As part of the government’s endeavour to encourage people to plant trees during rainy season, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Ch Lal Singh and Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Information Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, today launched a massive plantation drive here at various places of this border district.The drive was organised in connection with the 68th Van Mahotsav celebrations.Also present were, Vice-chairman Pahari Advisory Board Kuldeep Raj Gupta, District Development Commissioner Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Ravi Kumar Kessar, Director FPF Ch. Asif Mehmood besides other senior officers of forest department and district Administration.The Ministers planted saplings of Chinar, deodar and ornamental plants at various locations including Social Forestry Closure Kallar, Dalogra, Bathuni and Patli Qila Eco-Tourism Park. Later the Ministers attended a public meeting at Koteranka.Addressing a mammoth gathering, Lal Singh said that forests are important not only for sustaining life on this planet but they also play an important role in increasing agricultural production.
“It is our collective responsibility to plant trees during monsoon and Forest Department will facilitate this cause by providing saplings”.The Minister emphasized the need of raising massive awareness about the significance of conserving green wealth for survival of mankind. He appealed the people to extend cooperation in promotion of plantation drives for good of the community.He further directed the Director Social Forestry to plant trees in and around the Government institutions, streets and towns to negate the effect of carbon emission and expand green cover.Chowdhary Zulfkar also called upon people to be part of the plantation drive launched by the government to restore the green cover in the state. He said forests are the treasure troves which have given a distinct identity to Jammu and Kashmir on the world tourism map.The Ministers also inaugurated Block Forest Officer Hut at Bathuni.