Gujarat revamps Porbandar forest division for Barda lion rehabilitation

The Gujarat Government has undertaken a major administrative restructuring of the Porbandar Forest Division to strengthen forest management and provide administrative support for the rehabilitation of Asiatic lions in Barda Forest.
The decision was taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel following the natural return of Asiatic lions to Barda after 143 years. The reorganisation is aimed at ensuring clearer responsibilities for forest conservation and wildlife management, improving implementation of Forest Department schemes and facilitating faster resolution of forest and environment-related issues.The restructuring was carried out under the guidance of Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State for Forests Pravin Mali.

Under the new arrangement, the Porbandar Forest Division has been reorganised with a revised range and beat structure. The Porbandar Range will cover 6,840.84 hectares and 80 villages, divided among beats including Porbandar City, Gosabara, Moker, Visavada, Kantela, Madhavpur and Satiya.The Ranavav Range will cover 13,051.25 hectares and 27 villages, with areas including Godana, Bileshwar, Savdivadar and Ranavav organised under different beats. The revised structure is expected to enable more precise management of forest conservation, patrolling and other field-level activities.As part of the restructuring, 305.94 hectares from the RFW Bhatia Range under the Jamnagar Forest Division will be brought under the Bhanvad Range of the Porbandar Forest Division. The area covers four villages in Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district — Kandarda Jogna, Sajdiyala, Juna and Jambusar.
The Kutiyana Range, Porbandar Social Forestry Range and Ranavav Social Forestry Range will also be brought under the Porbandar Forest Division. The transfer will include corresponding changes in administrative responsibilities as well as the movement of vehicles, weapons, wireless and walkie-talkie equipment, records, computers, furniture and other resources as per prescribed procedures.The reorganisation also provides for two Assistant Conservators of Forests under the Porbandar Forest Division. Assistant Conservator of Forests-1 will oversee the Porbandar Range, Porbandar Social Forestry Range and Ranavav Social Forestry Range, while Assistant Conservator of Forests-2 will oversee the Ranavav Range, Bhanvad Range, Kutiyana Range and Mobile Squad (T.A.) Range, according to sources.

With the addition of the three ranges, the Porbandar Forest Division will have seven ranges. Accordingly, one vacant Assistant Conservator of Forests post from the two sanctioned posts at Kevadia will be transferred to the Porbandar Forest Division, in addition to the existing post.The Porbandar Forest Division will continue to function under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Porbandar Forest Division, along with the two Assistant Conservators of Forests, will oversee the respective ranges under the revised administrative structure.The Range Forest Officer of the Porbandar Forest Division will also be responsible for the operations of the division's Mobile Squad. Integrating the Mobile Squad into the revised structure is intended to facilitate prompt action during field operations.The restructuring includes changes in administrative boundaries as well as the deployment of staff and essential field resources. The transfer and reallocation of personnel, vehicles, weapons, wireless equipment, records and other resources will support operations under the new structure.
The Gujarat Government said the reorganisation will strengthen forest conservation, wildlife management and field administration in Porbandar district, including the Barda region. It is also intended to provide stronger administrative support for lion rehabilitation, implementation of departmental schemes and resolution of forest and environment-related matters.The resolution came into effect immediately upon its publication.

(State Correspondent)