Jammu: An amount of over Rs. 3.83 crore has been realized under Compensatory Afforestation (CA) and Net Present Value (NPV) on account of forest land diversion for the Srinagar–Baramulla National Highway.
This was stated by Minister for Jal, Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana while replying to a question raised by Legislator Dr Sajjad Shafi in the Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister said that the user agency has deposited the requisite compensatory levies, including Rs. 96,43,949 for compensatory afforestation and Rs. 2,87,31,678 as Net Present Value (NPV) of the diverted forest land.
Javed Rana said that compensatory measures, including afforestation and ecological restoration, have been undertaken in lieu of forest land diverted for the widening of the Srinagar–Baramulla National Highway.
Further, a proposal for the plantation of 27,000 saplings over 27 hectares of degraded forest land has been prepared and approved by the competent authority. It was also stated that no separate plantation target has been fixed for the year 2026, as plantation activities were completed during 2024–25.
With regard to environmental protection and ecological restoration, the Minister stated that slope stabilisation works are being carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) along the affected stretch. These included construction of breast walls and retaining walls at various locations, with 22,315 metres envisaged under DPR, of which 15,900 metre has been completed so far.
The Minister said that the total area diverted for the construction of the Srinagar–Baramulla–Uri Road (Section-4) under the Border Roads Organisation in District Baramulla is 20.9352 hectares under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The final forest diversion approval has been accorded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
The government reiterated its commitment towards ensuring that infrastructure development is carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner, with due emphasis on mitigation and restoration measures.
