AG audit: Senior IFS availed anti-Naxal Perks

BHUBANESWAR: Special allowance for working in Naxalite-hit areas is strictly meant for personnel posted there and not for those making official supervisory visits. The Accountant General (AG) has pointed out an instance wherein special allowance has been paid by the Forest and Environment Department to a senior IFS officer for ‘working in Naxalite area’. A test check by the AG has found that Chief Conservator of Forests (Training and Development) KR Singh was paid Rs. 2.44 lakh by the Forest and Environment Department. Singh is posted in Cuttack. He was paid the allowance in two instalments - one for the period Nov 2007-Sept 2010 and the second, Oct 2010-Feb 2011. The allowance was paid to him towards working in Naxalite areas, a scrutiny by the AG auditors said. When the matter was queried to the CCF (T&D), Cuttack, he clarified that the jurisdiction of his office covers the whole State and he regularly inspects the research work across the districts, including the Naxalite-affected areas. The CCF Office was requested to place funds for the payment of the allowance which was settled. However, the AG audit stated that the reply of the CCF is not tenable since CCF is authorised to draw TA and DA as admissible during the tour since his headquarters is in Cuttack. The special allowance is meant for personnel working in Naxalite-affected areas as their headquarters as per the notification of the Home Department police station wise. “The analogy cannot be applied to occasional visits by supervisory and administrative officers,” the report stated. The Finance Department in January 2009 had stipulated that forest personnel working in Naxal-hit areas shall be provided a special incentive of 15 per cent of their basic pay. The AG has asked for concurrence of both Finance and Home departments on whether the amount paid to the CCF should be recovered. This interpretation of the Government incentive has the field level staff of the Forest Department fuming. While quite a few of the families of the ground staff, killed in action, find it difficult to avail the ex gratia, the Department paying special allowance in such manner is not acceptable, said an association member.