news details |
|
|
| Reconsider suspension of DFO: Conservator Forests writes to Comm/Secy | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 31: The Conservator of Forests East Circle Jammu has written to the Commissioner/Secretary to reconsider the suspension of Divisional Forest Officer.
The Commissioner Secretary to Government Forest Department Sanjeev Verma (IAS) had issued the suspension order of DFO Jammu Alok Kumar Maurya on 19/5/2021 for alleged dereliction of duties in response to PIL no 25/2017 CM No. 1456/020 IA Nos. 1/2017 and 2/2017 titled SAVE vs UT of JK and others (regarding encroachment of forest land). The order was issued on the approval of the Lieutenant Governor and in the concluding part it was written as, “Now therefore, pending enquiry into the matter DFO Jammu is placed under suspension for dereliction of duties and for his abject failure to comply with the directions of High Court”.
The Conservator of Forests Jammu East Circle vide order number CFEJ/ESTT/245-46 dated 27th of May2021 has shot a missive in support of the suspended DFO and listed several initiatives taken by the officer to retrieve encroached land.
In the last two concluding paragraphs of the missive, the CF has asserted that the conclusion made in the suspension order was that there was a “dereliction of duty” by the officer with respect to the specific case. “Suspension order was issued without seeking explanation from the officer concerned or his controlling officers and without considering the overall excellent output made by the officer in a challenging condition of the ongoing pandemic is (suspension) is being harsh on the officer. It appears that no attempt was made to ascertain the efforts made by him and the practical field problems faced by him”.
It further reads, “This had failed to appreciate the considerable efforts made by the officer in complying with the directions of High Court while also putting up an excellent output in managing the overall issues and targets of Jammu Forest division.”
“Given the above facts and the excellent track record of the officer, it is requested that the matter may be taken up with the higher authorities for revocation of the suspension order. Reinstatement of the officer will boost the morale of not only the officer concerned but all the other officers and staff of the Forest Department,” the letter states.
In the missive forwarded by Conservator of Forest Jammu East Circle, the testimonies given in the favour of suspended officer include demarcation of 12 encroachment areas (all old cases where there was no proper demarcation) fall in Jammu division out of 50 largest, retrieving of land measuring 394 Kanals of Forest land in three cases, preparation of elaborate plans in consultation with DC Jammu and SSP Jammu for eviction of two more cases involving 350 Kanals of land during the month of May 2021.
“Eviction of old encroachments is a time taking process which requires preparation of maps beforehand and assistance of Revenue officials and Police Department during eviction. The department was also involved in implementation of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 by way of training awareness creation at the Panchayat, Suv-division and District levels, Prioritization of e-tendering of plantation works of Monsoon plantation as whole of Jammu division falls in Monsoon plantation zone and suspended DFO was the first to upload all 24 plantation works for e-tender”, it reads.
Other evidences in favour of suspended DFO include engagements to control forest fires, Khair felling and transportation, seizure of vehicles illegally transporting Khair, preparation of detailed proposal of fencing for securing all the vulnerable forest land around Jammu city as an action plan to evict the top encroachers stands prepared by the officer and submitted for funding.
“The fencing is required because mere eviction without proper fencing results in re-encroachment. The eviction of encroachment is a very complex exercise involving various departments and requires much coordination and planning. It is more so in Jammu due to involvement of very influential persons, well established old structures and inadequate land records with the Forest and Revenue departments”, it reads. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
