Bhubaneswar: The Forest Department in Odisha is under scanner after it came to light that it has allegedly been paying wages to the Honorary Wildlife Warden (HWW) of Boudh — a post, as the title suggests, is honorary and the official occupying it is not entitled to salary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Arun Kumar Mendili, who was appointed as HWW of Boudh in June last year, is being paid Rs 9,450 per month by the Forest Department not as an HWW but as a ‘Wildlife Protection cum Anti-Depredation Squad’ member, a job outsourced to an agency called ‘Group No. 5 Security Service’.
Mendili was allegedly paid Rs 8,465 in April and Rs 12,694 in May this year as wages.
According to Boudh Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Debapriya Kampa, the department has stopped paying Mendili and also removed him as a ‘Wildlife Protection cum Anti-Depredation Squad’ member.
The post of HWW is equivalent to a DFO. A crucial post, an HWW is appointed for a duration of two years and the person occupying the post doesn’t draw any salary.
Subhendu Mallik, HWW of Khurda district, called for strict action against Boudh DFO and Mendili. Mallik said Mendili was unfit for the post of HWW as he had participated in protests against the Forest Department in the past and should be sacked immediately. “There are several allegations against the Boudh DFO, who has been exposed further. The money paid as wages to Mendili should be deducted from the salary of the Boudh DFO. Both should be investigated by Odisha Vigilance,” he said.
Wildlife experts said incidents like the one that has come to light in Boudh can lead to conflict of interest.
“The Honorary Wildlife Warden is answerable only to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state. In that sense, the Honorary Wildlife Warden should have independence in authority while dealing with DFOs, conservators and other forest officials,” an expert was quoted as in a TNIE report.
Besides, a DFO looks after a division while an HWW looks after a district with more than one forest division.
