J& K CM orders probe into forest scandal

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday announced that a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe would be sought into alleged loot of green gold in Doda district in 1980-1990s.

"I was ready to have the CBI inquiry into the alleged wanton exploitation of forest wealth in Doda district in late 80's and early 90's," Mr Azad said during inspection of ongoing development projects here.
  
However, he said, the irregularities probed by the Kundal Commission would not be referred to the central agency.
  
Mr Azad said attempts to drag his name in the forest scandal would not dilute his determination to fight corruption in the Jammu and Kashmir.
  
Referring to a media report, Mr Azad said the report was one sided and highlighted the allegations made by the two 'tainted officers' of the forest department whose misdeeds had been established by the Kundal Commission.
  
The commission has recommended the dismissal from service of both the officers, he added.
  
He said the elements who had been proceeded against for corrupt practices since he become Chief Minister had ganged up and were trying to drag his person into controversies in an attempt to dilute his resolve against corruption.
  
Nothing would dissuade him from his agenda to eradicate the meance of corruption from the state, he said.
  
Mr Azad said before filing the report, the news channel ought to have ascertained the record of the two officers whose case it as unwittingly pushing forward.
  
Without naming them, he said, one of the two officers, had dual citizenship and travelled on four assumed names from six residential adddresses, four of which were found to be fake.
  
The Chief Minister said the officer travelled 23 times between USA and India and stayed in US for about 14 years.
  
He said after the expiry of his Indian passport, he held the post of Managing Director of State Forest Corporation despite being a US citizen. The officer has withdrawn salary for the period he was in US, the Chief Minister said.
  
He said the second officer's service book showed that he had joined the government service at the age of just 14 years at very junior level.
  
About eight inquires had been instituted against him for wrong conduct, he said.

He said, "The two officials in order to avoid further action against them had gone to the court and were now trying to malign me in a bid to dilute my resolve to fight corrupt elements."
  
He said he would have appreciated if the news story was based on the allegations of some politician but making the petition of the two former officials with such a track record as its basis had raised questions about its credibility and intent.
  
He asked the media to understand the conspiracy and continue its support to him for eradication of corruption. The unscrupulous elements feeling the pain of the war against corruption had to be discouraged, he said.
  
The Chief Minister referred to the documents displayed by the news channel as evidence against him and said that there was nothing in these letters that the viewers were made to believe.
  
He showed the letters to some media persons and said one of these addressed by the then commissioner and secretary, Forest, Mr Najmus Saqib to the Commissioner and Secretary, Finance, B B Vyas was about seeking the latter's cooperation in bringing to book some unserupulous elements including officials who have played a role in wanton exploitation of forest wealth in Doda district since late 80s and early 90s.
  
He said the letter does not refer to any of his relatives and talks about the period when he was out of the state.
  
He asked how does it involve Ghulam Nabi Azad?. He said whoever had vandalized the forests in 80s and 90s must be punished according to the law.
  
"The concerned officials who had shut their eyes on the exploitation of forests then would also not be spared."
 
He announced that he would have the matter investigated by the CBI and take appropriate action.
  
About the other letter displayed by the news channel as the so-called evidence, the Chief Minister said that it was a representation by the SFC working contractors of Jammu province and not from his brother who was incidentally one of the office bearers of the contractors Association, requesting for parity in the rates of transportation of extracted timber in Kashmir and Jammu.
  
He said while the per kilometer transportation rate in Kashmir was nine paise it was only two paise in Jammu division where the forests existed in more difficult terrain of Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch.
  
He said when he enquired about the reason of acute shortage of timber in the state he was told that since there was wide disparity in rates of transportation of timber, the contractors of Jammu division had migrated to Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as they did not find it lucrative to carry on their business at such low  rates.

He said it was in the interest of the state to have parity in rates and address the scarcity of timber by letting the contractors to carry on extraction in their own state rather than in neighbouring states.
  
The Chief Minister said that he had marked the representation of contractors to the then Commissioner and Secretary, Forest for discussion as was the normal procedure about such matters.
  
He said the letter forwarded to the Managing Director, State Forest Corporation asked for "A self contained note indicating the latest position in the matter".
  
"How does it show that I have favoured any of my relatives", he asked.
  
He strongly refuted the allegation that he ever held a meting of the forest officials to benefit any of his relatives.
  
Referred to a meeting somewhere in April or May last year, he said the meeting was held to sort out the disparity in transportation rates in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
  
There was no question of extending any favour to my relatives, he added.
  
The Chief Minister said that he was the first political leader in the country who had written to Chief Ministers asking them not to entertain any of his relatives if they came for any favour to them.
  
He said he wrote these letters as back as in 1983 and 1987. He said after taking over as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, the first thing he did was to issue a circular asking all commissioners, secretaries and deputy commissioners not to entertain any request of favour by his relatives.
  
He said this communication was also widely publicized through print and electronic media.
  
He said none of his relatives had been given any assignment since he took over as the Chief Minister.
  
None of his relatives lived with him. In fact, he said, he had left his home "decades back in pursuance of education and political career at the national level."
  
He said if any of his relatives were involved in any irregularities, he would face the consequences like any other guilty citizen.