2 Forest Dept officials suspended in Chamba

Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 17

The Forest Department has suspended a Forest Range Officer and a Forest Guard of Sai Block falling under Tissa Forest Range for embezzling Rs 14 lakh by forging signatures. A complaint against the duo was filed on March 14, 2023.

Following the complaint, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Churah conducted a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. It was found that the head of the society formed under the Ecosystem Climate Proofing project funded by KfW, a German investment bank, was changed without any official notification, and also that the signatures in the bank records were forged. The KfW, or German Development Bank, is involved in a Forest Ecosystem Climate Proofing (HPFECPP) project in Himachal Pradesh in partnership with the state’s Forest Department.

The fraud involved the manipulation of the signatures of the head of the Forest Management Committee, established under the State Forest Ecosystem Climate Proofing Project, to withdraw Rs 14 lakh. Department sources revealed that after withdrawing the money, the officials transferred the funds online to their accounts.

The DFO was not informed about the change in the society head and its bank records. Following the investigation, the DFO submitted a report to the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Chamba. Based on this report, the CCF issued notices to both employees seeking clarification. However, the accused officials were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation, leading to their suspension.