Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh inspected various community afforestation sites in Birpur and Sunjwan and took stock of the status of plantation works being carried out by the Social Forestry Department in these areas. The Minister visited Social Forestry Nursery at Birpur where the department with the help of local people has taken up community plantation on waste land alongside revered ponds at Data Ranpat Devsthan, Nikki Malani and Baddi Malani and Pacca Talab in the village. Pertinently, the department has planted 1000 trees alongside Data Ranpat Dev Jee Devsthan and 2000 ornamental and fruit trees at Pacca Talab, Nikki Malani and Baddi Malani over an area of 100 kanal. Besides, the department has also taken up community and strip plantations at various places across Jammu district. The department has also fixed a target of covering 50 hectare land with 35000 trees under Village Wood Lot scheme in Jammu and its peripheries. Lal Singh said that people should be made aware about the uses of various species grown at the community sites so that they could get the benefit and in return cooperate with the department for upkeep of the compartments. Calling for strict action against those who plunder the forest wealth for petty gains, the Minister said involvement of people can also help in curbing the menace of smuggling of timber and other forests products. He asked the officers to act tough against smugglers and take effective measures for restoration of the damages done to the State forests over the years. Taking serious notice of encroachment near Kargil Colony in Sunjwan by some land grabbers, Lal Singh directed the officers to issue notices to illegal occupants to vacate land within week’s time. Later, Choudhary Lal Singh visited Bacchan Depot of State Forest Corporation in Narwal and checked the status of sale and stock of timber.
