Sir,
The dismal picture in context to demarcation of Forest lands in Jammu District, as projected in the C.A.G. of India’s report, though baffling yet not completely unexpected, given the treatment meted out to this resource from time to time. There could not be more distressing report that the news about only 1% of the forest area being demarcated in the Jammu District. Technically the lands which are presently carrying the Forest Crop or had been supporting the cover and recorded can be categorized as forest land but then again only 25% of the Forest area in the district are reportedly under various stages of degradation and only few Sq. Kms supporting a genuine crop, itself speaks about the perilous situation. The incessant but unavoidable developmental activities have ushered a new era of progress for the State but how it can be rated against systematic acquisitions and occupations which have had been left unattended, untreated, in the dire need of reclamation and rejuvenation.
There seems to be no determined efforts by the Government in addressing to the grave problem of vanishing lands either occupied forcefully after being left to degrade into wastelands negligently. The new forest policy of the State which has been implemented now is yet to deliver effectively though the executors are now fully supplemented with adequate powers than before. Pertinently the management of the forest have gone under sea change which is to be viewed in the backdrop of restoring the ecological balance for which forestry and the land use practices are to be augmented beneficially. The problem of stocks availability for planting has been a consistent blockade for the Deptt. but the Government has established many nurseries which could over the time supply healthy material for the areas. Apart from the high mortality rates of the plants in nurseries, it is imperative to execute all the prescribed operations for its establishment at least for 3 to 4 years. In absence of proper demarcation and fencing of the areas besides the planted area being abandoned abruptly, the results are not evident on the field. Even the open forest lands in the District are too degraded to support with protruding rock surfaces and very little soil left on account of overgrazing and other developmental activities.
But then, less than 2% of the allocation for the forestry sector out of the total plan outlay of the State, does not seem to be in consonance with the efforts of upgrading of the tourism potential including the pilgrimage tourism of the State particularly of Jammu. Forest and forest lands needs to be reclaimed, fenced and left to its own for natural regeneration if not supported due to budgetary constraints, which needs radical steps from the authorities concerned.
Yours etc….
Virander Khashu
7/1, Anand Nagar, Bohri
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