Srinagar, March 19: Today, Conservator of Forests Irfan Ali Shah, IFS visited several remote areas in Kund valley, Kulgam falling under jurisdiction of Anantnag Forest Division. During his visit a massive public outreach cum planting program was organised at Kund valley, Kulgam (falling in Anantnag Forest Division) in which about two thousand saplings of conifers, fruit plants were planted by J&K Forest Department in collaboration with local administration, NGOs and others.
The Conservator of Forests in his address to a large gathering of more than 2500 local people from 30 villages informed that the Forest Department has accelerated its efforts for both greening of degraded forest areas as well as providing and strengthening of livelihoods for both forest fringe inhabitants as well as local educated youth. He said during the current year about 16 lakh planting target is there out of which 9.5 lakh has been achieved till date in South Kashmir. This includes planting of saplings under different schemes like CAMPA, CAPEX etc He said free distribution to public and local farmers of quality poplar and salix plants has been initiated. He said sale counters for conifer saplings have also been set up at all major forest offices and nurseries for general public. He informed that under Har Gaon Haryali each village is being covered for greening of areas outside forest areas and for making our villages more green. Under One Beat Guard One Village program, thousands of plants have been planted in South Kashmir. He said about 5250 mandays of employment has been generated through MNREGA Convergence in South Kashmir during the current financial year.
He said Green India Mission is being implemented for the first time in Shopian Forest Division and shall be gradually extended to other areas as well. He said under this Mission Eco-restoration and forest cover increase and Strengthening of local Livelihoods is being focussed on. The Forest Department will be very soon distributing fruit tree management kits, bee keeping kits, solar devices etc amongst forest fringe area communities and to the women folk as well.
On this occasion, the Conservator of Forests directed for settling of claims received from locals, forest dwellers etc under Forest Rights Act on fast track basis and for expediting verification of Kashmiri notice cases for meeting bonafide timber requirements so that forest fringe and tribal communities get benefitted
.He also directed the concerned Range officer for preparing immediately a project within two weeks for Greening of all religious places including Shrines, Gurdwaras,Temples etc in Kund valley which could be taken up during this year so that locals get benefitted both spiritually as well as by clean environment when they visit shrines and temples.
He also directed for maintenance of all water bodies especially inside forest areas including the famed Visarnaag area. He said the Forest Department has initiated “Van Se Jal Jal Se Jeevan” program for conserving, protecting and maintaining of water bodies and ponds so that there is availability of water year round for drinking, agricultural, horticulture and other purposes.
He said that a large number of trek routes have been opened in South Kashmir and many will be opened next month end with the melting of snow in higher reaches. He directed the forest officials to immediately start work on opening of new 10 km long trek route from Ziyarat Sharif Kund to Waltengo Nad area and to collaborate with local trekking and hiking groups for organizing trekking programs for youth and potential visitors in Kund valley..He impressed upon young boys and girls who had come in large numbers to attend this program,to say no to plastics, polythene and drugs and say yes to forests and health. He said that under Green Skill Development Program (GSDP) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the local youth of Kund will be given training as Trek guides and Ecotourism managers. He directed for exploring Home Stay program implementation so as to give boost to Ecotourism in Kund valley and generate employment opportunities.
He also directed the District Soil Conservation officer to prepare a detailed project report for immediate treatment and stabilising of areas which are prone to soil erosion especially in Waltengo Nad and other forest villages.
While appreciating the beauty of Kund valley he called it miniature paradise in the lap of Pir Panjal mountains and directed the DFO concerned to start work on identifying of suitable site for construction of Forest Rest House so that Kund Valley comes on eco-tourism map of J&K. He also directed for construction of new Block Forest Office so that there is speedy redressal of forest related public grievances in Kund only and people may not need to travel large distance for their grievances redressal.
The Conservator of Forests also declared opening up of three Imported timber Sale depots and also requested Forest Development Corporation to open a Forest Sale Depot in the area so that timber remains available to locals for bonafide construction works.
He also visited the famous shrine of Hazrat Noor Shah Bagdadi (ra) at Churat and praised the local Shrine Committee for nice maintenance and good management of the Ziyarat and paid his obesciances and respects to the revered saint. He assured the locals that this shrine will be soon on spiritual/pilgrim tourism map of J&K.
On this occasion, Plantation of more than two thousand saplings of conifers,fruit plants etc was done by Forest Department in collaboration with locals.
Others who addressed the gathering included Mohd Ramzaan Mir, DFO Anantnag Forest Division, who in his address thanked the Conservator of Forests for his vision for development of Kund Valley and for giving directions for creation of livelihood and employment opportunities for youth and for accelerating greening efforts especially around religious places. The local Tribal leaders thanked the Conservator of Forests for listening to their grievances and giving on the spot directions for their fast redressal .Dr Mehraj ,DFO Lidder, Tribal leaders, Sarpanches, BDO and local SHO also spoke on the occasion.
The program was attended by all Local leaders from Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, DFOs, Range officers and other officials of J& K Forest Department, Sarpanches and panchs from fifteen panchayats of the area, Tehsildaar, Block Development Officer, officers and officials from J&K Police Department, Officials from J&K Bank, Cooperative bank, Post office, religious leaders and preachers, students from all local schools, members from different NGOs working for Environmental and Social cause and Backward area trust Kund.
