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| J&K govt to arm forest protection guards to check smuggling | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 31: Cracking its whip on timber smugglers, Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to arm its forest protection force.
This was stated by Minister for Forest Mian Altaf while addressing a press conference to unveil new Forest Policy here today. “We are arming Forest Protection Force (FPF) men in the most critical forest sectors of Pir Panchal ranges and Shopian in Kashmir Valley to deal with timber smuggling and felling of green trees,” added Altaf.
He said Pir Panchal ranges and Shopian belt were the most critical areas in terms of timber smuggling, felling of green trees and encroachments. "We have to procure new weapons and we have already purchased some of them. These are lying with the Home Department," he said, adding in the first phase the weapons would be used in these two sectors.
“FPF men would be armed in next 10-15 days,” Altaf said. On encroachments on forest land in the state, he said 14,359 hectares have been encroached. However, there has been no fresh encroachment, he said, adding encroachments in Shopian, Sidhra, Budgam and other places have been removed and the land demarcated. To a question about construction of roads and tunnels under Prime Minister Grameen Sadak Yojna in the forest belt, he said no further construction would be allowed.
He said that system of forest demarcation will be completely modernized and measures initiated to raise fencing and boundary pillars by making use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and other modern technologies. Forest Minister said that steps will be taken to incorporate environment in the syllabus and curriculum to sensitize younger generation about the vital role and importance of environment on human life survival.
About a question on fire incidents, Minister said that people and communities living near forests will be engaged to keep watch on forest fires during venerable periods for which they will be given incentives. Others who attended the press conference included Commissioner/ Secretary Forest, Shantmanu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, R.D. Tiwari, Director Information Khawaja Farooq Renzu Shah, heads of allied departments and other senior officers of Forest Department.
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