Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday ordered a significant administrative reshuffle in the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, transferring 10 officers, including six Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
The transfers were issued through an official order by Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner/Secretary of the department. The changes include several additional charges and fresh postings across various divisions related to wildlife, social forestry, pollution control and eco-tourism.
Senior IFS Officers Given Additional Responsibilities
Chaturbhuj Behara
Chaturbhuj Behara, IFS (AGMUT 1996), currently serving as Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Research Institute, has been given additional charge of PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. V. S. Senthil Kumar
V. S. Senthil Kumar, IFS (AGMUT 2005), Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, will hold additional charge of Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu until further orders.
He will also continue to hold additional charge of Regional Director, Social Forestry Jammu during the maternity leave of the concerned officer.
New Posting Orders for IFS Officers
Vanjulavalli Sridhar
Vanjulavalli Sridhar, IFS (AGMUT 2012), who was awaiting posting orders, has been appointed as Conservator of Forests, Research Circle.
Shaveta Jandial
Shaveta Jandial, IFS (AGMUT 2013), previously serving as Regional Director in the Pollution Control Committee in Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Regional Director, Social Forestry Department, Jammu.
Jyotsana
Jyotsana, IFS (AGMUT 2013), earlier Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu, has been transferred and appointed as Chief General Manager (Eco-Tourism & Diversification) in the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Development Corporation Limited (JKFDCL).
Suresh Manda
Suresh Manda, IFS (AGMUT 2016), Chief General Manager (Planning & Projects) in JKFDCL, has been posted as Regional Director of the Pollution Control Committee, Jammu.
Transfers of Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF)
Zubair Ahmad Shah
Zubair Ahmad Shah, DCF and General Manager of the South Extraction Circle in Kashmir under JKFDCL, has been transferred and will look after the charge of Joint Director, Soil & Water Conservation, Kashmir.
Hitashi Sharma
Hitashi Sharma, DCF and Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Force in Udhampur, has been transferred and posted as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Social Forestry Division Kathua.
Vijay Kumar Verma
Vijay Kumar Verma, DCF and DFO of Mahore Forest Division, has been transferred and posted as DCF (Monitoring & Evaluation), Social Forestry, replacing Mehnaz Anjum, who will now await further orders in the office of PCCF/HoFF J&K.
Safeer Hussain
Safeer Hussain, DCF and DFO Social Forestry Jammu, has been transferred and will look after the charge of Regional Director, Pollution Control Committee Kashmir.
Abhijeet Joshi
Abhijeet Joshi, DCF and in-charge Regional Director of the Pollution Control Committee Kashmir, has been transferred and will handle the charge of General Manager (Administration), JKFDCL.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone
Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, in-charge DCF (Wildlife) and DCF (Coordination & Evaluation) Social Forestry, will additionally serve as Project Coordinator (Biodiversity & Livelihood) under WUCMA along with his existing responsibilities.
Transfers Among Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF)
Ashok Kumar Kalsi
Mr Kalsi, ACF and DFO Social Forestry Division Kathua, has been transferred and will look after the charge of DFO Social Forestry Division Jammu.
Sudershan Singh
Mr Singh, ACF awaiting posting orders in the office of PCCF & HoFF, has been assigned the charge of DFO Mahore Forest Division.
Administrative Reshuffle Aims to Strengthen Forest Governance
Officials indicated that the reshuffle is part of routine administrative changes aimed at improving forest governance, wildlife protection, eco-tourism development and environmental management in Jammu and Kashmir.
The transfers involve key departments such as wildlife conservation, pollution control, social forestry and forest development corporations, indicating a broader effort to streamline responsibilities and strengthen institutional functioning.
