200 "Honest" Officers Transferred To Thick Forests

As per the instructions of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, some 200 reputedly committed and dedicated officers in the forest department have been posted in thick forest areas to act tough with timber smugglers and poachers.

For the uninitiated, the Chief Minister had recently instructed the officials concerned to initiate steps for forest rejuvenation in forest lands with the mission "Jangal Bachavo, Jangal Badhavo" (save the forest, enhance the forest). KCR said that for this to be possible, officers with commitment were needed on the field. Instead of most such officers working at the headquarters, they should be moved to the field, he said.

In tune with the CM's instructions, forest reforms have been initiated. Some 200 officers from Chief Conservator level to Beet officers have been transferred. The CM has approved and signed the file on Tuesday. Some 21 officers who are working currently at the district levels as Chief Conservators, Conservators and DFOs have been entrusted with the responsibility of the districts. Chief Conservator of Forests A K Sinha himself was transferred to Achampet.

The CM also said that forest officers who were careless and irresponsible in their duties, and/or were indulging in helping the smugglers were to be punished severely, and the reforms have also accordingly seen initiation of action against officers who help smugglers, issuing of memos to officers who are irresponsible in their work and so on. Upon complaints of their collusion with smugglers, 11 forest officers have been suspended.