Forest Vehicles or Luxury Spend? Odisha Forest Dept Under Scanner Over Rs 12 Crore Thar Purchase

The Odisha Forest Department is facing sharp questions over its purchase and upgrade of Mahindra Thar SUVs, worth nearly Rs 12 crore in total. The department bought 51 vehicles in 2024–25 and then spent heavily on add-ons, triggering public anger and a special government audit into every stage of the spending and approval process.

Records show the Forest Department paid about Rs 7 crore to buy the 51 Mahindra Thar SUVs, with each costing roughly Rs 14 lakh. Another Rs 5 crore went on specialised fittings and equipment, taking the overall bill close to Rs 12 crore and raising doubts about whether the modifications matched actual field needs.

Odisha Forest Department SUV audit and spending controversy

Officials stated that the Thars were meant for high-risk forest work, including tackling forest fires and moving staff to isolated and border zones. The vehicles are also used to protect wildlife and check illegal activities such as poaching and timber smuggling, where quick movement and reliable transport in rough terrain are considered crucial by the department.

To deal with difficult roads and demanding conditions, the Odisha Forest Department said the SUVs received extra fittings like special tyres, additional lights, cameras, sirens, and other tools. According to the department, these upgrades were planned to match field requirements, but critics have questioned whether all items were truly essential or simply inflated the project cost.

Odisha Forest Department SUV audit and spending controversy details

Amid growing criticism, Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia ordered a special audit of the Mahindra Thar procurement and modification spending. The minister asked officials to examine how the vehicles were bought, why specific upgrades were chosen, and whether those changes were genuinely required for operations rather than being driven by avoidable or inflated demands.

The minister said some modifications might be necessary for forest duties but warned against wasteful use of public funds. "However, if any fittings are found to be unnecessary, excessive, or unauthorised, strict action will be taken," he said. The state government also indicated that any illegal or suspicious activity exposed during the audit would lead to strong steps against those involved.

Even as the department cites tough terrain and critical duties, questions continue over whether proper approvals were taken before spending nearly Rs 5 crore on upgrades. Many critics, including opposition leaders, argue that the cost appears high for a government fleet. "The Odisha government has maintained that the complete picture will become clear only after the audit is concluded, but the controversy has already put the Forest Department's spending decisions under intense public and political scrutiny."

Officials said the special audit would track financial and administrative decisions at each level. "Government sources said that responsibility will be fixed once the audit report is submitted, and further action will be taken based on its findings." The report is expected to outline who cleared which expense and whether rules were followed at every stage.

The Odisha Forest Department now faces a crucial test of transparency as auditors examine the Mahindra Thar SUV purchases and modifications. With nearly Rs 12 crore under review and public debate rising, the final audit findings will decide if the spending was justified or if disciplinary and legal action is needed against officials involved.