Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 10: Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment, Bali Bhagat laid foundation stone of the office complex of Forest Protection Force (FPF) at Bemina Bye-pass, here today.
The proposed headquarters of FPF will be constructed by the JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore on a plot of 4 kanals allotted to the department by Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).
Minister of State for Forest & PHE, Abdul Majid Paddar, MLA Batmaloo, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Principal Secretary Forests, Rakesh Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, A.K. Singh, Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Board, Abdul Razak, Director Soil Conservation, Ravi Kumar Kesar, Director Forest Protection Force, Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, Deepak Khanna, Project Chief, IWDP, P.K. Singh, Director SFRI, U. Pachnanda and other senior officers of various wings of Forest Department were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bhagat said that it is an endeavor of the PDP-BJP Government to create better infrastructural facilities and working environment in all the Government departments enabling the officers/officials to perform their duties more efficiently. He said better environment in the offices is must for achieving the desired goals and better service delivery.
Appreciating the role of the Forest Protection Force in guarding the forest wealth, the Minister said that the organization has been specifically created for the purpose and it is expected that the force will not miss any opportunity in providing protection to the forests across the State.
He said that a large chunk of forest land has been illegally occupied by certain people and it is mandate of each wing of the department to retrieve the same and maintain the ecology and environment in the Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon all ranks and files of the department to put in their best efforts in curbing the activities of the timber smugglers and land grabbers to save the precious green gold.
The Forest Minister said that the Government has already constituted a Committee of senior officers headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to suggest measures to further improve the functioning of Forest Protection Force and IWDP, adding that after submission of the findings of the Committee, the Government will take appropriate steps.
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