JAMMU: Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh asked the Divisional Forest Officers of Jammu province to gear up front line forest staff who is taking week-long training from experts for demarcation of un-demarcated open spaces of Forests across the Jammu region so that encroachments on Forest land can be curbed from land grabbers. This was stated by the Minister while addressing frontline forest staff at a concluding day function of 5-day long training programme on settlement of demarcation of Forest land at Soil Conservation Training Institute at Miran Sahib, here today.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Ravi Kesar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests settlement and demarcation N P Singh, Conservator East Circle Kh Qamar-ud-Din besides Divisional Forest Officers of Jammu city were present on the occasion. The Minister directed the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of settlement and demarcation N P Singh to immediately release funds and keep at the disposal of Divisional Forest Officers of Jammu region so that demarcation job under Forests Demarcation Map can be completed by May this year.
He asked them to demarcate the open spaces strictly as per the forest land office record. Choudhary Lal Singh said that Government has prioritized the protection, preservation plan of forests and wildlife by taking up systematic demarcation of forest and wildlife land across the State. He said that Government has initiated a process of demarcating the Forests and Wildlife land across the State and assured that strict action would be taken against the encroachers.
The Minister said that directions have already been issued to the officials of the department that there shouldn’t be no compromise on the protection of wildlife, environment and ecology of the State. Choudhary Lal Singh called for a greater role of the civil society in raising awareness among the people of all sections, which would help in protecting forests and wildlife. He said that Government has prioritized protection and preservation of forests and wildlife by taking up systematic demarcation of forest land. Later, the Minister also distributed certificates and mementos to the frontline staff who got training for demarcation of open spaces of forests across the Jammu region.