Nod to 148 projects on forest land

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 22

Ahead of the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, the J&K Government has given clearance to 148 development projects involving diversion of forest land. The approval has been given by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) post abrogation of Article 370.

“The FAC has cleared 23 development projects. A meeting took place on October 21. In earlier meetings held between August and October, the government allowed diversion of forest land for 125 development projects,” said a senior official in the Forest Department.

The FAC headed by Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam, allowed the use of 60.2 hectare of forest land for various projects of “public importance in road, drinking water and power sectors on specified terms.”

The proposals cleared on Monday include station building and circulating area at Reasi by Northern Railway, re-alignment of 132 KV D/C Chenani-Srinagar transmission line and construction of 33/11 KV, 6.3 MVA receiving station at Nomain village by the Power Development Department, construction of MGD rapid sand filtration plant at Andoo Pushroo, and various road proposals under the PMGSY in Anantnag, Jammu, Udhampur, Baramulla, Mahore, Nowshera and Ramnagar.

Any diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, including building infrastructure or mining has to be pre-approved by the FAC set up under by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.

“These recommendations will be sent to the State Advisory Council for final approval,” he said.