Goa Forest Corporation post upgraded
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, May 3
The Goa cabinet today approved a decision to upgrade the post of Managing Director of Goa Forest Corporation Richard De Souza to Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator.
In fact, de Souza, a senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer was promoted by an order issued by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) in early December 2009.
But the up-gradation of post from the state government has come after five months.
Apparently some political forces are still strongly opposed to getting DeSouza to head the Forest Department. It happened more than ten years ago.
In 1999 when Goa was under President’s Rule, De Souza contributed in a big way in protecting Goa’s wildlife.
An area of around 208 sq km Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and about 211 sq km between this and Cotigao sanctuaries was surveyed, papers were processed and notified as the Madei and Netravali sanctuaries respectively when Gen (Retd) Jacob was the governor of Goa. For this “gift”, De Souza continues to be targeted by a highly influential political family. In the 90s too, the then Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane had objected to making De Souza the Chief Conservator of Forest.
DeSouza is highly respected in Andaman and Nicobar Islands where he brought in several changes to protect the environment.
Meanwhile, sources in the Secretariat said in some states, senior IFS officers are made Additional Secretaries in charge of Forest and Wildlife.
