As a part of 68th Van Mahostava, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh in presence of Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh, Minister for Information Department, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali and Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Choudhary today kick started plantation drive at the strip near Airport, Satwari, here today.The aim of the plantation drive in urban pockets of Jammu is to make the city of temples an environment friendly destination besides ensuring a healthy atmosphere and comfortable environment to visiting tourists.In this regard, the Urban Forestry Division and Social Forestry Division today planted about 40,000 different saplingplants at Kunjwani Chowk, Kunjwani Bye-Pass road, Gangyal, Govt College for Women Gandhi Nagar, City Farm Strip opp. Greater Kailash, Roop Nagar, Nagrota National Highway strip, Sunjwan and SoS Narwal Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ravi Kesar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Manoj Panth, Chairman Pollution Control Board B Sidharth, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Roshan Jaggi, Principal GCW Gandhi Nagar Prof (Dr.) Koushal Samotra, Director SFRI B M Sharma, Director Social Forestry, A K Gupta, Chief Conservator of Forests, Farooq Gillani, Director Forest Protection Force, Asif Sagar, Managing Director SFC, Suresh Gupta, Regional Director Social Forestry Roop Avtar Kour, Regional Director State Pollution Control Board Showkat Chowdhary, Conservators, Divisional Forest Officers Urban, Wild Life and Social Forestry were present on the occasion.
While addressing a large gathering at GCW Gandhi Nagar, the Forest Minister said that a massive afforestation drive has been launched this monsoon to restore and replenish degraded forest cover across the Jammu region. He said about 60 lakh trees of different species were planted in every nook and corner of the region till date including at Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur and Jammu districts during the 20th day of 68th Van Mohastova from July 14, 2017.The Minister said that Forest Department has chalked out a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate the degraded forests across the state. He said that the department is also all set to launch a massive plantation drive under Public Private Partnership mode in Kashmir Valley.Choudhary Lal Singh said that state government was also promoting plantation of fruit and medicinal plants in the forests.Appreciating the efforts of Forests and its allied wings, the Minister informed that the department has worked with utmost dedication in developing the degraded forest areas including road side strips from Lakhanpur to Banihal. He informed that third party monitoring and inspection mechanism has been put in place to ascertain the progress under the drive.Maintaining that public participation is vital for preservation of environment, the Minister urged upon people to come forward and voluntarily participate in the plantation drive. He asked people to plant trees in their surroundings, schools, colleges and Government offices, adding that the department will provide free saplings for strengthening the initiative.Later, at Kunjwani Chowk, Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta planted various saplings in presence of the Forest Minister.