Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today underscored the need of preserving State’s bio-diversity, forest wealth and environment describing these the lifeline of the natural beauty and scenic grandeur of Jammu and Kashmir making it ‘heaven on earth’.
Terming the conservation and protection of State’s environment, water bodies, forests, fauna, flora and biological diversity as the national duty of all the residents of the State, Omar Abdullah highlighted the added responsibility of Forests and Environment Department in this direction. “You have to render you service as a mission and help rejuvenate the depleted forests besides bringing more and more vacant lands under plantation”, he said and underlined the importance of CAMPA in achieving this goal.
The Chief Minister said that State’s tourism is largely dependent on the natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir and the mesmerising resorts with plenty of flower meadows, forest wealth, rear fauna, water bodies and serenity rope in tourists from all around the world and generate economic activities for the people. “All of us have to contribute positively in this regard so that we could transfer better environmental condition to our future generation”, he said and emphasized on creating general public awareness in this regard particularly involving youth in the stupendous task of protecting our environment and plantation.
Laying foundation of Forest Resource Management Centre (FRMC) at Narwal (Bachan) here this afternoon, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that the new complex will provide better conditions to the functionaries of the Forest Department to work and contribute positively towards growth and development of forests related activities.
Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Housing and Horticulture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Fisheries, Manohar Lal Sharma, Legislator and Provincial President, National Conference, Jammu, Devender Singh Rana and various officers of Forest Department were present on the occasion.
The new complex expected to be completed at a cost of over Rs.10 crores is being executed by the JKPCC and its completion is scheduled to be accomplished within 24 months. The project has been envisaged to meet the growing needs of the department to have adequate space in order to achieve necessary goals and function smoothly. It will also provide necessary infrastructure for labs and allied activities.
The project has been divided into two phases. The phase first involves construction of ground and first three floors comprising of total plinth area of 41668 sq feet. The floor height will be 3.65 meters and the depth of foundation 1.5 meters.
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