Forest resources are being illegally exploited and vast sums of money are being seized, as claimed by a member of the Majilis.
Uncovering Financial Mismanagement: Akims Accused of Budget Embezzlement
During a recent presentation in the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, concerns about budget embezzlement in tree planting initiatives were brought to light by People's Deputy Bakytzhan Bazharkhan.
Amid discussions on ecology-related amendments, the issue of budget fraud in forestation projects took center stage. Bazharkhan claimed,
"Beneath the mask of reforestation, billions are being swindled... In 2020, with the President's directive, we aimed to plant 2 billion trees on forest fund lands and 15 million trees in populated areas. I decided to verify where these 2 billion trees and the promised 15 million trees were meant to be planted. The statistics of the akims are staggering. We're short by about 3 million trees instead of 15 million. I'm not even mentioning the billions of trees!"
He provided examples to drive his point home, highlighting dismal planting figures in regions such as Mangystau and East Kazakhstan.
"In Mangystau region in 2021, they were supposed to plant 556 thousand trees, but they managed just 20,983, which is not even a tenth. In 2022, in Mangystau region, they were supposed to plant 167 thousand trees, but they managed only 21 thousand. In East Kazakhstan region in 2021, they were supposed to plant 127 thousand trees, but they managed only 85 thousand. Each tree represents hard-earned money from the people, and region after region is falling short," Bazharkhan emphasized.
The debate also touched upon plans to implement a carbon offset norm, under which trees would be planted in national nature parks. Bazharkhan voiced concerns about potential new schemes of embezzlement, questioning, "Will there not be a new scheme of embezzlement of budget funds through carbon offset? The Ministry of Ecology has control functions, you have the right to appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office. But why no criminal cases have been initiated, no one has been held accountable for these facts?"
As of now, no concrete findings have surfaced regarding the individuals or entities responsible for the alleged embezzlement, nor reasons behind the lack of criminal investigations. It's crucial to maintain a vigilant eye on such matters to ensure resources are allocated efficiently and utilized responsibly for the betterment of our nation.
- In light of the ongoing investigation, there are growing calls for the science community and financial auditors to scrutinize the environmental-science sector, as industry experts believe a thorough financial review could potentially expose the misappropriation of funds in tree planting initiatives.
- As the controversy surrounding budget embezzlement in forestation projects continues, some, including finance analysts, are urging for stricter environmental regulations and oversight, to prevent future instances of financial mismanagement and guarantee responsible investment in the preservation of our environment.
