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 global warming besides preserving the pristine natural grandeur.The Minister was addressing a large gathering at a function organized by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at Press Club, here today.MLA East Jammu Rajesh Gupta, Managing Director State Forest Corporation Suresh Gupta, Regional Director Pollution Control Board Showkat Chowdhary, Regional Director Wildlife Warden Dr. V S Senthil, Joint Director Soil and Water Conservation Pawan Parihar, Conservator of Forest West Circle Kh Qamar-ud-Din besides Divisional Forest Officers of Territorial, Wildlife and Social Forestry were present on the occasion.
Choudhary Lal Singh called for generating massive awareness regarding damaging effects of deforestation and need to plant more trees to maintain ecological balance of the state. He appealed 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 Minister informed that Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate the degraded forests across the state”. He called upon the experts and scholars to come up with concrete suggestions which can help in reversing the effects of climate change.
Lal Singh said that the main target of the government is planting trees in the degraded areas. He said that the drives are being carried out with the help of locals for better results. He asked Social Forestry Department to organize massive awareness camps to spread awareness on the need and importance of plantation.The Minister asked the officers to grow seasonal plants in all the nurseries so that plantation was carried out to cover all the open spaces during rainy season. He said Government is making all efforts to beautify all the road side strips with plantation and chain link fencing. He asked the officers of different wings of the department to work in coordination so that benefits of different schemes of the Government reach the targeted populace. He exhorted upon the department to further intensify their efforts of increasing green cover and meeting the requirements of the people especially in rural areas.Choudhary Lal Singh directed the officers of Jammu Division to start a massive plantation drive and set a target of planting about one lakh ornamental and fruit saplings in the forest areas in each division during current monsoon. He asked them to start plantation drive in degraded forest areas of their respective jurisdictions.Later, the Minister and MLA planted Chinar trees at Press Club and Tawi Bridge Park.