Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary Lal Singh on Sunday chaired a meeting of line departments and reviewed physical and financial achievements under various sectors.Stressing on sustainable development, the Minister said that the need of the hour is to focus on the development that meets present needs without compromising on the needs of future generations.While reviewing the progress of different departments, the Minister said that with excessive carbon in the atmosphere contributing to global warming, there is an immense need to increase the forest cover for sequestering and storing carbon, he added.Expressing concern over the habitat destruction of wild animals, the Minister said that the importance of the forests cannot be underestimated as survival of life on earth depends on plants and a balanced eco-system. “Besides providing habitats for animals, forests also provide watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and prevent climate change”, the minister added.
He further urged all the district officers to plant saplings of various fruit and ornamental trees in their respective office premises.Stating that roads are the lifeline for an area and the development of a region depends on them, the Minister emphasized on providing road connectivity to all the left out villages of the district.While reviewing the horticulture sector, the Minister said that stress should be laid on the development of apple and pear orchards in Dudu-Basantgarh and the adjoining areas for the economic development of the people. Highlighting the importance of traditional water resources including village ponds, Singh directed the concerned officers to take steps for their protection and preservation. “There is immediate need for preservation of the village ponds” he said adding plantation around these water bodies can save them from extinction.
He also asked Forest department to start plantation along both sides of the national highway for creating soothing ambience for the commuters.Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Niraj Kumar apprised the minister about physical and financial achievements registered by different departments. He gave a detailed resume of developmental activities carried out in the district during the current financial year Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, CA&PD, Tribal Affairs, Relief & Rehabilitation and Labour & Employment, Ajay Nanda, MLA Ramnagar R.S Pathania, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Niraj Kumar, ADDC Arvind Sharma, SSP Suleman Choudhary, ADC Angrez Singh Rana, Joint Director Planning Rakesh Jamwal and other senior officers from various departments were present in the meeting.