Promotions, reshuffle of IFS officers on the cards

The appraisal process is on and it is expected that a round of promotions and reshuffle will follow for Indian Forest Services (IFS) Gujarat cadre officer within two weeks.

According to top officials of state's forest and environment department, 18 new posts have been added to the cadre by the Centre.

A recent notification announced the addition of six posts of additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) and as many as 12 posts of chief conservator of forest (CCF) to the existing cadre. The addition to the existing cadre strength of 107 has taken the number of positions to 125. This additional manpower will boost conservation and environment protection efforts in the state, sources said.

This enlargement of Gujarat IFS cadre coupled with retirement of chief principal conservator of forest (PCCF) Mohan Lal Sharma of 1973 batch has lead to second round of reshuffle.

On Tuesday itself, the government had promoted as many as 13 assistant conservators of forest (ACFs) as deputy conservators of forest (DCF). The state government also ordered transfer of 11 DCFs. These were state forest services officer, now IFS officers would follow, an official added. After retirement of Sharma, Pradeep Khanna of 1975 batch was made the PCCF. Khanna was earlier holding position of PCCF, wildlife, the additional charge for which has given to IFS from 1975 batch, BN Srivastav.  

According to principal secretary, forest department, SK Nanda, a Gujarat Indian Forest Services (IFS) cadre review was carried out last December, following which a demand for changes according to the increased positions was sent to the central government.

"Now the notification has come and the changes to be made soon would streamline the cadre," he said. There were only three positions of additional principal chief conservator and eight of chief conservator of forest. With the additions, these will increase to nine and 20, respectively. Prior to this, the last cadre review was conducted in 2003.

The news has brought cheer among IFS officers at the level of conservator and chief conservator, as they will receive promotions to fill the upcoming posts. There are as many as 16 conservators of forest (CF) in Gujarat. With 12 new positions at the level of CCF, most conservators can hope for promotions.

It takes up to five years for a fresh IFS officer to reach a senior position. A good number of officers are expected to retire after 2012.

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