Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 10: Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad today inaugurated office complex of State Forest Research Institute here at Sonwar, completed at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh besides releasing a book on Biodiversity Studies in Gurez. The Minister also presided over the Governing Body meeting of State Forest Research Institute (SFRI).
Commissioner Secretary Forests, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Wildlife Warden, Director Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, Director, SFRI, and representatives from SKUAST Kashmir and Jammu besides other senior officers of Forest Department were present on the occasion.
It was given out that 14 lakh plant seedlings have been raised in the nurseries maintained and managed by SFRI apart from 3.50 quintals of seed supplied to the Forest Department during last year.
It was told that Research Advisory Committee of SFRI has already cleared eleven research projects while 15 field functionaries of the Institute have been deputed for advanced nursery training course to FRI Dehradun.
Underlining the need for maintaining inter departmental coordination, the Minister asked authorities of the Institute to start research work in collaboration with SKUAST and Universities of the State.
Mian Altaf asked Director SFRI to formulate a plan for setting up of high-tech nursery aimed to raise the plants with fast growing capacity in a short period. He said technological interferences in the field of forests have brought a revolution and directed the officers to use modern techniques being applied in other State for overall expansion and protection of forests.
The Minister also inspected the nursery set up within the complex and asked concerned to introduce innovative techniques in maintaining and managing the nurseries.
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