30% pay hike proposed for working plan dept staff

NAGPUR: The state principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) has recommended 30% hike in the basic salaries of working plan department employees as proposed under the new National Working Plan Code 2014, which has come into force from April 1.
The proposal was first sent to HoFF by APCCF for working plans (easts). The HoFF forwarded it to the state government last month. M Karunakaran said the recommendation is as per the new code.“The proposal is to encourage and motivate staff to meet challenges of new working plan code,” said Karunakaran.
Giving a new approach to forestry, the ministry of environment and forests and climate change has framed a new code which emphasizes preparation of working plans by specialized techniques and inputs with the help of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing application.
The code states that considering the important nature and specialization of work, PCCF should ensure that adequate core staff posts for the working plan unit is created and provided. In case adequate regular staff is not provided, the working plan department should be empowered to engage subject matter experts for field work and ministerial staff for maintenance of record and budget on contract basis.
However, against this backdrop, shockingly three divisions – Yavatmal, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur – are either headless or discontinuous for the last five to six years. These divisions are managed by conservator (CF) rank officials. Apart from this, posts of 1 DFO, 2 ACFs, 2 RFOs and 2 foresters are also lying vacant, besides other clerical vacancies.
The working plans of Sironcha, Allapalli, Bhamragad and Chandrapur have either expired or are expiring within one to two years, which are most important forested area from working plan (WP) point of view. But government is not serious in posting regular competent officer and other technical staff in WP offices.
The new working plans should contain biodiversity conservation and development, community forest management, fringe forest management, water resources management, soil and water conservation, forest fires and protection, forests and climate change, carbon sequestration, grid based sampling design etc.
Irrespective of the importance of working plan department, officials are reluctant to join. The officials now hope that 30% hike in salaries may motivate employees. IFS officials are posted in working plan department as standbys and after their promotions, the new incumbents who are posted wait for their promotions. Ultimately, plans are not written in time and get extension for one to three years.
Sources said working plan of Alibaug has not been written since 1988. Similar is the case with Nandurbar and Dhule divisions which have expired for more than 10 years. TOI on May 3 had reported that of the 51 forest divisions in the state, working plans of 18 had lapsed as forest officials did not write the plans well in advance.
Working plan is a systematic document prepared for management of a division for 10 years which contains a detailed scheme of forest management.
However, Karunakarn said of the 51 divisions, working plans for 35 are operational. Plans for Sawantwadi, Nandurbar and Solapur have been sent to MoEF and plans for Aurangabad, Malegaon, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Amravati and Bhor will be taken up at a state-level meeting on September 25. “Plans for Wardha and East Melghat have been prepared as per new code,” he added.
Sources said working plans to be discussed on September 25 have not been written as per new working plan code.
Objectives of Working Plan Code 2014 * Forest conservation and reduce degradation * Maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services including ecotourism * Enhancement of forest productivity together with establishment of regeneration to improve forest health * Increasing growing stock and carbon sequestration potential * Maintenance of biological diversity * Sustainable yield of forest produce * Prevention of soil erosion and stabilization of terrain * People’s involvement in planning and management of forests * Simultaneous implementation of Indian Forest Act, Wildlife (Protection) Act, Forest Conservation Act, Biological Diversity Act, PESA Act and Forest Rights Act.