BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Monday ordered a special audit by the Accountant General (AG) into the forest department’s purchase of Thar vehicles, amid allegations that the all-terrain SUVs were procured at prices far above prevailing market rates.In a letter to the AG (Audit-II), the forest department sought the deputation of an audit team to examine the procurement and customisation of Thar vehicles during the 2024–25 financial year. The audit will be conducted in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) (Wildlife).
“I am directed to request the deputation of an audit team to conduct an audit in the office of the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) (wildlife) on the process of procurement and customisation of vehicles by the former in the financial year 2024-25,” the department stated in its communication to the AG.
Forest department officials said the audit would ascertain whether the Thar vehicles were purchased at rates significantly higher than market value. The customised all-terrain vehicles have been deployed across key wildlife divisions, including Similipal Tiger Reserve, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary and several other forest and wildlife divisions.Apart from routine patrolling by frontline staff, the Thar vehicles are also used for jungle safaris and nature trails for tourists in protected areas, officials said.
According to sources, the department procured 51 Thar vehicles at an initial cost of around Rs 7 crore, with each unit priced at approximately Rs 14 lakh. A further Rs 5.02 crore was later spent on renovation and customisation, taking the total expenditure to about Rs 12.02 crore. Some official documents place the final cost at nearly Rs 12.35 crore, including all customisation expenses.The procurement came under scrutiny in March after BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo raised the issue in the Odisha Assembly, seeking details on the purchase process and the additional spending on upgrades.Replying in the House, the minister said the Thar vehicles were purchased during the 2024–25 financial year and that each customised unit was fitted with 21 types of equipment. He added that the vehicles are currently being used for various field operations, including transporting fire-fighting equipment during forest fires, wildlife protection, curbing timber smuggling, and monitoring and rescue of tigers and other wild animals.
