The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged irregularities in the Odisha forest department's purchase of all-terrain vehicles, saying funds meant for disaster preparedness were misused.
A special audit found that ₹28.45 crore was sanctioned from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for capacity building, including the purchase of Thar jeeps for forest protection.
Of that amount, ₹17 crore was spent on procurement and modification of the vehicles, while utilisation of the remaining amount was not accounted for.
The audit said the use of SDRF funds for establishment-related expenses or routine departmental procurement was in violation of guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The forest and environment department had bought 51 Thar vehicles during the 2024–25 financial year and spent on modifications, estimated at about ₹10 lakh per vehicle, to enhance patrolling, surveillance and emergency response.
