Capt cracks whip on Forest Dept top brass

Thursday, 31/08/2017

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/capt-cracks-whip-on-forest-dept-top-brass/459759.html

Chandigarh : Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has cracked the whip on the top brass of the state Forest Department.

Taking cognisance of the alleged anomalies in departmental transfers and postings, illicit felling of trees and other wrongdoings in the functioning of the department, the CM has intervened to divest many in the top brass of the department of their charge with immediate effect.

A probe into the wrongdoings is likely to be ordered by the CM, it is learnt.

Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot was reportedly not kept in the loop while taking the decision.

Denying being ignored on the matter, the Forest Minister — who had retained the top brass appointed during the previous SAD-BJP government — tried to play down the transfers.

“The CM is the head of the state. He can order any transfer. Moreover, the top brass had not been reshuffled ever since the government took over in March,” he said.

The seriousness of the action taken by the CM can be gauged from the fact that Dr Kuldeep Kumar, the head of department and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and his handpicked team of officers down the line have been shunted.

The role of the OSD to the Forest Minister, Chamkaur Singh, a Deputy Ranger in the Patiala wildlife division, is also being questioned.

Sources in the government said that on being briefed on the anomalies, Amarinder immediately ordered the reshuffling even when the transfer season was over in July. The Chief Minister could order transfers any time, said an officer.

Sources said ever since the Congress government took over, Himmat Singh, Special Chief Secretary, Horticulture, and Special Principal Secretary, Forests — who retires tomorrow — was making efforts to clean up the department.

But the Forest Minister had been reportedly siding with the department’s top brass that existed during the previous SAD-BJP government.

Sending a clear message of a clean-up, the officers — who were earlier sidelined in the departmental posting -– have now been rehabilitated.

Jatinder Sharma, Managing Director, Punjab State Forest Development Corporation, has been made the head of department in place of Dr Kuldeep Kumar, who has been posted as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

Kumar’s junior officer, Dhanedra Kumar, who was earlier Chief Wildlife Warden, has now been posted as MD, Punjab State Forest Development Corporation.