Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary, Lal Singh, today visited Zoo at Mansar in Samba district and deer park at Manda and inspected the facilities being provided by the Urban Forestry Division of Forest department to the visitors there.Chief Conservator of Ecotourism and Wild Life Department A K Gupta besides other senior officers of Forests and its allied departments accompanied the Minister.During his visit to deer park in Manda, the Minister appreciated the efforts being made by the officers in maintaining the park and implementing the instructions issued by him, earlier, effectively in this regard.Lal Singh directed the Chief Conservator of Ecotourism and Wild Life Department to ensure removal of bushes and other unwanted things from the interior areas and the pond of the deer park. He asked to provide fresh meal to the animals of the deer park and also asked for preparing diet chart of animals like Leopard, Eagle, Owl, Ducks, Peacock, Emu, Black Bear, Porcupine, Samber, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Goral, Neligal and Rabits on daily basis.
The Minister directed the District Forest Officer, Manda to personally monitor the feed and drinking water facilities being provided to the animals in the park.Choudhary Lal Singh directed for regular irrigation of the park. He asked to renovate irrigation channels constructed in the park for irrigation purpose for regular supply of water upto the tail end of the deer park.He directed the Chief Conservator of Forests, Ecotourism and Wild Life Protection Department to maintain proper sanitation, landscaping, irrigation facilities in the park. He asked for planting shahtoot (Mulberry) and Jamun plants in the park. Such facilities will help attract better visitor influx to the park.Choudhary Lal Singh directed for repair of Leopard, Ducks, Chital, Tendwa, Chitra, Bhalu and Reech enclosures and its roofs. He instructed the officers for proper upkeep of Centaury and upgradation of morning walkers’ tracks. He also directed for creating some basic public amenities without disturbing the natural beauty of the area.During his inspection tour to Wild Life Sanctuary and Zoo at Mansar in Samba district, Choudhary Lal Singh informed that the Government has decided to formulate comprehensive conservation projects for twin lakes of Mansar and Surinsar with a special focus on restoration of the habitats and expansion of green cover in the surroundings of the two prestigious water bodies.
The Minister issued instructions to the concerned to upgrade the existing facilities for the visitors and make these places more attractive so that the visitors spend more time there. He said environment parks are the lungs of the Jammu city which need to be equipped with basic amenities, relaxing and viewing spots, landscaping and plantation of composite species including herbal trees, rain shelters and public utilities.Choudhary Lal Singh also called for creating special recreational facilities for the school children and walking trails for nature lovers, who visit the park for excursions etc but without causing any harm to the natural topography. He directed for regular irrigation and plantation of ornamental and medicinal plants planted in the Mansar park.The Minister directed the officers to explore development of more such eco-friendly environmental parks in and around Samba city to attract tourists visiting Jammu in connection with pilgrimage of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and other revered shrines. He said there is adequate potential in the adjoining areas of Samba city which needs to be explored for larger interest of local people and tourists.