Interviewtimes 
Sisir Kumar Ratho who served as the Additional Director General of Forests with the Union ministry of environment, forests & climate change (MoEFCC), has been appointed as the new Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Odisha. The 1987 batch IFS officer has also been named the new Head of Forest Force.
As Additional DG, Forests in the MoEFCC, he was looking after Forest Conservation Act, regional Offices of the Ministry, Forest Policy, Working Plans, Forest Fire and Protection, Externally Aided Projects, Export and Import Policy of Forest Produces including Wood Based Industries.
He was also looking after Research and Training activities which includes institutions like ICFRE, IPIRTI, IIFM, Forest Survey of India and training of IFS and SFS officers in the country. He was also holding additional charge of CEO, National Authority CAMPA.
Ratho was actively involved in the recent changes that are being proposed under FC Act to make it more conservation oriented and at the same time improve ease of doing business and reduce compliance burden.
Ratho has held important posts in Government of India as Deputy Director General of Namami Gange Programme under Jal Shakti Ministry as well as Joint Secretary in the Tribal Affairs Ministry from 2017-2020.
In the earlier stint in Odisha he worked as Special Secretary to Government of Odisha in the Housing & Urban Development Department and State Mission Director, Smart City Mission.
He also held additional charge of CEO of Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund as well as Managing Director of Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation from 2013- 2017.
He has co-authored two books “Ago Forestry Manual for Asia Pacific Region” published by UNCCD Secretariat, Bonn and “Eternal Wisdom” by National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, New Delhi.
