Nagpur: Nagpur additional divisional commissioner RH Thakre has disqualified woman sarpanch Panchkula Borkar of Nirwaha in Umred for leasing out zudpi jungle land to a private firm and overlooking financial irregularities in payment of wages in state’s 2 crore plantation drive taken up in 2016.According to reports in TOI’s possession, village contractor (rojgar sevak) Yogesh Thakre also registered two men at plantation work on their marriage day. Also in the list were Thakre’s entire family which included his parents too.Rahul Tagde, a farmer from Sonpuri under Nirwaha, exposed the scam in 2016 when some labourers came complaining to him that same persons were engaged in plantation work regularly. As officials did not take any action, he filed a complaint with divisional commissioner in May 2017.Thakre heard both the parties and on August 4 issued the order upholding Tagde’s complaint against irregularities and zudpi land deal against Borkar who has managed to get a stay from the rural development ministry.Zudpi jungle continues to remain ‘forest’ but the gram panchayat headed by Borkar issued a letter on March 18, 2015 to lease out 43.23 hectare forest land in Salai to a Nagpur-based firm Divine Earth which had applied for permission on March 17, 2015.“Zudpi land cannot be leased out and Borkar issued permission without passing any resolution. This implies to gross misconduct by the sarpanch. Large-scale tree felling was done in the forest which was meant for villagers for grazing and fuelwood needs under nistar rights,” says complainant Tagde.Thakre’s order states permission to lease out the land was issued on March 15, 2015 but resolution was passed on March 27, 2015 allowing the private firm to use the land for 5-15 years. Huge vegetation and tree cover was destroyed in the process.“Even the ZP CEO’s report disapproves the act of sarpanch and hence it is the fit case of disqualification,” said Thakre in his order.Divine Earth partner Anuj Agrawal says, “Though permission was sought for zudpi land, it was rejected and hence we did not do any tree felling. We needed land for nilgiri plantations in the area. Felling must have been done before we came into picture.”Borkar’s husband Ramdas replying on her behalf said, “My wife is illiterate and was misguided by gram sevak PU Borade. She signed the letter which was not a lease deed but just a permission to the private firm.”On fake labourers deployed for plantations and misappropriation of funds, Ramdas said the irregularities were committed by Thakre and gram sevak PU Borade. While no action has been recommended against Thakre, Borade is facing a disciplinary inquiry for the past two years.According to the inquiry by block development officer (BDO), plantation works of Rs31 lakh were done in Sonpuri, Nirwaha and Salai between 2014-2017 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).Thakre, whose mother is a gram panchayat member, was given contract to maintain these plantations. He deployed his brother, mother and father at work but villagers recorded statements that Thakres were never at work.In a blatant violation, the plantation contractor showed one Yuvraj Thakre and Kailash Bhojekar at work on their marriage day. Thakre got married on April 24, 2016 and Bhojekar on May 4, 2016. Similarly, he showed family members of Vishnu Thakre and Ashwini Thakre at work on the day of their marriage.When asked, contractor Thakre said, “Due to 2 crore plantation target, labourers did extra work on some days. But as wage per day is fixed, money towards extra work was adjusted by showing them on their marriage days as an adjustment.”Plantations Bring Money* Nirwaha sarpanch disqualified for leasing out zudpi jungle land but manages to bring stay* Rs31 lakh plantation works carried out in Salai, Sonpuri and Nirwaha under 2 crore drive* During 2015-17, same labourers deployed by contractor* Those not getting employment complained exposing the scam* Members of contractor family showed as labourers to usurp money* Two youths were shown at work on their marriage day

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