KL Report
SRINAGAR
The North circle Forest Division, Sopore has distributed timber to the tune of over 2.61 lakh cubic feet to the consumers of North Kashmir during last 9 months of current fiscal besides on fast track basis also provided 20,000 cubic feet to the 973 flood affected households upto December 2014 on concessional rates, an official statement said on Thursday.
“The Department has a target to provide timber to the extent of 50,000 cubic feet to flood sufferers in North Kashmir Forest Circle during this financial year and would continue the process in next financial year till all flood sufferers falling under the forest divisions of the Circle are fully covered,” the statement said.
It added that the North Forest Circle has also supplied 45,000 Quintals of fire wood to the mosques and other religious institutions for winter use upto last December. The Department has earned revenue of over Rs. 7 crore upto ending December 2014 on account of distribution of timber and other forest produce.
“A vigorous drive was carried out by the Forest Department in North Kashmir all through the four territorial divisions of the North Forest Circle against the forest damage doers, encroachers and smugglers and seized illicit timber of 9200 cubic feet during last 9 months of current fiscal, besides also seized 16 Vehicles, 18 horses, 927.5 quintals medicinal herbs and minor forest produce, besides registered 84 cases against the offenders.”
“The Department also evicted 62 hectares of forest encroached land and punished 14 officials for dereliction of duty and negligence during the said period of current financial year.
For eco-restoration and aforestation of degraded and denuded forest areas, a network of hi-tech nurseries was established all over the four forest divisions which resulted in record production of over 22 lakh saplings including 14 lakh coniferous species (Deodar and Kail). These saplings would be utilized for mass greening of the degraded forest slopes on scientific micro-watershed basis in phased manner,” the statement further said.
The department solicits active participation of general public, particularly educated youth, in the protection and conservation of natural forests for present & future generations, it maintained.
