Sanjeev Verma tours Samba forest division; Assesses greening, soil conservation works

SAMBA, JUNE 18: Commissioner Secretary Forests, Environment and Ecology, Sanjeev Verma, today conducted an extensive tour of Samba forest division and took stock of various greening and soil conservation works being executed by the forest department in the denoted forest area of lower Shivaliks.

He also had exhaustive interactive sessions with the representatives of PRIs and PPCs regarding the welfare and development of their respective areas.

Commissioner Secretary was accompanied by Conservator of Forests, East Circle Jammu, Joint Director, Soil and Water Conservation Department, Jammu, Regional Director, Social Forestry, Jammu, DFO, forest division Samba, DSCO Jammu/Samba, DFO Social Forestry Jammu, BDO Purmandal and field staff.

He convened a public outreach programme at Madana Panchayat where Avtar Singh member DDC Puramandal, Sunita Kumari, Sarpanch Madana, Mohammad Rashid Naib Sarpanch Madana, Noor Mohammad Ex-Chairman Madana, Khadam Hussain and other representatives besides locals participated and raised their issues and concerns.

They demanded execution of protection and conservation works on local water bodies in Madana panchayat to cater to the needs of diverse animals and birds during the lean periods and to maximize groundwater recharge.

Later, Commissioner Secretary inspected the water body at Madana constructed by the soil and water conservation department. He also inspected the Smriti Van and Biodiversity Park being established at Purmandal by the Forest department and emphasized the construction of a water pond inside the Biodiversity Park for recreational purpose.

Sanjeev Verma also planted saplings as part of green drive being conducted at Devak and Purmandal.

Commissioner Secretary also took stock of preparatory works in upstream of Devak river being executed as part of integrated catchment treatment plan under CAMPA for the year 2022-23. He instructed the officers to ensure that GIS facility of the Department of Remote Sensing shall be utilized.

He also inspected the Forest nursery at Purmandal and asked for increasing the nursery stock of indigenous and rare species for eco- restoration works as well as public distribution.

He emphasized development of fringe lands by planting multipurpose and local species besides restoration of water harvesting structures to cater to the local needs for fodder, firewood, and water.

Commissioner Secretary was apprised that in the current financial year, the forest department intends to rehabilitate severely degraded forest areas in the kandi belt by planting saplings of local species along with construction of ponds and bowlies.