Sarang Integrated Command Center inaugurated in Varanasi for forest monitoring and grievance redressal
Representative Image
VARANASI: Chief
conservator of Forests
, Prayagraj, Shesh Narayan Mishra, inaugurated the
Sarang
Integrated Command Center
in Varanasi on Wednesday.
The center has been established for the efficient operation and information exchange of Forest Helpline-1926.
It is designed to receive and promptly address complaints and suggestions related to forest crimes such as illegal tree felling, unauthorised timber storage and transportation, illegal sawmills, charcoal kilns, and wildlife poaching and trade.
Ravi
Kumar Singh
, Conservator of Forests, Varanasi Division; Tulsi Das, Conservator of Forests, Prayagraj Division; and all district forest officers — including Swati (Varanasi),
Sarfaraz Ahmed
(Jaunpur), Jagdambika Prasad (Pratapgarh),
Ramanuj Tripathi
(Fatehpur), and Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Divisional Forest Officer, Varanasi — were present on the occasion.
Singh stated that each year, a target of planting 3.5 billion saplings is set under the Tree Plantation Mega Campaign. Coordination and monitoring at the divisional level, involving all 27 departments, will be carried out through the PMS (Plantation Monitoring System) and NMS (Nursery Management System) portals via the
Command Center
. The use of new technologies in plantation activities — such as the preparation of action plans by departments and the submission of online sapling demand forms — will be reviewed, and the progress of geo-tagging after plantation will be assessed.
He added that the Sarang Command Center is also equipped to promptly address public complaints received via the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal. Additionally, the center will monitor forest fire incidents and track the patrolling activities of forest personnel in forest areas.
Instructions for organised action against human-wildlife conflict and illegal logging have been issued to all district forest officers by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Southern Region, Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj, and the Conservator of Forests, Varanasi Circle.
Historically, Varanasi — located along the holy Ganga — was rich in deer populations, with several deer parks mentioned in ancient records. The term Sarang means "deer." Lord Buddha chose the deer park in Sarnath for meditation during his stay, at the site where the Dhamek Stupa stands today. This ancient deer park is currently maintained by the Forest Department. Lord Shiva is also referred to as Sarang Nath, and the name Sarnath is believed to be derived from this title.
'Considering the significance of deer in our ecological and cultural heritage, the Integrated Command Center has been named Sarang,' Singh explained.
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