Bhubaneswar 
State
Govt plans to provide police power to forest officials
State
Govt plans to provide police power to forest officials
SATURDAY,
18 AUGUST 2012 00:28
PNS
| BHUBANESWAR
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The State Government has
proposed to provide police power to forest officers engaged in forest
protection, said Forest and Environment Minister Bijoyshree Routray here on
Friday.
After inaugurating the two-day Divisional Forest Offiers'
Conference, Routray said the Forest Department would take up the issue with the
Home Department to provide police power to forest officers under legal
provisions to face exigencies.
The department authorities have been asked to prepare a draft
proposal to amend the CrPC in line with Assam to be put up before the Chief
Minister for necessary steps.
Stating that forest protection has been one of the major issues,
Routray said the field officers are working in the most adverse conditions
inside inhospitable and inaccessible areas at the risk of their life. Many of
them have lost their lives and have also faced brutal assault a number of times
from forest mafias and Left wing ultras.
Lamenting that in the background of extremism, the forest
officials have been asked to surrender their arms in the police stations which
has become a serious threat to forest protection, Routray said the Principal
Secretary, Forest and Environment Department was asked to examine the issue and
take steps for restitution of arms and ammunition to field forestry personnel.
He said in order to make forest management focussed, more
intensive and more people-centric, there is a proposal to reduce the
jurisdiction of Forest Guards, Foresters and Forest Rangers from the existing
structure.
Routray said it was decided to increase the number of eco-clubs
in schools for planting trees and protecting them.
He aid in order to popularise tree plantation, a methodology was
being worked out wherein every student at high school level should plant at
least five trees, grow them with care and show them after two years. For this,
the student would be awarded with certain marks in the annual high school
examinations. He said it is proposed to include forestry and environment as
part of the educational curriculum at high school level. The issue would be
taken up with the School and Mass Education Department and modalities worked
out, Routray said.
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