Minister for Forest, Choudhary Lal Singh today inspected the forest plantation farm at Matayan, Drass in Kargil District. The Minister was informed about the various initiatives taken by the department during last one year.On the occasion, the Minister stressed upon officers to ensure that requisite steps are taken to increase the green cover in the region. The present dispensation is committed to increase the green cover in the region for which massive plantation drives would soon be started, he said.Mr. Lal Singh impressed upon the officials to put in concerted efforts and mobilize the available resources for taking up plantation drive in the region, besides asking for early start of plantation drive in degraded forest areas.On the occasion, the Minister also met a local delegation who apprised him with various issues pertaining people in the area.Giving a patient hearing to the people, the Minister assured them that their legitimate grievances would be redressed at an earliest. He issued on spot instructions to the concerned officers for take all the necessary steps to mitigate the problems faced by the people in the region.Later, the Minister also visited Drass War Memorial at Bimbat to pay tributes to the war martyrs.