West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday directed Forest Department officials to function with greater transparency and intensify efforts to curb illegal logging and timber smuggling. He also instructed the department to begin filling vacant posts and emphasised the need for large-scale afforestation to strengthen environmental conservation.
Adhikari said the state must improve the department's overall functioning, address the growing issue of human-animal conflict in the southwestern districts and expand tree plantation drives across West Bengal. As part of the initiative, he urged every MLA to plant one lakh saplings in their respective constituencies to help increase the state's green cover.
Addressing the Forest Week celebrations in Salt Lake, Adhikari said, "We have stopped cattle smuggling, syndicate raj and other illegal activities. Similarly, the Forest Department should work with the assistance of the police to prevent illegal logging and timber smuggling."
He acknowledged that Forest Department officials face several operational challenges and directed the department's secretary to prepare a proposal for improving infrastructure and filling vacant positions.
Adhikari also announced that the recruitment of forest guards would now be conducted through the Police Recruitment Board and said the existing vacancies would be filled within the next few months.
Referring to the recurring human-elephant conflict in the Jangalmahal region, which includes Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura districts, he stressed the importance of balancing wildlife conservation with developmental activities. The region frequently witnesses conflicts as elephant herds enter agricultural fields during the harvest season.
"The previous government neglected the Forest Department. We should learn from states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh on how to give greater priority to the department," Adhikari said.
Calling for greater public participation in environmental conservation, he added, "Let us build a pollution-free and environment-friendly West Bengal."
Referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's target of planting 26 crore saplings, Adhikari said that while West Bengal is smaller in size, it should aim to plant 10 crore saplings this year.
He appealed to every MLA to take the lead by planting one lakh saplings in their constituencies, saying, "Let us create a healthy competition to make West Bengal green again."
The Chief Minister's address focused on strengthening action against forest-related crimes, improving the Forest Department's capacity and expanding plantation efforts across the state.
