Plantation drive
There is a massive plantation drive to be started in Jammu and Kashmir as the spring season will start. The government has very keen to enhance the green cover of Jammu and Kashmir and in this direction recently Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir reviewed capex of Forest department and called for ramping up plantation in both forest and non forest areas.
He directed department to restore 1000 sq km degraded forest area in next fiscal year. He asked forest department to repair and reconstruct or rejuvenate 3700 ponds in next six months so that they become the sources of plant life in such areas.
He stressed for implementation of ‘van se jal-jal se jivan’ and ‘hargaonhariyali’ campaigns with vigour and dedication
He urged the forest department to replenish the denuded forest cover, increase plantation outside forest areas and repair the neglected water bodies using both traditional ecological knowledge and modern practices in convergence with the MGNREGA to kickstart a virtuous cycle of good soil health, increased land productivity, food security and improved livelihoods in J&K.
He asked the department to involve local communities/panchayats in applying deep knowledge of the local ecology in restoring their commons.
He made these comments in a meeting held to review UT capex of the forest department in which administrative secretary, forest and other senior officers of the forest departments were present.
