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Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 15 April 2016

KATHUA: Minister for Forest , Ecology and Environment, Ch Lal Singh today held an extensive tour of Basholi constituency to inspect various ongoing development works and held series of public meetings at village Dhanni , Mahanal and Jakhol to have a view of various problems being faced by people. While inspecting the blacktopping of road from Jakhol towards Rajbagh, the minister instructed the concerned officials to consider quality parameters accurately, so that after completion the road can be brought to use for maximum duration. The residents of village Jakhol also brought into notice the problem of drinking water and irrigation which they were facing for quite long.

The Minister immediately directed the officers of PHE and Irrigation Department to look into the matter immediately so that sufferings of the villagers can be mitigated at once . Describing forest as Nature's great gift Ch Lal Singh called for involving people to conserve forest wealth in the state. The people's participation should be central to the efforts of the government in saving our green gold," Singh said addressing a gathering of villagers. He further said that a comprehensive plan with focus on forest conservation can only protect our environment.

After seeing the depleted condition of forests near village Forelain and Jakhol ,the Minister passed instructions to put a blanket ban on issuing Form 25 which is used for carriage and transportation of wood. He further encouraged the villagers to plant atleast 20 trees to compensate with  rampant denudation of  forest areas. He appealed the villagers to stop cutting wood even from their private land and assured them providing the same as and when the need arises through the government timber sale depot.

Earlier, Lal Singh inspected the forest check post at Dayal Chak and instructed the officials to update the registers properly and also inspected development works at Mahanal. The minister was accompanied by CCF Jammu , Roshan Jaggi , CF(East Circle) , BM Sharma , DFO Kathua , Ashwini Kumar , DFO Wildlife Warden Kathua , Priyanka Sarin , DFO Social Forestry Kathua , Sagar Singh and DD FPF Kathua , Indu Sharma.