PATNA, Sept. 4 -- Bihar's environment, forest and climate change (EFCC) department will work towards having an independent engineering cell to fast track projects related to infrastructure, especially those related to construction of buildings and roads, said its principal secretary Anand Kishor on Tuesday. The engineering cadre would be in addition to that of the forest services. "Our proposed engineering cell will expedite work related to preparation of estimates for construction of buildings, roads, and look after other infrastructure related works as well," said Kishor while talking to media persons. He said the department, which was facing a shortage of manpower, would reorganise some posts and create new ones, say for instance, those below a forester like gardeners, etc. The department was currently spending a high cost on engagement of daily wagers. Kishor also said that the department would resort to use of technology, like remote sensing, for surveillance, protection and development of its forest area, which was 15.2 per cent. He said technology would come in handy to prevent misuse of forest areas, having thick vegetation and inhospitable terrain, which were difficult to access. He said the department would also focus on development of parks and some of them would be converted into model parks. Kishore would also explore possibility to boost tourism at the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve in West Champaran and other locations under the forest department. Kishore said the department would have in the next one month a project monitoring unit, comprising experts, to drive its new initiatives. He said focus would also be to improve the ranking of the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly referred to as Patna zoo from the existing fourth position, as per the Central Zoo Authority, to being among the top. Kishor said attempts would also be made to create posts of forestry faculty at the Bihar College of Forestry and Research in Munger. He said the state presently did not have a specialised institute of forestry, and the one in Munger was imparting curriculum in agriculture....