Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh has received the Green State of the Year Award which has been awarded to the Government of J&K, Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology.The Minister also received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented during National Skill Development Summit 2017 with theme “Create more number of job givers than job seekers“ at India International Centre (IIC) New Delhi on Tuesday. The Minister has appreciated the work done by the State officials through which the State has bagged this Award and laid stress to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded and denuded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water. He also apprised of the situation that has been caused by deforestation and improper utilization of land resources.
“This is a proud movement for the State as our work is being acknowledged not only in State but at national and international forums,” Mr Singh said.“We have devised a strategy wherein we rope in low rung officials to make the functioning of the department viable and result oriented,” he added. He also lauded the role of all these officials who have contributed for making Jammu and Kashmir go green.“The process of massive plantation won’t stop. We have constituted eco-clubs and village foresters who will act as conservationists in their respective areas,” Mr Singh said. “We have pledged to turn Jammu Kashmir as the green corridor of the country,” he added.The Summit was attended by Dr. Tanuja Trivedi (President of CIU), Dr. Markanday Rai, senior Advisor, H.E. Mr. Petko Dooykov Ambassdor of Bulgaria, Niankaro Yeah, Ambassdor of Bali, Mohammad Abidi Sheikh Ambassador of Somalia, and other senior dignitaries. The senior officials from J&K Govt. Department of Forests Environment and Ecology were also present during the summit.Pertinently Mr Singh bagged India’s Today’s big ‘State of the States’ (SoS) for Jammu and Kashmir in environment sector and health for consecutive two years earlier.