Bhopal, Mar 16: Forest Department officials were honoured at Star Decoration function. The officials were decorated by Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah and Minister of State for Forest Narain Singh Kushwah. On this occasion the Forest Minister informed that Rs 26 crore has been sanctioned for construction of Van Bhawan at the state level.

The forest minister decorated three forest officials with Star. These employees have been promoted from Forester to Deputy Ranger and from Forest Guard to Forester in Bhopal forest circle.

The staff of Samardha beat of Bhopal forest division under Bhopal forest circle had recently arrested poachers who had illegally hunted a Neelgai and recovered guns and flesh of the wild animal from them. Similarly, 44 forest employees were given away letters of commendation for showing exemplary courage and dutiful by arresting six poachers along with rifles, flesh of the hunted animal and vehicle in the periphery of Sehore forest division near Amla beat of Bhopal forest circle.

Shah exhorted the forest staff to guard the forests with dedication, honesty and hard work. He assured the forest staff that they would get timely promotions and other benefits. The Forest Minister informed that a campaign would be launched for promoting and decorating forest employees with Star in every forest circle in the same manner in which forest staff of Bhopal circle have been promoted and decorated with Star.

Shah said that approval has been received for filling the posts of Assistant Conservator of Forests and Conservator through promotion, which were to be filled by direct recruitment. Similarly, the state government has sanctioned Rs 26 crore for the construction of Van Bhawan. He informed that through his efforts, a hostel is being built in Indore for providing residential facility for higher education to children of forest staff of Indore area, especially Forest Guards and Rangers. Efforts are being undertaken to such hostels constructed in every forest circle headquarters.

Conservator of Forests, Bhopal circle, AK Bhattacharya informed that 39 officers/employees of Bhopal forest circle had taken the lifetime membership of Van Paropkar Nidhi and efforts are being undertaken that all the officials up to Conservator of Forests get the lifetime membership of this Fund. As on today, Rs 2.22 lakh has been deposited in account of the committee.