NOB-Telangana news: The Revanth Reddy government has taken a key decision to abolish the post of Joint Collector in Telangana. It issued orders on 24.10.2025 appointing additional collectors of all districts as Forest Settlement Officers. In this order, land survey, determination of rights, and settlement work will come under their purview. The government has issued orders under the 1967 Forest Act. It will be implemented under the supervision of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. To this end, it has issued orders to all district collectors and revenue officers to take appropriate action.

These are the tasks of Forest Settlement Officers

Forest Settlement Officers will determine the rights of forest lands and forest areas. They will be appointed under the 1927 Act. They will examine the details of the lands, conduct inquiries into irregularities, and issue announcements related to forest lands. They have the authority to enter the forest area.

The duties of the Additional Collector are as follows:

The officers holding the post of Additional Collector assist the Collector in matters like revenue operations, land allocations, civil supplies, land acquisition etc., Similarly, they look after the development plans of local bodies of Gram Panchayats and Municipalities. In addition to implementing special programs like cleanliness and greenery, they hold review meetings with the officials to manage them effectively. They monitor the implementation of various government schemes and work to resolve problems at the field level. They are important after the Collector and Joint Collector.