Excelsior Correspondent
NOWSHERA (RAJOURI), Jan 17: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad, along with senior officers of Forest Department, visited Nowshera and took stock of the works taken up under CAMPA scheme.
He announced that a nursery would be established at Nowshera to cater the needs of the locals of the areas. The Minister inspected forest closures at Bhanpuri and Gahi falling within the jurisdiction of Sunderbani and Lamberi forest ranges.
The Minister was informed that both forest closures are spread over 40 hectares with 20,000 newly planted different species of trees. He was told that fencing and minor civil works carried out there have protected the closures and the new plants are growing fast while, under CAMPA programme, over Rs 2 crore are being spent since 2010-2011. He was informed that pruning of trees and new growing plants is being carried out seasonally to ensure fast growth of new plants and old trees.
Besides developing forest closures close to the roads, the Minister asked authorities to carry out plantation in degraded areas particularly alongside of the roads. He said the fencing of closures on one hand will give protection to existing plants and on other hand allow the natural forests to grow fully.
The Minister also interacted with the locals and discussed the measures need to be taken for conservation of forests and environment protection. Responding to the demands of the locals, the Minister announced that a nursery would be established in Nowshera to cater the demands of the locals. Regarding construction of pond, he assured them that steps would be taken to explore possibility for this.
Seeking public support in forest conservation, the Minister asked the representatives to play their role in protection of green gold of the State, adding it is our collective responsibility to conserve forests for out posterity.
Stressing for making third party monitoring system more efficient and effective, the Minister said that those performing good would be encouraged but warned punishment for non performers.
Regarding progress of CAPMA projects taken up by social forestry division in Rajouri, the Minister was informed that Rs 79 lakh are being spent on different works in the district during current fiscal while 220 hectares have been brought under social forestry besides planting of 32000 trees, against the target of 88000 fixed for the year. He was told that target of 64500 rft fencing has also been completed during current fiscal.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator Forests and Conservator Forests, Jammu besides DFOs of different wings of the department accompanied the Minister.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel