JAMMU, May 2: Government of Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a committee for creation of land bank of suitable non-forest land and Revenue forest for compensatory afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
Headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, J&K, the committee shall identify Revenue lands/Gair Mumkin Jhaad/Gair Mumkin Jungle/Gair Mumkin Pahari/Banjar Kadim/Gair Mumkin Khad etc and any other waste land, areas falling in wildlife corridors, areas falling in and around the Protected Areas (Pas) and Eco-Senstive Zones (ESZ), habitat of rare, threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna located in the areas not under direct administrative and management control of the J&K Forest and J&K Wildlife Protection Department, areas falling in catchment areas of important rivers, water supply schemes, irrigation projects, hydro-electric projects etc for inclusion in the proposed land bank for compensatory afforestation.
Besides, private lands recorded as Gair Mumkin Jhaar, Khad, Phat etc, which are in the possession of private persons, shall also be seen in its legal perspective while creating land bank.
The committee shall give preference to such lands, during identification, as are abutting forest, those with potential for city forest/green spaces and valuable land susceptible to encroachment which should be preserved as green lungs for the habitation.
The seven-member committee shall furnish monthly report to Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment and Revenue Department as also development of software for the purpose with access-based updation and report generation and dashboard for the same.
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