Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Dec 26: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad has instructed the authorities of Forest Department to launch a massive afforestation on degradable areas along Jammu-Srinagar National Highway so that damage being caused to environment by smoke emitting vehicles plying on the road is checked. He asked them to take necessary steps for conservation of forests and fence all forest land to avoid any land encroachment.
The Minister, along with senior officers of Forest Department, today, visited Udhampur and took stock of the works taken up under CAMPA in the district.
Chief Conservator Forests, Roshan Jaggi, Chief Conservator (Wildlife) Asif Sagar, Director Soil Conservation, M.J. Sharma, DFO, Udhampur, Choudhary Showkat Ahmad besides senior officers of other wings of the department accompanied the Minister.
The Minister while inspecting forest enclosure at Chakar near Tikri asked the officers of Soil Conservation Department to carry out necessary measures for checking soil erosion and create water harvesting facilities in the areas to meet the demand of the people.
Talking to the media persons, the Minister said that conservation of forests and environment is the priority of the department, adding that the aim of his visit was to see at ground level the progress of the projects being implemented in the district.
Regarding man-animal conflict incidents, the Minister said that the primary importance of the department is to save human lives, adding that control rooms have been set up across the State with an aim to act swiftly on receiving the information about the appearance of wild animal in the human habitation. He said Government has enhanced the compensation to Rs. 3 lakh from Rs. 1 lakh while Rs. 25000 are being paid to those who suffer injuries in such incidents. “We have to save the forests of Patnitop in order to conserve the beauty of the areas, said the Minister, adding that every effort is being made to save the jungles from fire incidents.
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