Sudurpaschim province spent over Rs 1 crore on saplings last year amid declining forest coverage

Dhangadhi: It has been revealed that the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government distributed saplings worth more than Rs 10 million through six division forest offices across the province in the last fiscal year. The division forest offices under the Ministry of Forests have been purchasing and distributing large quantities of saplings for tree plantation programs. However, while official records suggest a focus on increasing greenery, forest coverage in practice is reported to be declining.

In the fiscal year 2081/082 alone, the six division forest offices of the province purchased saplings worth Rs 150,000. According to the Auditor General’s Office, Division Forest Office Doti purchased saplings worth Rs 2.5 million, Pahalmanpur Division Forest Office purchased saplings worth Rs 1.6 million, Dhangadhi purchased saplings worth Rs 998,000, Achham purchased saplings worth Rs 2.5 million, Kanchanpur purchased saplings worth Rs 1.3 million, and Bajura purchased saplings worth Rs 941,000. The saplings were distributed to individuals, community forest user committees, and various organizations.

However, the Auditor General’s report states that the saplings were not procured based on actual farmer demand or confirmed plantation sites. “The use and results of the seedlings purchased based on demand should be monitored,” the report states.

According to the Provincial Financial Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act, 2079, public bodies are required to adopt clear criteria when spending government funds. The report has pointed out that such clear criteria are also necessary in sapling procurement. The Auditor General has also concluded that there is no effective monitoring of how many planted saplings survive and how many are destroyed.

Similarly, there are allegations that division and sub-division forest offices prepare and distribute saplings from their own nurseries while misusing funds by presenting bills and invoices from external nurseries. Experts claim that forest officials are spending large sums by showing purchases of saplings produced in their own nurseries.