Feb 18: Mizoram has apperently misappropriated over Rs 28 crore on the preext of prevention of forest fire during the last seven years. According to informationobtaned by Zoram Nationalist Party's youth wing under the RTI Act, the Centre had sanctioned a total of Rs 2858.983 lakh to Mizoram during 2002-03 fiscal to 2008-09 fiscal under the integrated ForestPrection Scheme/ Intensification of Forest Management. According to a physical achievement reports, the Mizoram government had claimed to have utilised the funds for creation andmaintenance of 10,040 km long fire lines, construction of 77 numbers of firewatch towers, construction of 2,480 boundary pillars, 270 buildings, 359 km roads and 75 water storages and for the procurement of 70 vehicles and 50 computer sets.

"About Rs 2200.80 lakh was claimed to have been spent. However, the utilisation of funds, as reported by the Mizoram government is also seriously doubtful", PC Vanlalruata, president of ZNP youth, at a press conference said here today.

"For instance, the state government had claimed to have spent 244.15 lakh for creation and maintenance of fire lines, that is Rs 34 lakh annually. Given that Mizoram is 21081 square kilometers, you can imagine how long 10,040 kilometers of fire line is", he laughed. According to the RTI information, of the 77 firewatch towers, ten were constructed at specified locations in Aizawl and ten others at unspecified locations in Aizawl. A total of Rs 154 lakh were spent on the towers. According to Forest Survey in India reports, 4,479 hectares and 2,733 hectares of forest were destroyed in Mizoram in 2005-06 and 2006-07 respectively, he said.