Srinagar, June 27: Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad on Monday said that in view of the tourist influx in Pahalgam, the Government would provide Rs 50 lakh for preservation and protection of forests in the area under Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Authority (CAMPA).
 Addressing public at Rishi Kulbal in Pahalgam, Altaf said the Government was committed to address the problems of Gujjar and Bakerwal, adding several steps had already been taken in this regard.
 He said the consumers of South Kashmir would get 5 lakh cft timber for construction purpose this year, adding the department distributed 4.75 lakh cft timber to consumers of South Kashmir during last fiscal despite unrest.
 Giving details, he said 1.5 lakh cft timber would be made available to the consumers of Islamabad (Anantnag) district and Lidder valley respectively, while as 95,000 cfts and 65,000 cfts would be distributed among the consumers of Kulgam and Shopian districts.
 He said additional control rooms would be set up in Rishi Kulbal to contain man-animal conflict. He announced Rs 5,000 each in favour of two children injured in a recent incident of man-animal conflict in the area.
 The Minister said the Government would not spare anyone found involved in forest land grabbing or timber smuggling.
 He said one of the villages in the area would be developed as a model village soon. He directed the concerned for immediate construction of Wagoora-Palpathri and Aino-Brari roads.
 Responding to the demands, Altaf announced three timber sale depots to facilitate the consumers of the area.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST