Dwivedi kick-starts Plantation Drive at Baltal

SONAMARG, OCTOBER 21: Commissioner Secretary Forests, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Suresh Chugh today kick started a plantation drive along the Baltal track in Sindh Forest Division, Ganderbal.
The Commissioner Secretary also inspected the last year’s plantation works done under various schemes including CAMPA and other schemes under the State Sector. He also visited various conifer nurseries in the division and took a detailed review of Plantation Program being carried out this season.
Dwivedi was informed that 25 lakh plants of different species are being planted this year for improving the green cover of degraded forest lands.
“The object of this plantation drive is to eco-restore the unstable slopes and add to the natural beauty of Baltal area and its green cover,” he said.
The Forest Department has launched a special afforestation project this year in Baltal in which thousands of Junipers, Fir plants and other conifers as well as broad-leaved plants and soil binding species are being planted. The Department is also raising a Pilot Nursery for this purpose at Baltal.
APCCF (CAMPA) Sarvesh Rai, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir Farooq Gillani, Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle, Irfan Ali Shah, DFO Sindh Range and officers of Sindh Forest Division were also present on the occasion.