Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Mr Bali Bhagat today instructed the authorities of Forest Department to start the process of providing firewood to the Masjids of Srinagar City for use in hamams during the winter season.The Minister gave this instruction during his visit to the PC Depot of the Department at Qamarwari, Srinagar here today. He also took stock of the stock position of the firewood available in the Depot.The Minister was informed that during the current year a target of 44000 quintals of firewood for supply to nearly 1300 Masjids in Srinagar city have been fixed. He was apprised that the total quota will be supplied to the Masjids at subsidized rate of Rs 247 per quintal. He was informed that 10,000 quantals of firewood have been supplied to the artisans of Kashmir including Paper Machie and Khatenband Unions besides 4,000 quantals of firewood have been provided to the Shia community for their religious purposes during muharram.
The Minister instructed that those Masjids would also be provided firewood which have not been registered with the department by the concerned committees. On the occasion 10 Masjids were supplied firewood through their authorized representatives.The Minister said that there is requirement of 1.25 Lakh Quintals of firewood in the Kashmir Division including Leh and Kargil for use in Masjids and Shamshan Ghats. Later, the Minister inspected Medicinal Plant Nursery at Kralsangari, Chesmashahi where he sowed seeds of seven new medicinal plants. He was informed that seven varieties of medicinal plants are being raised in the Nursery at present while as 10 new varieties including Hazzellnet fruits, Juniper, Kuth, and Banwangun shall be produced in the Nursery.
The Minister was briefed that besides Deodar, Kail and Conifer the medicinal plants including Helpinus, Kuth, Cupress, Dioscora and Perithum plants numbering around 4 Lakh are available in the Nursery at present. He was informed that 1110 plants have been supplied to various agencies during this year so far.The Minister on the occasion also said that the Department should work towards allocating 20% plantations on the forest land across 13 territorial forest divisions for raising wild fruit plants so that wild animals feed on these and frequent man-animal conflict is considerably reduced in the future.Chief Conservator of Forests Nissar Ahmad, Conservator Forests Farooq Gillani, DFO Sheikh Mukhtar and a team of senior officers of the department accompanied the Minister.