Items of Work Handled

Items of Work Handled

The brief mandate of all IROs under ROHQ Division is as under

Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) related functions:

• To assist the State/UTs in preparation of the proposals involving diversion of forests land for non-forestry purposes under the provisions of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for expeditious processing and disposal of such cases.
• To undertake physical inspection of sites in cases of diversion of forestland involving an area of more than 100 hectares and in other cases as may be required.
• To monitor the implementation of conditions and safeguards stipulated by Central Government in the proposal approved under FCA, 1980.
• The Ministry on 10^th October, 2014 has notified the Forest (Conservation) Second Amendment Rules, 2014 to provide for inter-alia constitution of Regional Empowered Committee (REC) at each of its Regional Office and delegation of power to these RECs to finally dispose of proposals, other than those related to mining, regularization of encroachment and hydel projects, involving diversion of upto 40 hectares of forest land, and all proposals related to linear projects such as roads, railway lines etc. irrespective of the area of forest land.
• Uploading on the websites the Stage-I (In-principle), Stage-II (Final) approvals, the site inspection/ monitoring reports, Agenda and Minutes of the REC meetings held

Working Plan related functions:

• To assist the State/UTs in the preparation of management/ working plans for working of forest under their control within the framework of guidelines issued by Central Government from time to time.
• Monitoring the implementation of the management/ working plans.

Monitoring of other schemes :

• To monitor and evaluate all ongoing forestry development projects and scheme with specific emphasis on conservation of forests
• Monitoring the utilization of CAMPA funds, monitoring of centrally sponsored schemes.

Environmental Management and Pollution Control functions :

• To follow up implementation of conditions and safeguards laid down for projects/ activities when environmental clearance is given.
• To follow up implementation of conditions and safeguards laid down for projects/ activities when environmental clearance is given.
• To examine and analyse the Six Monthly Progress reports from the Project Proponents vis-à-vis conditions in the Environmental Clearance (EC) and take further necessary action; To do surprise and random checks/ verifications of EC conditions of various projects by site visits.
• To conduct enquiries as may be directed by the Ministry; To follow up pollution control measures taken by industries, local bodies, Government (State/ Centre).
• To collect and furnish information relating to environmental impact assessment of projects, Pollution control measures, methodology and status, legal and enforcement measures, environmental protection for special conservation areas like wetlands, mangroves and biosphere reserves.
• To maintain liaison and provide linkage with the concerned State Government, with Central Government Agencies (including Regional Offices of BSI, FSI & ZSI) with project authorities, with the Regional Offices of the Central Pollution Control Board; with State Pollution Control Boards and with non-Government Organisation involved in implementation of programmes relating to environment.
• To organize workshops for State Pollution Control Board and State Environment Department to acquaint with the application of Hazardous Management Rules and Public Liability Act.
• Uploading on their website the Six Monthly Progress reports of compliance and site visit reports.

Miscellaneous functions :

• To service the Standing Site Inspection Committee in the matter of ascertaining the position of the forest or non-forest land.To service the Standing Site Inspection Committee in the matter of ascertaining the position of the forest or non-forest land.
• Rendering assistance in preparation of the National Forestry Action Plan.
• Regional level technical and scientific consultation on biological diversity
• To assist the State/ UTs in streamlining collection, collation, storage and retrieval of data/ covering all forestry activities and to transmit such data to the Central Government/ Central Data Processing Centre.
• Attending to Court Cases pertaining to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Attend to RTI Applications, general complaints pertaining to environment and forest issues.
• Such other work as assigned from time to time.