6637 ha area covered; 20.89 lakh Rft fencing completed in last FY under flagship Forest conservation prog
JAMMU, JUNE 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Forest department has covered 6637 ha area and laid 20.89 lakh Rft fencing and planted around 37 lakh saplings under CAMPA programmed during financial year 2019-20.
The information was given at 25th meeting of Executive Committee of CAMPA held today under the Chairmanship of Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, (HoFF) J&K, Dr. Mohit Gera.
The meeting was informed that against the target of 6046 ha, around 6637 ha area was covered during the year (2019-20), which is 10% more than the target. The additional area has been covered by closing the vulnerable areas in the year to secure them from encroachment by utilizing funds available under exigency. The progress under fencing was also 10% more than the targets of 20.89 lakhs Rft. The planting target of 40.11 lakh saplings, however could be achieved to the extent of 92.5 % as the winter planting, which is carried out in March could not be completed in full due to COVID-19 pand, the meeting was told.
The achievements made by Wildlife Protection Department were presented by Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K.
The meeting official members drawn from Finance Department, Science & Technology Department, Agriculture Production Department, Department of Revenue, Department of Forest, Environment & Ecology, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Tribal Affairs Department and allied departments of Forest Department.
Non official members Nazir-Be-Nazir, (NGO Member) President National Society for Protection of Water Resources, Wetlands & Forests, Kashmir and Dr. Gurmit Singh, (NGO Member) President, SAWERA, Jammu and expert on tribal matters Ch. Asif Iqbal (Advocate) also participated in the meeting.
The Committee took note of the observations made by Nazir-Be-Nazir as well as Dr. Gurmeet Singh on maintenance and watch & ward of plantations.
The representative of Tribal Affairs department mentioned requirements of paths & shelter sheds for nomadic tribes during their movement of migration, which was also recorded by the Committee for consideration.
Sarvesh Rai, APCCF, CEO CAMPA apprised the Committee regarding the targets for 2020-21 which involve planting of 74.50 lakh saplings over an area of 13,364 ha, besides works related to soil & water conservation, silviculture operations, prevention & control of forest fires and catchment areas treatment with the proposed utilization of Rs 185.73 crore.
