The House Committee on Estimates held a meeting at the Assembly Complex, Srinagar, to review the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest, Ecology & Environment Department.
Photo: IANS
Expressing serious concern on dwindling forest cover and its adverse impacts on environment, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s House Committee on Estimates on Wednesday undertook a detailed review of initiatives taken to check deforestation being caused while implementing centrally and UT funded road and hydroelectric projects.
The House Committee on Estimates held a meeting at the Assembly Complex, Srinagar, to review the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest, Ecology & Environment Department.
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Chairperson Ms. Shamim Firdous stressed the need for sustainable and time-bound measures to protect forests and safeguard ecological balance.
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The Committee undertook a detailed review of initiatives taken to contain deforestation caused by various developmental projects under PMGSY, PWD, Rural Road Mission, National Highways Authority of India, and hydro-electric projects and measures taken for compensating falling of trees.
She instructed that compensation of forest land use by the user agency be also addressed on priority and details on the same be submitted to the Committee within a 15 days time period.
The Chairperson stressed that concrete initiatives be taken for re-plantation on priority, especially in tourist resorts such as Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam, and sought details of deteriorated and fallen trees in these areas. She also called for strict measures to check the smuggling of pine and deodar trees.
The members raised issues of man-animal conflict and asserted that sterilization drives be taken to control the rising monkey population in the Jammu areas, causing damage to crops and orchards.
The Committee emphasized conducting massive and sustained plantation drives across all regions of J&K.
The chairperson impressed upon taking tangible steps to curb deforestation and prevent forest fire incidents.
Members raised the issue of shortage in timber supply and directed that vacant and fallen timber be recovered immediately and distributed through timber depots. Steps should be taken to preserve the water bodies for sustainability of flora and fauna.
The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Shamim Firdous and attended by members, Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Gharu Ram Bhagat, Aijaz Ahmad Jan, Shafi Ahmad Wani, Chander Prakash Ganga, Pyare Lal Sharma, and Arjun Singh Raju.
Senior officers present in the meeting included Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Sheetal Nanda; PCCF, J&K, Suresh K. Gupta; CWLW, Suresh Rai; MD FDCL, Suneesh Buxy; DG Budget Finance, MS Malik; Special Secretaries and other senior officers.
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