Kozhikode: Call it bizarre. A move was made at the bureaucratic level to create three wildlife divisions in the State without the knowledge of the minister concerned.
The move came to light after the chief minister returned the file forwarded to him circumventing the minister for forests.
Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection A K Saseendran nixed the move after the chief minister's office (CMO) forwarded the file to him. The bureaucrats' move, apparently, was to create new designations and convenient posts.
The file reached the chief minister directly between the Assembly's two phases of the Budget session. The CMO forwarded the file to the forest minister after it found his remarks missing. Saseendran came to know of the move in his department only after receiving the file from the CMO.
The file revealed that the creation of new divisions was widely discussed at the bureaucratic level. The minister put the file on hold after issuing a directive against making any such move without political decision.
A move was made earlier in the department to create jurisdictional areas in the lines of police districts. It was recommended to create the post of forest conservator similar to the superintendent of police. The file had then even recommended the names of 14 new conservators.
The government, however, axed the move pointing out that the same forest area often spread across multiple districts. Any division of forest circles or divisions should be made only after considering the geographical features of the area, the government said.
The government felt the latest move was aimed at facilitating the promotion of senior forest officials. The government has been preparing to re-organise the additional responsibilities close on the heels of the controversial transfers of four IFS officials reaching the tribunal.
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