New Delhi, Sep 24 (KNS) : Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana, called on the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi to deliberate on a comprehensive set of issues critical to the forest and environmental landscape of Jammu & Kashmir.

The discussion focused on the need for deeper coordination between the Central Government and the Jammu & Kashmir Government to enhance institutional capacity, accelerate ecological restoration and ensure the effective and timely implementation of key forestry and environmental programs.

Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like torrential rains and floods, Rana emphasized the urgency of strengthening J&K’s resilience through targeted interventions in forest fire management, catchment area treatment, biodiversity conservation and wetland ecosystem protection.

The Minister also sought release of funds under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FFPM) Scheme, for which detailed work plan amounting to ?3.5 crore for the financial year 2024–25 has already been submitted.

Underscoring the importance of sustained funding, Rana urged the Union Minister to advise the National CAMPA Authority to expedite the appraisal and approval of two major proposals submitted by J&K Government.

The first proposal, “Soil & Water Conservation in the Kandi Belt of Jammu & Kashmir,” seeks an investment of ?143.72 crore and is designed to address land degradation and water scarcity in the semi-arid belt.

The second project, “Forest Resource Management for Livelihood Improvement of Forest-Dependent Communities including Nomadic Tribes,” envisions an outlay of ?103.35 crore, focusing on promoting sustainable livelihoods, ecological restoration, and inclusive development among communities living in and around forest areas.

Rana also reiterated the longstanding demand for the release of funds earmarked for Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plans and Biodiversity Conservation Plans associated with the Kiru and Kwar hydroelectric power projects.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Showcasing JK’s strides in digital governance, Rana informed the Union Minister that Jammu & Kashmir has been at the forefront of leveraging technology in forest management.

For the past four years, J&K has successfully implemented a digital portal for the preparation and real-time monitoring of Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) under CAMPA.

With the National CAMPA Authority now transitioning to a centralised digital APO platform, the Minister requested the provision of an Application Programming Interface (API) to facilitate seamless data integration between the J&K CAMPA Portal and the national system. This, he noted, would enhance transparency, efficiency, and accuracy in field-level reporting.

In line with capacity-building efforts, Rana reiterated his earlier request for Jammu & Kashmir to be included in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted project titled “Capacity Enhancement for Effective Forest Management”.

The J&K Government has already submitted formal consent for participation in the project, which is expected to provide substantial technical and institutional support for improving forest governance, planning, and professional skill-building within the Forest Department.

The Minister also brought to the Union Minister’s attention the pending release of funds under two key Centrally Sponsored Schemes: the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) and the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA). Rana urged the Ministry’s prompt intervention to avoid disruption in these conservation efforts.

In response, the Union Minister assured Javed Rana that all concerns raised during the meeting would be given due attention.

He reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment to supporting Jammu & Kashmir in its pursuit of sustainable forest management, ecological restoration and climate resilience and appreciated the proactive approach being adopted by J&K Government in addressing environmental challenges through integrated planning and technology-driven governance.(KNS)