JAMMU, JULY 15-As a part of 68th Van
Mahotsava, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh
today kick started plantation drives at Tungi Morh, Jalabi Morh, Chowki Chaura
areas of Akhnoor tehsil and later at Sunderbani and Nowshera areas of Rajouri
district.
MLA Akhnoor, Rajeev Sharma,
MLA Khour, Krishen Lal Bhagat, MLA Nowshera, Ravinder Raina, Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests Ravi Kesar, District Development Commissioner Rajouri,
Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Chief Wildlife Warden, Manoj Panth, Additional
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Roshan Jaggi, Director Ecology and
Environment, O P Sharma, Director Social Forestry, A K Gupta, Chief Conservator
of Forests, Farooq Gillani, Director Forest Protection Force, Asif Sagar,
Managing Director SFC, Suresh Gupta, Director SFRI, B M Sharma besides other
senior officers of Forests and its allied wings, Health, Education, R&B and
RDD accompanied the Minister.
A large number of people of Akhnoor,
Khour, Surnderbani and Nowshera participated in this massive plantation drive
and planted saplings of different species like Chinar, Mango, Jamun, Borh,
Saru, Guava, Boogal, Jeo-Pota, Raat Ki Rani and Amla in the forests of
the areas.
While addressing the gathering,
Choudhary Lal Singh said that Government has prepared a comprehensive plan to
beautify every barren and roadside strip from Lakhanpur to Leh with green
cover within two years. He said instructions have
been issued to the Divisional Forest Officers to plant about 10 lakh plants of
different spices across the Jammu region during rainy season. He
said
The Minister called for carrying out
plantation drives throughout the region for reversing the harmful effects of
deforestation and global warming besides preserving the pristine natural
beauty. He also called for generating massive awareness regarding harmful
effects of deforestation and need to plant more trees to maintain fragile
ecological balance.
Choudhary Lal Singh emphasized the
importance of trees and plants and mentioned that trees are best friends of
mankind as they serve in a variety of ways to every creature on planet earth.
“So it is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders of the society to contribute
for preserving the green wealth and nature’s best gift”, said the Minister.
He informed that to mark 68th Van
Mahotsava, Forest Department has planted one lakh plants in both the areas of
Jammu and Rajouri districts.
Later, Minister laid foundation stone
of Nowshera Bye-Pass road in the presence of MLA Nowshera.
Responding to the demands of the locals
of Nowshera, Choudhary Lal Singh announced Rs. 50 lakh for construction of
Forest Guest House near Mangla Devi Mata temple and directed the Principal
Conservator of Forests to develop Eco-Tourism Park in the town on modern lines.
Choudhary Lal Singh also distributed
plants of different species of Nowshera to the locals for plantation. He said
that the ensuing rainy season is the best time for plantation and forest
department has taken it on mission mode to cover maximum suitable areas
Seeking the cooperation of the people,
Ch. Lal Singh asked all stakeholders to be a part of plantation drives so that
ecology can be maintained properly. He said that government is contemplating to
update the forest policy with the aim to increase the forest wealth of the
state.
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours