Government curbs PCCF powers on leaves

NAGPUR: Taking a serious note of misuse of leaves by senior IFS officers, the state government has curtailed powers of PCCF (head of forest force) to sanction leaves.
The government has asked PCCF, who was too liberal in granting leaves, not to sanction leaves of the rank of chief conservator of forests (CCFs) and above if they are for 15 days and beyond.

The state has also directed not to sanction any leaves of senior forest officials during assembly session period, barring exceptional cases. The directions were issued on February 27.

“The decision was taken after government found misuse of leaves by officials. Many of them were going of them were found to be taking leaves frequently,” the sources said.

They said the order has been issued as last month a PCCF and an APCCF, both responsible for key role in taking up 13 crore plantations, went on leave simultaneously.

It was learnt that the directions were issued as one of the officials had taken 28 days leave for LTC while other who was on a tour abroad reported ill extending leave.

Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and forest secretary Vikas Kharge were upset that there was no responsible official to discuss plantation related issues.

They said, earlier during winter session of assembly, one of the CCFs took a long leave. They also added that amid all this, the series of tiger deaths were reported, which was one of the reasons to restrain leaves.