SHILLONG: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests TTC Marak, against whom an inquiry is being carried out for alleged embezzlement of funds meant for Syndai park, has said in a statement that he was on a deputation when the park was being set up.
“I was also sent on deputation to MBOSE as Executive Chairman from September 2005 till February, 2009 when the works were supposed to have been done at the Park,” Marak said in a statement issued here on Monday.
He said that the construction of the various components of the works of Syndai park were done by the staff of the Forest and Environment Department.
Two files related to the scheme disappeared from the Forest department recently and a senior official said that files went missing at a time when the inquiry was still on regarding the irregularities in the implementation of the scheme.
According to Marak, the completion report along with the utilization certificate for the amount of Rs. 26, 32,600 was furnished by the DFO, SF, Jaintia Hills (SF) Division, Jowai. A Joint Inspection Report of the Border Areas Development Department and the Forest Department conducted on February 3 2010 furnished in the report that the completed works were done by the Forest Department.
However, during a visit to Syndai park by this reporter in October 2011, it was found that the park was in a shambles as there were only bushes all around. Moreover, there was no sign of any work undertaken by the forest department except fencing and, moreover, the park was also in an abandoned stage.
Marak, however, claimed that the completed works included chain link fencing of the entire boundary, subsidiary chain link fencing, main gate, three small gates, water supply, two RCC foot bridges , two view points , fencing of historical pond, approach road and parking area, bridle path and camouflaged benches for an amount of Rs. 26, 32,600.
Marak said that the members who conducted the spot visit were satisfied with the work carried out by the Forest Department.
“However, construction of the 4th grade quarters amounting to Rs. 4, 28, 200 was yet to start. The Secretary, Border Areas Development Department, stated that the Department should not construct the 4th grade quarter unless it is in a position to post grade IV staff after the construction of the same”, Marak said.
The amount of Rs. 4, 28,200 which was issued to the DFO has been refunded to the Border Areas Development Department as the quarter was not constructed.
Marak also said the Public Accounts Committee had also accepted the completion report.