SRINAGAR: The House Committee on Estimates today convened a meeting at the Assembly Complex, Srinagar, to review the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest, Ecology & Environment Department.
The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairperson Shamim Firdous and attended by members, including Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Gharu Ram Bhagat, Aijaz Ahmad Jan, Shafi Ahmad Wani, Chander Prakash Ganga, Pyare Lal Sharma, and Arjun Singh Raju.
Expressing serious concern over the dwindling forest area and its adverse impact on the environment, the Chairperson stressed the need for sustainable and time-bound measures to protect forests and safeguard ecological balance.
The Committee emphasized conducting massive and sustained plantation drives across all regions of J&K.
She impressed upon taking tangible steps to curb deforestation and prevent forest fire incidents.
The Committee undertook a detailed review of initiatives taken to contain deforestation caused by various developmental projects under PMGSY, PWD, Rural Road Mission, National Highways Authority of India, and hydro-electric projects and measures taken for compensating falling of trees.
She instructed that compensation for forest land use by user agency be also addressed as a priority, and details on the same be submitted to the Committee within a 15-day time period.
The Chairperson stressed that concrete initiatives be taken for re-plantation on priority, especially in tourist resorts such as Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam, and sought details of deteriorated and fallen trees in these areas. She also called for strict measures to check the smuggling of pine and deodar trees.
Members raised the issue of a shortage in timber supply and directed that vacant and fallen timber be recovered immediately and distributed through timber depots.
The Chairperson emphasised that the department should pick up many areas to develop them as green city areas, with planting variety of trees and also steps be taken to preserve our water bodies for the sustainability of flora and fauna.
The members raised issues of man-animal conflict and asserted that sterilisation drives should be taken to control the rising monkey population in Jammu areas, causing damage to crops and orchards.
Senior officers present in the meeting included Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Sheetal Nanda; PCCF, J&K, Suresh K. Gupta; CWLW, Suresh Rai; MD FDCL, Suneesh Buxy; DG Budget Finance, M.S. Malik; Special Secretaries and other senior officers.
