Khurda: A woman forester alleged Thursday that she has been physically and mentally harassed by Chilika wildlife divisional forest officer (DFO) and Balugaon range officer, a source informed. The woman who presently works in the nursery segment under the Nuapada section has submitted a written complaint to the regional chief conservator of forest (RCCF) in this connection. She has demanded action against the two accused.
The woman in her complaint said she was in charge of the nursery in Nuapada when a fund of Rs 4,90,534 was sanctioned by the department to purchase polythene packets and irrigate saplings.
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Allegedly, DFO Sharat Chandra Mishra raised false bills and vouchers in assistance with forest guard Anil Kumar Sahu and range officer Pramod Kumar Panda. Seeing the irregularities, the woman forester opposed the plans of producing false bills. This irked the officials allegedly involved in the scam and they started harassing the woman staffer.
Acting on the complaint, the RCCF has deputed a woman officer to probe the allegation of physical and mental harassment. She has been directed to submit a report soon, the source said.
PNN