GANDERBAL,
FEBRUARY 28:
A Mega plantation drive was held at Faculty of Forestry SKUAST -K Benhama Ganderbal which was organized by Faculty of Forestry in collaboration with Sindh Forest Division Ganderbal under the J&K Forest Department initiative “Green J&K Drive”. The drive was initiated by Prof. Shakil Ahmed wani Director Education SKUAST-K in presence of Shafqat Iqbal, District Development Commissioner Ganderbal and Farooq Gillani, Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir. Saleem Mir, Director Research SKUAST-K, Prof Mushtaq Ahmed, Director Extension, Professors and faculty members of SKUAST-K, senior officers of Forest department and Ganderbal district administration were also present on the occasion. Saplings of different varieties were planted within the faculty campus.
DDC Ganderbal Shafqat Iqbal on the occasion stressed that his administration is focused on environmental amelioration of District Ganderbal and appreciated the role of Forest faculty SKUAST-K and Forest deptt in organizing this drive. He emphasized that every stakeholder present has to be the green ambassadors and thrive for betterment of our environment which will involve plantation drives, scientific disposal of wastes etc.
He also stressed that such plantation drives shall be carried by every deptt of the district for enhancing the green cover of the District.Prof. Shakil Ahmed spoke on the importance of forests as a whole and emphasized the role of students in the protection and conservation of forests. He apprised that with the modern pace of development it becomes imperative to show our commitment towards the environment. He also said that tree plantation is the most important to boost environment protection measures as well as promote aforestation. He lauded the efforts of forest faculty Benhama and Sindh Forest division for organizing this drive.On the occasion, CCF Kashmir emphasized on the essence of Green J&K Drive initiative in which Forest Deptt is trying to collaborate with different departments for carrying out institutional plantations and informed that around 55 lakh plants are going to be planted under this initiative till March 2020. He asserted that forest deptt is always ready to provide technical assistance and plant saplings to every department who shall come forward for such drives.Earlier, DDC also visited the Lavender park established within the camps and was informed that park stands at the area of one Hectare of land in which 40 thousand Lavender plants are planted. The officials also briefed him about the working of Extraction of Lavender Oil Plant which is installed within the park.
