Kolleru Forest Officer Suspended For Role In Aiding Fish Mafia

[Spartan]

Serving a jolt to the fish mafia of Kolleru lake, the state government on Monday placed Kolleru lake divisional forest officer (DFO-wildlife), T Srinivasa Rao, under suspension on the charge of encouraging construction of fish ponds within the protected lake area.

According to information, the government-appointed inquiry officer, assistant conservator of forests Suryanarayana, confirmed the allegations against the DFO and submitted a report last week. Taking a serious note of the misdeeds, the chief conservator of forests B J Banerjee placed Srinivasa Rao under suspension and directed Eluru conservator of forests Sridhar to immediately relieve Rao of duties.

The inquiry officer was believed to have found large-scale construction of fish ponds in Sidhapuram and Chinamillipadu in Akiveedu mandal, Kalakarru, Sriparru, Paidichintapadu and Gudivadalanka in Eluru rural mandal, Vaddigudem and Jayapuram in Pedapadu mandal in West Godavari district, Chatakai, Kottada, Sringavarappadu and Pandiripallegudem in Kaikalur mandal of Krishna district. The inquiry officer reportedly also recommended action against local ranger Rammohan Singh and guards working in Kolleru lake.