Jammu, Nov 5 (ITN) : Forest Minister Altaf Ahmad Wani has directed the Forest Department to complete pending forest demarcation within a fixed timeframe and prepare an inventory of all departmental assets within 15 days.
Chairing a review meeting in Jammu, the Minister stressed community participation in forest conservation, stronger measures to prevent forest fires and the use of modern technology to safeguard forest land.
He also called for expediting pending promotion cases of departmental employees and involving local youth, village committees and Panchayati Raj Institutions in fire prevention efforts.
Reviewing eco-tourism initiatives, Wani discussed the development of eco-parks and new trekking routes, while directing officers to prepare a comprehensive action plan for 2027-28.
Emphasising that forests are vital to Jammu and Kashmir’s ecological security, he called for balancing conservation with the livelihood concerns of communities living around forest areas.
Report : Mansoor Qadir, J&K.
