Senior Forest Officer Managing Key Roles in Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Sanjeev Kumar Tewari, a 2007-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer currently serving as Conservator of Forests for the North Circle (Hoshiarpur), has been assigned additional charge as Conservator of Forests, Shivalik Circle. This appointment adds to an already demanding list of responsibilities that Tewari holds within the Punjab government.
Promotion Pending to Chief Conservator of Forests
In May, Punjab’s Chief Secretary issued orders for Tewari’s appointment as Chief Conservator of Forests (Hills). However, due to procedural constraints, the promotion has been delayed until September 2025, when the post officially becomes vacant. Although Tewari is already functioning at Level 14 in the pay matrix—making him eligible—he cannot formally take over until the current term ends.
Handling Multiple Key Posts in Tourism and Culture
Beyond his core role in the Forest Department, Tewari is also entrusted with several top positions in the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department, including:
Special Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs
CEO, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board
CEO & GM, Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib
Managing Director, Punjab Tourism Development Corporation Limited
This wide-ranging portfolio positions him at the intersection of environmental governance and cultural policy in Punjab.
Dual Responsibility Strategy: Forests and Culture
The Punjab government’s move to assign Tewari additional forestry duties while he manages key cultural and tourism assets indicates a strategy of utilizing experienced officers across domains. However, the expansion of his workload has sparked internal discussions around efficiency, departmental performance, and administrative bandwidth.
Tewari’s appointment underscores his growing stature in the state bureaucracy—but also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of multi-role assignments at the senior level.
