Ajay Sharma
Sunderbani, May 5
Following an exposé by Northlines, the Forest Department has acknowledged a significant lapse in a development project in village Margalla, Ward No. 6, Panchayat Hathal.
The issue, first reported, highlighted incomplete work on a local pond, triggering public outrage and prompting action from the department.
“A team comprising a forester and two guards was dispatched to the site to investigate the allegations. Local residents, present during the inspection, were informed by a forest guard that the contractor responsible for the project had failed to construct a necessary wall, leaving the work incomplete,” said sources adding that the team appears just another attempt by the Department to cover up the scam.
The Northlines report revealed glaring deficiencies, including the absence of a mandatory signboard detailing project funding and progress, a violation of transparency norms for public-funded initiatives.
Sources alleged that both the forester and range officer were aware of the issues but failed to act until media scrutiny forced their hand.
Some employees claimed that they had submitted reports to senior officials, but no action was taken prior to the public outcry.
During the site visit, the Forest Department team admitted the errors, confirming that the work was incomplete, with one side of the pond lacking a wall and other tasks pending.
“In a surprising move, the forester urged locals to crowd-fund repairs and even contacted the contractor to address the issue,” alleged sources, adding that the residents, however, expressed frustration, questioning why public funds were released for shoddy work and why senior officials had not intervened earlier.
“Why does it take media exposure for the Forest Department to act?” asked residents, adding that the viral video and geo-tagged photos provided undeniable evidence of the department’s negligence, further fueling demands for accountability.
“The absence of a signboard is a red flag,” said locals, adding “Public money demands transparency. Why was this hidden?”
They have demanded the senior officials to take strict action against those responsible and to ensure such lapses are not repeated.
