Following the success of the Van Mitra call centre service, the Forest Department will introduce the options of uploading pictures and video clips of environmental crimes.
Other issues can also be uploaded on the website launched earlier this year to enable the public to complain or inform the department on forest related issues. It will be recalled that earlier this year in August, the Kumaon circle of the Forest Department had launched the centralised digital telephonic call centre service Van Mitra for ensuring public participation in forest and wildlife conservation.
A website- forestuk.in was also launched to further provide an interactive platform for the people to protect forests and wildlife. The Van Mitra call centre service can be accessed always on 9208008000 for registering any information or complaint related to the forest department. As the call centre has capacity for accommodating 300 lines, anyone calling at the number will not find the line busy.
According to the chief conservator of forests, Kumaon circle, Param Jit Singh, more than 1,000 complaints were received at Van Mitra regarding various issues. Follow up action was also taken in most of the cases pertaining to illegal mining, illegal logging and poaching among other issues.
“We are making the website more user-friendly. On Friday, we will launch options on the website that will enable a visitor to upload photographs and video clips along with the complaint. This option will help substantiate complaints related to encroachment on forest land and other anomalies,” he said.
The Van Mitra service, presently in operation only in Kumaon circle, has received more than 1,000 calls after being launched about four months ago. The callers conveyed information related to illegal mining, illicit tree felling, wildlife poaching, encroachment on reserve forest land, illegal timber transport, illegal resin transport/tapping and other crimes. This service might make the forest department transparent and accountable towards the people.