SRINAGAR: Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed has said that forest protection is the priority of the Government and all necessary steps to protect the green wealth will be initiated. He directed for mobilizing the available manpower at all forest check-posts to keep a close watch on the timber smugglers.
The Minister announced that timber will be distributed to the people from July 1, 2013 and directed the concerned officers to make available stock of timber at their respective depots as per the target for the current year. He urged the officers to distribute the timber to the genuine beneficiaries after completing the necessary formalities.
The Minister was reviewing the functioning of the department at an officers meeting held here today under his Chairmanship.
The Minister stressed the need for close inter-departmental coordination to achieve better results. He issued specific instructions to the officers to keep a close vigil on timber smugglers and protect the forests from damaging and encroachments. Any lapse on the parts of the officials will be viewed seriously, said the Minister.
Listing the achievements, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Mr Nisar Ahmad said that the department has distributed 15.30 lakh cfts among the beneficiaries during last fiscal against a target of 12.98 lakh cfts. The current year’s target has been fixed 13.62 lakh cfts. He further informed that the department has also distributed 1.18 lakh quintals of firewood amongst the beneficiaries and earned revenue of Rs. 33.69 crore during the previous fiscal, which is all time high. Under CAMPA, 21 lakh plants have been planted in the Kashmir Division during last financial year, while as 22 lakh plants have been cultivated in the different departmental nurseries 35000 plants of different species also distributed among the people for urban beautification, said Mr. Nisar. Commissioner Secretary Forests, Sheikh Aijaz Iqbal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr. Vinod Ranjan, Chief Conservator of Forests (CAMPA), Mr. L.K.Sharma, besides several senior officers of the department were present on the occasion. |
