Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 13: The forest ministet made his officers run, not for protecting the forests but for making his marathon a grand success.
The Marathon wss held in Jammu on Sunday, the Forest Minister summoned forest officials to join the event or face music. The event was dedicated to brave soldiers of the country, and was organized by Confederation of India Industry (CII) in collaboration of Board for Development of Sports in India (BDSI).Sources said that being chairman BDSI, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh to gathered large number of participants, summoned Forest officials to join Marathon.
"It was not a run for Forest Department, but most of the participants were from forest officials", said an official disappointed over orders' for participating the Marthon.
"Each division was asked by the higher authorities to ensure presence of 250 forest officials in the Marathon to please the Minister", said an official, and added that it was good thing that event for our brave soldiers was organized, at the same time Forest Officials from remotest areas were forced by the higher authorities.
"Officials from remotest areas of various divisions like Batote, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Marwah, Ramnagar, Udhampur, Billawar, Kathua, Reasi, Mahore, Nowshera, Rajouri and Poonch were forced to be appeared in the Marathon", 'helpless' official said and added that over one thousand officials joined the Marathon. They further said that many officials were seen running in formal uniform.
"After Sidhra incident where official revolted against Minister's autocracy, most of the officials are scared of Minister's warning, and nobody wants any more confrontation", said an official, who came from remotest Division of Chenab valley."Every official who came from remote area has to pay at least Rs 2000 from his pocket to please the minister", officials said and added comparatively it is better to bear expenses, than get suspended.
"The revengeful attitude of the Minister costs heavily on field staff, we had fed up with frequent meetings were being called by the Minister, and Sidhra incident was an effort to attract attention of government of on plights of forest officials, unfortunately, instead of taking care, the Minister went angry placed several officials under suspension, several booked by police and hundred are facing show cause notice, and may faced action in future too", they added. |
