Telangana forest officers seek reorganisation of ranges, risk allowance, transfers

Telangana Forest Range Officers Association urged Minister Konda Surekha to reorganise forest ranges, release pending budgets, enhance risk allowance, deploy weapon parties, and lift the transfer ban. Officers flagged rising threats in tiger reserves and encroachments under new RoFR pattas

Hyderabad: The Telangana Forest Range Officers Association (TFROA) has urged Forest Minister Konda Surekha to reorganise forest ranges, enhance risk allowance in tiger reserves, provide weapon parties, lift the ban on transfers and address several other pending issues.

The Minister assured officials and staff that stringent action, including booking cases under the PD Act, would be taken against those who attack forest personnel.

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During a meeting with the Minister on Tuesday, the TFROA sought timely release of CAMPA and afforestation budgets. They pointed out that PoL charges and wages for outsourcing staff, especially DEOs and vehicle drivers under the afforestation scheme, have been pending for over eight months at many places.

The officers also said that several ranges were reorganised unscientifically after bifurcation. For instance, to reach Devarakonda section of Nalgonda range, Nalgonda FRO has to travel through Munugodu and Devarakonda (WLM) ranges before reaching the section.

They highlighted that staff working in Amrabad and Kawal tiger reserves were facing more risks and heavier workload, which discouraged executive staff from FBO to FRO level from opting to work in tiger reserves.

The officers further said encroachment threats were rising under the pretext of issuing new RoFR pattas. To tackle these challenges, they sought deployment of weapon parties under the District Forest Officer or Forest Divisional Officer in vulnerable divisions, with personnel deputed from TGSP.

They also demanded new vehicles, quarterly review of pending disciplinary cases at the government level and lifting of the ban on transfers.