Rs 500 cr IFMP on anvil for rehabilitation of degraded forests

The State Government has submitted a proposal of Rs 500 crore under Integrated Forest Management Project (IFMP) to the Union Government for rehabilitation of degraded forests in the State.

This was stated in a meeting of officers convened to review the progress of ongoing developmental schemes in the forest department. Minister for Forest and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad presided over the meeting.

The meeting was told that projects like Management of Wullar, Tsumorari and Manser Lakes and Man-Animal conflict management are also under correspondence with the Centre.

Mian Altaf impressed upon the officers to follow up pending schemes taken under National Afforestation Programme and Integrated Forest Protection scheme besides Social Forestry Department was asked to prepare a scheme for establishing nurseries for raising good quality plants.

Regarding management of forest fires in the state, the Minister asked the officers to explore possible measures including traditional one of fire-fighting in areas which are in accessible so that fires are tackled at the earliest.

Mian Altaf directed the officers to immediately prepare at least three areas specific Watershed Development Projects which will have positive impact on ground and benefit the people on the pattern of successful under execution ongoing watershed projects.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Forests, Mr. Shantmanu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Mr. Irshad Ahmad Khan, Chief Conservator of Forest, Kashmir, Mr. Shafat Ahmad, Chairman Pollution Control Board, Mr. Lal Chand, Director Soil Conservation, Mr. Shamim Khan, Director Social Forestry, Mr. Abhai Kumar, MD State Forest Corporation, Mr. Abdul Qayoom and other senior officers.