Kohima: A Forest Vigilance Team has been constituted to check wayward activities, if any, of its subordinate officials and field staff at Forest Check Gates regarding unauthorised collection of money or taxes and attend to any complaint received in this regard, including its verification and disposal.
In pursuant to the recent order of the Nagaland Chief Secretary, an official order received here said that it shall be ensured by the Chief Conservator of Forests (territorial), office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Nagaland, Kohima in consultation with the Conservator of Forests, Nagaland or the Conservator of Forests, NTC, Nagaland, as the case may be, that all Forest Check Gates are adequately manned so as to prevent illegal flow of contraband items and checking criminal activities, like collection of illegal money in the name of tax. In this matter, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial) is required to submit a report on the matter on a fortnightly basis to enable, submission of the same to the government as part instructions contained in the order of the Chief Secretary.
The order requested members of the public to submit complaints in this regard, if any, to the Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial) and Chairman Forests Vigilance team, office of the Principal Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Nagaland.
”In case of any forest official or staff is found collecting unauthorised money in cash or taxes at Forest Check Gates, the concerned divisional forest officer, as the case may be, will be held responsible and liable for disciplinary action,” a release said. (UNI)