The seedlings missing in so many plastic bags clearly hint that the DFO embezzled the money allotted for the same, a forest warden told Republica.
“The DFO was supposed to spend the budget to grow 100,000 seedlings in nine nurseries in the district, but they planted only around 80,000 plants,” said the warden, insisting anonymity. [break]
The DFO Head Harilal Kushwaha, however, refuted the allegation, saying that the seedlings must have died and later dried up.
“Moreover, I was not aware or informed about the empty plastic bags because I was engaged in fields works during the distribution of the seedlings,” Kushwaha added.
According to an accountant at the DFO, Gyan Bahadur Shrestha, the money allotted by the government for the seedlings was distributed to all the rangers of the district to grow the seedlings.
“The account section of DFO has informed that the rangers, who took the money in advance, have not submitted the receipts. They took the money but did not plant enough seedlings,” said another officer at DFO.
However, the stakeholders think that the DFO is also involved in the scam.
The DFO has delayed its investigation into that matter, which suggests that DFO doesn´t want the secrets to be revealed, said the Chairperson of Siraha chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalist, Dev Kumar Yadav.
“The authority should take this case seriously as the forest officials have been involved in such irregularities for many years,” Yadav added.
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