The Central Government has taken a serious note of violations of forest laws in the eco hut project in Uttarakhand. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed the Uttarakhand Forest Department to act against officials involved in building illegal concrete construction in an ecologically fragile area without permission in Munsiyari, Pithoragarh.
The Ministry has also asked for a detailed Action Taken Report and signaled that it may start prosecution against those found guilty.
Illegal construction in reserved forest
The violations relate to the construction of eco huts in Khaliya Reserved Forest of Munsyari, Pithoragarh district. In 2019, 10 eco huts, a growth centre, and a dormitory were constructed without the required clearances. Tender rules were ignored, and a private firm was selected without approval. A questionable MoU diverted 70 per cent of tourism revenue to an unregistered society. Fire line works were overstated, and audits were completed in haste over multiple years.
Directive issued after IFS officer’s report
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the directive on August 13 through its regional office in Dehradun. This came after a detailed report by Sanjiv Chaturvedi, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plan), who probed the matter. His report pointed to violations of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The ministry has told the Principal Secretary of Forests in Uttarakhand to identify officials, authorities, or organisations responsible for the violations. It also directed the state to nominate a senior officer to file formal complaints under forest protection laws.
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Financial irregularities of Rs 1.63 crore
According to Chaturvedi’s report, the irregularities occurred under the term of Dr Vinay Bhargav, then Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Pithoragarh. The findings, based on documents from the current DFO between September and November 2024, pointed to financial irregularities of Rs 1.63 crore.
The issues included bypassing the tender process, awarding contracts to a private firm without approval, and signing an MoU that handed 70 per cent of tourism income to a private society registered only after the agreement.
Show cause notice issued
On July 18, the Uttarakhand government served a show cause notice to Dr. Bhargav. He was asked to explain the unauthorised construction, financial dealings, and irregularities in fire line projects of 2020–21. He was also questioned for going ahead without approvals or tenders.
Report recommends criminal case
Chaturvedi’s 500-page report recommended a criminal case against Bhargav. It also advised transferring the case to the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for an investigation into possible money laundering.
Previous charges and stronger response now
Bhargav has faced scrutiny before also. In 2015, he was exonerated in a similar case on the grounds of being “inexperienced.” However, the new findings have prompted a much stronger response from both state and central authorities.
The Central government’s demand for prosecution and accountability marks a rare and strict step in forest governance. It reflects a growing push for transparency and legal compliance in eco-tourism projects, especially in fragile regions like Munsyari.
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