Minister of State for Forest, Environment, Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Cooperative and Fisheries, Mir Zahoor Ahmad, today visited Plantation Nursery Kralsangri and took stock of its functioning.The Minister inspected various ongoing development works in the nursery including construction of protection bunds, renovation of foot path and related works. He asked the concerned officers to speed up these works to ensure timely completion.The Minister exhorted upon the officers to make sure that the plantation drives being launched across the region especially on degraded forest land are conducted in letter and spirit. “Public participation is essential rather integral for preservation of environment and expansion of green cover in the state”, he asserted.Mir Zahoor, while expressing concern over illegal felling of woods, asked the officials to keep a strict vigil on smugglers to contain this menace.
Earlier, the Minister convened a meeting with the officers of Forest, State Forest Corporation and other Wings of Forest Department to review the stock position of timber and firewood in the Valley. The Minister, while taking stock of supply of firewood to Masjid’s and Imam Badas, was informed that 40,000 quintal of firewood has been distributed among 1180 Masjid Sharief’s of Srinagar district against the target of 1220. He was also informed that 80 percent fire wood supply has been supplied to Mosque of rural areas till date.Chief Conservator of Forest, Kashmir Nisar Ahmad Darzi briefed the meeting about the activities and achievements of the department. Addressing the meeting, the Minister asked the concerned to strictly adhere to the target given to them and distribute the timber and firewood among the needy consumers on first cum first basis.Among others, Conservator of Forest North & South, Chief Conservators, Chief General Manager, State Forest Corporation, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban and other concerned officers of Forest and its allied wings were present in the meeting.