https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

To Monitor Forests 24×7, IFS Officer Sets Up Sophisticated Control Room

IFS officer Vejayanantham TR started a Forest Control Room in South Betul division of MP Because of constant monitoring, many illegal activities could be brought to an end This initiative is helping to nab teak smugglers also, thereby securing the forests
Indian Masterminds Stories

2018 batch IFS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, Vejayanantham TR has establish a Forest Control Room for 24×7 monitoring of the sensitive zones of the forests, and every activity that need to be taken into cognizance. Mr. Vejayanantham is the DFO of South Betul division in Madhya Pradesh, and this initiative was launched almost a year back with the results being quite impressive.

Earlier, the forest department used to do monitoring with the old methods of using wireless and phones. But, now, with the start of the new method, all major and sensitive roads are monitored by solar and 4G powered CCTV cameras, while live monitoring is done at the division level. More than 30 cameras have been installed in the division with Jio trackers app. It is acting as a single-point source of information, and also a single point to send out directions to the field staff. And the best part is, no separate funds had to be used to put this initiative in motion.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Vejayanantham TR to get more details.

FOREST CONTROL ROOM

South Betul Forest Division in Betul district encompasses six ranges and three sub divisions. Out of these six Ranges, four namely Multai, Bhensdehi, Athner and Sawalmendha are bordering the state of Maharashtra.

Betul is known for its teak. Every year, around 150 crores of timber revenue is generated from Betul forest.
Thus, continuous monitoring is an utmost need here. That’s how the concept of Forest Control room was born. A dedicated room with separate computers and printers was set up along with a big monitor for easy monitoring. Now, every movement is monitored live at the divisional level.

When the earlier methods were in use, information was available only once or twice a month and decisions were taken accordingly. But, now, with live monitoring every day, it is easier for the DFO to take important decisions and implement them better. Also, since the control room has all information at all times, concerned forest officials can be notified immediately about any suspicious activity.

At the same time, employee presence/absence data, night patrolling routes data, and foot patrolling routes and data are all being covered through various apps and mediums and monitored. Furthermore, a forest fire control and command centre is also part of this control system.

Mr. Vejayanantham said, “Forest is a common property. Every teak tree standing in Betul is like ‘standing gold’ for the mafia. When the mafias are taking advantage of modern technology to steal our valuable natural resources, the department can’t afford to crawl in Nineties style. We need modern methods to secure our forests. Where is our staff patrolling, where is night patrolling happening right now… we need to know everything. And such close monitoring is necessary from the division level.”

Vejayanantham TR, IFS

THE COMPONENTS

CCTV Monitoring: After much discussion, the roads that border Maharashtra and the roads that lead to major teak patches were finalized and GPS coordinates were taken. Solar powered (wherever electricity points were not nearby), 4G enabled CCTV cameras were installed in 27 locations. Live telecast of these CCTV cameras were made available at the division office control room and also at the range and SDO offices.

Barrier Control: Recently, owing to frequent incidences of illegal felling and illegal timber transportation in Maharashtra bordering areas, around 6 temporary barriers were established.

Data: Ensuring presence and absence of staffs through everyday reporting via google sheet.

Patrolling: Night patrolling and incidence reporting to control room. A google sheet and register for collecting data of night patrolling team, the route they took, crimes they attended and POR registered were brought into force.

Geo Tracker: Patrolling using geo-tracker app that records the path taken by the patroller and convert it to kml file. Initially, a demo video was made and staff were given training on how to use the geo-tracker app. It was started on pilot basis in three ranges where young range officers were posted.

Forest Fire Command and Control Centre: In order to prevent forest fires and to effectively attend and douse the fire on time, a two-pronged strategy of conducting more samiti meetings and establishment of Forest Fire Command and Control Centre at the division level, was adopted.

FUTURE PLAN

The next aim is to add a Public Grievances Redressal Mechanism. “Control over crime and criminals and ensuring proper HR management at the division level is much needed to safeguard our precious natural resources,” said Mr. Vejayanantham, who has received appreciation from the department heads, as South Betul is the first forest division to establish a Forest Control Room in Madhya Pradesh. This model will be adopted in the entire state if all goes well.

EXPENDITURE

The entire expenditure for setting up a control room in the division office will just cost Rs. 5,51,000 in the first year, and then Rs. 1,15,000 every year.

“The CCTV cameras we bought were of basic model since we started on an experimental basis. If we are going to adopt this model, then we can go for better and high end variants to ensure maximum reliability in times of need. The future lies in the hands of those who adopt new or updated technologies and keep in pace with the current demands,” the officer said, adding that the control room was the need of the hour to control forest crimes, and also for better human resource management.

Since the control room is working well for the South Betul division, the officer and team gave a presentation in the capital city Bhopal, so that the model may be replicated in other forest divisions as well.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
Uttar Pradesh to Relocate Forest Dwellers to Curb Human-Wildlife Conflict, Rs. 22 Crore Compensation Package Drafted - All Details Inside
Govt
Uttarakhand Government Transfers PCS Officers Again, New Postings Announced - Check Here
Justice Yashwant Verma
Unidentified Man Spotted Near Burnt Cash Raises New Questions in Justice Yashwant Varma 'Cash-in-Kothi' Case - Know More
Bihar Government-resized-IM
105 Bihar Administrative Service Officers Reshuffled Ahead of Polls - Details Inside
Image Yoga Day NBCC
Yoga Mahakumbh & Meditation Workshop: NBCC Commemorates 11th International Day of Yoga with Holistic Wellness Initiatives
IAS Prasanth N
Controversy Deepens Over IAS Officer Prasanth’s Suspension Extension Despite Panel Clearance
Indian Bureaucracy News Latest
ACC Extends Central Deputation Tenures of Ajai Kumar Verma and Kushagra Mittal
Screenshot 2025-06-21 202516
CM Yogi Leads International Yoga Day Celebrations in Gorakhpur
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Interview Plane Crash
What ill-fated pilots of AI171 may have gone through in those 40 seconds before the crash? Intro:
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s 27-Year Odyssey with Indian Railways | Exclusive Interview
Monika Singh
The Civil Servant Who Finds Peace in Poetry
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Ravinder Nandal IDES
IDES Ravinder Nandal's Story of Self-Made Success
Balancing fatherhood, full-time jobs, and six UPSC attempts, Ravinder Nandal’s story is one of perseverance,...
Social Media
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
Tiger jump Sundarban
Stunning Viral Video Shows Royal Bengal Tiger Making Spectacular 30-Foot Leap Across River in Sunderbans - See It Here
Retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda shared the clip online, which quickly went...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Uttar Pradesh UP Government
Uttar Pradesh to Relocate Forest Dwellers to Curb Human-Wildlife Conflict, Rs. 22 Crore Compensation Package Drafted - All Details Inside
Govt
Uttarakhand Government Transfers PCS Officers Again, New Postings Announced - Check Here
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Inderjit Singh Interview Plane Crash
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi
Monika Singh
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT