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Probe panels, one too many
KATHMANDU, AUG 30 -
The government’s penchant for forming one after another probe committee to investigate into rampant deforestation in the country has only hindered the process of prosecuting involved corrupt officials, said the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and government officials.
A total of five different committees were formed at different periods to study the same issue and that has created confusion among the probe teams themselves.
For instance, the cabinet on Aug 27 formed a three-member ‘High-Level Judicial Commission 2010’ led by former chief judge of Patan Appellate Court Govinda Parajuli to investigate rampant deforestation in Tarai and Chure districts and recommend action against the culprits. The decision put the CIAA into a dilemma as it had already sent a high-level probe team to 16 districts to look into the matter and was mulling taking action againt corrupt officials involved in deforestation. The Cabinet decision came two weeks after the CIAA sent its probe team to districts.
“If the government has to play a proactive role and form a high-level commission to investigate deforestation, there was no need to form the committee by CIAA to investigate the same issue,” said Ishwori Poudel, spokesperson for CIAA. “Our work is not just limited to studying or investigating deforestation which is already stated by other probe teams including Nepal Vigilance Center (NVC). But, we are the only body to take action against the culprits.”
Interestingly, the new high-level Commission which has been directed to complete the task in the next three months was formed by replacing the earlier committee formed in June under the directives of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
“The new commission will replace the old committee on Wednesday,” said Ram Prasad Lamsal, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC). “The Commission will utilise the findings of the earlier study.”
This is not the whole story. The Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee had also formed a sub-committee to study the same. Another study was carried out by NVC. Both found that the felling of trees was carried out with the connivance of high-level forest officials, District Forest Officers (DFOs) and forest guards.
“It’s disappointing that millions of rupees have been wasted by the committees in studying the same case of deforestation but no culprits has been booked,” said an official at MoFSC seeking anonymity.
DEFORESTATION
• June 1: Parliament forms probe committee
• June 12: NVC forms another
• June 16: PM forms panel under NVC
• Aug 12: CIAA deploys probe team
• Aug 27: Cabinet forms high-level commission
Posted on: 2010-08-31 09:04
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