HYDERABAD: The inordinate delay in amending the state Forest Act has left the Telangana forest department as one of the severely understaffed department in the state. With over 3,000 vacant posts, the forest department is now desperately waiting for approval for the proposed amendments to the Act.
After the bifurcation of state, the Telangana forest department proposed changes to several provisions of the state Forest Act in November 2014 to initiate the recruitment process. However the proposal is pending with the state government for over six months.
With more than 35 percent of the total posts vacant, now the forest department is one of the most understaffed wing in the state government. To amend any state Act of the united Andhra Pradesh, the Reorganisation Act makes it mandatory for the Telangana government to formally adopt it.
If the state government fails to amend the AP Subordinate Service Rules of 2011 or the State Forest Act, before one year of the formation of separate State, it has to be sent to the Legislative Assembly for approval, PK Sharma, special chief conservator of forest and chief wildlife warden, Telangana, said.
With merely 50 days left for the State formation day, the forest officials appealed to the state government to expedite the process. Recruitment of any post now depends on how quick the state government gives approval.
An abruptly halted recruitment notification may also get a move if the state gets the Act modified.