Headless divisions in Forest department, a reason for rampant destruction

Telangana faces significant forest cover loss, ranking third in India, with vacancies in key forest officer positions exacerbating the issue.

Telangana has earned the notoriety of being among the Indian States with the maximum decrease of forest cover as per the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’. The State has recorded a loss of over 100 square kilometres of forest cover when compared with the figures in ISFR 2021 two years ago.

It assumes third position in loss of forest cover and stands only next to Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The maximum destruction was observed in Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, and Nirmal districts, with emphasis on the divisions of Adilabad, Asifabad, Bhadrachalam, Echoda, Khanapur, Nirmal, Paloncha, and Utnoor among others.

Incidentally, most of the divisions where the destruction is the highest have not had division leads for a long time. Adilabad, Asifabad, Echoda, Bhupalpally, Utnoor, Khanapur, Mahabubabad, Chennur, Jannaram, Venkatapuram, Mahadevpur, Mulugu, Khammam and Banswada are some of the key divisions where the Forest Divisional Officer posts are vacant, and the forests are open for encroachments and manipulations. Some of these divisions are notably in the Kawal Tiger Reserve, where protection of forest and wildlife is of paramount importance.

Officers of the cadre Assistant Conservator of Forests are either directly recruited through the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) for the post of FDO, or they are promoted from the cadre of Forest Range Officers (FRO) based on seniority. The last time the direct recruitments happened was in 2018, and since then many officers retired, creating more vacancies. However, it has been back and forth between the TGPSC and the Forest department since then, with no notification being issued for six whole years.

Promotions as an alternative too have been disregarded, leaving FROs with 15 to 18 years of experience disgruntled. “Even if they recruit now, the process will take at least six months, and the training will take two years. In the meantime, more officers will retire, creating more vacancies,” shared an official under the condition of anonymity.

At least around 20 FDO posts are vacant in the territorial divisions, and even more if the special duties such as task forces and anti-poaching squads are included, he says. The ISFR 2023 also reveals some startling facts about the fire accidents and tree felling, which are among the highest in Telangana. At 8.95%, Telangana records the highest recorded forest area among all States where illicit felling of the trees is heavy.

Telangana also stands third in terms of the forest area burnt in the fire season between November, 2023 and June 2024, after Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, with 3,983 square kilometres of extent. All these issues could be tackled better if the vacancies are filled up leading to improved monitoring, say officials. Principal Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force R.M. Dobriyal was not available for a comment.