L-G: Ensure increase in hangul population

mmu, March 3

J&K Lieutenant Governor(L-G) Manoj Sinha on Wednesday asked the Forest Department to focus on increasing the ‘hangul’ (Kashmiri stag) population at the Dachigam National Park and opening the destination to a limited number of tourists.

Sinha was addressing the passing-out ceremony of 98 forest guards here. The 32nd batch of the Soil Conservation Training School Jammu, the 56th batch of the Forest Guard Training School, Jammu, and the 66th batch of the Kashmir Forest Training School, Bandipora, have successfully completed their course despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

He asked forest officials to explore the possibility of developing Dachigam as a tourist destination, safeguard Mansar and Surinsar lakes near Jammu and work on a plan to protect wetlands and waste lands visited by lakhs of migratory birds every year.

Asking the department to adopt a humane approach towards forest dwellers, he said, “We are implementing the Forest Rights Act.” — PTI