MANUAL-1 

Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties

[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]

1) Allocation of Business (Functions):

Being aware of the National Forest Policy and provisions of Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Forest Department is solely responsible to protect its rich biodiversity and natural heritage while permitting only unavoidable use of forest land for various developmental purposes. It is the firm commitment of the Department to balance the conservation of forests with the sustainable development need of the state contributing to better environment, health and economy. The department has also made efforts to consolidate the forest areas and regenerate the forest cover through people's participation as per different policies/ schemes formulated by State/Central Govt. i.e. compensatory process, JFM process etc.

     The Forest Division is also an implementing agency of new projects under National Afforestation Programme during 10th Plan Period i.e. the Two-tier set up namely the Forest Development Agencies  (FDAs) and Joint Forest Management Committee (JMFCs) called Vana Samrakshana Samities (VSS). In the participatory mode, the  scheme implemented by the Department creates a decentralized institutional structure that allows greater participation of the community both in planning and  implementation of the appropriate afforestation programmes.

     The commercial activity of the Forest Division has almost come to a grinding halt which has adversely affected its revenue earning system. Forest working as per the prescriptions of working plans has been started during 2005 after a gap of 13 years. The free access of local/ tribal for collection of 69 Minor Forest Produce items has became an issue of eye opener for the support of local/ tribal in preserving forest though substantial  revenue has been overlooked by Government in interest of tribal.

     The primary task of the Forest Division is for Sustainable Forest Management with conservation of biodiversity is to associate the local/ tribal people closely in the protection, regeneration, and development of forests as well as to provide gainful employment/livelihood support to people living in and around the forests.

2) Functions/ Duties:

a) Duties and responsibilities of DFO, Balangir Forest Division:

• The responsibility for the proper management of the forest business and the finance of the Division rests on the Divisional Forest Officer. He is to take an active part, in all technical works. Subjects to the prescriptions of the working plan  and any direction he may receive from his superior officers, he will control the silviculture of his division, and will be held responsible for  the correctness of all technical operations. He should have a wide knowledge of the people with whom he has to deal and sympathy for their requirement and should carry out the forest policy prescribed for him with fairness and common sense. He should ensure timely submission of all reports and returns as prescribed and called for from time to time.
• He is responsible for the general management of the forest situated in his division and possesses direct control over the forest establishment employed therein.
• He shall report without undue delay to the Conservator the action taken on the Conservator's inspection notes.
• He should make frequent inspection of the Check Naka station and timber depots situated in the division.
• He is responsible for the proper implementation of Transit rules concerning transit of forest produce and shall prevent illegal and illicit transit of forest produce from his division.

b) Duties and responsibilities of Assistant Conservator of Forests:

• The Assistant Conservator of Forests attached to a Division will assist the Divisional Forest Officer in his management of the Division as may be required of him by the Divisional Forest Officer and/ or as required under the provisions of this Code.