Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, Chaudhary Lal Singh today said that Government is working under mission mode for broader understanding and responses on climate change in the state, adding that for this purpose Forest Department has geared up its men and machinery to develop every open space with green cover.The Minister was addressing a large gathering at deer park at Manda after planting saplings of Chinar to mark the celebration of World Environment Day-2017, here today.MLA Jammu West Sat Pal Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A K Singh, Chairman Pollution Control Board Ravi Kessar, Chief Wild Life Warden Suresh Chug, Director Environment and Remote Sensing O P Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Director Social Forestry A K Gupta, Chief Conservator Eco-Tourism, Roshan Jaggi, Director Forest Protection Force Asif Mehmood Sagar, Conservator Chenab Circle T B Singh, District Development Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan Conservator West Circle Kh Qamar-ud-Din, Ex-MLA Kanta Andotra besides other senior officers of the Forest and its wings were present on the occasion.
Choudhary Lal Singh said that World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses on the pressing environmental concern. He said that in recent decades, scientific advances as well growing environmental problems such as global warming are helping us to understand the countless ways in which natural systems support the prosperity and well-being of human kind. Choudhary Lal Singh said that, World Environment Day is an ideal occasion to go out and connect to Nature. “Today we are celebrating World Environment at Manda Deer Park and it is the best occasion to connect to natural habitat and minutely observe the beauty in the mammals, birds, reptiles and varied fauna and flora of the park” he said.Seeking to broaden State’s response to climate change, the Minister said that the Government would soon add newly launched ‘missions’ for better understanding and effective response to the climate change. He said that massive programme for more effective management and harnessing State’s natural resources is also slated to be launched soon.
Choudhary Lal Singh said that the Forest Department would plant 40,000 Chinar saplings across Jammu region this monsoon.On the occasion, artists of Cultural Wing Department of Information and Public Relations and Cultural Academy presented a scintillating cultural programme which was highly appreciated by the gathering.Later, the Minister also released a newsletter ‘winter birds of Dacchigam’ published by Directorate of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing. Earlier, the Minister also inaugurated Adventure Sports Camp-2017 at Patnitop.MLA Ramban Neelam Langeh besides senior officers of Forest and its allied wings were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Patnitop area would be developed as major tourist destination and declared as polythene free zone.The Minister also informed that Government the construction of Cable Car project proposed at Patnitop would be started after completion of tendering formalities.On the occasion, the artists of Cultural Wing Jammu and District Information Centre Udhampur presented a colourful cultural programme-cum-tourist show which was highly applauded by the students, visiting tourists, locals and sports lovers.