PCCF Dr Mohit Gera launches mega plantation drive in Khunmoh

PCCF Dr Mohit Gera launches mega plantation drive in Khunmoh

Forest department to plant 150 lakh trees

PAMPORE: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K and Head of the Forest Force and Chairman J&K Pollution Control Committee, Dr Mohit Gera, IFS launched a mega plantation drive at Khunmoh area of forest division Awantipora on Tuesday.
Dr Mohit Gera was accompanied by Irfan Ali Shah,IFS, Conservator of Forests, South Forest Circle, Rafi Ahmed Bhat, Director Khyber Industries Pvt Ltd Riyaz Ahmad Tramboo, Regional Director J&K Pollution Control Committee, DFO Awantipora Forest Division Waseem Farooq Mir, Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Awantipora Dr Mumtaz Majeed, Range officers and frontline forest staff.
The program started with a guard of Honour presented to PCCF and HoFF J&K by personnel of Forest Protection Force. Dr. Gera then kickstarted a mega plantation program in Khyber Industrial Pvt Ltd Khunmoh by planting Chinar saplings.
During the planting drive, hundreds of conifer saplings were planted by other officials.
The PCCF also participated in an Environment awareness program at Khyber Industrial area, Khumoh and interacted at length with the forest frontline staff, industrialists and entrepreneurs, officials from J&K Pollution Control Committee on various Deliverables, schemes and government programs in the forestry sector including Green J&K Drive, One Beat Guard One village Program, Forests for Recreation, fodder, livelihood, etc and directed the forest officials for work with full dedication and commitment for conservation and protection of Forests, wildlife and biodiversity through the people-centric approach of the department. He also informed of various ease of business initiatives being taken by the department for industrial growth and development.
The PCCF also distributed mobile phones amongst the Forest personnel of Forest Check Posts of Awantipora Forest Division for the implementation of the National Transit Permit System.
Dr. Gera also inspected mine reclamation areas of Khunmoh and appreciated the work done by Industry people. He informed that mine reclamation creates useful landscapes that meet a variety of goals ranging from the restoration of productive ecosystems to the creation of industrial and municipal resources. He stressed that mine reclamation shall always be a regular part of modern mining practices.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, Mohit Gera said, “This was a plantation drive with our industry partner under UT administration green Jammu and Kashmir drive which was launched on 28 July from AIIMS Vijaypur Jammu. This year Pollution Control Committee Kashmir joined us as a partner and they had some targets with the industry.”
“It was under this context we are here at Khyber where we plant new trees in certain areas to mitigate dust pollution,” he said, adding that the plantation was done by officials of the forest department, wildlife department and forest protection department.
The PCCF told Kashmir Reader that they have the plan to plant 15,00,000 trees. Some plants are given in monsoon and some in winter, he said.
“The majority of plantation is done in March season,” he said, adding that they will be completing the target by 31 of March. He also said that they are doing mega distribution under the Har Gaon Haryali campaign.
Conservator of Forests South Forest Circle Irfan Ali Shah informed that the Forest Division Awantipora is a newly created Division which has been carved out from Lidder and Shopian Divisions. He said during the current year, a planting target of 1.80 lakh plants was there and so far, 1.26 lakh plants have been planted in this division and the remaining planting work shall be completed by end of this month. He informed that the DPR formulation work for the Road Side Avenue Planting project for NH-1A from Qazigund to Srinagar was successfully completed and a proposal has been submitted to higher authorities for approval. Besides, the Perspective Plan for Forest Fire Management for an amount of Rs 35.00 lakh has also been submitted to Government for approval. Further, efforts are underway to make Pampore Range a model Forest Range.
Rafi Ahmad, Regional Director J&K Pollution Control Committee, Kashmir Region also spoke on the occasion in which he highlighted the efforts of the JKPCC in pollution control and strict implementation of various rules and guidelines related to the environment.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Riyaz Tramboo, Director Khyber Industries. He thanked the PCCF and HoFF for various initiatives taken by the Forest Department for ease of doing business and supporting the Industrial growth in J&K.
Waseem Farooq, DFO Awantipora delivered a vote of thanks. The program was conducted by Farooq Ahmad, Range officer, Awantipora Forest Division. The Industrialists, PRIs, forest officials from other departments, and local green volunteers participated in the daylong programme.

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