In a significant administrative restructuring, the Andhra Pradesh government has reassigned 11 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers to key positions within the state’s Forest and Environment Department. The transfer orders, issued on Thursday by Chief Secretary K.S. Vijayanand, signal a strategic effort to enhance environmental governance and forest management across the state.
Key Appointments in Environmental and Regulatory Roles
As part of the reshuffle, several high-level appointments have been made:
Rajendra Prasad has been named Managing Director of the Environment Development Corporation.
S.S. Sridhar will assume the role of Managing Director of the Forest Development Corporation.
S. Sri Sharvanan has been appointed Member Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, a pivotal position in the state’s environmental regulatory framework.
Field and Regional Leadership Assignments
The reshuffle also includes important field-level postings:
S. Srikanthanathareddy has been transferred as Regional Manager of the Forest Development Corporation.
B. Vijay Kumar will now serve as Field Director of the Srisailam Project Tiger Circle, a critical tiger conservation zone in the state.
B.V.A. Krishna Murthy has been appointed Conservator of Forests for the Kurnool Circle.
Specialized and Divisional Roles
Additional appointments include:
M. Babitha, who takes charge as State Silviculturist at the Biotechnology Research Centre.
G.G. Narendran, posted as Deputy Conservator of Forests.
V. Sai Baba, appointed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Tirupati, a role of ecological and religious significance due to the region’s unique environmental needs.
G. Vignesh Appavu, who will serve as Deputy Director of the Atmakur Forest Division.
P. Vivek, appointed Regional Manager of the Nellore Forest Development Corporation.
Strategic Focus on Conservation and Governance
This reorganization is viewed as a strategic move to strengthen the state’s forest administration, with emphasis on wildlife conservation, afforestation, pollution control, and community forestry. With critical zones such as the Srisailam Tiger Reserve and ecologically sensitive areas like Tirupati under new leadership, the reshuffle is expected to drive improved forest governance and ecological outcomes in Andhra Pradesh.
