State Forest Minister, Dr. Harak Singh Rawat has given instructions to the Garhwal Forest Conservator to remove the DFO Garhwal on leave. He said that the holidays are completely closed during the fire season, so it is a serious irregularity for a responsible officer like DFO to go on leave.
Expressing his displeasure over the incidents of rising wildfires, Forest Minister Rawat directed the officials to take all possible steps to curb the fire. The Forest Minister expressed his displeasure over the additional responsibility given to Chief Conservator of Garhwal at Mahakumbh in the fire season.
Forest Minister Dr. Harak Singh Rawat reached the headquarters Pauri. Here, he took a meeting of District Magistrate and Forest Department officials in the office of Chief Conservator of Garhwal. Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Dr. Rawat said that in the fire season, all the personnel including the officials of the forest department have been banned, yet DFO Garhwal is on leave.
Forest Department officials present at the meeting said that DFO Garhwal KS Rawat is on leave for health reasons. Forest Minister Dr. Harak Singh Rawat directed the Chief Conservator of Garhwal to remove DFO Garhwal as well as give the charge of Garhwal Forest Division to DFO Civil Sohan Lal. Said that this deployment will continue till the advance arrangement.
The Forest Minister said that on Friday, he will take a review meeting on the incidents of forest fires in Dehradun. He said that if action is not received from the forest department against the incident, then disciplinary action can also be implemented against the officer concerned. Forest Minister Dr. Rawat said that departmental officers should be taken action against the mischievous elements who set fire to the forests. But despite this, the action is decreasing. He instructed DM Pauri Vijay Kumar Jogandade to make a report on the pine trees.
He said that the department and administration have been instructed to work by forming teams in the wake of increasing incidents of forestry in the Garhwal Forest Division area. The Forest Minister said that along with Pauri, plans are being made to deploy additional teams of NDRF in Chamoli and Tehri. The forest minister has also asked to submit a report regarding the forest guards to be deployed for the fire season within two days. Conservator of Forests Garhwal NN Pandey etc. were present on this occasion.