Minister Lal Singh wants forest funds for Kashmir diverted to Jammu

Wildlife department moots controversial proposal to redirect Rs 3 crore; Top official says ‘will take care of Kashmir next year’

In a controversial move, J&K’s Forests, Ecology and Environment department headed by BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh has proposed to shift funds for Kashmir under a centrally-sponsored scheme to Jammu region, sources said on Sunday.
According to sources, the Wildlife department that works under the command of Singh has mooted a proposal to withdraw Rs three crore from Kashmir to spend these in Jammu region under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme.

Confirming the proposal, Chief Wildlife Warden, Wildlife Protection Department, Suresh Chugh said: “It is not diversion. We are spending savings which we could not utilize in Kashmir due to disturbances.”
“We will take due care of Kashmir next year,” he said, in brazen admission of how things are being camouflaged to divert the funds meant for the Valley which has suffered a lot on economic front last year.
A middle-rung official said the proposal is contentious “because funds under the program are non-lapsable.”

“We can extend the time for implementation of the programs taken up under CAMPA,” he said, adding: “There is no question of lapsing of these funds.”
Regional Wildlife Warden Abdur Rashid Naqash said he is unaware of the proposal. “I don’t have any information about it,” he claimed.
The revelation about diversion of funds comes at a time when the Forest department has already come under sharp criticism for allegedly discriminating Kashmir in allocation of funds under CAMPA.
In the Budget Session of State legislature, National Conference lawmaker Abdul Majid Larmi came down heavily on Singh for giving a raw deal to Kashmir in fund allocation under CAMPA.
Repeated attempts to know region-wise details about fund distribution under CAMPA, proved futile.
“I don’t have region-wise details about allocations (under CAMPA). It will take me time to calculate the figures,” Chaturbhuj Behra, Conservator of Forests (CAMPA), has been repeatedly telling this reporter since the first week of this month.
CCF Jammu, Roshan Jaggi also refused to share details about fund distribution under CAMPA.
“You can approach CCF CAMPA, Behra to get the details,” he said.
Repeated attempts to seek Lal Singh’s comments proved futile as he did not respond to calls from this newspaper.