Madhya Pradesh: A transit hostel built using tribal fund in 1983 is being transformed into so-called camp office or rather a bungalow for forest minister Vijay Shah in Indore even though there is no provision for the same
A transit hostel built using tribal fund in 1983 is being transformed into so-called camp office or rather a bungalow for forest minister Vijay Shah in Indore even though there is no provision for the same.
The forest minister like other state ministers is entitled to having a bungalow in the constituency where he won, i.e. Khandwa or in Bhopal as it is the state capital.
The conversion of tribal transit hostel will deny basic rights to children of forest workers and instead just provide another comfortable accommodation to the minister, who doesn’t need it. The tale of selfish decisions and breaking provisions continue as to where the funds are being extracted for the same is questionable too.
The renovation work of the hostel is going on since March. In order to please the minister, the officers are busy gathering every possible facility in the bungalow.
Even other items are being used to spend on the bungalow. According to departmental sources, the hostel was built 37 years ago with tribal funds.
It has been used by children of forest workers for years. But since last few years, the officers are utilising the building for their comfort.
Taking advantage of this, the officers of the Indore Forest Department have given green signal to work on the bungalow.
Actually the bungalow no. 1 was given by the district administration to the Forest Department in 1983-84. Here a transit hostel was built with tribal funds from the government.
Then the construction work was completed with Rs 2 lakh 69 thousand. Some rooms were built. During that time, the department only allowed the children of forest workers coming from tribal areas to stay.
For some years, it was utilised aptly as children from Dhar, Alirajpur, Jhabua and other areas could use it. In 2004-05, the then DFO R Chaudhary took the children out and made a residence there.
During that time the hostel was made a bungalow. Around Rs 14 lakh was spent. In this regard, the then collector had also ordered enquiry and investigation. Later the hostel was kept empty for some time.
Even kids of IFS stayed in the hostel till 2016
Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials also kept their children here. Between 2013-16, children of Satish Tyagi, then CEO of Eco Tourism, then CCF PC Dubey, then CF Vikram Singh Parihar, son of APCCF Jawwad Hasan lived for years.
After a complaint was filed, the department imposed penalty between Rs 50 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Later in 2019, the then CCF M Kalidurai also held senior EOW officials for a few months.
After the arrival of Forest Conservator Narendra Pandava in March 2021, the rejuvenation of the bungalow has started once again. “The place was a hostel way back sometime I guess, it was already built into a bungalow and now, we are just transforming it further,” he said.
The forest minister like other state ministers is entitled to having a bungalow in the constituency where he won, i.e. Khandwa or in Bhopal as it is the state capital.
The conversion of tribal transit hostel will deny basic rights to children of forest workers and instead just provide another comfortable accommodation to the minister, who doesn’t need it. The tale of selfish decisions and breaking provisions continue as to where the funds are being extracted for the same is questionable too.
The renovation work of the hostel is going on since March. In order to please the minister, the officers are busy gathering every possible facility in the bungalow.
Even other items are being used to spend on the bungalow. According to departmental sources, the hostel was built 37 years ago with tribal funds.
It has been used by children of forest workers for years. But since last few years, the officers are utilising the building for their comfort.
Taking advantage of this, the officers of the Indore Forest Department have given green signal to work on the bungalow.
Actually the bungalow no. 1 was given by the district administration to the Forest Department in 1983-84. Here a transit hostel was built with tribal funds from the government.
Then the construction work was completed with Rs 2 lakh 69 thousand. Some rooms were built. During that time, the department only allowed the children of forest workers coming from tribal areas to stay.
For some years, it was utilised aptly as children from Dhar, Alirajpur, Jhabua and other areas could use it. In 2004-05, the then DFO R Chaudhary took the children out and made a residence there.
During that time the hostel was made a bungalow. Around Rs 14 lakh was spent. In this regard, the then collector had also ordered enquiry and investigation. Later the hostel was kept empty for some time.
Even kids of IFS stayed in the hostel till 2016
Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials also kept their children here. Between 2013-16, children of Satish Tyagi, then CEO of Eco Tourism, then CCF PC Dubey, then CF Vikram Singh Parihar, son of APCCF Jawwad Hasan lived for years.
After a complaint was filed, the department imposed penalty between Rs 50 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Later in 2019, the then CCF M Kalidurai also held senior EOW officials for a few months.
After the arrival of Forest Conservator Narendra Pandava in March 2021, the rejuvenation of the bungalow has started once again. “The place was a hostel way back sometime I guess, it was already built into a bungalow and now, we are just transforming it further,” he said.