JAMMU, JULY 30: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha launched “Green J&K Drive-2021” from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu campus today. During this year, as many as 1.30 crore saplings are proposed to be planted across Jammu & Kashmir. The Lt Governor planted a ‘cupressus’ sapling in the IIT Campus to mark the launch of this mega plantation drive.
The Green J&K Drive initiative is in consonance with the National Forest Policy, 1988 & the JK Forest Policy, 2011 which envisage afforestation on all degraded & denuded lands in the UT within & outside forests, an official statement said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor observed that the ‘Green J&K Drive’ aims at creating a people’s movement at a massive scale with the involvement of all stakeholders, particularly village panchayats, women, students, Urban Local Bodies, institutions, NGOs, and civil society.
Our aim is to bring two-third geographical area of J&K under the forest and tree cover. The forest and tree cover in Jammu and Kashmir is about 55%, which is substantially higher than the national average of 24.56%. It is a matter of pride for us that while the present circumstances are posing a difficult challenge to the people at many places, the government machinery and the people of Jammu and Kashmir are discharging their responsibility towards the coming generation by preserving and strengthening our natural wealth, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor appreciated the Forest Department and the IIT Jammu for aiming at planting 10,000 trees in the IIT Jammu campus in this monsoon, besides working on Greening and Eco-restoration of forest land diverted for the purpose of creation of this august institution.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor handed over the cheques worth Rs 1.97 cr to various Village Panchayat Plantation Committees (VPPCs) as the proceeds of harvesting of mature trees.
Appreciating the role of Social Forestry, the Lt Governor exhorted the department as well as the PRIs to work with renewed zeal and coordination to scale up the plantation activities for all the more encouraging results, thereby making PRIs truly empowered and self-reliant.
Earlier, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, in his address through video conferencing urged the Forest department and the Village Panchayat Plantation Committees to engage common people in the drive in a participatory mode to enhance the forest and tree cover. Even if each person plants one sapling, we will have sufficient green cover to surpass our target of taking J&K to the highest level of green cover, he added.
Dr. Mohit Gera, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, in his address highlighted the initiatives of Forests department in improving the ecology and green cover in the UT.
Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment spelled out the future action plan for making the initiative a grand success.
Dr Manoj Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu read the welcome address and Roshan Jaggi, Director Social Forestry delivered the vote of thanks.
Bharat Bhushan, Chairman DDC Jammu; Vice Chancellors of various Universities; senior officers from Civil Administration, Police and Forests department, Sarpanches and members of VPPCs from across the UT, besides the students and faculty of IIT Jammu were present on the occasion.
