Forestry Office (DFO) had planted trees on the banks of Gagan River in Siraha in the year 2011-12. This cost the government Rs 10.1 million.

Although the site was soon turning green, the trees have vanished in a short span of three years. In defense, the District Forest Office says the plants lacked proper care and protection.Other places in Saptari and Udaypur districts, where the plantation had been carried out, also have similar look. A few Khayar, Masala plants and naturally grown grasses are what remain. However, District Forest Officer Nandalal Rai says that it cost the government Rs 8 million to plant a million trees.

District Forest Office, Siraha said it cost the government Rs 6.7 million to plant 50,000 trees in 80 hectares of land.

District Forest Officer Naresh Thakur said previous mistakes won't be repeated this time through effective monitoring, "To conserve the plants in an uninhabited land is not easy."

Apparently, the Chure Conservation Program has turned profitable for the government officials. Approximately, 60 per cent of the budget alloca6ted for the program is misused by forest officials.

Because of the seemingly greater scope of easy money, the other significant aspects of conservation have been overlooked.

In District Forest Office, Siraha, a total of Rs 11 million was released for the program in the fiscal year 2013/14. The amount was cut to Rs 8.37 million. But the office still couldn't spend Rs 600,000.

Similarly, Saptari District Forest Office spent Rs 8 million on plantation. "The actual progress on the plantation program will be available only after July," said Nandalal.

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