Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 25: The State Forest Department went ahead for conversion of forest land for non forest purposes grossly in a sheer violation of standing norms and regulations, thus decimating the ecological and environmental scenario of the State, besides causing huge financial loss to the State exchequer.
Sources told Early Times that the Forest Department has established a separate wing Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which has been given the responsibility for the management of the forest land.
"While considering the proposals of conversion of forest land into non forest purpose, a Cost Benefit Analysis Report, which is furnished with the assessment of ecological and environment loss on the piece of forest land which is subjected to convert for other uses, has to be attached with the proposals," they informed further adding that this Cost Benefit Analysis Report is necessary only in the case of the conversion of land measuring more than 10 hectare. Astoundingly the department in gross violation of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Conservation Act- 1997 accorded seven sanctions, involving diversion of 130 hectares of forest land for non-forest purpose, without obtaining requisite reports, thus, ecological and environmental loss could not be assessed," they alleged. They further said that despite the fact that the functions and responsibilities of the Forest Department are broadly classified into management of forest resources, development of degraded forest area, protection of the forest estate, conservation of soil and preservation of water bodies, wildlife protection, fulfilling social obligations but flouting the rules and regulation enshrined in the J&K Forest Conservation Act 1997, department diverted hundreds of hectare land for non forest purposes. "This act of the department in conversion of forest land for non forest purpose eluding transparency has put question marks on working of the Forest Department giving an inkling of strong nexus and malpractice prevalent in the department with impunity," they added. |
