Assam government has removed Ranjana Gupta, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) from the post of chief wildlife warden (CWLW).
R. K. Mazumder, commissioner and secretary of Environment and Forest, issued an order for transfer of Ranjana Gupta from the post of CWLW.
Ranjana Gupta would now take over as the PCCF (wetland).
The government did not cite any reason for Gupta’s removal from the important post of CWLW.
M.K. Yadava, additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF) has been asked to officiate as CWLW of Assam.
Traditionally, the post of CWLW is held by an Indian Forest Service IFS) official of the rank of PCCF.
Sources said Ranjana Gupta was removed from the important post of CWLW for her inability to handle the case of transportation of four elephants to Gujarat competently.
There are reports that the Assam Forest Department is planning to issue orders to lease out six elephants to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
While four juvenile elephants will be sent to the Jagannath Temple in Gujarat, two other elephants will leased to Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in June this year, Ranjana Gupta was caught in a whirlpool of controversy over transportation of four elephants to Gujarat.
While the media was vociferous against the transportation of the elephants to Gujarat amidst the heat wave, NGOs had filed PIL in the Gauhati High Court.
And because of the legal complications, transportation of the elephants to Gujarat had to be kept in abeyance.