BHOPAL: Famend forester and architect of Madhya Pradesh’s forest panorama, Jagat Jyoti Dutta, handed away on Saturday. He was 98.
A 1950 batch IFS officer, Dutta was instrumental in establishing the state’s protected space community. As the primary Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh, he laid the inspiration for the state’s wealthy wildlife heritage. His visionary management and unwavering dedication to conservation have left a permanent legacy.
Dutta, a gold medallist in Zoology from Nagpur Science School and an alumnus of FRI Dehradun, retired as PCCF in 1984. Identified for his distinctive data and keenness, he was a mentor to numerous forest officers.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed deep sorrow over Dutta’s demise, calling him a stalwart of Indian forestry. The federal government of Madhya Pradesh had conferred him the Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary contribution to the conservation of wildlife within the state and the nation.
For his imaginative and prescient and perseverance in constructing a powerful wildlife wing with a devoted and educated workforce and making a community of wealthy and numerous protected areas in varied biogeographical zones of the state, and for his scientific mood that led to the institution of the State Forest Analysis Institute at Jabalpur, Dutta’s contributions are unparalleled.
His technique, which referred to as for a change of function for the wildlife supervisor from a conservation introvert to a pal of the individuals, was circulated by the Authorities of India for adoption by different states. He grew to become a radiant centre of experience whereas serving on the School Choice Committee of the Wildlife Institute of India for over a decade, first as a member and eventually as its chairman. Even after his retirement, he continued to be a supply of steerage and inspiration to the youthful technology of foresters.
“Owing to his untiring efforts to safe and nurture wildlife, Madhya Pradesh just about grew to become the ‘Tiger State’ of India by claiming 450 out of a complete census of about 1800 within the first countrywide tiger estimation,” wrote Ghanshaym Saxena and Suhas Kumar, retired IFS officers.
“His means to coach and affect the younger foresters and discipline personnel resulted in a cadre of a particularly adept and devoted workforce that led Madhya Pradesh to turn into a pacesetter in wildlife administration in the whole nation. A few of the reserves developed beneath his steerage in MP had introduced worldwide recognition to the state and the nation. His protégé Padam Bhushan H S Pawar headed the Undertaking Tiger within the early Eighties and later because the director of Wildlife Institute of India, a prestigious establishment of the Authorities of India. Shri J.J Dutta totally deserves the very best Civilian recognition provided by the Authorities of India,” they added.
Retired IFS R Sreenivasa Murty mentioned he was fortunate to have lived with a forestry legend and to have interacted with J J Dutta. “I love the old-time forest officers for with out the trendy instruments they have been capable of steer by means of laying robust foundations of forestry and wildlife administration within the State with a zeal and dedication. Dutta Sir was a pioneer on this rely. He established 9 Nationwide Parks and 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries as the primary Chief Wildlife Warden of the State. My salutes to J.J. Dutta Sir,” he informed TOI.
Cremation will happen at Bhadbhada on Sunday morning.
