In a move that is projected at bringing about better quality in forestry works, the State government has replaced the existing convener system for such works with the contractor system.
It means that all works in the Forest Department, including biodiversity conservation and timber extraction, will henceforth be tendered with a sanctioned estimate.
The new system is based on a draft prepared and submitted last year by a high-level forest department committee comprising senior forest officers N.V. Trivedi Babu, K.P. Ouseph, and K.J. Varghese.
The convener system for forestry works was introduced in 1989 as a temporary measure but later on got endorsed as the authorised system for executing such works. Under that system, works were entrusted to a head labourer who is called the convener. The convener has labourers under him.
Top sources in the department told The Hindu that though the system went well initially, trouble started when conveners encountered skilled labour shortage coupled with Treasury restrictions since 1992.
Some of the forestry works under this system involved huge amounts running into a couple of crores of rupees and it raised questions as to how conveners, who themselves are labourers, could execute such costly works even when considerable amounts due to them were pending because of treasury restrictions.
It triggered doubts about mystery financiers behind the conveners and some of whom were even suspected to be officers from the department itself.
Quality compromised
This often resulted in the quality of the works getting compromised. Shortage of labour made conveners go to neighbouring States and bring huge groups of labourers who did not have much experience with forestry works, the sources said.
The contract system will cover all works inside forest areas like raising teak nurseries, planting and maintenance of plantation saplings, soil and moisture conservation, fire protection works, eradication of exotic weeds, and collection of seeds. The new system was notified on May 20 last.