Bhubaneswar: Forest resources are a major natural resource. Forests are essential for the survival of humans and all living things on earth. The vast forest resources available in Odisha are a blessing of mother nature.
The responsibility of Divisional Forest Officer(DFO)s who provide services for the protection and growth of forests, which provide oxygen not only to humans but also to all living things, is important. Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia has advised DFOs to work with sincerity and honesty for the protection of forests and wildlife.
ACS Home, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Satyabrata Sahu, PCCF & HoFF Debidutta Biswal, PCCF Wildlife, Susanta Nanda and others attended the meeting.
Principal Secretary Energy, Vishal Dev, OPTCL CMD Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, and other senior officials of Railways also attended the meeting to sort out issues of elephant deaths, clearance of development projects.
Inaugurating the State-level Divisional forest officers’ conference at Aranya Bhavan today, Minister Shri Singkhuntia said that the Divisional forest officers are doing a great job. Due to their sincere efforts, the forest cover in our state has increased. They have been able to prevent forest fires admirably well. Still, a lot of work remains to be done. In today’s changing times, there are many challenges before them.
Allegations of corruption are being made in the plantation program, which is tarnishing the image of the forest department. Our government has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. Corruption and indiscipline will never be tolerated. Therefore, forest officials need to be vigilant. Extensive field visits should be made by all the forest officials at the top. Forest and wildlife habitats should be protected and balanced, while approving forest land for developmental works. It is essential to find a solution to the problem of elephant-human conflict. Compassionate assistance, compensation for crops should also be given immediately.
The death of elephants, killing tigers and eating their meat are distressing to the people of our state. For this, the forest officials at the top, along with the lower-ranking employees, will be held accountable. There is a need to solve the problem of crop damage by monkeys. Alternative livelihoods for the people living around the forests, especially the tribals, can be secured through alternative livelihoods such as horticulture, fishing, poultry farming, beekeeping, fruit plantation, involvement in eco-tourism etc. Forest protection can be done in partnership with them. Forest officials need to work in this direction.
There is a need to provide speedy land titles to the tribals by following the forest land tenure rules. The present government is a people’s government. If any public representative or public comes, then it is necessary to treat him well and investigate the complaint properly. Minister Shri Singkhuntia expressed the hope that forest and wildlife protection will be possible only with the unwavering cooperation of public representatives and the public.
In his welcome speech, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Devidatta Biswal said that the success story of the forest officers presented in the conference will be the attraction of today’s conference.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Sushant Nanda and Project Director, Odisha Forest Development Project Mita Biswal gave thoughtful suggestions.
District Forest Officers of Angul, Dhenkanal, Bonai, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Boudh presented some innovative initiatives and best practices.
Special Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, all RCCFs, Divisional Forest Officers attended the conference.