‘22.45 Lakh plants planted this Monsoon’
JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 29: A meeting of Executive Committee of CAMPA was held today in Convention Centre, Jammu to review ongoing works and discuss preparation of APO for FY 2023-24.
Dr. Mohit Gera, PCCF& Head of Forest Force, J&K Forest Department, briefed the meeting about ongoing activities of the Forest Department on rehabilitation of degraded forests and afforestation under “Green J&K Drive.” He also apprised on various new initiatives of department including State Action Plan for forest fire management. He stated that CAMPA is playing a key role in greening J&K, Wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, and infrastructure development for frontline staff.
He further informed the Committee that for the current financial year, detailed site- specific plan alongwith their location maps for rehabilitation of a total of 15000 ha of degraded forest area with planting of about 95.00 Lakh plants were prepared last year using CAMPA portal.
The plan has been approved by the National Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and is under implementation. He also informed that J&K CAMPA is the only State Authority in the country which has developed this kind of portal.
CEO CAMPA, Sarvesh Rai apprised the Committee about the ongoing activities of CAMPA, physical and financial achievements during the last financial year and ongoing works of the current financial year. The Committee was apprised that during the Monsoon season, 22.45 Lakh plants have been planted. The works under execution include measures for protection of forests from fire and strengthening of infrastructure by construction of official and residential buildings for frontline staff, check posts, watch towers and other forest protection infrastructures. Preparations for winter planting, like e-tendering of works and fencing, are currently in full swing.
Wildlife Protection Department is executing measures which include improvement of wildlife habitat, soil and water conservation works, maintenance of animal rescue centres, eco-development activities and development of wildlife related infrastructure. The Department is also implementing a special project “Mitigation Plan for Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP).”
The Committee was apprised about the status of the third-party monitoring of CAMPA works for the last three years, i.e, 2019-20 to 2021-22. AFC India Ltd. has been engaged by CAMPA Secretariat to evaluate at least 30% of the randomly selected works executed in the last three years.
CAMPA Secretariat presented before the Committee its Annual Report for FY 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 giving details, interalia, of location-wise works executed in the relevant year.
The Committee scrutinized special projects for eco-restoration of forests areas around Patnitop – Nathatop (Sanasar) road and protection of forests around Dera Ki Gali (DKG) forests and recommended, with some modifications, for approval of the Steering Committee of CAMPA.
Representatives of Administrative Departments of Science & Technology, Revenue, Tribal Development, and Planning & Monitoring Departments, besides senior officers of Forests and allied Departments including Chief Wildlife Warden, Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Conservation Act), Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning & Projects), Chief Accounts Officer attended the meeting.
Special invitees including Director, Social Forestry Department; Director, Soil and Water Conservation; Director, J&K Forest Research Institute; Addl. Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu/Kashmir; and Chief Conservator of Forests (Settlement Demarcation) Dy. Director, Forest Protection Force (Hq) attended.
Non-official member, Shri Nazir-Be-Nazir (NGO Member), also participated in the meeting and appreciated the ongoing works under CAMPA.