Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh today called for carrying out plantation drive with a missionary spirit in the state for reversing the harmful effects of the global warming besides preserving the pristine natural beauty. The Minister was addressing a large gathering at a function organized by Radio Kashmir Jammu as a part of Van Mahotsav, here today.Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ravi Kesar, Station Director Anjali Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Director Social Forestry A K Gupta, Conservator of Forests East and Cenab Circle Kh Qamar-ud-Din and T B Singh, President Hockey Jammu Kashmir Kanta Andotra besides Divisional Forest Officers Territorial, Wild Life, Social Forestry and staff members of Radio Station were present on the occasion.
Elaborating the importance of Van Mahostava, Choudhary Lal Singh called for generating massive awareness regarding damaging effects of deforestation and need to plant more trees to maintain fragile ecological balance of the state. He appealed to the people of State to be part of plantation drive and plant trees in their areas, schools, colleges, railway stations and government offices. He said under massive plantation drive launched by the Government, more than one crore trees including 40000 Chinar and 60000 fruit saplings would be planted in every nook and corner of the State during monsoon. “The Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate the degraded forests across the state” he said. He called upon the experts and scholars to come up with concrete suggestions which can help in reversing the effects of climate change.The Minister said that the main target of the government is planting trees in the degraded areas. He said that the drives are being carried out in with the help of locals for better results.
Meanwhile Choudhary Lal Singh called upon the functionaries of department to organize massive awareness campaign in all parts of the State to highlight the importance of aforestation.In her address, Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu Anjali Sharma said that the RKJ was celebrating Van Mahotsav , in furtherance of the ‘Go Green’ Initiative Undertaken by it and appealed all the staff members to plant a sapling is the office campus and nurture them.She said that a colourful Banner for signature campaign of saving trees was also carried out with Ist signature of the Minister followed by plantation of different variety of plants by the Station Director and other RKJ Staff.Later, the Minister also attended the live phone in programme which went on Air simultaneously on Medium wave of Radio Kashmir Jammu and FM channels along with the AIR Kathua, AIR Bhadarwah, Rajouri and Noushara Transmitters.Choudhary Lal Singh thanked Radio Kashmir Jammu for Organising this event and said that it would yield good results. Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu also presented a Radio Set to the Minister as token of remembrance.