* Reviews functioning of Music & Fine Arts Institute
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high level meeting to review identification of land parcels for creation of a land bank to support developmental projects besides facilitating compensatory afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted for infrastructure projects, in compliance with Supreme Court directives.
The Chief Secretary directed both the divisional and district administrations to identify all Government owned land parcels within their jurisdictions. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive and systematic approach towards land identification, ensuring that all such lands are properly classified based on their suitability for development purposes and other socio-economic welfare measures.
To ensure accuracy and efficiency in the identification process, the Chief Secretary instructed the Forest Department to carry out GIS mapping of the identified land parcels in coordination with the Revenue Department. He stressed that joint ground-truthing must be conducted to validate the suitability of the land for either development projects or compensatory afforestation.
Highlighting the need for land classification, he suggested that land banks should be categorized into those fit for infrastructure development and those that should be reserved exclusively for afforestation as per Supreme Court guidelines.
Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Ecology & Environment, Sheetal Nanda, informed the meeting that a Committee, led by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), has been constituted to identify and create a land bank of suitable non-forest land for compensatory afforestation.
She divulged that this initiative aligns with the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, ensuring that afforestation takes place in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes. She reiterated that this measure is in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive that no net reduction in forest land should occur without adequate compensatory afforestation.
Providing an update on the progress, PCCF (HoFF), Suresh Kumar Gupta, informed the meeting that 2,576 land parcels covering 553,263 kanal have been identified across J&K for compensatory afforestation. Following joint inspections with the Revenue Department, 82 parcels measuring 14,797 kanal and 154 marla were found free from encumbrances and suitable for inclusion in the land bank for afforestation.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary visited the Institute of Music & Fine Arts, Jammu University, Talab Tillo, to inspect its functioning besides reviewing the academic operations there.
He was accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary, Education, Shantmanu.
During the visit, the Chief Secretary was apprised of the institute’s curriculum, which offers training in nine arts disciplines including four visual arts and five music-related streams. While assessing the institute’s operations, he emphasised the need for enhanced maintenance and infrastructural improvements.
In a meeting with the officers, the Chief Secretary underscored the necessity of providing the institute with additional land and resources for its optimal functioning. He directed the district administration to transfer a sizeable portion of land, approximately 8-10 kanal, including the area where the current institute building stands. He also reviewed other pressing issues including recruitment rules, building requirements and the need for modern equipment.
Atal Dulloo highlighted the importance of creating new infrastructure to establish studios, enhance storage facilities for educational implements and ensure effective implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the institute.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner, Ramesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya; Dean Academics, Professor Anju Bhasin; Dean Social Sciences, Suman Jamwal; Registrar Jammu University, Dr. Neeraj Sharma; HoD Fine Arts, Rakesh Sharma; HoD Painting, Dr. Milan Sharma; Instructor Vocal Dr. Deepali Watal and other senior officers.
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