CM suspends four forest officers

BAHRAICH: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has suspended four forest officers, including a divisonal forest officer, in the case of illegal cutting of trees during the BSP-led government.
District magistrate of Bahraich, Kinjal Singh told TOI that the chief minister has suspended then sub divisional forest officer, Bindu Gopal Upadhyay and ordered disciplinary action against him.The CM has also suspended then forest ranger of Rupaidiha range, Devendra Bahadur Singh, section in-charge of Kariyagaon beat, forest inspector, Mahesh Kumar and forest guard of Kariyagaon beat, Ashok Kumar Singh. A show cause reply notice has been issued to another forest guard of Kariyagaon beat, Naval Kishore Mishra. Involvement of then divisional forest officer of Bahraich, Dr Ram Khelavan Singh has also been revealed in the case. He was suspended in another case in May 2012.
Site inspection of the illegal cutting of trees at Masjidya of Kariyagaon beat under Rupaidiha range of Bahraich forest division was made by the five-member team constituted by the divisional director of socio-forest department, Barabanki.
It was revealed during the inspection that Upadhyay neither informed his superiors about the illegal cutting of trees nor did he take any action to stop it during his posting at Nanpara, Bahraich which proved sheer negligence on his part towards his duties. Upadhyay has been attached with the office of chief forest conservator during his suspension. Chief forest conservator of Gorakhpur division, R R Jamuar has been nominated for the comprehensive investigation of the case. Bindu Gopal Upadhyay is currently posted at Balrampur, Gonda forest division as a sub divisional forest officer. tnn