J&K State Unveils a New Forest Policy

Forest Minister Mian Altaf unveils a new policy, but if the past experience is any guide, things will only get worse (two reports)

Minister Announces New Forest Policy

Jammu: Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmed today unveiled new Forest Policy here at a press conference. The policy aims at scientific management of forests, conservation of bio- diversity, rehabilitation of tainted forests and meeting livelihood needs of forest dependent communities.

Highlighting the futuristic strategies of the new forest policy, he said the forest department will reconcile land records with the Revenue department in a time bound manner speedily. He said the system of forest demarcation will be completely modernized and measures initiated to raise fencing and boundary pillars by making use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and other modern technologies.

Mian Altaf said the infrastructure and man power will be strengthened and all gazetted and non- gazetted vacant posts filled up in a time bound manner to ensure efficient functioning of the forest department and its allied wings.

Stating that the forest department will give up liberal approach in providing forest land for construction and development purposes, he said any such case will henceforth be handed over to Environment Assessment committee (EAC) for through study before disposal. “The Forest Department will give clearance only in such cases which are absolutely necessary and without alternative”, he said and added even for such cases clearance from EAC will be mandatory.

Mian Altaf said all the available spaces along National Highways, roads, bus stations, parks, etc will be covered under plantation to promote green cover in the State. He said all kinds of trees and plants will be raised in the departmental nurseries for supply to civil population, citizens and other stakeholders for plantation to strangthen green cover.

The Minister said the policy provides for promotion of eco and nature tourism with focus un developing jungle spots to expose virgin areas of nature for promotion of eco tourism. In such areas the structures will be developed without changing local architecture and natural aura, he added. Popularizing eco-tourism and nature tourism will be a key strategy for utilizing the unique forest landscape of the State, he said adding that the same will provide employment avenues to the local people and communities living in close association with forests

The Forest Minister said that steps will be taken to incorporate environment in the syllabus and curriculum to sensitize younger generation about the vital role and importance of environment on human life survival. He said State, Central and other agencies will be motivated to enhance allocations commensurate with the rising importance of environment in tackling climate change.

The Minister stated that special attention will be given to address the man-animal interface through a joint mechanism between different agencies and by creating awareness amongst general public.

He said focus has been provided in the policy for development of non timber forest produce, including medicinal plants and conservation of biodiversity. He also announced that the concessions traditionally enjoyed by local people will continue.

Altaf also informed that the policy provides for creation of appropriate legal and institutional framework for implementation of the policy. It also prescribes for the preparation of an implementation schedule for realizing the policy. A high powered institutional mechanism will be put in place to monitor and review the implementation of the policy, he added.

About a question on fire incidents, the Minister said that people and communities living near forests will be engaged to keep watch on forest fires during venerable periods for which they will be given incentives. In reply to another question about arming Forest Protection Force, he said the Government would equip the protection personnel with arms in Shopian and Pir Panchal ranges to effectively curb timer smuggling. (kashmir Images)

14359 Hectares of Land Encroached in J&K

Jammu: A total of 14359 hectares of forest land has been encroached in J&K out of which 9482 hectares of land falls in Jammu region while 4877 hectares of land in Kashmir is in illegal possession.

To preserve the remaining forests and check the timber smuggling, Forest Protection Force (FPF) personnel would be equipped with the weapons within a fortnight or so in Pir Panjal and Shopian forest ranges, which have been identified as critical belts.

This information was given on Monday in a press conference addressed by Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmed where he unveiled new Forest Policy of the State, which he claimed aimed at scientific management of forests, conservation of bio- diversity, rehabilitation of tainted forests and meeting livelihood needs of forest dependent communities.

“Majority of this area was encroached under “Grow more food” launched years back when the people in the state were given concession to take over any piece of land for farming practices. But now the state government, with a resolve to make no compromise on the account of encroachments, has started the process to reclaim the encroached forest land. Under this campaign, a large chunk of forest area has been cleared of encroachments,” it was informed.

Responding to a query as whether the plantation of Russian Poplars would be banned in J&K following adverse scientific reports that they suck more water content and render the land fertile, the Minister averred that similar reports were brought to the notice of the Chief Minister as well. “But our forest experts have given a lie to these inputs asserting that they (inputs) lack authenticity, so right now there’s no such provision is there,” he added.

Mian Altaf, while highlighting the futuristic strategies of the new forest policy, said the forest department would reconcile land records with the Revenue department in a time bound manner speedily. He said the system of forest demarcation would be completely modernized and measures initiated to raise fencing and boundary pillars by making use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and other modern technologies.

In response to a query pertaining to encroachment in Gulmarg, he stated that a committee too was constituted on this account. “We’ve to find out if this was the state land, then it would be the job of Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) to get the area cleared of encroachments, though forest department is not shirking its responsibility on this account.”

Regarding the controversy related to IWDP, he claimed that the issue was blown out of proportion by the media there was no truth in the fact that NOC was denied citing the reason of disputed status of State. “Anyway the government is not following that case now as it was very old project and moreover there are many similar projects which are already underway. We hope to get new projects,” he asserted.

Mian Altaf said the infrastructure and man power would be strengthened and all gazetted and non- gazetted vacant posts filled up in a time bound manner to ensure efficient functioning of the forest department and its allied wings.

Stating that the forest department would give up liberal approach in providing forest land for construction and development purposes, he asserted any such case would henceforth be handed over to Environment Assessment Committee (EAC) for thorough study before disposal. “The Forest department will give clearance only in such cases which are absolutely necessary and without alternative,” he said and added even for such cases clearance from EAC would be mandatory.

The Minister said all the available spaces along National Highways, roads, bus stations, parks, etc would be covered under plantation to promote green cover in the state. Asserting that all kinds of trees and plants would be raised in the departmental nurseries for supply to civil population, citizens and other stakeholders for plantation to strengthen green cover.

The Minister said the policy provides for promotion of eco and nature tourism with focus on developing jungle spots to expose virgin areas of nature for promotion of eco tourism. In such areas the structures would be developed without changing local architecture and natural aura, he added. Popularizing eco-tourism and nature tourism would be a key strategy for utilizing the unique forest landscape of the state, he said adding that the same would provide employment avenues to the local people and communities living in close association with forests.

The Forest Minister informed that steps would be taken to incorporate environment in the syllabus and curriculum to sensitize younger generation about the vital role and importance of environment on human life survival. He said state, central and other agencies would be motivated to enhance allocations commensurate with the rising importance of environment in tackling climate change.

Mian Altaf stated that special attention would be given to address the man-animal interface through a joint mechanism between different agencies and by creating awareness amongst general public.

He said in the policy focus was on development of non-timber forest produce, including medicinal plants and conservation of biodiversity. He also announced that the concessions traditionally enjoyed by local people would continue.

Altaf also informed that the policy provides for creation of appropriate legal and institutional framework for implementation of the policy. It also prescribes for the preparation of an implementation schedule for realizing the policy. A high powered institutional mechanism would be put in place to monitor and review the implementation of the policy, he added.

About a question on fire incidents, the Minister said that people and communities living near forests would be engaged to keep watch on forest fires during venerable periods for which they would be given incentives.

Commissioner/ Secretary Forest, Shantmanu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, R D Tiwari, Director Information Khawja Forooq Renzu Shah, heads of allied departments and other senior officers of Forest Department accompanied the minister. (Kashmir Times)