State may recruit 1,700 forest beat officers
HYDERABAD: Proposals to recruit about 1,700 forest beat officers and 500 forest section officers are under the State governments consideration. There are 2,916 beats each manned by an officer. In 1,458 assistant beat officers are working. Each beat covers an average area of about 24.4 square km.
The Forest Department is reorganising the beats to reduce their average area to 15 sq km in plains and 10 sq km in hilly areas, a press release said in response to a report published in these columns on August 4. According to the release, the department has been taking several measures to increase the forest protection, like formation of Vana Samrakshana Samithis in a big way, in the last 15 years. In view of the increased threat to forest wealth from organised smugglers the department will increase the frontline field staff.