Jammu, Dec 24: The minister for forests, environment and ecology, Mian Altaf Ahmed, said Thursday the government has formulated a comprehensive Rs 6.37 crores project for protection of forests in the state, which is being submitted to the Centre for approval. Addressing a meeting of the officers of Forest Department here, he said that the main focus of the project was on massive afforestation in the degraded forest to protect environment, ecology, flora and fauna, He directed the officers to gear up efforts for achieving cent percent targets fixed under various centrally sponsored schemes aimed at plantation in degraded forests. The meeting also reviewed the status of Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
 Altaf said under CAMPA that Rs.20 crores would be utilized on the developmental activities in forests as per guidelines of the Supreme Court.
 He directed the concerned agencies to fill up all the gazetted and non-gazetted vacancies as soon as possible to improve functioning of the department.
 He also directed for reconstruction of Chiternar Forest Training Institute and prepared a plan for its funding.  The Minister was also informed that 7.46 lakh cfts of timber and 57257.21 quintals of firewood have been provided to the consumers by the Forest Department till date.
 During the meeting, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jagdish Keshwan gave a detailed physical and financial achievements registered under various sectors. He said a special plantation drive has been initiated in all deforestation of forest areas in the State, adding that several measures have been taken for conservation and protection of State’s green gold. The meeting among others, was attended by Chief Conservator of Forest, Kashmir, Moulvi Shafat Ahmed, Chief Conservator of Forest Jammu, Mr. S.C. Sharma,  Chief Conservator of Forest Central, A.K. Singh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Plan, Abdul Razak, Chief Conservator of Forest Projects S.P. Arya, and Conservators of Forests from J&K.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 IST