The restoration and conservation of forests, rivers or lakes are vital for livable ecology and intervention of all stakeholders is essential to preserve it for the posterity.Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Choudhary Lal Singh said this while addressing a public meeting here at Kathua today.The Minister reiterated that forest department has initiated the task of restoring forest land and will not be lenient while dealing with any such encroacher adding that extensive demarcation drive has already been undertaken across the state. He further said that the department has taken steps to ensure systematic grazing in forests without damaging the habitat of important array of plants and animals.Lal Singh informed the gathering that mass plantation drive has been devised under well knit plan for which as many as ten new nurseries are being developed in different parts of the state. He said Basohli and Hiranagar have an allocation of two such nurseries which will help in successful execution of the afforestation plan in these sub divisions.
While speaking on developing tourism amenities in Ranjit Sagar Dam Lake, the Minister informed that as many as four streamers will be pressed into service in the first leg to attract tourists in Basohli. He said with increase in footfall of tourists, the economic activity will also increase manifolds and also be the perfect platform for popularizing Basohli paintings and Pashmina.While greeting people on the eve of New Year, the Minister wished that New Year would bring sustained peace, normalcy and prosperity in the state.Earlier, the Minister paid obeisance at Mahanaal Shrine and prayed for peace and well being of all sections of the society.DFO (T) Kathua Ashwani Bhagat, DFO (Social Forestry) Sagar Singh, DFO (Wildlife) Priyanka Sarin and other district and sectoral officers were also present in the public meet.