Rs 5.15 cr for developing forests and developmental activities

Srinagar, Sep 14 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government will spend Rs 5.15 crore for protecting forests and executing developmental schemes during the current fiscal.

This information was given to the Minister of State for Forest, Agriculture and Higher Education Aijaz Ahmad Khan during a high level meeting of forest officers today.

Of the total amount, Rs 3 crore would be incurred under the district sector. At least 6-7 lakh hectares of area has been identified as degraded forest in the state and efforts were on to undertake forestation on large scale on degraded and vacant forest land.

The meeting thoroughly reviewed the on-going developmental schemes. An area of 20,230 square kilometers has been covered under forests, which accounts for 19.19 per cent of the total area of the state.

To ensure better management and overseeing of forests, the state has been divided into 9 circles, 67 divisions, 179 ranges and 1689 forests.

The forest department earned Rs 1.03 crore by selling timber, firewood and other forest products up to June this year, the meeting was told.

UNI BAS SAM KN1505