Photo Credits: Arlekar on IFS cadre
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SAYS ARLEKAR ...
* When I took over I learnt that we have nearly 13 officers of IFS cadre
* Another one has now been sent to Goa, which increases the number to 14
* I feel Goa requires only three IFS officers to manage the Department
* Have forwarded a note to the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar * I have also spoken to the chief minister to write formally to the Centre
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PANAJI: The State Government has written to the Centre requesting retraction of officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) cadre posted in Goa, which it feels are in excess for a small state like Goa.
Speaking to The Goan, Minister for Environment and Forests Rajendra Arlekar said, “We have IFS officers in excess. When I took over as a minister I learnt that we have nearly 13 officers of IFS cadre and another one has now been sent to Goa, which increases the number to 14.”
Stating that there could be different opinions on the requirement of IFS officers in the State, he said, “I feel Goa requires only three IFS officers to manage the Department of Forests.
Arlekar, however, informed that he has forwarded a note to the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and also briefed him about the same.
“I have also spoken to the chief minister to write formally to the Centre requesting them to retract these officers”, he said.
Pointing out that Goa has nearly one-third of its land under forest cover, Arlekar said, “Even though our neighbouring states quantitatively a bigger forest cover, the number of IFS officers there is less.”
He also lamented that as there are too many IFS officers, it becomes even more difficult for officers from the State cadre to get promotions, he said, “When these officers are sent to Goa, they have to be given all the major postings. This makes it difficult for Goan officers to get promotions. Presently, only two-three officers of the state cadre are posted as senior officers in the Department. ”
He also stated that there have been instances wherein an officer has joined as a Range Forest Officer (RFO) and has even retired as the same.
“Goans too have talent and they can very well manage these posts. But these officers deprive them of the opportunities”, he said.
When asked the reason about why so many officers have been posted in the State, he said, “The Centre does not send their officers until the State asks for. May be the earlier governments had asked for them.”
