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The order says Bhartari will switch posts with Vinod Kumar, who was heading the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board. (File) The Uttarakhand government has transferred 34 forest officials as an internal tussle plays out within the state forest department over investigation into alleged illegal construction and felling of trees at the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
According to a government order dated Thursday, 34 Indian Forest Service and State Forest Service officials have been transferred or given a new posting. The officials include the state’s Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Rajiv Bhartari and Chief Wildlife Warden J S Suhag.
Earlier this month, two forest officials — Indian Forest Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi and Additional Principal Conservator of Forests B K Gangte — refused to head the probe into the case of illegal felling of trees at the Kalagarh Tiger Reserve Forest Division.
Chaturvedi, a Magsaysay awardee, was appointed as the Investigating Officer by the then Head of Forest Force Rajiv Bhartari on November 2. However, then Chief Wildlife Warden J S Suhag claimed at the same time that he had already appointed Gangte as the Investigating Officer for the probe.
Soon after, Chaturvedi quit the probe citing contradictory statements of senior officials over his appointment. Gangte too denied conducting an inquiry on the grounds that Chaturvedi had been nominated to head the investigation.
The infighting prompted the Uttarakhand government to also order a State Vigilance Department probe into the matter.
According to the November 25 order, Bhartari will switch posts with Vinod Kumar, who was heading the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board.
Suhag, who has been relieved of the additional charge of Chief Wildlife Warden, will remain the Chief Executive Officer of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority project. Chief Conservator of Forests (eco-tourism) Parag Madhukar Dhakate will take over as the Chief Wildlife Warden.
The case dates back to September, when a committee formed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) carried out an inspection of the Pakhrau Forest Rest House (FRH) and Kalagarh FRH in Corbett Tiger Reserve over the allegations of illegal construction and felling of trees in the areas. In October, it recommended that action be taken against erring officials.
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