Gujarat Restructures Porbandar Forest Division for Barda Lion Rehabilitation
The Gujarat government has reorganised the Porbandar Forest Division to boost Asiatic lion rehabilitation in Barda after their natural return.
In a significant move to bolster the protection and resettlement of the majestic Asiatic lions, the Gujarat government has announced a major restructuring of the Porbandar Forest Division. This administrative overhaul is specifically designed to support the rehabilitation efforts in the Barda forest, where Asiatic lions have naturally returned after a gap of 143 years.
The decision, guided by Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State Pravin Mali, aims to create a more robust framework for wildlife management and forest conservation within the Porbandar district.
A New Administrative Blueprint
The reorganization is not merely a change in paperwork; it involves a comprehensive shift in how forest resources and responsibilities are managed. By redefining roles at the range, beat, and officer levels, the state intends to ensure that field operations are more systematic and that environmental issues are addressed with greater speed.
The restructuring includes the redistribution of:
- Administrative control of various ranges and beats
- Forest department staff and officers
- Essential resources including vehicles, weapons, and wireless equipment
- Official records and technical infrastructure
Detailed Breakdown of the New Ranges
The newly structured Porbandar Forest Division will now comprise seven distinct ranges to ensure comprehensive coverage of the territory:
- Porbandar Range: Spanning 6,840.84 hectares across 80 villages, this range includes beats such as Porbandar City, Gosabara, Moker, Visavada, Kantela, Madhavpur, and Satiya.
- Ranavav Range: Covering 13,051.25 hectares and 27 villages, it includes the Godana, Bileshwar, Savdivadar, and Ranavav beats.
- Bhanvad Range: This range has expanded by absorbing 305.94 hectares from the Jamnagar Forest Division's RFW Bhatia Range, covering four villages in the Devbhumi Dwarka district: Kandarda Jogna, Sajdiyala, Juna, and Jambusar.
- Kutiyana Range: Now integrated into the Porbandar Forest Division.
- Porbandar Social Forestry Range: Brought under the new division structure.
- Ranavav Social Forestry Range: Also integrated into the division.
- Mobile Squad (T.A.) Range: Managed under the division's expanded oversight.
Strengthened Leadership and Oversight
To manage this expanded territory, the division has been provisioned with two Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACF). The division will continue to operate under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle, with a Deputy Conservator of Forests providing high-level supervision.
The division of labor among the new leadership is clearly defined:
- Assistant Conservator of Forests-1: Tasked with overseeing the Porbandar Range, as well as the Porbandar and Ranavav Social Forestry Ranges.
- Assistant Conservator of Forests-2: Will manage the Ranavav, Bhanvad, and Kutiyana Ranges, along with the Mobile Squad.
To support this growth, a vacant Assistant Conservator post from Kevadia has been transferred to the Porbandar Forest Division. Officials emphasized that by integrating Porbandar, Ranavav, Bhanvad, and Kutiyana into a single administrative structure, the state is better prepared to handle the complexities of wildlife management and the critical mission of lion rehabilitation in the Barda region.