Details

Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 05 October 2023

• Major thrust given on digitization and demarcation of Forest boundaries

SRINAGAR: The Executive Committee of CAMPA met today under the chairmanship of Roshan Jaggi, Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, J&K (PCCF& HOFF) Forest Department/also Chairman Executive Committee of CAMPA.

Representatives of Administrative Departments of Finance, Forest, Environment & Ecology, Revenue, Science & Technology, Tribal Affairs, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Agriculture Production and Farmer Welfare, Planning & Monitoring participated in the meeting. Senior Officers of Forest and allied Departments including Chief Wildlife Warden, Addl. Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Conservation Act), and Chief Accounts Officer attended the meeting.

Special invitees including APCCF Jammu, APCCF Kashmir, CF North, South, Srinagar, Chenab, West and East Circles participated, non-official members, Nazir-Be-Nazir (NGO Member) and Ch. Asaf Iqbal, Expert on Tribal matters, also participated in the meeting.

PCCF & HoFF, J&K Forest Department in his opening remarks gave an overview of the main activities of CAMPA. He informed that under “Green Jammu and Kashmir Drive/Green India Mission”, a record number of plants are being planted with the people’s participation. In the current year, the department has enhanced the target of planting from 1.50 to 1.75 Crore plants.

He explained the importance of digitization of old demarcation records and the need for strengthening the boundary lines of vulnerable forests by erecting robust boundary pillars. He made a reference to the decision taken by the Steering Committee in its meeting held on 23.01.2023 to scale up the work of demarcation of remaining forests to secure the vulnerable forest land from encroachment.

He informed that recently the J&K Government has issued directions vide No.FST-PCB/7/2021-02 dated 08.08.2023 to the forest department to complete the work of Digitization, Survey and BP fixing in all vulnerable category of “Forests” by end of March 2024.

The Chief Executive Officer, CAMPA, Asaf Mehmood Sagar made a presentation on the progress of implementation of the approved Annual Plan of Operation (APO) of 2023-24 and the additional APO for 2023-24 under CAMPA. He informed that against the current years’ afforestation target of 13719 ha area, 4461 ha area stood planted with 18.50 lakh plants. He presented the agenda of the meeting before the Committee.

After detailed discussions, the proposed Additional Annual Plan of Operations for 2023-24 was considered and recommended by the Executive Committee for approval of the Steering Committee for onward submission to the National Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India for final approval.

The proposed works in the plan included taking up Digitization and Demarcation of Forest Boundaries in a time bound manner as per the directions issued by the Government of J&K, utilization of savings accrued due to e-tendering, to facilitate smooth and timely execution of various works approved under CAMPA and other related schemes of Forest and allied wings by way of having project implementation units and execution of urgent nature works to protect and strengthen the vulnerable areas of PAs of Jammu and in Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve of Wildlife Protection Department.