ET Report
JAMMU, Aug 26: The Forest Department today organized a plantation drive here at Sidhra, to mark celebration of the Van Mahotsava. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu was the chief Guest on the occasion.
The programme started with the ceremonial plantation by the Chief Guest in presence of the guest of honour Chief Conservator of Forests, Ravi Kesar, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu and Conservator of Forest, Roshan Jaggi. A large number of School Children, Sarpanches of Ragoora, NGOs and local people , besides officers of the District Administration, Forest Department, Social Forestry, Wildlife, Forest Protection Force, Soil Conservation Department participated in the programme planted about 2500 tree saplings to mark 64th Van Mahotsava. Divisional Commissioner Jammu in his address lauded the efforts put in by the forest department for creating awareness and involving people, school children and other stakeholders in the plantation drive. He emphasized upon the importance of the forests and the need to have them in the city like Jammu. He said the Forests as the forests play significant role in absorbing the pollution and act as green lungs, to make Jammu green is an impending need . He assured coordination between, JDA, R&B, Forest Department for the beautification of the Jammu City and to increase the Green cover.
Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu, Ravi Kesar, talked about climate change and its impacts and also stressed for involvement of local people and School Children to achieve success in protection and development of forests on long term basis.
SAVERA, a local NGO working for Environmental Awareness also participated actively and assured full cooperation to the Forest Department for conservation and plantation activities. Nearly 200 participants actively participated in the plantation drive.
Earlier, the welcome address was presented by Conservator of Forests East Circle Jammu Later, DFO Jammu Dr. V S Senthil Kumar, presented vote of thanks and gave details about the future strategy of plantation drive in the area. He said the protected area will be converted into Samriti Van where the civil society will have the access to plant the trees on the occasion of birthday or in memory of their loved ones. The Sapling will be supplied at the nominal cost for those who want to participate in plantation campaign. |
