Several members today participated in the discussion on Demands for Grants of the Forest Department including Ecology, Environment and Pollution Control Board in the Legislative Assembly.Initiating the discussion, Shah Mohammad Tantray urged the Government to take necessary measures for protection, conservation and preservation of forests in the state. He also called for providing forest rights to Gujjar, Bakerwal and other nomadic communities.Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said proper disposal of biomedical waste is a critical concern and the Government needs to take necessary steps to devise a permanent mechanism for the same. He urged the Government to take concrete measures to curb the menace of encroachment of forests. He demanded for proper utilization of CAMPA funds. He advocated for giving forest rights to the people living near the forests.
Usman Abdul Majid urged the Government to take measures to make optimum use of various precious herbal resources available in the state’s forests. He urged the government to organize plantation drives to save the state’s ecosystem. He stressed for effective implementation of Wullar Conservation Project and called for opening of new timber depots in the State.Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar urged the Government for imposing ban on polythene to save the environment. He also called for launching massive Sheesham tree plantation drive in Jammu.Mohammad Akbar Lone raised the issue of Wullar Conservation Project and demanded the Government for rehabilitation of families affected due to the project. He called for enhancing the wages in of daily rated workers working in the Wullar Conservation Project. He also demanded for opening of new sale depots in Sonawari constituency. He urged for massive plantation drive on the available land in Forest Division Bandipora.
Raja Manzoor Ahmad complimented the government for taking several initiatives for improving the functioning of forest and its allied departments. He called for a comprehensive policy to reduce the man-animal conflict. He demanded for early regularization of casual laborers, need basis and daily wagers.Dina Nath Bhagat said demarcation of forest land is imperative to save the forests from encroachment and demanded the government for early demarcation of forest land in the State. He also called for taking steps to curb the forest fires. He demanded for decreasing the price of timber in the state. He asked the government to take measures to curb the increasing monkey menace in Jammu causing hardships to the locals.Bashir Ahmad Dar said there should be stricter laws to curb timber smuggling. He complimented the Minister for giving the job of supplying timber to State Forest Corporation (SFC) instead of Forest department. He also called for comprehensive policy to reduce the man-animal conflict.
MY Tarigami stressed the need for preservation, protection and conservation of forests. He said the Government should take steps to increase forest cover in the State. He demanded for strengthening of Forest Protection Force and asked for giving forest protection rights to the people living near the forests especially the tribal population. He urged for early demarcation of forest land in the State.
He advocated for preservation and protection of water bodies of the State to maintain the delicate ecological balance and for taking concrete measures to save the Hangul population in the state. He advocated for shifting of Sheep Husbandry Office from Dachigam National Park. He demanded for adopting comprehensive mechanism to reduce forest fires in the Valley.Jewan Lal said that people living near forests should be given forest rights and urged the Government to provide them timber at concessional rates. He urged for a Monkey Policy on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh.Vikar Rasool Wani urged Government for timely issuance of No Objection Certificates as well as forest clearance to the concerned regarding construction of National Highway Road project from Ramban-Banihal-Kashmir. He demanded that Sumbur area of Banihal constituency to be enlisted in Forest Division Ramban.
Pawan Kumar Gupta urged the government for massive plantation drive on available forest land especially on diluted hills of Udhampur district. He also advocated for preservation and conservation of water bodies of the State. He urged the Government for proper utilization of CAMPA funds.Shamim Firdous also demanded for plantation drive on available forest lands. She pleaded for preservation of water bodies. She demanded for shifting of Milk Plant at Parimahal Cheshmashahi to save the environment. She also stressed for strengthening of Forest Protection Force.Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari complimented the Minister for initiating massive plantation drive at Zabarwan hills in Srinagar. He also praised the Minister for taking various initiatives in Pollution Control Board and urged the Government for timely issuance of forest clearance for construction of road projects. He also demanded for issuance of timber to 2014 flood victims.
Gulzar Ahmad Wani urged the Government to issue firewood to all Masjids in Shangus Constituency. He pleaded for providing forest rights to the people living near forests in his Constituency.Devinder Kumar Manyal urged the Government for massive plantation drive in the State. He demanded the Government for giving permission for construction of shed at Degree College Samba.Mumtaz Ahmad Khan urged the Government for providing liberal funding under CAMPA in his Constituency. He also called for massive plantation drive in Mohour area. He demanded for immediate issuance of forest clearance for construction of roads in his Constituency.Abdul Majid Padder said that there is lack of coordination between Forest department officials and State Forest Corporation which needs to be addressed.He demanded for taking up of construction work on Ahrabal Dak Bungalow under CAMPA. He urged the Government for development of Medicinal Park in his Constituency for which land is available.Javid Ahmad Rana said the grievances of tribal people need to be redressed. He also pleaded for preservation and conservation of water bodies and demanded for preparing a comprehensive plan to safeguard forests.
Ravinder Raina appreciated the role of Minister to streamlining the functioning of the department and for holding massive plantation drive in the state. He pleaded the Minister for setting up colonies for nomadic population. He urged for developing Mangla Mata Shrine in his constituency on the lines of Mata Vaishno Devi.Abdul Rahim Rather pleaded for launching the new Rehbar-e-Janglaat scheme in the state to recruit educated unemployed youth having degree of Forestry. He also asked for soil conservation measures in forest areas to protect forests. Abdul Majid Larmi pleaded the Minister for rationalization of funds allocated under CAMPA. He demanded for 50% allocation each to be provided to Kashmir and Jammu division under CAMPA. He advocated for providing timber to the 2014 flood affected people.Mubarak Gul asked for restoring the water level in Wullar Lake and asked for regular monitoring of the same.Altaf Ahmed Wani pleaded for rationalization of Forest Department staff working in his constituency besides advocating for providing adequate timber and fire wood to the people in the area.