Green trees in 5 acre being cut for ‘gothan’
| Date :15-Jan-2020 |
Our Correspondent :
MANPUR,
With the connivance of Revenue officials and the Panchayat Secretary, priceless green trees are being cut down on five acre land to develop gothan. Secretary Prem Kumar Dhruv has been posted to look after three panchayats Kulhadighat, Torega and Amad. Revenue officials informed that the government has not given approval for the construction of gothan in Amad Panchayat under ambitious project ‘Narwa, Garwa, Ghurwa and Badi’, but under the guidance of Secretary and Employment Assistant, green trees are being cut on 5 acre land to develop gothan.
Secretary Prem Kumar Dhruv said that the villagers from Amad Panchayat are constructing gothan themselves, though it has got no administrative sanction. Hundreds of trees of sagwan, beeja, sarai and different varieties are being relentlessly cut down and are carrying the priceless woods to their homes loading in tractor. The stumps of trees are also set afire. On the other hand, under MGNREGA, a road is being constructed over nullah.
Here also, trees are being felled, but Revenue Department officials have turned Nelson’s eye towards it. It’s unfortunate that trees are being cut, but officials are least bothered. According to sources, in 2013, Revenue Department had directed Panchayat Secretary to look after two panchayats due to shortage of secretaries. In some panchayats, secretaries were assigned to take care of three panchayats. While assigning the Gram Panchayats, distance from one panchayat to other was not kept in mind. The Secretary Prem Kumar Dhruv lives at Janpad Panchayat Manpur.
Panchayat Kulhadighat is 18 kms away from Manpur while distance of Torenga and Amad is more than 40 kms. In such a situation, it is difficult to take care of two or more panchayats. The Secretary takes advantage of distance and whenever any investigation officer reaches one panchayat office, the Secretary pretends to be in another panchayat. It is to be mentioned that in Manpur block, there are 74 Secretaries, eight of them have been suspended. Three posts are lying vacant and six secretaries have been deputed at Janpad office. They have not been given the charge of any panchayats. It is to be mentioned that in Gariyaband district, in first phase, total 48 gothans were to be constructed.
The condition of dozens of gothans was pathetic before its dedication. On the occasion of Hareli festival, with the nexus of Secretary, Sarpanch and higher officials, even half constructed gothans were dedicated. The premises of these gothans had turned muddy during rains. When contacted, Deputy Collector K K Vihar said that he would direct Tehsildar for investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, CEO Janpad Manpur said that gothan had not been sanctioned for construction in Amad panchayat. He said that soon he would find out why trees are being cut down by villagers. Secretary Prem Kumar Dhruv said that gothan had not been sanctioned in Amad panchayat. He said that he did not know why the villagers are cutting trees and what they will construct there.