Van se Jal –Jal se Jivan
Forest is the focus on Jammu and Kashmir administration while the government has recently decided to go for massive plantation dirve in the coming weeks in this direction.
Recently Chief Secretary reviewed the functioning of forest department and appreciated their new initiative-‘Van se Jal –Jal se Jivan’. He said the campaign has to be focused more in areas of water stress in J&K and the views of the local people should also be sought in making this programme a success.
He urged the department to achieve the target of plantation of 1.3 crore plants set for this year, he said there is also a need to focus plantation in vulnerable areas, particularly on the highways where green cover can help in slope stabilization and prevent landslides.
He was informed that out of Rs 90 cr released by Finance department from an approved outlay of Rs 132 cr, the department has incurred an expenditure of Rs. 70 cr till 15th February 2022.
He said the department will fully spend the funds released by Finance department during the current fiscal year.
Government recently said that out of total of 20194 sq km of the forest area in J&K, around 2250 sq km forest area has degraded while further saying that the department on an average restores 100-200 sq km of the degraded forest area in a year.
