SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 23: Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir Farooq Gillani along with CF Srinagar Forest Circle Irfan Ali Shah today conducted a detailed tour of the forest areas of Pir Panjal, Tangmarg and Urban Forestry Divisions of District Budgam and Baramulla.
During the course of visit, various review meetings were held. Stress was given on increasing the duration and frequency of field touring by all Conservators of Forests /DFOs.
Progress of forest protection including Anti-Encroachment Operations and Forest Fire Management, Plantation of Degraded Forest lands, Special Forestry Projects, upcoming Institutional Plantation Programs, Firewood supplies were reviewed during the meeting. It was informed that 176 kanals of encroached forest land has been evicted during 2018-19. During the meeting, emphasis was laid on checking of forest encroachment on forest lands and need for concerted action involving civil administration and police for eviction of existing encroachments on forest land. It was informed that in Srinagar Forest Circle, during the current year 50 FIRs have been lodged against timber smugglers/damage doers, besides 2928 cfts of timber and 24 vehicles carrying illicit timber/MFP have been seized. It was also informed that 42,659 Qtls of firewood has been distributed among 1214 mosques, besides other religious institutions. CCF Kashmir was apprised that 6.23 lakh plants were planted during the current year and the required Plants are available in the nurseries for planting in the field.
During the field inspection, forests/ areas of Kichwari, Raithan,Gurweth,Raiyaar, Arizaal, Hardpanzoo, Sonpah, Aripanthan were inspected. All enroute Forest Check Posts including Ompora, Raithan, Arizaal, Sonpah, Magam, Narbal were inspected and on the spot directions passed to the DFOs for providing of basic amenities to the field staff posted at Forest Check Posts.
The CCF Kashmir also planted plants fruit in the campus of newly constructed Range office at Beerwah. The newly constructed Range Officers building at Beerwah is now almost completed and shall be got inaugurated in the coming days.
During the visit, interactions with the ministerial as well as field staff were held. Their grievances were heard and on spot directions were given for their redressal. Besides, service matters, seniority lists and DPC issues were also discussed threadbare.
DFOs Urban Forestry Division, Special Forest Division and Pir Panjal Forest Divisions along with Range Officers accompanied the visiting Officers during the tour.
