Gandhinagar, September 2026: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat Government has taken an important step to strengthen administrative support for the ‘second home’ of Asiatic lions in Barda. To strengthen lion rehabilitation in Barda, the State Government has reorganised the Porbandar Forest Division to improve forest management, ensure smooth implementation of schemes and facilitate the resolution of forest and environment-related issues in the district.
Following the natural return of Asiatic lions to Barda after 143 years, the State Government undertook the reorganisation of the Porbandar Forest Division to support their rehabilitation. Under the guidance of Forest and Environment Minister Shri Arjun Modhwadia and Minister of State Shri Pravin Mali, the decision will ensure clearer responsibilities for forest conservation and wildlife management in Porbandar district, including Barda, along with changes in the administrative control of ranges, beats, officers, staff, vehicles, weapons, wireless equipment and other resources.
Forest Management to Receive Administrative Support for Lion Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation of lions in the Barda region requires not only forest protection but also strong administrative and field-level support. According to the official resolution passed by the Forest and Environment Department in this regard, the reorganisation of the Porbandar Forest Division will strengthen forest management, facilitate the implementation of Forest Department schemes and ensure faster resolution of forest and environment-related issues. The new structure will clearly define responsibilities at the range, beat and officer levels, enabling more systematic field-level operations across Porbandar district, including Barda.
6,840.84 Hectares and 80 Villages under Porbandar Range
Under the reorganisation, the structure of the Porbandar Range has been newly arranged, with 6,840.84 hectares and a total of 80 villages included under the Porbandar Range. This area has been divided into various beats, including Porbandar City, Gosabara, Moker, Visavada, Kantela, Madhavpur and Satiya. Under the new structure, specific areas and villages have been assigned to individual beats. This will provide field officers and staff of the Forest Department with clearer responsibility for operations within their respective areas.
13,051.25 Hectares under Ranavav Range
Similarly, 13,051.25 hectares and 27 villages have been included under the Ranavav Range. Areas including Godana, Bileshwar, Savdivadar and Ranavav have been organised under various beats. By dividing the areas of the Porbandar and Ranavav Ranges into different beats, forest conservation, patrolling and other departmental activities can be managed more precisely at the local level.
305.94 Hectares Added to Bhanvad Range
An important component of the reorganisation is the inclusion of 305.94 hectares from the RFW Bhatia Range under the Jamnagar Forest Division into the Bhanvad Range of the Porbandar Forest Division. This area is located across four villages in Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district. After the transfer of this area under the Porbandar Forest Division, all its administrative functions will be carried out under the administrative control of the Porbandar Forest Division. These four villages include Kandarda Jogna, Sajdiyala, Juna and Jambusar. This step has been taken to bring greater consistency in the administration of interconnected forest areas.
Kutiyana and Social Forestry Ranges Also Brought Under Porbandar
The reorganisation also includes the transfer of the Kutiyana Range, Porbandar Social Forestry Range and Ranavav Social Forestry Range under the Porbandar Forest Division. Necessary changes will be made in the roles and duties of officers, while vehicles, weapons, walkie-talkies, wireless equipment, records, computers, furniture and other resources will also be transferred as per the prescribed procedure.
New Responsibilities under Two Assistant Conservators of Forests
Following the reorganisation, provision has been made for two Assistant Conservators of Forests under the Porbandar Forest Division. Assistant Conservator of Forests-1 will be responsible for the Porbandar Range, Porbandar Social Forestry Range and Ranavav Social Forestry Range. Assistant Conservator of Forests-2 will be responsible for the Ranavav Range, Bhanvad Range, Kutiyana Range and Mobile Squad (T.A.) Range. This arrangement will ensure a clear division of responsibilities at the officer level for supervision and operations across different areas.
One Post Transferred from Kevadia to Porbandar Forest Division
An important administrative decision has also been taken regarding the posts of Assistant Conservators of Forests. With the addition of the Kutiyana, Porbandar Social Forestry and Ranavav Social Forestry Ranges, the Porbandar Forest Division will have seven ranges. Therefore, one vacant Assistant Conservator of Forests post from the two sanctioned posts at Kevadia will be transferred to the Porbandar Forest Division, along with the existing post, to support the new administrative structure.
Integrated Structure with Junagadh Wildlife Circle
As per the resolution, the Porbandar Forest Division will continue to function under the Junagadh Wildlife Circle. Under the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Porbandar Forest Division, the two Assistant Conservators of Forests will oversee different ranges, ensuring clearer officer-level supervision of forest areas in Porbandar district, including the Barda region.
Mobile Squad Operations Also Brought Under Porbandar Forest Division
The Range Forest Officer under the Porbandar Forest Division will also be responsible for the operations of the Mobile Squad of the Porbandar Forest Division. Accordingly, the responsibility of the Mobile Squad will also be integrated into the new structure to facilitate necessary immediate action during field operations.
Implementation Along with Transfer of Staff and Equipment
The reorganisation includes not only changes in boundaries but also the transfer of staff and essential resources. The roles of range officers, vehicles, weapons, wireless equipment, records and other resources will be reorganised accordingly. This will provide the field administration with the required manpower and resources to carry out operations more effectively under the new structure.
Wide-ranging Impact from Forest Conservation to Wildlife Management
The reorganisation of the Porbandar Forest Division will strengthen the administrative framework for resolving forest and environment-related issues and implementing Forest Department schemes. It will also provide stronger administrative support for the rehabilitation of lions and management of forest areas in Barda. The new range-beat structure, clear area-wise responsibilities, two Assistant Conservators of Forests and integration of staff and resources are key parts of the reorganisation.
The resolution has come into effect immediately upon its publication. The reorganisation of the Porbandar Forest Division is aimed at strengthening forest conservation, wildlife management and field administration in view of lion rehabilitation in Barda. By bringing Porbandar, Ranavav, Bhanvad and Kutiyana under an integrated administrative structure, the Barda region will receive stronger administrative support, with clearer responsibilities and supervision at the local level.
