Guwahati, Feb 23: In a move stirring controversy, the Assam government has extended the tenure of retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer M.K. Yadava as Special Chief Secretary (Forests) for another year, effective March 1, 2025. This decision, approved by the state cabinet on February 16, grants Yadava full financial and administrative authority, despite ongoing investigations into his alleged role in illegal forest land diversions.

Yadava, who retired as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) on February 29, 2024, was reappointed for a one-year term. His extension has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning why an official under scrutiny for serious environmental violations is being retained in a position of power.

The most serious charge against Yadava involves the unauthorized diversion of protected forest land in Geleky, Sivasagar district, where he allegedly sanctioned land for a commando battalion camp without obtaining mandatory environmental clearances. The case is under investigation by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has issued a show-cause notice under the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023—a violation that could result in imprisonment.

Similar allegations have surfaced in Hailakandi district, where Yadava is accused of facilitating another illegal land diversion for a commando battalion headquarters. In 2023, he made headlines for approving the diversion of 44 hectares of forest land on the Assam-Mizoram border, a move initially criticized by the Union Environment Ministry. Additionally, in 2022, he sanctioned the diversion of 28 hectares of protected land at the Assam-Nagaland border’s Geleky Reserve Forest for a police battalion camp—again, without prior approval from the Centre.

Although both projects were later approved retroactively, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) imposed heavy penalties on Assam authorities, including a fivefold Net Present Value (NPV) fine and 12% interest on violations. The FAC also imposed stringent restrictions, stating no further forest land expansion will be permitted for these projects and green belts must be maintained, preventing future construction in designated areas.

Despite these violations, Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary has confirmed Yadava’s reappointment, fueling concerns over transparency and accountability. Environmentalists and opposition leaders have condemned the decision, questioning why an official under multiple investigations has been granted another term with unrestricted powers.

With the NGT hearing still pending, critics argue that Yadava’s extension undermines environmental governance and raises doubts about the government’s commitment to conservation laws. As scrutiny intensifies, all eyes are now on the next legal and political developments surrounding this contentious appointment.

Also Read: Assam Assembly discontinues ‘namaz’ break after 90-years

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