Kulgam, May 11: In an important development, Conservator of Forests, South Kashmir, Irfan Ali Shah visited several remote areas in Kulgam Forest Division during his day long tour and took comprehensive inspection of various works done under various schemes during last year.
He expressed satisfaction over 100 percent target completion under GREEN J&K Drive including Har Gaon Haryali, One Beat Guard One Village Programme by involving the locals as well as representatives of grass root level Panchayati Raj Institutions in Kulgam. Under Green J&K Drive initiative, he said, during the year 2021-22 16.50 lakh planting target been achieved in South Kashmir which includes 2.05 lac plants which were planted in District Kulgam.
It was informed under the MGNREGA convergence scheme, more than 6000 number of mandays have been generated in South Kashmir in the last fiscal, which includes 1547 many days in Kulgam Division alone, which has helped in providing livelihoods to locals. Under the convergence scheme, a total of about 13.50 lac mandays will be generated by Forest Department during the current fiscal 2022-23 which includes 3.00 lac mandays to be generated in Kulgam District.
He also congratulated the forest officials for opening up all four Trek routes in record time in Kulgam Forests however he directed for identification and opening of of new Trek routes including Cherenbal trekking trail, at the earliest so that local people especially youth of Kulgam get benefitted and develop a new connect with the forests. He also directed DFO Kulgam to organise skill development and Training camps for local youth in collaboration with District Administration as Trek guides, which will generate employment for them. The Conservator laid stress on placing hoardings and banners at prominent water bodies like Aharbal water falls,Veshew River front and at all other tourist places in Kulgam for raising awareness about various Forestry based Government Initiatives for benefit of forests and awareness of people
The Conservator of Forests also directed for identifying new suitable sites for construction of new Forest Rest houses and facilitating online bookings through awareness programs for promotion of Eco-tourism in District Kulgam It was informed that construction of Forest Inspection Hut at Aharbal, the famous tourist place, has been completed and is ready to be available for online booking for Ecotourism activities.
He said wetlands and other water bodies including natural ponds in forests are integrated part of our forests and stressed on maintaining these ponds and creation of new water harvesting structures inside forests for the benefit of people and forests. He emphasized on institutionalizing and adapting of “Van se Jal aur Jal se Jeevan” and ” Catch the rain where it falls” concepts.
The Conservator also attended a grievance redressal camp at Aharbal and interacted with local tribal heads, community leaders and representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions in which he also reviewed the implementation of Forest Rights Act and directed all the Forest officers to ensure that the benefits of FRA and other Govt schemes should reach without hassles to the concerned local Gujjar and Bakerwal and other tribal communities. He impressed upon formation of Women Self Help Groups amongst tribal communities for strengthening their livelihoods.
It was informed that during the year 2021-22, 1230 cfts illicit timber, 30.68 Qtls illicit firewood, 02 No. Vehicles, 03 No. Horses have been seized in Kulgam by Forest Department and confiscation proceedings initiated. It was informed that a number of eviction drives were done in the last year, in which 180 Kanals of encroached Forest land has been retrieved till now. The Conservator of Forests directed DFO Kulgam to regularly review the protection measures being taken up to ensure protection of vulnerable forests. The DFO was also advised to ensure that all precautions be taken by the staff during night checkings and nakas at Forest Check posts besides maintaining coordination with district administration and District police in this regard. He appreciated the DFOs for installation of CCTVs at some Forest Check posts in Kulgam for maintaining proper surveillance. He directed for installing CCTVs at every forest installation in Kulgam . He further directed for use of IT tools including Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and information and Communication Technology based solutions for enhanced forest surveillance. He stressed on use of mobile based apps and Drone based surveillance in vulnerable forest areas. He said these interventions can potentially increase the qualitative output of the department’s efforts towards forest conservation, protection, and regeneration in Kulgam District.
CF directed for implementing the Government initiative of “Plastic Free Forests, Polythene Free Forests”. He appealed general public especially the tourists not to throw plastic/polythene waste while on visit to various tourist spots inside or near Forest areas like Aharbal,Kousernag etc He impressed the forest frontline staff to organize programmes at regular intervals to free forests from plastic and polythene by involving school children and other stake holders, say no to plastics, polythene and drugs and say yes to forests and health.
The Conservator of Forests during his visit to Kulgam, also called upon the Deputy Commissioner Kulgam and apprised him about various Initiatives taken by the Forest Department including promotion of Ecotourism, Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Areas, expediting of Forest Clearances. The Deputy Commissioner assured full support to Forest Department for safeguarding the natural wealth and environment in District Kulgam.
CF also inspected various nurseries of the Department and directed for increasing nursery stock raising on scientific and modern lines.
