Dehradun, 25 Sep: The Uttarakhand Forest Department has so far managed to utilise just 29 per cent of its budget for the current financial year 2025-26, raising concerns over the slow pace of expenditure. Despite crores of rupees being allocated for various schemes, the department has failed to spend even a third of the funds in some areas, leaving large-scale projects related to forest conservation and development in jeopardy.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) Sameer Sinha has asserted that the expenditure figures are expected to improve rapidly from October onwards. He explained that the ongoing monsoon season had limited spending primarily to afforestation, while other repair, construction and developmental works could not be undertaken.
The CAMPA scheme, which provides the highest funding, also shows slow utilisation.
