Every reform shall be aimed to make natural habitat of animals a well protected place for their living.This was stated by Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Ch. Lal Singh during a programme to commemorate wildlife week here at Kathua today.The PDP-BJP government has taken up the resolve for holistic improvement and protection of our environment and its important components viz forest, animals, wetland etc. He said the man-animal conflict is an outcome of undue interference of humans in the natural habitat of animals thus posing great threat to the existence of both entities. He said to minimize such conflicts the forest ministry has taken initiative to go for plantation of fruits plants so that animals shall find their food within their natural habitat. Animals are important component of ecology and any such threat to them will have negative consequences on human existence.While highlighting initiatives undertaken by the present government, Ch Lal Singh said the state is marching ahead with a vision to make Jammu & Kashmir model state for taking forest protection initiatives. He said department has undertaken mass plantation drives across the state which is one of the steps towards increasing forest wealth of the state. He said role of each citizen bear huge importance for saving ecology. He also appealed to plant trees on every important occasions.
The Minister added that to give impetus to tourism sector, forest department will soon launch battery car service at Jasrota wildlife sanctuary along with forest huts and proper fencing for which tender costing Rs 1 crore has been floated recently.He said forest department is undergoing administrative and policy changes and focused on making forest assets such as zoos and sanctuaries a revenue generating entities. He said Rs 120 Crore Jambu Zoo Project would be constructed on modern lines having all infrastructural facilities where the animals will be kept in moats and not in cages so that the visitors can see the animals in a natural environment. He said that the prestigious project will also have several facilities of tourist attraction like interpretation centre, parking lots, cafeteria, rest house, battery cars and zoo safari. He said the department has taken important administrative steps for the welfare of its workforce.
Earlier the minister inaugurated the wildlife week celebrations by paying floral tributes to the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary.While throwing light on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the minister said the present generation must take inspiration from the teachings of father of nation.During the celebrations a scintillating cultural programme by information department Kathua in collaboration with wildlife department Kathua was presented where songs, skits on wildlife theme were presented besides folk Songs and Ghazals presented by cultural troupes of information department.EX MLA Basohli Constituency Kanta Andotra also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the need of conservation of wildlife for human existence.Later the minister distributed the plants saplings among the people present in the celebrations.PCCF A.K Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Chugh, MD social forestry corporation Suresh Gupta, CCF Jammu Roshan Jaggi, Director Social Forestry A.K Tiwari, , Director Forest Protection Force R.K Tiwari, DFO Wild Life Priyanka Sareen, DFO Kathua, DFO Social Forestry Kathua and other officers of sister wing were present on the occasion.