SRINAGAR: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana has submitted a proposal to the central government, seeking financial and policy support for environmental conservation and tribal welfare in Jammu and Kashmir.
During a meeting with Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, Rana emphasised J&K’s rich biodiversity, with over 52 per cent forest cover, and urged immediate intervention for sustainable development. His proposal includes Rs 75 crore for soil and water conservation in the Kandi region, Rs 100 crore for nomadic grazers’ migratory routes, and Rs 50 crore for medicinal plant conservation in the Shivalik region.
To mitigate increasing forest fire risks, Rana sought Rs 10 crore for early fire prevention measures and Rs 50 crore for a study on J&K’s forest ecosystem. He also requested a Rs 300 crore allocation under the Climate Change Action Plan over the next five years, along with Rs 4 crore for integrating AI and remote sensing in forest management.
Additionally, he proposed Rs 100 crore for conserving key water bodies, including Wular Lake and Gharana Wetlands, and advocated for greater allocations under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and the Green India Mission.
Beyond financial aid, Rana pushed for strengthening J&K’s forestry sector workforce, including the induction of State Forest Service (SFS) officers into the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and increased IFS cadre postings under AGMUT. He also sought an upgrade of the Kashmir Forest Training Institute in Bandipora to a national-level academy.
The Minister further urged policy changes, including restoring the J&K Pollution Control Committee’s powers under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and expediting clearance of over 400 pending forest conservation cases under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
In response, the Union Minister assured that the proposals would be prioritised, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to conservation, afforestation, and tribal welfare. Both leaders agreed on a collaborative approach between central and J&K governments to balance environmental conservation with economic growth.
Separately, Rana met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to discuss water resource conservation and soil erosion mitigation strategies, exploring shared solutions for ecological sustainability.
