SRINAGAR: In Jammu and Kashmir, around 100 forest officers and officials have laid their lives for the protection of rich forest wealth, an official statement revealed.
In order to recognise their supreme sacrifice, the Forest Department has erected four Foresters Memorials recently. “Out of the four, two are located in Jammu and in Kashmir, two memorials have been erected in Shankaracharya Hills and Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar,” the statement issued on the National Forest Martyrs Day stated. Since 2013, in India, September 11 is being celebrated as National Forests Martyrs Day.
“Forest Martyrs Memorial, Shankaracharya Hills, Srinagar, erected in memory of Forest Martyrs of J&K, was dedicated by the frontline forest staff to the J&K Forest Department in presence of Dr Mohit Gera, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF,” the statement said. “Also present on the occasion were Dr Neelu Gera, PCCF & Chairperson Pollution Control Committee and T Rabi Kumar, APCCF Kashmir.”
Later in the day, a brief function was held at Forest Headquarters Sheikhbagh, Srinagar for distribution of departmental awards to 17 frontline Forest Officers and staff for outstanding performance in the field of ‘Afforestation/ Forest Protection/ Training and Capacity Building/ Demarcation for the year 2021-22.
