West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced salary and allowance increases for several categories of Forest Department employees, describing the move as a special gesture ahead of Durga Puja. The revised pay will come into effect from October, covering rangers, beat officers, forest guards and forest assistants. The announcement was made during the central project of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam programme at Moharkunj in Kolkata.
Adhikari announced a Rs 5,000 increase in the salaries of around 500 rangers, along with a similar Rs 5,000 hike for beat officers and forest guards. Forest assistants, who were receiving Rs 12,000, will receive an additional Rs 2,000 under the revised arrangement. The Chief Minister acknowledged the risks faced by forest personnel while carrying out their duties across different parts of the state.
The Chief Minister also announced an ambitious tree plantation target for West Bengal, stating that 10 crore trees would be planted across the state this year. He said the plantation programme was already progressing and stressed that the government would take responsibility for maintaining and caring for the trees for two years. The announcement forms part of the state's wider efforts to expand green cover and promote environmental conservation.
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Adhikari also outlined several other environmental and wildlife-related initiatives. He announced that a tiger would be released in Buxa forest in north Bengal on October 2 and said a new aquarium would be established in Kolkata's Alipore. In addition, around one lakh trees are planned to be planted in Bhowanipore as part of the state's wider plantation drive.
The programme is linked to Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, an environmental initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that encourages people to plant and nurture a sapling in honour of their mothers. The campaign aims to promote tree plantation while connecting environmental protection with community participation. West Bengal's proposed 10-crore-tree target represents a major expansion of plantation activity under the initiative.
The salary revision for forest personnel comes as the state government seeks to strengthen its forest protection and environmental efforts. Forest guards, beat officers, rangers and other field staff play a key role in protecting forests and wildlife across West Bengal. Alongside the financial measures, the government has announced plantation, wildlife and conservation projects intended to expand the state's environmental initiatives.
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