Another Bhat scam: Forest department issues tenders for parking on PWD land

Nagpur: Three days after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths nabbed Nagpur deputy conservator of forest (DyCF) Deepak Bhat with unaccounted cash of Rs19.25 lakh, another financial irregularity during his tenure has come to the light.
According to papers procured by TOI, Bhat had issued tender in August 2014 for parking on land owned by the Public Works Department (PWD) at Seminary Hills.Though the land belonged to PWD, the contract for parking at three places – Balodhyan, Sakarnama Garden and Deer Park – was issued for Rs3.50 lakh by the forest department.
Bhatt, who is under police custody remand (PCR), could not be contacted. SS Kolankar, range forest officer (RFO) of Seminary Hills, said the pieces of land belongs to the forest department. “As parking was done haphazardly by visitors causing trouble for passers-by, the department decided to float tender for contractual parking in the area,” he said.
However, according to Kolankar if the land belongs to the forest department, then why action is not taken against the roadside hawkers who litter garbage in the reserve forest? They have also encroached upon the land by setting up food kiosks, game and swings.
Eyebrows have been raised as to how can forest department issue tenders and generate revenue from parking on land owned by the PWD?
PWD deputy engineer of subdivision III Sanjay Indurkar admitted to TOI that vehicles are parked on PWD land. “Even if the parking contract is being issued by the forest department, the revenue generated is ultimately going to the state government,” he said.
When pointed out that government departments are not free to use land owned by other departments, Indurkar said, “Now that you have pointed out, we will issue a letter to the forest department to stop use of our land there.”
The forest department in 2012 had earmarked its boundaries and fenced the land owned by it. The 20-feet land on both sides of the road was left untouched as it belonged to PWD.
Now the forest department is reaping benefits from property which does not belong to it. The parking contract was issued to a contractor Israel Khan Ghulam Hussain Khan on November 1, 2014 for a period of 11 months till October 31, 2015.
IN A NUTSHELL
* Tainted DyCF Deepak Bhat issued tender in August 2014 for parking on land owned by PWD
* Parking contract was issued to a contractor Israel Khan Ghulam Hussain Khan
* Contract was worth for Rs3.50 lakh
* The contract period is from November 1, 2014 till October 31, 2015
* The parking places included Balodyan, Sakarnama Garden and Deer Park at Seminary Hills
* In 2012 earmarked its boundaries and fenced the land owned by it
* The 20-feet land on both sides of the road was left untouched as it belonged to PWD
* Now, forest department is reaping benefits from property which does not belong to it
ends