SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved the diversion of more than 10 hectares of forest land for 29 Water Supply Schemes (WSS) in Doda and Udhampur districts. The approval, granted following clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC), aims to facilitate infrastructure projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to improve water supply in the region. Additionally, 1.23 hectares of forest land from the Social Forestry Division Baramulla has been sanctioned for the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri road project.
The approval follows a high-level meeting between Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav and J&K Forest Minister Javed Rana, after which MoEFCC expedited Phase-III clearance on February 1. Consequently, the J&K Forest Department approved the diversion, subject to compensatory afforestation to offset environmental impact.
To accelerate the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, six projects have been cleared, including Water Supply Schemes in Chigla Balota, Chakal, Tikri, Kund, and Chatrari, along with augmentation of WSS Lalli. Other approved projects in Udhampur Forest Division include WSS Mand, Kaghote, Jadsarkote, Krimchi Deli Chak, Malhar, Katti, and Demnote-Radnote. In Doda Forest Division, projects include WSS Hanch Malna, Seel, Tantna, Aul Ugad, Mohalla, Jathali, and Jojote, while in Bhaderwah Forest Division, approvals were granted for WSS Thalela, Southa, and Puneja. The Ramnagar Forest Division saw the clearance of WSS Balandh and Jandrari.
Under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, prior approval from the central government is mandatory for any project involving forest land. The Act seeks to balance development and environmental conservation by ensuring sustainable use of forest resources. As part of compensatory afforestation efforts, over 21 hectares of degraded forest land will be restored to mitigate ecological impact.
Commenting on the development, Forest Minister Javed Rana reiterated the government’s commitment to providing safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections. He emphasized that forest clearance for these projects aligns with the objective of fully implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in J&K. Rana also called for aggressive compensatory afforestation to prevent ecological imbalance and ensure sustainable infrastructure development.
The Minister assured that the Jal Shakti Department will closely monitor these projects to ensure their timely completion, avoiding unnecessary delays. He also commended the Forest Department for expediting the clearance process while maintaining environmental standards.
