Amaravati: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Andhra Pradesh government has transferred 11 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers across key positions in the state’s Forest and Environment Department.
The transfer orders were issued on Thursday by Chief Secretary K.S. Vijayanand, reflecting a strategic overhaul aimed at strengthening environmental governance and forest management in the state.
Major Administrative Shifts in Key Departments
According to the official order–
- Rajendra Prasad has been appointed as the Managing Director, Environment Development Corporation.
- S.S. Sridhar will now take over as Managing Director, Forest Development Corporation.
- S. Sri Sharvanan has been posted as the Member Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, a critical regulatory role in the state’s environmental oversight framework.
High-Profile Field and Regional Postings
In field-level leadership positions–
- S. Srikanthanathareddy has been transferred as Regional Manager, Forest Development Corporation.
- B. Vijay Kumar is now Field Director of the Srisailam Project Tiger Circle, one of Andhra Pradesh’s most vital tiger reserves.
- B.V.A. Krishna Murthy has been appointed as Conservator of Forests, Kurnool Circle.
Specialized and Divisional Appointments
- M. Babitha takes charge as State Silviculturist at the Biotechnology Research Centre.
- G.G. Narendran has been posted as Deputy Conservator of Forests.
- V. Sai Baba becomes the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Tirupati, a crucial post due to the ecological and religious significance of the region.
- G. Vignesh Appavu will serve as Deputy Director, Atmakur Forest Division.
- P. Vivek has been made Regional Manager of the Nellore Forest Development Corporation.
Strategic Moves to Strengthen Forest and Wildlife Management
The reshuffle is seen as part of a broader strategy to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of the state’s forest administration, particularly in areas such as wildlife conservation, afforestation, pollution control, and community forestry.
With critical wildlife zones like Srisailam Tiger Reserve and ecologically sensitive areas like Tirupati under new leadership, expectations are high for improved forest governance and ecological outcomes.
