Government to create land bank for compensatory afforestation in J&K

Jammu: The government has ordered the constitution of a committee for the creation of a land bank of suitable non-forest land and revenue forest land for compensatory afforestation in Jammu and Kashmir instead of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes under Van SanrakshanEwam Samvardhan Adhiniyam 1980. The committee will identify the land in possession of the revenue department including Gair Mumkin Khad and any other waste land, protected areas and catchment areas for inclusion in the land bank.
As per order issued by General Administration department (GAD), the seven member committee will be headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests &HoFF, J&K as its chairman. “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of committee, for creation of land bank of suitable non-forest land and revenue forest land for compensatory afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir”, the order reads .
The committee is tasked to identify the following forest/non-forest lands/wastelands and all other such categories of non-forest lands/wastelands not under the management and/or administrative control of the J&K Forest Department on which the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Sam vardhan) Adhinlyam, 1980 and Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 are applicable, for inclusion in the proposed land bank for compensatory afforestation- Revenue lands/Gair MumkinJhaad/ Gair Mumkin Jungle/ Gair Mumkin Pahar/ Banjar Kadim/ Gair Mumkin Khad etc., and any other waste lands and non-forest lands which are under undisputed possession of the Revenue Department. Areas failing in wildlife corridors to Improve connectivity between habitats.
Areas falling in and around the Protected Areas (PAs) and Eco-Sensitive Zones (E Z) of Protected Areas to ensiire consolidation of such areas. Habitat of rare, threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna located in the areas not under dig pct administrative and management control of the MK Forest and J&K Wildlife Protection Departments to ensure long term conservation of such habitats. Areas falling in catchment areas of Important rivers, water supply schemes, irrigation projects, hydro-electric projecTs, etc. vi. Private lands recorded as GM Jhaar, shad, Phat etc, which are In the possession of private persons, also needs to tie seen in its legal perspective, while creating land bank.
As per order the committee shall give preference to such lands, during identification, as are abutting forest, those with potential for city forest/ green spaces, and valuable land susceptible to encroachment which should be preserved as green lungs for the habitation. To devise a mechanism for dealing with requisitions of land from the revenue department.
The committee is tasked to furnish monthly reports to Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment and Revenue Department, as also development software for the purpose with access-based updation and report generation and a dashboard for the same.
The other members of the committee included, PCCF/Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Director, Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing, Additional Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department dealing with land matters, Representative of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir/Jammu (not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner), Administrative Officer in the office of Financial Commissioner, Revenue, J&K and Special Secretary (Technical), Forest, Ecology & Environment Department.

Updated On 5/3/2024 2:44:15 AM