Kishtwar: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kishtwar, Rajesh Kumar Shavanon Monday chaired a meeting to discuss and finalise the development of City Forest area on the outskirts of Kishtwar Town, with an emphasis on fostering a green urban environment and enhancing ecological balance in the region.
The meeting, held in the DC office, brought together stakeholders from across the board, including officers from the Forest, RDD, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Public Works Department (PWD), and other allied departments.
At the outset, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kishtwar, Vijay Verma, provided a comprehensive briefing on the City Forest Plan. He outlined the proposed afforestation initiative, which is to be executed on a sprawling 975 kanal land located on the outskirts of Kishtwar Town. He highlighted the project’s primary focus areas, including large-scale plantation, habitat creation, and green cover enhancement, which will contribute to improving local air quality and providing a recreational haven for the residents.
During the discussions, the DDC reviewed critical guidelines for the afforestation project, addressing various aspects such as fencing, irrigation infrastructure, and maintenance provisions. He emphasized the importance of creating a sustainable ecosystem through effective forestation practices, further instructing departments to facilitate all necessary provisions, such as water supply, for the new saplings.
The District Development Commissioner also underscored the necessity of involving different stakeholders to ensure smooth, hassle-free project execution. He called upon the allied departments to work in close coordination and adopt a “war footing” approach, to complete the City Forest project in a time-bound manner.
The concept of having Nagar Van (City Forest) at the entry point near Shalimar has been conceived by the Deputy Commissioner R K Shavan. It is his dream project to have a nearby City Forest to minimize the environmental impact due to upcoming Hydroelectric Power Projects in the District.
Highlighting the significance of the City Forest, Rajesh Kumar Shavan emphasized the role of green spaces in enhancing the region’s ecological resilience, conserving biodiversity, and promoting environmental awareness among local communities. He expressed that this initiative would also contribute towards mitigating urban heat, improving air quality, and providing residents with a natural recreational space for outdoor activities and wellness.
Other Key officers present at the meeting included DFO Social Forestry, Sanjay Gupta; Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Phulail Singh; Executive Engineers of PHE and PWD; representatives from the Hydroelectric Power Projects (HEPP) authority, along with Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Chief Horticulture Officer (CHO), and other senior officials.
The Deputy Commissioner concluded by reiterating his commitment to transforming Kishtwar into an eco-friendly, sustainable town through effective conservation and afforestation efforts.
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