Srinagar September 11 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department observed National Forest Martyrs Day today on 11 th September 2022 to pay homage to the brave forest officers and frontline staff who laid down their lives while protecting the forest wealth in Jammu & Kashmir.
Forest Martyrs Memorial, Shankeracharya Hills, Srinagar, erected in memory of Forest Martyrs of J&K, was dedicated by the frontline forest staff to the J&K Forest Department in presence of Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF. Also present on the occasion were Dr. Neelu Gera, IFS, PCCF & Chairperson Pollution Control Committee and Sh. T. Rabi Kumar, IFS APCCF Kashmir. They laid wreaths at the Forester’s Memorial to pay tributes to martyrs on this day. Besides, senior forest officers, regional heads of various allied Departments and frontline staff also offered floral tributes and prayers to the martyrs to mark their respects.
In Jammu the day was observed at Foresters Memorial in FRMC (ICT Lab) Narwal wherein wreath laying was carried out by Sh. Sanjeev Verma, IAS Commissioner/ Secretary, Department of Forests, Ecology & Environment Sh. Roshan Jaggi, IFS Director. Social Forestry Department, Sh. Sarvesh Rai,IFS APCCF CEO /CAMPA, Sh. Sanjay Sinha,IFS APCCF Central, Sh. J. Frankoi,IFS Director Forest Protection Force, Sh. B.M. Sharma, IFS APCCF Jammu, Sh. K, Ramesh,IFS Member Secretary PCC, Sh. Rakesh Kumar,IFS Director Environment & Remote Sensing, Dr. B. Balaji,IFS CCF Planning & Projects and other officers and staff of Forest Department.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India declared 11 th of September as National Forest Martyrs Day in the year 2013 in recognition of infamous Khejrali Massacre of 1730. In the massacre, 363 members of Bishnoi community were killed while trying to peacefully protect a grove of Khejri trees from the soldiers of Maharaja of Marwar, Abhai Singh. The day honours and pays tribute to those who have given their lives to protect forest and wildlife in the country.
In J&K, around 100 forest officers/officials have laid their lives for protection of rich forest wealth of the Union Territory and in recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the Forest Department has erected four Foresters Memorials recently. Out of the four, two are located in Jammu one each at FRMC (ICT Lab) Narwal and Forest Guard Training School Doomi. In Kashmir, two memorials have been erected in Shankracharya Hills and Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar. National Forest Martyrs Day was also observed in other Forester’s Memorials.
After paying homage, a brief function was held at Forest Headquarters Sheikhbagh, Srinagar for distribution of Departmental Awards to 17 frontline forest officers and staff for outstanding performance in the field of ‘Afforestation/ Forest Protection/ Training and Capacity Building / Demarcation for the year 2021-22’. On the occasion Mr. Nazir Benazir, Chairman NGO was also felicitated for his dedicated efforts in afforestation prorammes of Forest Department, including Green J&K Drives. 75 students (Bal Brigade) were also felicitated with certificates for their involvement in afforestation activities and supporting the establishment of Bal Van in Srinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohit Gera, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF thanked the UT Administration for all the support. He remembered the Forest Martyrs and exhorted upon the officers to evolve with the emerging challenges faced by the Department. He spoke in details about the need for protection of forests and their future role in view of increasing pressures, viz. urbanization, development and rise in population and the changing climate. He informed that forests are going to play a central role in future towards water security, food security, energy security as well health and wellness, besides providing ecological security to fragile mountaineous region of Jammu & Kashmir. This calls for increasing role of Forest Department and its officers, especially the frontline staff. He appreciated the efforts of forest officers and frontline staff in protection of forests and for implementation of recent flagship initiatives of the Government, particularly “Green J&K Drive”, rejuvenation of Amrit Sarovars, Ecotourism, Industry friendly initiatives and online services for ease of doing business. The efforts made by Sh. Zubair Ahmad Shah, Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle, Sh. Abid Nazir, DFO Urban Forestry Srinagar and others in successfully organizing the National Forest Martyrs Day were also appreciated.(KNS)