The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the devolution of powers to Panchayati Raj Institutions for undertaking various Social Forestry activities to improve the forest based resources for people and livestock, converting wasteland into small village wood lots/strips, raising wind breaks/shelterbelts in vulnerable areas etc.
SAC approved the devolution of powers to Panchayats by theDepartment of Forest, Environment & Ecology in accordance with theprovisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 2018 by amending SRO-61of 1992, SRO-17 of 1999 and SRO-143 of 2011.
The village will be taken as base unit and concernedPanchayats will act to meet the requirement of participatory approach of SocialForestry. A village is a micro unit of Panchayat. One Panchayat in J&Kcovers/supervises about 2-3 villages.
The sites for various afforestration works under all theschemes, wherever feasible/applicable will be identified and proposed inconsultation with concerned Halqa Panchayat and Village Panchayat (Plantation)Committees. The Sarpanch/Panch (as the case may be) will function as Ex-OfficioChairman of Village Executive Committee of the Village Panchayat (Plantation)Committees instead of selection by Village Committee (General Body).
The plans under different afforestration schemes of SocialForestry will be formulated by the concerned Village Panchayat (Plantation)Committees in consultation with Halqa Panchayats and Social ForestryDepartment.
The plants shall be provided by the Social ForestryDepartment. However, digging of pits and planting will be done through theVillage Panchayat (Plantation) Committees. It may be emphasized that any needbased/watch and ward/seasonal engagement for social forestry works transferredto the Gram Panchayats will be done by the Village Panchayat Committees. Theselabourers will be hired exclusively by on day to day basis without creating anyliability for the Government.
The monitoring, evaluation and audit of all the works willbe done as per the prescribed norms and rules. However the Halqa Panchayats andVillage Panchayat (Plantation) Committees shall be involved in inspections andchecking of the works. The maintenance and protection of plantation done shallbe joint responsibility of the Forest department and concerned VillagePanchayat (Plantation) Committees.
The funds for the plantation shall be placed at the disposalof the concerned Village Panchayat (Plantation) Committees by the SocialForestry Department under relevant schemes/sectors.