PONDA
Contrary to claims by the director of agriculture that there were no allegations against his staff in a department inquiry regarding the illegal felling of 15 ‘Senegalia Catechu' trees, locally known as ‘Khair', at the Government Farm in Codar, enquiries by The Goan have revealed otherwise.
Not only has the farm superintendent been accused of misconduct and a full-scale enquiry recommended by the vigilance department, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardessai on Wednesday evening ordered the officer to be placed under suspension during the enquiry period "to ensure fairness in the enquiry process and not to allow the officer to exert undue influence on witnesses."
Speaking to The Goan on Thursday, Director of Agriculture Ulhas Pai Kakode had said, "There are no allegations against our staff in this report. The two detained persons have cut the trees."
INTERNAL REPORTS:
A confidential note by the Directorate of Agriculture (DoA), a copy of which is in possession of the The Goan, indicated collusion of the farm superintendent in the tree-felling incident.
In its confidential note on September 4, the DoA stated that the Department Vigilance Officer's team had submitted a report of the internal inquiry with statements of the farm superintendent, assistant agricultural officer and 19 staff.
"The report indicates that a sensitive issue of this magnitude is diluted, as a result of inordinate delays, in non-reporting to appropriate authorities and thereby providing ample scope to dilute and cover up evidences. The misleading attitude of the farm superintendent in dealing with the matter is not maintainable and appears to be dubious, besides his actions are not befitting the post held by a gazetted officer," the DoA note stated.
The Dy Conservator of Forests (North Goa) at Ponda had also submitted a report informing action being initiated against the offenders, with suggestions to inquire into the farm superintendent's involvement in the illegal felling incident.
DOA REPORT:
Based on all internal findings, the DoA's confidential note stated that the two offenders claimed the farm superintendent had permitted them to carry out felling of trees.
The statements of both offenders were later withdrawn by them, because the farm superintendent allegedly "pressurized them not to mention his name and government agriculture farm."
"Both offenders have confessed they used a JCB machine to uproot the Khair trees."
"The farm superintendent, assistant agriculture officer and remaining 17 officials posted at Govt Codar Farm have denied any knowledge of happenings in spite of heavy activity going on in close vicinity of the office."
The DoA's confidential note also stated that "deposit receipt towards ‘Farm Produce' confiscated by forest department is duly acknowledged by the farm superintendent on August 2."
Though the panchanama by Ponda Range Forest Officer (RFO) took place on August 2 between 11.30 am and 1.17 pm, the farm superintendent in his written statement states that he learnt about the incident and reported the same to the RFO on August 2 at about 1.30 pm and subsequently in writing at 5.30 pm.
"This implies that he reported the matter to the RFO post the panchanama by the Ponda Range staff," stated the DoA note.
"The farm superintendent further states that forest officials visited the Govt Farm Codar on August 3 and that panchanama was done on August 3 noon time, with no mention of developments that took place on August 2."
"These statements are grossly misleading and contradictory to the deposit receipt acknowledged by him and panchanama done by RFO on August 2," noted the DoA, while adding that "as custodian of government property, no FIR has been filed by the farm superintendent."
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The DoA note stated that "the inquiry undertaken by the department vigilance team and Deputy Conservator of Forests, North Goa, the events as unfolded, allegations by the two offenders, contradictory and misleading statements, suggestions of the dy conservator of forests, clearly indicates collusion of the farm superintendent."
The DoA recommended "full-scale vigilance enquiry to be undertaken to bring to light the actual happenings and book those involved in this illegal act of misusing government property."
"As the integrity of the farm superintendent is doubtful, it is proposed that a vigilance enquiry be conducted by the vigilance department, which is the competent authority to enquire in case of gazetted officers and appropriate action as deemed fit may be decided upon," stated the confidential DoA note.
Contrary to claims by the director of agriculture that there were no allegations against his staff in a department inquiry regarding the illegal felling of 15 ‘Senegalia Catechu' trees, locally known as ‘Khair', at the Government Farm in Codar, enquiries by The Goan have revealed otherwise.
Not only has the farm superintendent been accused of misconduct and a full-scale enquiry recommended by the vigilance department, Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardessai on Wednesday evening ordered the officer to be placed under suspension during the enquiry period "to ensure fairness in the enquiry process and not to allow the officer to exert undue influence on witnesses."
Speaking to The Goan on Thursday, Director of Agriculture Ulhas Pai Kakode had said, "There are no allegations against our staff in this report. The two detained persons have cut the trees."
INTERNAL REPORTS:
A confidential note by the Directorate of Agriculture (DoA), a copy of which is in possession of the The Goan, indicated collusion of the farm superintendent in the tree-felling incident.
In its confidential note on September 4, the DoA stated that the Department Vigilance Officer's team had submitted a report of the internal inquiry with statements of the farm superintendent, assistant agricultural officer and 19 staff.
"The report indicates that a sensitive issue of this magnitude is diluted, as a result of inordinate delays, in non-reporting to appropriate authorities and thereby providing ample scope to dilute and cover up evidences. The misleading attitude of the farm superintendent in dealing with the matter is not maintainable and appears to be dubious, besides his actions are not befitting the post held by a gazetted officer," the DoA note stated.
The Dy Conservator of Forests (North Goa) at Ponda had also submitted a report informing action being initiated against the offenders, with suggestions to inquire into the farm superintendent's involvement in the illegal felling incident.
DOA REPORT:
Based on all internal findings, the DoA's confidential note stated that the two offenders claimed the farm superintendent had permitted them to carry out felling of trees.
The statements of both offenders were later withdrawn by them, because the farm superintendent allegedly "pressurized them not to mention his name and government agriculture farm."
"Both offenders have confessed they used a JCB machine to uproot the Khair trees."
"The farm superintendent, assistant agriculture officer and remaining 17 officials posted at Govt Codar Farm have denied any knowledge of happenings in spite of heavy activity going on in close vicinity of the office."
The DoA's confidential note also stated that "deposit receipt towards ‘Farm Produce' confiscated by forest department is duly acknowledged by the farm superintendent on August 2."
Though the panchanama by Ponda Range Forest Officer (RFO) took place on August 2 between 11.30 am and 1.17 pm, the farm superintendent in his written statement states that he learnt about the incident and reported the same to the RFO on August 2 at about 1.30 pm and subsequently in writing at 5.30 pm.
"This implies that he reported the matter to the RFO post the panchanama by the Ponda Range staff," stated the DoA note.
"The farm superintendent further states that forest officials visited the Govt Farm Codar on August 3 and that panchanama was done on August 3 noon time, with no mention of developments that took place on August 2."
"These statements are grossly misleading and contradictory to the deposit receipt acknowledged by him and panchanama done by RFO on August 2," noted the DoA, while adding that "as custodian of government property, no FIR has been filed by the farm superintendent."
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The DoA note stated that "the inquiry undertaken by the department vigilance team and Deputy Conservator of Forests, North Goa, the events as unfolded, allegations by the two offenders, contradictory and misleading statements, suggestions of the dy conservator of forests, clearly indicates collusion of the farm superintendent."
The DoA recommended "full-scale vigilance enquiry to be undertaken to bring to light the actual happenings and book those involved in this illegal act of misusing government property."
"As the integrity of the farm superintendent is doubtful, it is proposed that a vigilance enquiry be conducted by the vigilance department, which is the competent authority to enquire in case of gazetted officers and appropriate action as deemed fit may be decided upon," stated the confidential DoA note.
