Race for post of Principal Chief Conservator (Forests) hots up

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 26

Hectic lobbying has begun for the post of Principal Chief Conservator Forest (PCCF) with the present incumbent SP Vasudeva, a 1982 batch officer due to retire this month end.

The Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting has been fixed for September 28 in which the name of the person to be given the top forest post in the state will be decided. It is on the recommendation of the DPC that the government will appoint the new PCCF.

There are a few senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, some of them posted outside Himachal, who are higher in seniority but Shamsher Singh Negi, a 1983 batch officer, seems to be the frontrunner for the post. Currently, he is holding the post of Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife). Incidentally, Negi had officiated as the PCCF before the regular appointment of SP Vasudeva was made by the state government.

The DPC is headed by Chief Secretary VC Pharka while its other members include Additional Chief Secretary (Personnel) Tarun Shridhar, Principal Secretary (Forest) Tarun Kapoor and PCCF SP Vasudeva.

Sources said that some of the contenders were indulging in hectic lobbying to find favour with Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, known for his strong liking disliking.

Even if the final choice of heading the Forest department falls on Negi, this is not the first time that he will supersede his seniors. Even at the time of appointment of Vasudeva as PCCF, there were senior IFS officers who were not given the top post.

The senior most officer in the HP State Forest cadre is Sharad Negi, a 1980 officer who is currently Director General (Forest) and would not be keen to return to the state. Next in line are CS Singh (1981 batch), Managing Director, HP Forest Corporation and DP Sinha (1981), posted in Lucknow.

There are three officers from the 1982 batch — Sanjeeva Pandey, Harsh Mitter and Avtar Singh — though their batch mate Vasudeva was made PCCF last year. Those from the 1983 batch include GS Goraya and SS Negi.