‘This will help in decreasing pollution caused by cement factories in the area’

PAMPORE: Vice Chancellor SKUAST-JK, Professor Nazir Ahmad Ganaie on Tuesday participated in the mega plantation drive held at Khyber Industries Khunmoh. The plantation drive was organised by Khyber Industries Khunmoh in collabration with Division of Silviculture and Agroforest facility of forest Behama Ganderbal, SKUAST-Kashmir.

Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganaie who was the chief guest, kick started the drive by plantation drive along with other officials planted a number of tress in Khyber Industries Khunmoh.

During the massive drive, 7000 saplings will be planted, officials told Kashmir Reader.

The officials included Prof T.H Masoodi Registrar SKUAST-K, Prof S. A Gangoo Dean Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-K, Behama Ganderbal Campus, Prof G M Bhat Head Silviculture and Agroforestry, Prof P.A Sofi head FPU, Prof S N Zaffar Geelani, Dr Firdous Ahmad Wani Vice President KIPL, Er Myser Khan KIPL, Dr Vaishnu Dutt, Dr N.A Pala, Dr T.A Rather, Scientists Silviculture and Agroforestry Dr Megna Rashid, Dr Mehraj Din Dar Consultant Khyber Industries and officers from Pollution Control Board also planted planted a different variety of trees in Khyber Industries Khunmoh. They marked the saplings with their name plates.

On the occasion, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-JK and Registrar SKUAST-K, congratulated the Head Division of SAF and his team of Scientists for this wonderful work.

The Khyber Industries Pvt Ltd situated at Tulpow Khunmoh is spread over an area of 30 hectares of land. The area of Khyber Industries was taken up by Silviculture and Agroforestry department of Faculty of Forestry SKUAST-K one decade back for rehabilitation of degraded mine area, for improving micro- climate for checking of pollution and soil erosion.

After surveying the area by the group of scientists of Faculty of Forestry which include Dr G.M Bhat, Dr P.A Khan, Dr P.A Sofi, Dr J A Mugloo. The necessary plant species suitable for the area were provided to the KIPL.

Till date, 25,000 plants were planted in the premises of the industry (8hactres) has turned the premises into a green belt, SKUST-Kashmir officials told Kashmir Reader.

Taking to Kashmir Reader at Khunmoh, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganaie said that plantation drive organised by “SKUAST-K in collaboration with Khyber Industries is doing a programme to improve environment,” he said, adding that unversity’s faculty of forestry in association with Khyber Industries is doing a mega plantation drive in Kunmoh. He said that SKUAST-K’s faculty of forestry has been working with Khyber from past five years.

“25000 trees have been planted on 10 hectare land. This will help in decreasing pollution caused by cement factories working in the area,” he said. “We are thankful to Khyber Industries for inviting us in this important programme which they have made compulsory for themselves,” he said, adding that he also appreciates scientists of faculty of forestry for doing this work.

He said that they will continue the plantation drive in future so that the topography is made green and take concept of green Kashmir forward.

The VC SKUAST-JK told Kashmir Reader that three plants, pine, cupress and deodar were planted during the drive.

“We had taken an initiative 10 years ago that how this area can be rehabilitated,” Prof. G M Bhat, Head Silviculture and agro forestry said, adding that they did a survey after which 25000 trees were planted. He added that as a part of the programme they launched a mega plantation drive which was kick started by VC SKUAST-Kashmir and SKUAST-Jammu in presence vice president Khyber industries Dr Firdous and other officials and officers .

He said that during the plantation they planted two species, Deodar and Kail.”This year our target plantation of 7500 plants in degraded lands for improvement of the micro climate,” he said, adding that they created a green belt. “This is not my individual but team work of five scientists,” he said.

BILAL HABIB