Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh, today inspected the anti-encroachment drives at Sunjawan, Sidhra and Tootian de Khoi Bajalta areas of Jammu.During the inspection, the Minister issued on-spot instructions to the Forest and Police departments to immediately remove encroachments from various areas under forest land. He also directed for immediate demarcation and proper fencing of forest land to prevent subsequent encroachments.Speaking on the occasion, Lal Singh said that the government has set up a demarcation committee for checking the activities of habitual encroachers, adding that the committee would deal with encroachments and evictions on forest land in Sunjwan, Bathinidi, Raika, Sidhra and Tootian de Khoi (Bajalta) areas in Jammu.Warning those involved in the encroachment, the Minister reiterated the directions of the High Court and government’s plans to get the encroached land vacated forcefully with the help of Police department if required.
While highlighting various works initiated to increase carbon sequestration for maintaining ecological balance, Lal Singh said that ambitious Green Corridor project along the National Highway (from Lakhanpur to Baramulla) will significantly help in curbing pollution emanating from vehicular traffic.On the occasion, the Minister also directed for ensuring measures for preventing forest fires in the area. The concerned officers were also directed to hold awareness camps, especially in vulnerable areas, to seek cooperation of people in preventing the forest fires.He further asked the officers to undertake massive afforestation drives on vacant urban forest land, adding plantation will make up for the damages caused by deforestation.The Minister was accompanied by Conservators, Divisional Forest Officers, besides other senior officers of Forests and Police departments.