In a unique situation that is prevailing at the world renowned national park of the state, since the past one year, four important positions are lying vacant, one of which is crucial for the daily management of the park as well as tackling of major issues.
Interestingly, sources within the department claim that though the issue has occurred due to ego issues of a few senior officials in the forest department, the park is suffering because of their actions.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park is a World Heritage Site, for a little over a year has been neglected and devoid of administrative betterment in absence of four rangers. “There are four ranges in the park, Sadar, Research, Flying and Tourism. Of these the Sadar ranger is the most important as this officer handles the daily running of the park and the minute details of manpower and park management,” an official at Jaipur while requesting anonymity said.
Interestingly, since a year ago a sole range was working at the park. “However, later a transfer list came and the ranger was transferred to another position. But a highly placed officer in Jaipur stayed the state government’s orders and put a stay on the ranger’s transfer order along with the orders of a few others. Furthermore, the officer even went at length and told that these officers were not to be transferred without the said senior official’s approval,” sources said.
When for several months the transfer orders were not complied by and the ranger and other officers were kept at the same place inspite of the orders, they approached the High Court.
“The High Court questioned the senior officials as to why were these people were kept at one place and not allowed to follow the transfer orders given by the government. However, four months back, a new transfer list was issued wherein the ranger was brought back to Keoladeo. All was well but then a few days after his transfer, the man was called to Jaipur for senior official’s work and was provided a position in the senior official’s office. Now, although on papers that ranger is posted in Keoladeo, he is actually working at Jaipur,” officials said.
“What is the fault of the park amid this tussle. On one hand there is Ranthambhore which seems to be getting all the attention from top officials in polity and bureaucracy and where almost a dozen rangers are posted, half of which actually have no work to do. Then there are almost half a dozen ACFs. On the other hand there is Keoladeo where work abounds, but there is no official to carry out those works,” lamented a source.
