By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 19 Jun: Several Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre officers have expressed displeasure and anguish against action taken by the Uttarakhand Government on the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami against some senior IFS officers in the case related to fire in Binsar (Almora) Wildlife Sanctuary. It may be recalled that 4 forest officials including one minor daily wage worker were killed in the forest fires last week following which, two IFS officers were suspended and one senior officer was attached to the State Forest Headquarters.
It is learnt that IFS Association has been seeking an appointment with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami but has so far failed to get an appointment. The IFS Association wishes to stress before the CM that action taken against the IFS officers in Binsar Fire case is not justified since they were neither responsible for the fire nor for the death of 4 forest officials (most of those who died or were injured were contractual employees). Sources claimed that some IFS officers feel that IFS Officers Association has not been effective in presenting the case in support of the officers against whom action has been taken in Binsar Fire case. As a result, it is claimed that so far 4 IFS Officers are learnt to have resigned from membership of IFS Officers Association while a few more have also expressed desire to quit the association. Those who are stated to have quit the Association already are senior IFS officer Manoj Chandran, PK Patro, Dr Koko Rose and Akash Verma. PK Patro, Dr Koko Rose and Akash Verma are the officers against whom action has been taken in Binsar Fire Case while Manoj Chandran is currently facing charges related to regularisation of certain forest officials against the rules.
Not only this, it is learnt that Forest Guard Organisation has also lent its support to the IFS officers against whom action has been taken. It has also expressed displeasure against action taken against 17 forest officials in the past as well and has demanded reconsideration of the government decision related to action against the forest officials.
Sources claim that there is tremendous discontent among members of IFS Association over the action taken against IFS officers in Binsar case not only against the government but also against the association itself as many officers feel that the Association has not proven to be effective in ensuring the interests of the members.
It is also claimed that under tremendous pressure from the members of Association, the Association has written a formal letter to Chief Minister’s Office seeking an appointment with him in pursuance of their demands, In this regard, the Association had also called upon Chief Secretary Radha Raturi for the same reason and demanded reconsideration of action against certain officers. The members of the Association have also met Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal to press their demand of reconsideration. Meanwhile sources in Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) claim that the CM had been busy on tour for past two days and for this reason, a meeting has not been possible and he also has some other programmes listed outside the state capital.
It may be recalled that many forest officers in recent past have hit headlines after facing charges of irregularities like illegal construction in Corbett National Park and illegal felling of trees and some are also facing charges of having assets disproportionate to the known sources of income but never before IFS Association has so openly defended its members. It appears that pressure applied on the Association by the members is strong enough to force it to pressurise the government. Resignations from the Association is not a permanent thing and they can be taken back once the pressure results in positive outcome for them.
