Pulwama July 21 (KNS): The Conservator of Forests, South Kashmir Irfan Ali Shah on Thursday conducted an extensive field inspection of remote Forest areas of Romshi, Yarwan, Keller and Sangerwani in Pulwama and Shopian Districts. He was accompanied by Divisional Forest Officer, Shopian Mohammad Ayoub Sheikh along with Range Officer Romshi Munshi Ghulam Nabi Chowhan and other forest officials.
CF inspected Range Office Romshi and a Nursery production centre at Keller, Pulwama where he gave directions for upgradation of Forest infrastructure in Romshi Range. He also directed for raising of quality Nursery stocks especially of wild fruit plants in nurseries. He directed the Range Officer Romshi to plant fruit plants near forest fringe areas so that wild animals get food in the forests and they do not venture out into human habitations. He stressed that this will help in mitigating Man-Animal conflict to a large extent in these areas.
CF also inspected Tikan and Dragnard Forest Check Posts where he directed the Divisional Forest Officer for installation of CCTVs for enhanced surveillance especially during night hours. He directed that there should be no lowering of guard as regards forest protection in Romshi Range.
The CoF South also inspected the Romshi Range Camp office established recently at Gulabteng. He directed for making it functional 24X7 Control Room to address issues of Forest fires, Man-Animal conflicts, to redress public grievances and keep an eye on forest damagers. He had interaction with Foresters and other field staff there and listened to their grievances as well The Conservator of Forests also attended an massive public outreach cum grievances redressal camp in which large number of PRIs, Tribal Community leaders and Forest Rights committee members participated in hundreds in tribal dominated Tragpathri Forests, CF said Tribal Communities have been protectors of Forests and its resources since ages and that the Tribal Communities are a part of our development story. He further informed that 105 number of titles are under process in Pulwama District and 112 titles have been given in Shopian District have been given and number of Community claims including Graveyard, Behak, Grazing rights have been given in Shopian Forest Division. He said that Forest department is committed for strict implementation of Forest Rights Act in the UT and particularly in Shopian Forest Division where large population of Tribals live.
He directed the forest officers to create new avenues of livelihoods for Tribal Communities and to work for their welfare in collaboration with Tribal affairs Department and the District Administration in Pulwama and Shopian.
The Conservator of Forests also visited places of Eco-Tourism importance including Kooler and Gadder meadows. He directed the DFO to set up makeshift eco-tent accommodation for the locals and tourists in these places and to create large scale awareness amongst stakeholders as regards Ecotourism potential of Pulwama and Shopian Districts. He directed for bringing these places on the Eco- Tourism map of Jammu and Kashmir and taking appropriate steps in this direction.
The Conservator of Forests along with local Panchayati Raj Institution representatives also threw open Anderwali to Churkal trek route which is an 5.5 kilometre long trek route through lush green Forests. He directed for conducting trekking programmes in this route for college and school children of both the Districts.
Late evening, the Conservator of Forests along with all Forest officials also conducted a long foot march and Jungle ghasts in the remote Sangerwani and Chota Numblan Forests. The local PRIs, BDC members and Tribal Community leaders thanked the Conservator of Forests for his public outreach and for his visit to the tribal and backward areas in Pulwama and Shopian Districts. (KNS)