Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) - Created - Jurisdiction and functions
GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA
PRADESH
ABSTRACT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS,
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Section.II) DEPARTMENT
G.O. Ms. No.103 Dated.29-12-2014
Read the following:
1. G.O. Ms. No.217, Finance (HR.I)
Department dt:25-11-2014.
2. From the PCCF Rc.No.1193/2014/HR.I,Dt:4-9-2014.
3. DG of Police A.P. letter
No.28/Plg-4/2014,Dt:16-9-2014.
*****
ORDER:-
Whereas,
Red Sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus) is endemic to the forests of Seshachalam,
Veligonda , Lankamala and Palakonda Hill Range of Andhra Pradesh and
distributed in the districts of Kadapa, Chittoor, Nellore ,
Prakasam, and kurnool Nellore
and Kurnool in spite of various steps taken by
the Forest and Police Departments. The Red
Sanders logs are being cut by wood cutters employed by organized gangs of smugglers.
After the logs are cut, smugglers are transporting the Red Sanders wood to
various storage points and they are further being moved clandestinely out of
the country. The wood has great demand in South East Asia, China and Japan
2. And Whereas, Home Department in the reference 5th
read above has informed that in the recent past, several violent incidents have
occurred, where the Forest officials intercepting the wood cutters of illicit
transportation were physically assaulted, killing two Forest
personnel in one incident. Hence, the need for Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling
Task Forcefor effective control for protection of Red Sanders forests.
3. Accordingly,
in order to ensure effective protection of the Red Sanders forests, the Government
after careful examination of the matter, issued orders vide reference 1st
read above creating a Joint Task Force called Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task
Force (RSASTF), with 463 personnel.
4. The Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task
Force shall start functioning with immediate effect. The Jurisdiction and
functions of the RSASTF are as follows:-
(a) Jurisdiction/Duties: The
Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) shall have jurisdiction
throughout the state of Andhra Pradesh for enforcement and investigation of all
matters involving illegal activities pertaining to Red Sanders with in the
State of Andhra Pradesh
(b) Functioning: The Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF)
shall exercise its powers as a Police Station as defined in Criminal Procedure
Code and enforce the relevant provisions of Indian Pinal Code, Criminal
Procedure Code, Andhra Pradesh .Forest Act 1967, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
and such other Acts and Rules as applicable relating to matters involving in Protection
of Red Sanders.
(c) Head
Quarters: The Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task Force
(RSASTF) shall have its head quarters at Tirupathi. The necessary assistance
for establishment of Task Force Head Quarters shall be extended by the Forest
Department.
(d) Man
power: A total of 463 posts were sanctioned
in the G.O.Ms.No.217, Finance (HR.I) Department dt: 25-11-2014. The force is
meant for investigation of cases commando operations, intelligence unit,
administrative wing and documentation unit.
(e) Equipment: The necessary arms and ammunition and other equipment
for commando operations shall be provided by the Police Department.
(f)
Commando & Control: The Red Sanders Anti - Smuggling Task Force
(RSASTF) shall function under the administrative control of the Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) and under the operational control
of Direct General of police and functions under the supervision of Inspector of
General of police, Rayalaseema Region for operations and other related matters
who will inturn report to the Director General of police, Andhra Pradesh
.Hyderabad.
The police personnel and Forest personnel who are working in the Task Force shall
work under over all supervision of the Head of Task Force who will be in the
rank of Deputy Inspector General of police.
The Head of Task Force may
requisition additional forces from the local police / Forest
units and laise with local police and forest units on continuous basis.
(g) Documentation: The Task Force shall maintain
documentation and database in all the matters relating to Red Sanders Anti -
Smuggling enforcement.
(h) Co- ordination: The
Task Force shall Co - ordinate with all police and Forest units, Central
agencies and other State agencies in the matters relating to protection of Red Sanders
Forest Forest and other departments of
State Government shall extend their co - operation to the Task Force when
request is made to them by the Task Force for smooth functioning.
(i)
Deputation: The
organization would be manned purely by personnel on deputation, depending on
the willingness and suitability to be decided by the Heads of Police Force and
Forest Force jointly. The Head of Police Department (HoPD) and Head of Forest
Force (HoFF) will apportion the above sanctioned strength amongst various
lending units for deputation to RSASTF under their control on the basis of need
and administrative convenience. The average tenure for deputation would be two
years which can be extended only with the approval of Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests and Direct General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, as the
case may be.
5. The
Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh (HoPD) and the Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests (HoFF) are requested to take necessary action
accordingly.
6. This order issues with the concurrence of the Finance
Department vide their U.O. No. 2487/
PFS/14, dated. 29-12-2014.
(BY ORDER
AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH)
S.P. SINGH
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT
Post a Comment