- Forest Minister reviews departmental work
- Minister Kashyap launches ‘Preliminary Offense Report’ system
Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, while conducting a comprehensive review of departmental work at a meeting held at Aranya Bhavan in Nava Raipur today, took an important initiative towards digital monitoring. On this occasion, he launched the “Preliminary Offense Report (POR)” system. This will bring transparency and speed to the monitoring and action taken against forest crimes.
Forest Minister Mr. Kashyap, while instructing officials at the meeting, said that merely formulating plans is not enough; their impact must be visible on the ground. He encouraged the department to work swiftly towards job creation, expansion of forest-based industries, and strengthening the state’s identity.
In the meeting, the Chief Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officers discussed in detail the progress of various schemes, especially CAMPA works. Minister Mr. Kashyap clearly stated that the impact of the schemes should now be visible on the ground, and it is the responsibility of all officials to ensure timely benefits reach every eligible beneficiary.
He issued strict instructions that 100% expenditure on all approved CAMPA works for the years 2024-25 and 2025-26 must be completed by September 2026. Fund lapse will not be acceptable under any circumstances.
Emphasis was placed on strengthening the land bank system to resolve land-related problems, so that development work is not unnecessarily delayed. At the same time, instructions were given to improve the quality of wildlife management plans, increase expenditures, and ensure accountability of concerned officials.
Emphasis was placed on quickly issuing new guidelines to promote eco-tourism and accelerating tourism through the PPP model. Instructions were also given to ensure the protection of tendu leaf collectors’ interests and provide them with fair prices and facilities.
In the meeting, Minister Mr. Kashyap said that the Bastar region, which has been freed from the influence of Maoism, should also have the presence of forest staff and gave instructions to promote employment-oriented works, along with digging wells and sending proposals for necessary infrastructure for the staff. He talked about increasing employment-oriented work activities based on forest produce as much as possible. He also instructed the officials to ensure 100% collection of minor forest produce in the forest areas, and to prioritize employment-oriented and processing related work, including eco-tourism.
In the meeting, Minister Shri Kashyap, while linking tree plantation with public participation, laid special emphasis on making the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign effective and preparing big saplings in nurseries under ‘Jee Ram Yojana’, so that distribution of more saplings becomes possible.
In the meeting, Forest Minister Mr. Kashyap also directed strict action against poaching, illegal logging, and encroachment. He also directed field staff to increase their activity and ensure prompt action to prevent forest fires during the summer.
Additionally, special emphasis was placed on maintaining transparency in the distribution of forest rights certificates and ensuring that benefits are provided only to eligible beneficiaries. Instructions were also given to ensure prompt compensation payments in cases of human casualties caused by wild animals.
Additional Chief Secretary Forest Smt. Richa Sharma, Forest Force Chief Shri V. Srinivas Rao and other senior officers and employees were present on the occasion.