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Staff scarcity hits task force
Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) police are facing a plethora of problems in their day-to-day functioning in a bid to check red sandal smugglers.Four years ago, the State government established the RSASTF police unit under the forest department exclusively for prevention of red sanders smuggling in the limits of Chittoor, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa and Prakasam districts. At that time
Tirupati: Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) police are facing a plethora of problems in their day-to-day functioning in a bid to check red sandal smugglers.Four years ago, the State government established the RSASTF police unit under the forest department exclusively for prevention of red sanders smuggling in the limits of Chittoor, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa and Prakasam districts. At that time, task force unit started with sanctioned strength of 450 staff.
Highlights:
- Plethora of problems in task force are impacting the morale of cadre in prevention of red sanders smuggling
- Out of sanctioned strength of 450, only 150 personnel working in the unit
RASTF headquarters and police station was set up near Kapilatheertham temple.Since last four years, the task force was facing a plethora of problems, waiting for solution from government. The task force presently working with the strength of 150 numbers only. Two months ago, there were three DSPs have worked in team.
As part of administrative convenience, two DSPs were transferred to another district and two FROs in the force also transferred.More than 300 posts including CIs, Sis and armed police constables are lying vacant in task force. Almost RSASTF unit functioning with one-third staff. It was leading to over burden and due to work pressure, they have not properly discharging their duties.
Lack of budget, negligence in providing of facilities, delay in increase in salaries and scarcity of staff impacting the morale of task force work. In the meantime, task force police also discharging other duties like dog squad vehicle checking, surveillance at vulnerable points of RS smuggling like Mangalam, Srivarimettu, Railway Koduru, Mamanduru, Anjaneyapuram checkpost, Grand world hotel back side and Jeevakona.
According to sources, Task Force IG Kantha Rao presently heading the RSASTF unit, will be transferred soon to mother department police wing. Regarding the in-charge post of taskforce from police side, higher officials are not showing much interest to work here. This is also one of the major drawback for effective functioning of task force.
Funds crunch had forced the department to stop purchasing CC Cameras to put at Seshachalam hills entry and exit points.A senior official in the forest department, speaking to The Hans India said that due to shortage of funds we are unable to purchase advanced CC cameras for prevention of red sanders smuggling. Government should appoint required staff to taskforce and sanction sufficient funds to prevent illegal smuggling of valuable forest wealth, he said.
By K Nethaji
