Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Commissioner/Secretary Forests, Ecology and Environment, Sanjeev Verma, conducted an extensive tour of Kathua and interacted with the Village Forest Committees (VFCs), Village Panchayat Plantation Committees (VPPCs) and public representatives.
Commissioner/Secretary Forests was accompanied by Director Social Forestry, Roshan Jaggi; Director Soil and Water Conservation, Dr TS Ashok Kumar; Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Jammu, BM Sharma; Regional Director Social Forestry, Mohinder Gupta; Joint Director Soil and Water Conservation, Abhijit Joshi; DFO Kathua, Vivek Modi and DFO Basohli, Ashwani Kumar.
Verma interacted with the PRIs of Logate, Sahar, Sher Kotla Panchayats and several areas of Kathua North besides the local people. They raised several issues before the Commissioner Secretary which included monkey menace, plantation of fruit plants in forest areas; establishment of ponds and water harvesting structures in Kandi region and related issues.
He gave a patient hearing to problems and demands raised by the PRIs assuring an early redressal of the same. He directed the DFOs to identify areas in consultation with the Panchayats for taking up plantations. At Hariya Chak Forest Nursery, he stressed the need for enhancing the plant production of quality saplings besides upgradation and modernization of the nursery.
During visit to Wildlife Training Centre, Jasrota, Verma took stock of progress on ongoing Green India Mission works.
Commissioner Secretary interacted with the Chairman and members of one VFC of FDA Kathua and three VFCs of FDA Basohli. The beneficiaries of these VFCs were given the solar lights under the component “promotion of clean energy” under the Green India Mission.
On the occasion, Sarpanchs of Koli Kooper, Dinga Amb and Jasrota Panchayats also projected their demands for construction of water harvesting structures.
Commissioner Secretary and Director Social Forestry along with the senior officers also interacted with the members of VPPCs Sumb, Sallan, Dhalli, Dinga Amb, Chandwan and Pathwal. Chairman Municipal Committee Hiranagar, Adv Vijay Sharma and DDC Councilor, Dinga Amb besides Sarpanchs and Panchs were present during the interaction.
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