J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha today launched the Green Jammu & Kashmir Drive 2023-24 from IIM Jammu. He lanted a tree sapling in the campus on the occasion.
In his address, Sinha congratulated the Department of Forests, IIM Jammu, village panchayat plantation committees and other stakeholders for the launch of the mega plantation drive.
“Green J&K Drive has become a major contributor to increasing the green cover of J&K, strengthening our ecology and building a healthier society. In the last three years, we have been able to plant more than four crore saplings and the target for this year is to plant 1.75 crore plants to ensure ecological security,” Sinha said.
He also highlighted the need to protect, preserve and restore ecology and biodiversity for sustainable living.
"J&K has one of the most diverse forest areas in the country with 55 percent forest and green cover. It is in the interest of the environment and our future generations to synergise development with the natural resources for sustainable development," he added.
"There is a saying that God forgives always, men forgive sometimes but nature never forgives. It is high time we realise that our rights over natural resources are temporary. We have to respect and restore the delicate balance between economic development and conservation of forests and environment, he further said.
At IIM Jammu, the Lt Governor shared the key initiatives of the UT Administration aimed at ecological conservation and protection of natural resources.
“Sustainable development and environment conservation is our priority. Protection of natural resources is in the DNA of our society, our culture. With the whole of government and whole of society approach, we are making honest efforts to address the challenges of climate change,” Sinha said.
"Seventeen nagar vans are being established near cities and towns. It will enhance the green cover in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas to provide clean and healthy environment to the dwellers of urban centres. It is also being ensured that the city forests are established in all urban local bodies," he added.
The Lt Governor said the environmental protection awareness campaigns have generated a sense of responsibility among the people and there is a growing realisation that the nature is the only lifeline for human existence.
Addressing the gathering, he called upon premier education institutions in J&K to take the lead in environmental protection campaigns.
"The next five years will be crucial. Campus of our premier educational institutions should be transformed into Green Campus. We need the cooperation and support of all the elected representatives, youth and the people of J&K," the Lt Governor said.
He commended IIM Jammu for planting 10,000 trees around the campus and made valuable suggestions to it to make the campus more environment friendly.
He advised IIM Jammu to install solar power to reduce the carbon footprint, bio-digester and plantation of medicinal plants in the campus and run similar campaigns in nearby villages with the help of students.
He further suggested for constitution of a Green Campus Committee, having Annual Green Campus Plan and setting up a Biodiversity Park in the campus.
The Lt Governor called upon students to work with gram panchayat, organisations and urban local bodies to improve the quality and quantity of natural resources and provide economic benefits to the local people.
He directed the Higher Education Department to come out with a proposal for the green ranking of higher educational institutions of UT.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor handed over cheques from village funds to members of village panchayat plantation committees. He impressed on sarpanches to utilise funds for public welfare and re-invest the amount in planting more trees.
He launched the multilingual theme song of Green J&K Drive and Har Gaon Haryali and also released publications on slope stabilisation, green Slopes for Stable roads and Jan- Bhagidari-II and a short documentary on Van Sanrakshan.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the event, the Lt Governor reiterated the commitment of the UT Administration to dismantle the terror ecosystem.
“We are following the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the J&K Administration is determined and committed to take stringent action against those associated with the terror ecosystem or facilitating terrorist, secessionist activities,” the Lt Governor said.
360-degree security mechanism has been strengthened in Jammu Division and all efforts are being made by the security grid to eliminate the terrorists’ support system, he added.
Speaking on the issue of Sarore Toll Plaza, the Lt Governor said that the concern of the people is genuine. I have discussed the issue with the Chairman NHAI and the matter will be resolved in the coming days, he added.
Rajinder Sharma, Mayor, Jammu Municipal Corporation; Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu; Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary(Forests); Roshan Jaggi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner (Jammu); PRI members; senior officials, faculty members of IIM Jammu and students were present on the occasion.