Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 15 September 2015

• Inaugurates workshop on document management

JAMMU: To infuse accountability and transparency in sale of timber, Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Bali Bhagat today launched e – portal for online registration of consumers. The e–portal can be accessed on the web site of J&K Forest Department www.jkforest.gov.in.

The J&K State Forest Corporation supplies timber directly to the consumers of Srinagar and Jammu cities on Fair price rates. Using this portal, the consumers of these cities will be able to register on line their requirement for timber with SFC. The consumers will be provided timber on first come first serve basis.

Speaking on the occasion, the Forest Minister stressed on the need for maintaining greater transparency and accountability at all levels of functioning of the department. He stated that e-governance should become an integral part of the departmental activities, particularly in such areas where public services are involved.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary Forests informed the Minister that in the next phase the timber sale depots of Forest Department will also be brought on the web based platform. The Minister congratulated the Managing Director, J&K State Forest Corporation and other officers of the corporation for taking this people friendly initiative.

The Managing Director J&K SFC, Arun Kumar Tikku appreciated the efforts of National Informatics Centre (NIC) of J&K who have developed and launched the application.

A K Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, OP Sharma, Director Environment and other officers of J&K Forest Department and Chief General Managers J&K State Forest Corporation were also present on the occasion. Earlier, the Minister inaugurated one day workshop on Work Flow Document Management System of Forest Demarcation Records of Jammu division being developed by J&K e-governance Agency of Information Technology (IT) Department.

The J&K Forest Department has taken up digitization of all the original demarcation records of Forest Land in Jammu as well as in Kashmir divisions. The digitization process is under progress and is being executed through J&K e-governance Agency. After the completion of digitization of forest records, the data shall be uploaded on the State data centre with the objective of making it available to all the territorial DFOs through internet facility.   

 The Minister lauded the role of the Forest Department and SFC and stressed that in view of the growing requirements of timber and firewood in rural areas, the department has a very significant role to play especially in view of the environmental threats like climate change and global warming that the world is facing today. He asked the officers of various wings of the department to work in coordination for the conservation of forests. He asked the officers to work with zeal and enthusiasm for better results and stressed on   community involvement to achieve the desired results. 

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Chief Conservator of Forest Jammu, Chief Conservator of Forest S&D, Chief Conservator of Forest, Environment and Ecology, DFOs and officers of Jammu division were also present on the occasion.