Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Sanjeev Verma, conducted an exhaustive tour of interior areas of Jammu and Reasi districts to review implementation of various development schemes besides interacting with representatives of PRIs and people residing in the vicinity of Forest areas.
Verma undertook the tour through traditional route of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine passing through different villages including Nagrota, Marh, Shibba, Bamyal and Dera Baba Bandha Bahadur.
Commissioner Secretary inspected various traditional water harvesting step wells and archeologically important sites enroute. He expressed concern over dilapidated condition of several facilities there and asked for taking up renovation works for public convenience.
He was accompanied by Director/PCCF Department of Social Forestry, Director Soil and Water Conservation, CCF Jammu, DFOs and other senior Forest Officers besides representatives of INTACH.
Verma emphasized the importance of rainwater harvesting for these kandi areas which shall help in increasing production of grass and fodder for locals besides improving the habitat for avi-fauna of the area. He asked the officers to integrate forestry works with the department of Rural Development under MNREGA convergence plan to generate maximum number of mandays for local population.
Later, Commissioner Secretary distributed solar lights among 20 beneficiaries under Green India Mission to promote renewable and clean source of energy during a function held at Marh.
On the occasion, Commissioner Secretary launched plantation drive with plantation of a sapling of Molsari tree in presence of PRI members and joint Forest Member Committees of Green India Mission Marh.
Verma urged the locals including Green India Mission beneficiaries to protect forests especially during the forthcoming forest fire season extending whole hearted support to the field functionaries of department.
Meanwhile, another public outreach programme was held at Dera Baba Banda Bahadur in Reasi under JK Green Drive and Har Gaon Haryali.
During the event, Verma interacted with the Village Panchayat Plantation Committees (VPPCs) of Kanjali, Babbar Brahmana and Dera Baba villages and took stock of their issues and concerns.
DDC members, PRI members, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner (D) Reasi were present on the occasion.
On the occasion, a plantation drive was also carried out in which about 200 saplings were distributed among the general public by the department of Social Forestry.
Sanjeev Verma, while speaking on the occasion, said that the department is organizing such programmes across J&K to ensure participation of VPPCs for successful implementation of JK Green drive.
Later, Sanjeev Verma inspected the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) of Municipal Committee Katra.
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