It is a step in the right direction by the NWFP government to have formed a four-member inquiry committee to look into the alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs7.233 million in the fund allocated in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the Department of Environment. Headed by Hussain Zada Khan, provincial secretary for environment, the probe body - comprising director planning, audit officer budget and account and section officer general - will look into the allegations that widespread malpractices were committed in the sector of forests and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) during the rule of the MMA government.
According to details, the government had approved Rs37.6777 million for the projects started in the sector of forestry. Out of this allocation, Rs31.104 million were shown as having been spent and Rs6.573 million shown as having lapsed but the lapsed amount is missing from all available records. Similarly, for projects started in the sector of EPA, Rs8.973 million were allocated out of which Rs8.643 million were shown as spent while Rs0.330 million shown as having lapsed but in this case too the available files are silent about the lapsed amount. In this way a collective amount of Rs80,00,000 stands unaccounted for.
Due to better climatic conditions and the availability of natural resources, the state of environment in NWFP is slightly better than it is in other provinces. However, the natural resources have been under tremendous strain due to the arrival of refugees from various directions. Lack of awareness among the general masses about environment plus a glut of dishonest officials have played havoc with the very concept of a clean environment. Corrupt officials are understood to have put the government money where their mouth was. The probe body should, therefore, submit its report to the chief secretary at the earliest so that the department can be cleared of the black sheep.
According to details, the government had approved Rs37.6777 million for the projects started in the sector of forestry. Out of this allocation, Rs31.104 million were shown as having been spent and Rs6.573 million shown as having lapsed but the lapsed amount is missing from all available records. Similarly, for projects started in the sector of EPA, Rs8.973 million were allocated out of which Rs8.643 million were shown as spent while Rs0.330 million shown as having lapsed but in this case too the available files are silent about the lapsed amount. In this way a collective amount of Rs80,00,000 stands unaccounted for.
Due to better climatic conditions and the availability of natural resources, the state of environment in NWFP is slightly better than it is in other provinces. However, the natural resources have been under tremendous strain due to the arrival of refugees from various directions. Lack of awareness among the general masses about environment plus a glut of dishonest officials have played havoc with the very concept of a clean environment. Corrupt officials are understood to have put the government money where their mouth was. The probe body should, therefore, submit its report to the chief secretary at the earliest so that the department can be cleared of the black sheep.
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