Altaf for holistic development of forest wealth

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 5: Underscoring the need for close monitoring of on-going developmental projects taken up for holistic development and protection of State’s rich forests, its fauna and flora, the Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad today stressed upon the concerned heads of various wings to monitor the projects through frequent field visits to the developmental sites.
Chairing a high level meeting of the officers of Forest Department convened to review the physical and financial achievements of current fiscal action plans implemented under the State and Centre Plans in Jammu Division held here today, the Forest Minister directed concerned authorities to book expenditure on the implementation of different action plans well in time and submit Utilization Certificates for release of next instalments of the funds especially under CAMPA and 13th Finance Commission. This will ensure timely completion of the projects besides carrying out other forest developmental activities in both the divisions of the State, he added
Mian Altaf urged for achieving 100% targets under plantation drive especially on degraded and vacant forest land with priority in winter zone in the State. He emphasised that work in this regard should be visible on ground and directed for third party monitoring and inspection in this regard.
The Minister strictly issued instructions to the concerned for well-timed distribution of timber to the needy customers and ordered that seized timber should be also disposed of among genuine customers.
The Forest Minister instructed for nomination of Liaison Officers of each wing of the Department to pursue and sought out the pending issues with the Administrative and Finance Departments. He instructed concerned authorities for projecting enhancement of the man-animal conflict victim’s compensation fund in revised budget allocation so that the funds would be granted to disburse the same to the affected families.
Principal Chief Conservator Forests, Director Forest Protection, Managing Director SFC, Chief Conservator Forests, Jammu, Director Ecology and Environment, Director Social Forestry, Director Soil Conservation, Director, SFRI, Additional Secretary Forests besides other senior Officers of Concerned wings attended the meeting.