Bellary becomes a forester’s nightmare

Bellary has literally turned into a ‘mine’field on which no forest department personnel want to tread.

Fear for life from henchmen of the powerful mining lobby and the futility of a posting to deal with mining regulations have led to around 800 posts of forest guards remaining vacant in Bellary, Karwar and Mangalore (the last two locations are where the ore is transported for exports).

DNA has learnt that presently the post of one deputy conservator of forests (DCF) in Bellary is vacant since two months along with that of three forest guards. In Mangalore, the posts of two forest officials and 14 forest guards are vacant; and in Karwar, the posts of two forest officials and 33 forest guards remain vacant.

The post of DCF, Bellary, is vacant after the last DCF S Muthaiah was transferred as Bellary zilla panchayat chief executive. The assistant conservator of forests (ACF), Bellary, TV Srinivasan, is holding additional charge as DCF.

Though the ACF has been vested with executive powers as in-charge DCF, functionally the post itself is absent. The officer below the rank of DCF is at times unable to issue orders and take action against violators, sources told DNA.