Forest department faces probe over plantation funds

Haveri: The forest department's territorial wing in Haveri has come under serious scrutiny over allegations that nearly Rs 2 crore was drawn under the Rural Roadside Plantation scheme and other heads for plantation maintenance work that was either poorly executed or not carried out at all.The funds were released for maintaining saplings in areas where plantations were incomplete, sparse, or altogether absent. Across the Haveri regional forest division, plantations listed as two to five years old reportedly showed only a handful of surviving saplings, despite repeated claims of maintenance.Sources said the department had framed a standard operating procedure for plantation maintenance, but it was not properly followed anywhere in the district. Some officers reportedly submitted written objections against drawing maintenance grants where no plants existed, but senior officials allegedly ignored those warnings.Contractors entrusted with plantation management have also come under fire. Critics allege they lacked the manpower and labour force required to maintain the sites and instead engaged in deceptive practices.Specific allegations have emerged from survey numbers 43, 59, and 77 in the Katenahalli forest area, where authorities allegedly drew Rs 14 lakh for plant maintenance even though there was no proper plantation activity or upkeep during the 2025–26 fiscal year.In the Karjagi forest area, more than 10,000 sandalwood saplings were reportedly planted, but only around 1,500 have survived. Despite this, officials are accused of spending Rs 3 lakh without effectively carrying out fifth-year maintenance.In Hangal taluk, along the 6-km stretches from Kusanur to Tilavalli and from Sammasagi to Mantagi, only about 500 saplings are said to have survived out of 1,800 planted, even though grants of Rs 4.6 lakh were drawn.In the Channapur forest area, authorities allegedly withdrew Rs 6 lakh for third-year plantation maintenance despite poor survival rates and inadequate plantation work. Similar irregularities are said to have surfaced in multiple parts of the forest department across Haveri district.Environmentalist Praveen Mulimani alleged that if the funds spent over the past decade had been properly utilised, roadsides and forest areas in Haveri would have been densely green by now. He added that he plans to file a complaint with the Karnataka Lokayukta.QuoteI am preparing the detailed report regarding not initiating plantation work raised in recent KDP meeting, and I will check regarding utilised grants for plants maintenance without taking work-Akshay Prakashkar, DFO, Haveri