Chandigarh July 13
Aiming to unearth corruption in the Forest Department during the Congress regime, the Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested Daljit Singh Gilzian, nephew of former minister Sangat Singh Gilzian, who allegedly collected money from contractors in transfers of department officials, illegal mining as well as purchase of tree guards.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau said that they have recovered a diary, which has several leads, to arrest Daljit Singh.
The forest contractor Harminder Singh Hammi allegedly gave Rs 5 lakh as a bribe to former Forest Minister Sangat Singh Gilzian through one Kulwinder Singh for issuance of a permit for cutting of Khair trees at Nada village in Mohali district. He also gave bribes to the range officer, block officer, and guard of the department.
During his tenure, former minister Gilzian reportedly arranged a meeting of contractors with DFOs in Punjab and had directed that the purchase of tree guards for protection of plants would only be made from some contractors only. The cost of one tree guard was Rs 2,800, out of which Gilzian allegedly took Rs 800 per tree. A large numbers of tree guards were bought at that time and huge amount was allegedly collected as bribe.
During the tenure of SS Gilzian, Amit Chauhan was appointed as DFO, Ropar. At that time, illegal mining was carried out in 486 acres of land in village Jinda, near Bela within one month. Around 50 feet deep pits were dug up in the village and Rs 40-50 crore worth of illegal mining was carried out in connivance with sarpanches and some other persons.
