The proposal sent well in time for the ritual March/April transfers by the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) office here have been drastically changed by the ministry sometimes repeatedly, and the release of the list has been delayed.

With the academic year already having started all over the State, the deputy conservators of forests (DyCF) and conservators of forests (CF) will find it difficult to put their children in good schools as the postings have been delayed.

The IFS Officers Association which has already expressed ``disgust'' at it might hold a general body meeting on the issue. The IFS Association has proposed boycott of officers who use such pressures to get postings.

According to availableinformation, the proposal of transfers and postings received from the PCCF office were cleared by the then forest minister, Ganesh Naik, and sent to the Chief Minister for approval, a couple of months back.

Naik, had to go in the wake of his differences with the Shiv Sena supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray, and Chandrakant Khaire was given the portfolio. The new minister reportedly told the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) to return the list for a fresh look.

Sources from Mantralaya said that the ministry changed the list drastically and included several officials for ``lucrative'' postings, despite the fact that the credentials of some officers were under cloud.

The original proposal which was sent by the PCCF office in March last recommended transfer of only 19 DyCFs in the State which was increased to 37 by the ministry, thanks to political pressure and alleged money power.

``This is unprecedented in the history of forest department in the State when the proposal of PCCF was drastically changed and thedepartment succumbed to the political pressure,'' a senior forest official pointed out and said that several officers who failed to complete a year, were proposed for another transfer.

The sources said that an IFS officer, Mande, who was posted at Junner as DyCF just a year back has been proposed for another transfer. Similarly, B P Singh, who is serving at Bramhapuri in Chandrapur district is likely to be shunted out before the completion of his tenure.

Singh, who did a wonderful job in preventing ritual fire in the Bramhapuri forest region during his short tenure, is getting a raw deal. He is likely to get a less important position in the proposed transfer order. Similarly, the new proposal recommended transfer of Navin Singh, the DyCF of Aurangabad, who barely completed two years in the division.

Some officers, have successfully managed to replace these officers, thanks to their maneuvering and political clout. Few of them, have already completed their territorial tenure and are waiting for anothergood posting.

G S Kande, the DyCF of Bhandara has completed his three-year tenure there, and is likely to get transferred to the `lucrative' Alibagh forest division. Ashok Khadse, who was transferred to Pal Forest School as principal just a year back, will now be shifted to Bhandara to succeed Kande.

There are several such examples which show that the transfers and postings of DyCFs and CFs are often irrational. One of the classic example is the Ahmednagar forest division. A huge afforestation scheme is to be undertaken in the division and several officers want to be posted there.

M V Joshi, who was functioning as a territory in-charge in South Chanda circle, has now been given another territorial posting Yavatmal circle.

Arvind Kumar Jha, the CF (Education), who was initially in charge of Aurangabad, has been shifted to South Chanda circle.

PCCF Jagir Singh, who preferred pre-matured retirement, presided over the IFS Officers Association meeting, held recently. He expressed unhappiness on the useof political pressures by some IFS officers to get desired postings.

He urged that unless the officers of IFS exhibit some self-respect and work as a cohesive professional group in the interest of forestry, there is no future for this service.

Singh, reportedly said that the transfer proposal was submitted to the government well in time. ``However, the actions of our own members were often delaying the transfer orders,'' he said.

Talking to The Indian Express, Chandrakant Khaire, Maharashtra minister for forests, admitted that there was a lot of political pressure regarding transfers. ``Who can be blamed for it,'' he asked and said that these officers often came with requests from MLAs and other big-wigs of political parties. ``We have to honour the peoples' representatives' request.

Otherwise it will be difficult to survive in politics,'' he said. However, he refuted the charge that money power played a major role in the recent transfer proposals.