Bhubaneswar: Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Satyabrata Sahu has directed Divisional Forest Officers to take utmost care to protect the wildlife in the Forest Zones of the State.
Expressing concern over death of elephants, ACS Shri Sahu advised the Forest Officials to make efforts to save the elephants and reduce the death cases.
Shri Sahu was addressing the DFOs here on 20 November at Aranya Bhawan in presence of Minister Forest, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia and senior officers of the DoFE&CC.
ACS Shri Sahu, who himself is visiting across the State, asked the DFOs to visit the Forest Zones regularly and take care of the flora and fauna.
ACS Shri Sahu said that due to the efforts of forest officers, 5 crore 20 lakh saplings have been planted in the state under the ‘Ek Ped Ma’ke Naam’ campaign launched by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
The forest area has increased in the state due to the efforts of forest officers. Odisha occupies the first place in the country in preventing forest fires. Picnic spots have been made plastic-free.
2 million palm trees have been planted for protection from lightning. Meanwhile, the forest officers should make sincere efforts to reduce elephant deaths.
They should take specific steps in consultation with the District Collector and SP to reduce elephant deaths. Shri Sahu advised the forest officers to make extensive field visits.
ACS Shri Sahu directed DFOs for Joint Raids on Opium and Ganja Cultivation in the Forest Zones.