CURATED BY – GAURAV SINGHAL | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Saharanpur, Divisional Commissioner Saharanpur Dr. Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod directed District Magistrate Manish Bansal to send a proposal for conducting a joint vigilance inquiry of the village head and the officers and employees posted at that time who were involved in this process, in relation to the corruption of cutting green trees by the village head of village panchayat Mohammad Hussainpur Nawada development block area Muzaffarabad. He said that he should also be informed after taking action. Divisional Commissioner Saharanpur Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod informed that the complainant Rao Sammoon son Abdul Hameed resident of village Gudamba Hussainpur development block Muzaffarabad, tehsil Behat had complained that the village head of village panchayat Mohammad Hussainpur Nawada development area Muzaffarabad has committed corruption by stealing and cutting green trees. The related case was investigated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Behat in which it came to light that in the area of ​​Khasra No. 533/5, according to Fasli 1427, 1428 and 1429, there are 259 green trees of Arjun, 136 green trees of Kanji, 157 green trees of Siras and 15 green trees of Sheesham, a total of 567 trees are registered. The village head had given an application to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Behat for permission to cut the dry trees. But the number of trees was not mentioned in the application. In this regard, the SDM directed the SDO Forest to take necessary action. The Forest Department evaluated 395 green trees. This makes it clear that only Kanji and Arjun trees were included in the evaluation. Whereas the Gram Pradhan has embezzled about Rs 50 lakh by cutting all the 567 green trees from the spot. The Tehsildar's investigation report proves the allegation of cutting green trees by stealing against the Gram Pradhan. Along with this, the complainant has requested to register a case against the Gram Pradhan under sections of forged documents and theft, corruption and embezzlement and to recover the embezzled government money. The Divisional Commissioner said that prima facie it has come to light that this land belongs to the village society in which hundreds of old trees were planted. The complainant has also uploaded a Google map sheet, in which green trees are visible in large numbers. The trees have been cut on the basis of the application of the Gram Pradhan. No facts have come to light regarding the need to cut these trees. Probably, no proposal was made by the Gram Sabha regarding cutting the trees in question. Before cutting the trees, the Forest Department has estimated 395 green trees. Whereas in Khasra No. 533/5, 259 Arjun trees, 136 Kanji trees, 157 Siras trees and 15 Sheesham trees are mentioned, totaling 567 trees. There is no mention of how this discrepancy has occurred. Prima facie, it appears that there was manipulation in the auction as well. All the trees have been cut from the spot, which is also clearly mentioned in the Tehsil report. The complainant has told that leases have also been issued in the said land, which also needs to be investigated.