Chief Secretary reviews progress of Afforestation in JK

Outlay of Rs 51.31 Cr approved for 2015-16 under CAMPA

5 Dariya News (Rouf Pampori)

Srinagar 06-Aug-2015

The Steering Committee of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), headed by Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey in its 10th meeting Thursday approved a target of 5088 Ha (area) to be treated for Compensatory Afforestation during 2015-16.For the purpose, the Committee approved the proposed outlay of Rs 51.31 crore. The Committee reviewed the physical and financial achievements of last 5 years under CAMPA starting from the year 2010-11.Over 26000 Ha have been brought under Compensatory Afforestation against a target of 24000 Ha and 193 Lakh saplings have been planted in the last 5 years. During the same period as many as 290 Lakh plants have been raised in the 144 Nurseries of the State besides taking up fencing, boundary demarcation, soil conservation and pasture development works under CAMPA.

Following the decision taken in the 9th Steering Committee meeting last year regarding earmarking of 5% nursery area to be kept for raising Medicinal plants with livelihood potential, the Forest Department informed that it has raised 42.57 lakh such plants in its nurseries.Chief Secretary during the meeting stressed on realizing the afforestation target to further improve the forest cover across all districts. He also called for more focus on pasture development and expediting GIS mapping of all forest boundary pillars.