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Probe on KNP power fencing work ordered

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 11 - The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has asked its Guwahati-based Inspector General of Forests to look into the factual status of the allegation of siphoning-off of funds meant for power fencing of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP&TR).

This step has been initiated by the NTCA following a complaint lodged with the MoEFCC by RTI-cum-environment activist Rohit Choudhury, alleging misappropriation of the Kaziranga power fencing funds by the Director, KNP&TR and the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Bokakhat and the Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam.

The RTI activist had urged the MoEFCC to order an urgent departmental inquiry against the Director, KNP&TR and the DFO, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Bokakhat to uncover the truth about the utilisation of the money allocated for power fencing in the KNP&TR.

In his complaint before the Union Minister, the RTI activist said that there are scopes to doubt that the Director, KNP&TR, DFO of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, and the Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam have siphoned off a large amount of Government fund in the name of Power Fencing Programme in the KNP&TR.

In support of his assumption, the RTI activist said the power fencing project seems to be illegal, as the Tiger Conservation Plan of the KNP&TR has not been submitted to the NTCA. Also, no permission under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 has been accorded by the MoEFCC to the project.

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