The online options of uploading photographs or video clips of environmental crimes and other issues on the Van Mitra website of the Forest Department’s Kumaon circle was inaugurated by principal secretary, Forests, Ranbir Singh at Ramnagar on Friday.
It may 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 accessible 24x7x365 on 9208008000 for registering any information or complaint related to the forest department.
Said to be the first such facility opened by any forest department in India, the fully automated call centre service also has real time SMS and voice mail delivery facility.
According to chief conservator of forests, Kumaon circle, Param Jit Singh, in the four months since the Van Mitra service was launched, action was taken on a total of 1,120 calls received, including 136 related to Bageshwar forest division, 129 each from Haldwani and Champawat divisions, 118 from Ramnagar division, 109 from Terai west division, 105 from Pithoragarh division, 92 each from Terai central and Nainital divisions, 87 from Terai east, 72 from Almora division and 51 from Almora Civil Soyam.
The principal secretary also launched the photo and video upload options on the website- forest.uk.in to enable people to further substantiate their information or complaint lodged on the website.
Based on a 2G network, the facility would forward all photographs and videos in real time to department officials.