JAC to file FIR against CCF

SHILLONG, Oct 14: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) and the War Jaintia Students’ Union (WJSU) has decided to file a complaint to the police against Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) TTC Marak for alleged misuse of funds meant to upgrade the Syndai Park located at Amlarem civil subdivision in Jaintia Hills.

Alleging misuse of Rs 30.60 lakh, the JAC today told a news conference that Marak had deposited the amount to his personal account. Stating that an RTI filed by the JAC led by JYF president DL Rymbai can substantiate its claim that the money was sanctioned by the Border Area Department (BAD) to the Forest Department for improvement of Syndai Park.

Rymbai said that the RTI clearly defined that Marak had withdrawn Rs 10.60 lakh in 2003, Rs 10 lakh in 2004 and Rs 10 lakh in 2005. “In all the three occasions, the money was withdrawn from his personal account,” he said, adding that the amounts were the first instalment sanctioned for the park. The total amount sanctioned by the BAD for the park was Rs 60 lakh, Rymbai said.

Stating that the Forest Department established the ‘truth’ that Marak had deposited the amount in his personal account by instituting a departmental inquiry, the JAC said, adding that he was even asked to return the money. According to the JAC, Marak had returned Rs 69.24 lakh to the divisional forest officer (Social Forestry) in Jowai, but stated that Marak also claimed to have returned Rs 6.76 lakh to contractor of the park, James Shullai.

“Despite being a tainted officer, the government is planning to promote him (Marak) to the post of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF),” Rymbai said.

Rymbai further said that the JAC would file an FIR against Marak at Muktapur police station and a complaint to the Chief Secretaries of Asom and Meghalaya as he (Marak) is a Meghalaya-Asom cadre IFS cadre . “We will not allow Marak to be promoted, because he is a tainted officer,” the JAC said. THE SENTINEL