Shimla, January 1: The Himachal Pradesh state government has entrusted Sameer Rastogi, a 1988-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, with the additional charge of heading the Forest Department.

Rastogi, who currently holds the position of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chief Project Director of the JICA Forestry Project, has an extensive career in the state’s forest services.

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Having served in numerous key roles within the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department from 1988 to 2019, Rastogi’s career includes stints as Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Additionally, he worked as the Regional Project Director for the Mid Himalayan Project in Bilaspur and held significant positions in the Forest Development Corporation.

Rastogi also served as the Chief Vigilance Officer for National Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd, a central government public sector undertaking in Mumbai, from February 2019 to February 2024. Since April 2024, he has been contributing as the Chief Project Director for the JICA Forestry Project. His wealth of experience across various sectors of forest management and development makes him a valuable addition to the leadership of the Forest Department.

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