2 TS ministers want whistleblower moved

Official had unearthed presence of illegal saw mills

Two TS ministers, T. Harish Rao of the irrigation department and Jogu Ramanna of forest department, have recommended the transfer of a forest official who had unearthed scams involving saw mills.

The official was on deputation with Vigilance department and had submitted a report that led to unearthing of illegal saw mills being run in Sangareddy, Siddipet and Medak districts with the connivance of local forest officials. The official, deputy forest range officer Kahder Vali had earlier worked as the anti-Poaching squad’s head in Hyderabad. There too, he was instrumental in nabbing poachers .

Documents available with this newspaper show that around 30 saw mill owners from these districts submitted a petition to irrigation minister T. Harish Rao from Siddipet — asking for the transfer or shifting of Khader Vali from vigilance department at Sangareddy to the Khammam forest wing — his parent department. Harish Rao has endorsed the suggestion. “Jogu Ramannagaru pls examine and do needful,” reads a note forwarded to Mr Jogu Ramanna.

After receiving the same, Mr Ramanna, the minister for forest and environment, sent a note to principal chief conservator of forests, P.K. Jha, saying: “Please take action immediately for cancelling the deputation of the deputy forest range officer.”

The move came after Telangana forest department has started the process of disciplinary action against 20 forest officials, including two divisional forest officers and six forest range officers, after they ignored the widespread presence of unauthorised saw mills within their jurisdiction.

The stern action has been initiated following a report by the TS vigilance and enforcement department which was actually the work of Mr Khader Vali.

Unauthorised saw mills use wood from the nearest forest reserves, causing major habitat loss. Also, the Supreme Court has issued a blanket ban on them. When contacted P.K. Jha, the head of the forest department of Telangana said: “The issue of file of the transfer the forest official didn’t come to my notice so far.”

Meanwhile, an official from the state’s vigilance and enforcement department praised Mr Vali’s work.

“Mr Vali had done commendable work regarding the saw mills case. In fact he is working on encroachments case too,” the official said.