Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 19 Aug: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, addressing probationers of the Indian Forest Service in the presence of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh at Dehradun, emphasised today that the forest officers are not merely administrators but the guardians of nature. He said the government’s priority is to advance development while maintaining balance between ecology and economy.
Welcoming the Vice President to Uttarakhand and at the FRI campus, Dhami described his journey from grassroots public life to the country’s second highest constitutional office as an inspiring example of simplicity, dedication and service. He also congratulated the probationers, reminding them that the Forest Service plays a crucial role in protecting biodiversity and natural heritage, particularly in Uttarakhand where nearly 70 percent of land is forested. He urged them to combine modern technology with sensitivity towards local communities, stressing that climate change has made their responsibilities even more vital.
Dhami also mentioned some of the initiatives taken by his government, including freeing 13,000 acres of forest land from encroachments, establishing India’s first dedicated forest drone force, and introducing a digital deposit refund system on the Char Dham route. He cited the elevated wildlife corridor on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway as an example of balancing infrastructure with conservation. He observed that compensation in human-wildlife conflict cases has been raised to Rs 10 lakhs, forest panchayats strengthened, and fire watchers provided insurance cover. Measures like bio-fencing, rapid response teams and a 24-hour wildlife helpline have also been reinforced.
