E-Paper
This officer is determined to expand forest cover in southern zone
Chief Conservator Of Forests of Southern Zone UP, Allahabad, Dr Ashwani Kumar, IFS, who took the charge in the year 2004 is determined to increase the forest cover. In conversation with Shivani Chaturvedi, Dr Kumar dwelt on various measures that have been taken by the department to increase greenery of the area which falls under his jurisdiction.
Chief Conservator Of Forests of Southern Zone UP, Allahabad, Dr Ashwani Kumar, IFS, who took the charge in the year 2004 is determined to increase the forest cover. In conversation with Shivani Chaturvedi, Dr Kumar dwelt on various measures that have been taken by the department to increase greenery of the area which falls under his jurisdiction.
What measures have been taken by the department to increase the forest cover?
Southern Zone of the forest department consists of 10 districts which fall under Varanasi, Vindhyachal and Allahabad civil division. Total forest area of this zone is 7.44 lakh hectares and it constitutes 19.10 percent of the geographical area.
In order to increase the forest cover, afforestation is carried out by the department each year. In the last two years plantations have been raised on 9,490 hectares of vacant land and this constitutes about 0.25% of the geographical area. This is in addition to the extensive tree plantation scheme, where farmers and others including people from government departments carry out plantation in their land.
What steps are being taken to check illegal cutting of trees?
The illegal cutting of trees is under control. There has not been any major case of illegal cutting of trees in the last two years. However, some isolated cases were found but it was only for fuel wood. It rarely takes place for commercial purposes. In 2004-2005, 2194 tress worth Rs 6.44 lakh were illegally cut. In this regard, most of the wood has been recovered and the fine of Rs 7.09 lakh was realised.
In the current year till January 2006, 1638 trees worth Rs 4.83 lakh were illegally cut. And in this regard, wood has been confiscated and fine of Rs 4.99 lakh has already been realised.
What are the provisions under law in case of forest-related offence?
Whenever a forest-related offence takes place, a first information report (H-2 case) is filed under the Indian Forest Act-1927 and investigation is carried out. If the offender confesses his/her crime and wants to settle the case, the wood involved is confiscated and the fine is realised.
However, if the officer did not agree to it, then the case is sent to the court of law. Besides, there are other rules and Acts including Forest Conservation Act-1980 and Transit of Timber Rules to deal with the offenders.
How does the field staff functions and what facilities are provided to them?
The forest guards or beat guards protect the forests. Two or three beats are supervised by a section officer who is generally a forester or a deputy ranger.
Likewise, three to four sections constitute a forest range headed by a forest range officer. Each forest division has five to six forest ranges.
Life of the field staff is really tough. Employees upto the rank of range forest officer generally lead their life in forest. Often there is no electricity. Health and education facilities are generally not available to them. Besides, the field staff tour the areas with their own means as they are not provided any means of transport. At some sensitive places the field staff is provided with guns and wireless sets for communication purpose. Since they have to lead such a hard life, they prefer to keep their families at some other place in the nearby city.
What are your contributions in the successful handling of the affairs of the department, since you joined here?
There is significant reduction in the illegal felling of trees over the last two years. Besides, measures have been taken to control forest land encroachment. Moreover, quality plantations have been raised in this zone and saplings have been planted in the nurseries for the farmers. Apart from this, road side plantation have been done to increase the forest cover.
