Honorary Warden paid as safety squad member in Odisha; lens on Forest division

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The Forest division has come beneath scanner for appointing an individual as Honorary Wildlife Warden (HWW) and paying him wage as a safety squad member resulting in battle of curiosity. 

Arun Kumar Mendili, who has been appointed because the HWW for Boudh since June final 12 months, is allegedly receiving wage as wildlife protection-cum-anti-depredation squad member from the Forest division. The division reportedly paid him Rs 8,465 in April and Rs 12,694 in May this 12 months. 

Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Boudh Debapriya Kampa admitted that Mendili was being paid wage as a protection-cum-anti-depredation squad member. He, nevertheless, mentioned they’ve stopped paying him and even eliminated his identify from the safety squad member listing. 

Kampa additional defined that Mendili was being paid as a safety squad member earlier than he joined because the DFO of Boudh. The Boudh HWW could not be contacted for his feedback on the matter. However, wildlife consultants identified that such appointments may result in battle of curiosity and must be averted.

“Honorary Wildlife Warden of a district is vested with some powers and he or she is answerable only to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State. In that sense, the Honorary Wildlife Warden should have independence in authority while dealing with DFOs, conservators and other forest officials of a district,” mentioned an knowledgeable. 

Besides, the DFO is for a division whereas HWW is for a district which may have a couple of forest division. “If an HWW is finding employment as a watcher or protection squad member in a division, his or her access and authority in that division may get compromised and the HWW concerned might not be able to question the DFO of the particular division which is a potential conflict of interest,” he added. 

The Chief Wildlife Warden additionally couldn’t be reached for feedback.  Notably, the State authorities had notified appointment of 41 HWWs on June 24 final 12 months, nearly a 12 months after the time period of their predecessors ended. 

BHUBANESWAR: The Forest division has come beneath scanner for appointing an individual as Honorary Wildlife Warden (HWW) and paying him wage as a safety squad member resulting in battle of curiosity. 

Arun Kumar Mendili, who has been appointed because the HWW for Boudh since June final 12 months, is allegedly receiving wage as wildlife protection-cum-anti-depredation squad member from the Forest division. The division reportedly paid him Rs 8,465 in April and Rs 12,694 in May this 12 months. 

Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Boudh Debapriya Kampa admitted that Mendili was being paid wage as a protection-cum-anti-depredation squad member. He, nevertheless, mentioned they’ve stopped paying him and even eliminated his identify from the safety squad member listing. 

Kampa additional defined that Mendili was being paid as a safety squad member earlier than he joined because the DFO of Boudh. The Boudh HWW could not be contacted for his feedback on the matter. However, wildlife consultants identified that such appointments may result in battle of curiosity and must be averted.

“Honorary Wildlife Warden of a district is vested with some powers and he or she is answerable only to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State. In that sense, the Honorary Wildlife Warden should have independence in authority while dealing with DFOs, conservators and other forest officials of a district,” mentioned an knowledgeable. 

Besides, the DFO is for a division whereas HWW is for a district which may have a couple of forest division. “If an HWW is finding employment as a watcher or protection squad member in a division, his or her access and authority in that division may get compromised and the HWW concerned might not be able to question the DFO of the particular division which is a potential conflict of interest,” he added. 

The Chief Wildlife Warden additionally couldn’t be reached for feedback.  Notably, the State authorities had notified appointment of 41 HWWs on June 24 final 12 months, nearly a 12 months after the time period of their predecessors ended.