Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh, Monday announced that a Wildlife Sanctuary will be developed in Tral area of Pulwama district.

The Minister said this while chairing 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of State Board for Wildlife here today.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Forests, Secretary Tourism & Education, Principal Chief Conservator Forest, Wildlife, Secretary (Technical) Forests, Regional Wildlife Wardens of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions and other concerned.

While stressing the need to preserve forests and wildlife, the Minister said that 156 sq kilometers of forest and wildlife area in Tral would be developed as a Wildlife Sanctuary. The meeting decided to connect the corridors for development of landscape for critically endangered species including world famous Hangul.

During the meeting, Singh called for strengthening of research wing in Wildlife Department and directed for formation of a Technical Advisory Committee to draw a plan of action for strengthening of research wing in the Department.

The meeting also discussed the proposals of laying of pipelines, construction of roads passing through protected areas etc. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted for Khrew and Khonmoh wildlife areas being in close proximity to Dachigam National Park was also discussed in detail.

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