Three KSCSTE institutes get new directors this June, NATPAC yet to

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Bangalore based Wood Science and Technology lead scientist Shyam Vishwanath taking charge as the new Director of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) at Thrissur on Thursday, three new directors have assumed charge as directors of scientific research and development (R&D) institutes under Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) this June.

It forms part of an attempt by the state government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in its second anniversary to clear all decks. Yet, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac) is still devoid of a full time director.

Earlier, most R&D institutions were headless and directors of other institutes were given additional charge on a temporary basis. Such hasty moves had drawn flak for lack of transparency in appointments and its operations. "Scientific development takes a back seat at such institutions without a full-time director. Even a dedicated official or noted scientist heading a major institute given additional charge as director of another institute would be over-burdened and would hardly find time to handle the institutes Haphazard and politically motivated decisions in appointments and functioning of R&D institutes is likely to affect scientific development in the state," an official told TOI preferring to maintain anonymity.

For five years from 2005 to 2010, NATPAC functioned without a full-time director. Then, a senior scientist Dr.BG Sreedevi of the institute was posted as NATPAC director for a five year term, but before completion of her five-year term on Nov 14, 2015, there was a silent mover to replace her with an official of KSCSTE giving him additional charge, following which she wrote to the then chief minister. Then she was offered a second term but before completion of that, there was a move to oust her again and she had approached the court. Despite serving as a scientific officer at KSCSTE for a decade and as a scientist for 20 years with NATPAC before taking charge as its director, BG Sreedevi was replaced by an official heading a botanical institute by giving him additional charge, official sources told TOI.

Currently, KSCSTE executive vice president Dr Suresh Das holds additional charge as NATPAC director. Till this May end, Dr R Prakash Kumar director of Malabar Botanical Garden was given the additional charge as Natpac director. "Now no decision can be taken on the appointment of a full time director for Natpac. We are waiting for the court directive," KSCSTE executive vice president Suresh Das told TOI when contacted.

It may be recalled that Senior Principal Scientist Dr. Anitha A B who has served as in charge director of KSCSTE's Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) at Kozhikode since December last year, took charge as executive director of CWRDM on June 1. The same day, Dr. R. Prakashkumar took charge as the director of KSCSTE's Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) at Palode after serving as the director of Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute of Plant Sciences in Kozhikode.

JNTBGRI new director Dr R Prakashkumar told TOI that his aim will be to protect the plant species and its rich biodiversity in a wider campus now. He is the Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, Academy of Environmental Biology, Indian Botanical Society, Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy, Electron Microscope Society of India, Indian Association of Bio Medical Scientists, National Academy of Biological Sciences, Kerala Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Sciences, India. Prakashkumar is also a member of the Commission on Eco-system Management and Fresh Water Specialists Group of International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A recipient of several awards, he has published more than 100 research papers in the field of plant biology.

Soon after taking charge, KFRI new director Shyam Vishwanath told TOI on Thursday that his experience in the forest sector in parts of the country will offer the impetus to handle agro forestry with alternative income for the forest dwellers. "My priority areas will be to handle agro forestry and technical issues, forest protection, alternative livelihood for tribal community and forest dwellers through suitable farming practises particularly in the fragile Wayanad area and to explore the possibilities to prevent man-animal conflict in forest areas," he said.

With around 26 years of forestry research experience in Indian Council of Forest Research and Education (ICFRE) as Scientist, his specialisation is on Traditional agroforestry systems (TAFS). He has successfully completed 10 externally aided research projects and 8 internal projects in ICFRE. Since the last over 10 years his research focus was on Bamboo and sandalwood.

CWRDM executive director and senior principal scientist Dr Anitha AB told TOI that her priority will be to focus on water resources development, river rejuvenation, waste water management and to conduct research studies on the reasons of such calamities of floods, landslides. An integrated team of scientists and experts on water resources, soil conservation, geology and mining among others have begun their impact assessment studies in the flood hit and landslide affected Kattipara and Karinchola in Kozhikode which has claimed 14 lives this monsoon. Impact assessment report is expected to be complete in about two weeks, she said.