ITANAGAR, JULY 4 : Alleging gross mismanagement and embezzlement of Panachyat Raj funds tune upto Rs. 40,00,00 under State Compensatory Aforestation Fund Management (CAMPA) schemes, a group of villagers of Payum circle in Siang district under the banner of Save Arunachal movement on misuse of fund by gram panchayat members of various village of Payum circle and demand proper investigation Special Investigation Cell (SIC) to investigate the case within 10 days.
Talking to media persons here at APC, Tami Pangu of Payum circle alleged that CAMPA schemes have been implemented within the Payum circle by violating the norms of CAMPA Act 2016 and its rules for the implementation of schemes.
Asserting CAMPA is intended as an instrument to accelerate the preservation of natural forest, wildlife and other allied works for the larger interest of the state, but the concerned forest department’s officers had embezzlement the amount, he alleged that the schemes of Rs. 9, 71,204 (Gate village), Rs. 11,35,800 (Gasheng village) & Rs. 18, 93,000 (Payum village) was sanctioned from Yingkiong Forest Division (Upper Siang district) which were supposed to be sanctioned and implemented by Aalo Forest Division & Mechuka Forest Range. As per information the proposal has been discussed in ram sabha which not been done and learn that the fund has been given to the gram members and they should have to be enquired as how the areas has been proposed without discussion with the original land owners of the area. The local allege .
According to the CAMPA act Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was supposed to be done between department and land owner that included holding of public hearing, but interestingly it was carried out without the knowledge of the land owners/villagers in 2021-22, said another villager Tasu Taket.
As per the RTI documents total sanctioned amount of the plantation at three villages is Rs. 40,000 but the concerned department has shown only Rs. 13, 73,110, then where the remaining amount has gone, questioned villagers.
Claiming, concerned officers of forest department have breached the laid down rules beside duping the villagers, which is a very serious case in nature, they also cautioned the SIC and department concerned to initiate democratic movement if their demands are not met within the mentioned period of time.
A FIR has been submitted to SIC on Monday and hope they registered a case and investigate the issue and punish anyone one involved in the matter. We have also meet the PCCF on Tuesday and discussed the issue and hope that the PCCF may enquired with the down the line officer and recomed for proper investigation to SIC. Added the villagers of Payum. .
