Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment,Choudhary Lal Singh today laid foundation stone of Inspection Hut at Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary.One the occasion, the Minister was apprised that the Hut will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 75 lakh by the Wildlife Department. The Minister asked the concerned to expedite the pace of construction work and complete it within two months.Highlighting the steps taken to increase tourists at Jasrota fort, the Minister informed that two ponds in the vicinity of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary constructed during the reign of Jasrota Empire has been revived. He said the facility of battery car will also be started soon for the convenience of visiting tourists.Later, the Minister also inaugurated upgraded Raja Talab in Jastrota Wildlife Sanctuary, restored at an estimated cost of Rs. 34.69 lakh by Soil and Water Conservation Department.The Minister directed the Soil and Water conservation Department to construct edge area of the Jasrota Pond with tiles and also asked them to develop it on modern lines.
Earlier, the Minster convened a Public Grievances Redressal Camp at Kathua district in which the people of Plakh, Plassi, Dhar Mahanpur, Dhar Jhankhar, Dhar Dugnoo, Sanaghat, Basholi, Hiranagar, Kathua, GHatti, Jakhol, Hatli, Lakhanpur, Dhanna, Dhanore, Basantpur, Dommar, Mannu, Mahanpur, Banore Kharote and Dharwal areas put forth their demands and sought their immediate redressal. He also assessed the status of development works being executed in these areas.The Minister assured the people that all their issues would be taken up with the concerned authorities for their early redressal.Addressing the gather, the Minister said that the Government is working on an agenda of providing equal opportunities of growth and development to everyone which is being implemented with full dedication and sincerity. He appealed the people to extend cooperation to the executing agencies in effective implementation of welfare and development programmes envisaging for their socio-economic empowerment.
Choudhary Lal Singh said Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries, Dairy have immense scope and by opting mix farming, the farmers can earn more. He said youth must come forward to avail skill development programmes implemented by several government departments and agencies like JKEDI, DUDA, DRDA etc to become self reliant.Lal Singh called for identification of beneficiaries to be covered under Prime Minister Awaas Yojna. He also directed authorities to take due care while making APL/ BPL list so that error free data can be utilized while planning development projects. He also appealed people to give exact and factual data to the officers so that proper planning and its execution can be ensured.Chief Wildlife Warden Manoj Pant, Chairman State Pollution Control Board B Sidhartha, Director Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing O P Sharma, Director Social Forestry Ashwani Gupta, Director SFRI B M Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Director Soil and Water Conservation Javed Iqbal Punjoo, Joint Director Soil and Water Conservation Pawan Kudyar, Regional Transport Officer Pardeep Singh Manhas, Regional Director Wildlife Warden Dr. V S Sinthil Kumar, Conservator East Circle Kh Qamar-ud-Din, Assistant Commissioner Development Rajiv Khajuria besides other senior officers of R&B, RDD, PDD, Health, Forests and Education were present on the occasion.