The Odisha government has directed a special audit into the procurement and extensive customisation of a fleet of Mahindra Thar all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for its Forest and Environment Department, following allegations of irregularities in the substantial expenditure involved.
Substantial Spending on Vehicle Upgrades
Official records reveal that the state forest department acquired 51 Mahindra Thar vehicles in November last year at a cost of Rs 7.1 crore. However, it is the subsequent spending of an additional Rs 5 crore specifically on customising these ATVs that has prompted scrutiny and led to the audit order.
The audit will be conducted by the Special Audit Team of the Accountant General, Odisha, focusing on the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). The directive came via a note sheet signed by the state's Forest and Environment Minister, Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia.
Audit to Scrutinise Process and Necessity
A senior official stated that the special audit will verify several critical aspects. These include whether due process was followed in approving the customisation budget, if the state finance department provided necessary consent, the actual necessity of the installed items, and whether any external agencies were engaged in the process.
"The decision to customise the vehicles was taken keeping in mind specific aspects like making them fit to run in the rugged and hostile terrains in the forests, so that intensive patrolling can be done. If any irregularities are found during the audit process, appropriate action will be taken," explained an official familiar with the matter.
21 Custom Features for Enhanced Patrols
According to official sources, each of the 51 ATVs was fitted with 21 additional items. The stated objective of this Rs 5 crore upgrade was to enable faster patrolling, improved monitoring and surveillance capabilities, reduced response times, and to help check clandestine activities within forest areas.
The vehicles were also customised for firefighting to combat forest fires, a persistent and major challenge in Odisha. The fleet has been deployed across 22 wildlife divisions in the state. The Similipal Tiger Reserve, where poaching continues to be a significant threat, received the highest allocation of nine vehicles.
Odisha's protected area network, which includes national parks, tiger reserves, 19 wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation reserves, spans approximately 8,869 square kilometres, constituting about 5.69% of the state's total geographical area.
The audit order follows initial allegations of irregularities, to which Minister Singhkhuntia had earlier responded by assuring a probe. The state government's move underscores its intent to ensure transparency and accountability in high-value procurements meant for critical wildlife conservation and protection duties.
