Asks Forest deptt to expedite drive to achieve set targets
SAMBA, JULY 21- Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary
Lal Singh today directed the Forest Department to intensify the plantation
drive to achieve set targets across the Samba district. He said
that a massive drive has been launched this monsoon to restore and replenish
degraded forest cover across the Jammu region and efforts are being made for
restoration of the wild life habitat.
The Minister was addressing a gathering during the ongoing 68th Van
Mahotsava celebrations here today. A plantation drive was also launched from
Chichi Mata Temple to DC office Samba in which Minister for Industries and
Commerce , Chander Parkash Ganga , Vice Chairman J&K State Advisory Board
for welfare and Development of the OBC, Rashpaul Verma , MLA Samba Dr Devinder
Manyal , students and locals participated in large number .
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ravi Kumar Kesar, District
Development Commissioner, Samba Sheetal Nanda, SSP Samba Anil Magotra, 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 including Conservators and Divisional Forest Officers accompanied
the Minister.
The Minister said that Forest Department has chalked out a comprehensive
plan to rejuvenate the forest cover across the state. He said that the
department is also all set to launch a massive plantation drive under Public Private Partnership mode in Kashmir Valley. He informed
that the Forest department has succeeded in removing encroachment from 125000
Kanals forest land in recent drives and efforts are being made to make National
Highway a 'Green Corridor'.
Ch Lal Singh said that department is focusing on plantation of
ornamental and fruit saplings alongside the roads during the current season. He
informed that third party monitoring and inspection mechanism has also been put
in place to ascertain the progress under the drive.
Maintaining that public participation is vital for preservation of
environment, the Minister urged upon people to come forward and participate in
the plantation drive. He asked people to plant trees in their surroundings,
schools, colleges and Government offices, adding that the department will
provide free saplings for the cause.
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