Excelsior Correspondent
BANDIPORA, June 29: Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahamd today visited Bandipora and took stock of progress of work under Wullar Conservation Project.
Expressing displeasure over the slow progress of the works, the Minister instructed the officers of Wullar Conservation and Management Authority to accelerate work on the project and ensure that the targets fixed for current year are achieved in full.
The Minister was told that Rs 16.30 crore stands expended on the projects out of Rs. 30 crore released against the total project cost of Rs. 120 crore. It was given out that 6 demo plots over 4.6 hectares of land have been established with 2356 grafted fruit plants while Rs. 1.38 crore have been incurred on fencing of 876 hectares of the lake area.
While reviewing the availability of timber in the district, the Minister was informed that twenty thousand feet of timber have been stocked in 30 sale depots of the department and another 20 thousand feet will be reaching next week. He was informed that seventy eight thousand (78000) feet of timber have been distributed amount the beneficiaries of the district during previous financial year.
The Minister directed officers to stock adequate timber in the depots before fixed deadline and also carry out a survey of the applicants, who applied for timber, to ensure that only genuine persons are provided timber.
Regarding CAMPA projects, the Minister was told that Rs 72 lakh have been spent on different works taken up under the project last year while Rs 85 lakh are being incurred under the scheme during current fiscal.
The Minister instructed the officers to identify spots for plantation outside the Bandipora town and ensure protection of forest land in the district.
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