Is General Administrative Department (GAD) short of officers?
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 26 2013: Three responsible Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, who are on the payroll of State Forest and Environment Department drawing more than Rs.one lakh salary every month, have been utilized inaptly at Manipur Bhavans instead of entrusting them with major responsibility for protection and conservation of forest in the State.

The three IFS officers have not been sent on deputation.

They are being utilized at Manipur Bhavans at the behest of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and GAD Minister Phungzathang Tonsing.

However, they continue to draw their salaries from the State Forest and Environment Department.

The three officers are Deputy Residential Commissioner and State Liaison Officer Dr V Ramakantha posted at Bangalore, Deputy Residential Commissioner and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) DD Haokip posted at Guwahati Manipur Bhavan and OSD RK Srivastav posted at Delhi Manipur Bhavan.

They are all in the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCFs).

Is GAD short of officers?

According to a reliable source, the three officers have not been sent to their present postings on deputation.

They are being utilized by the General Administrative Department (GAD), but it has not taken the necessary consent from the Forest and Environment Department.

Their utilization was forwarded by GAD Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, and later their postings were finalized by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who is also in-charge of the Department of Personnel.

Some officers of State Forest and Environment Department said that Ramakantha has been posted at Bangalore for the last few years performing some important responsibilities.

However, they questioned the rationale behind his posting at Bangalore, where there is still no provision for construction of Manipur Bhavan.

Amidst shortage of officers in the Department for the conservation of forests and environment, two more IFS officers namely DD Haokip and RK Srivastav have also been posted to Guwahati and New Delhi respectively as OSDs just recently.

Reacting to such anomalies in the departments of State government, a prominent member of Opposition Party told Hueiyen Lanpao that the officers who have been posted outside the State are not for necessity, but for their own benefits and conveniences.

The member further said that Forest and Environment Minister Th Devendra should be cautious to prevent his Cabinet colleagues from overtaking his domain.