The state government has approved the creation of 3,085 new posts in the Forest department, Law Minister T B Jayachandra announced in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, the government will recruit 16 assistant conservators of forest, 67 range forest officers, 751 deputy range forest officers, 1,500 forest guards and 751 forest watchers, Jayachandra said. "Of them, priority will be given to fill vacant posts in the Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks," he said.
Jayachandra was responding to JD(S) MLC K T Srikantegowda's question on the vacancies in Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks. He pointed out that nearly 50% of posts were vacant in both the parks. "How can we expect our forests to be protected without manpower? he said.