Finally, new forest officers appointed for reserves, circles

The recent government order issued by the forest department secretary Sandeep Saxena transferred several senior officers in the ranks of ten Additional Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) after a prolonged delay. The official reason attributed by the administrators was coronavirus lockdown.

The copy of the order posted APCCF Debasis Jana of Coimbatore circle as the new director of the Arignar Anna Zoological Park.

The zoo director Yogesh Singh was posted to Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve as field director. Manjunatha will be the new APPCF for Vellore circle and Sewa Singh will be the new APCCF for social forestry and extension, Chennai.

The order also transferred Shekhar Kumar Niraj, director, Advanced institute of wildlife centre (AIWC), Vandalur to APCCF (wildlife) Chennai. Rakesh Kumar Dogra will be the new director of AIWC. APCCF Anwardeen Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, Coimbatore is transferred as APCCF Coimbatore and will also hold the additional charge of Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi.

APCCF Mudumalai Tiger Reserve KK Kaushal is transferred and posted as MD Arasau Rubber Corporation, the GO read.

“Tamil Nadu forest department has been a sleeping giant when it comes to appointments and it prefers giving additional posts for serving officers. Officers who are close to the AIADMK netas are at least holding two additional posts and the worst part is that there is no transfer of select officers based in Coimbatore circle,” alleged Deepak Nambiar, founder, Elephas Maximus Indicus Trust.

“Recently I have raised the issues related to the appointment of the task force to study the issues pertaining to elephants. Most of the times it is the controversial officers who are holding prime positions and such officers are not transferred out of Coimbatore region. I will soon file an RTI and take this issue legally,” Nambiar said.