RAWALAKOT (Kashmir English): Commissioner Poonch Division Masood-ur-Rehman chaired an important meeting regarding forest protection, prevention of tree felling and increase in forest area.
The meeting was attended by Conservator Forest Poonch Division Muhammad Latif Khan, Deputy Commissioner Haveli Raja Imran Shaheen, Superintendent of Police Haveli Atta-ur-Rehman, District Forest Officer Poonch Sardar Khalid Mahmood, District Forest Officer Demarcation Sardar Wajid Azad, District Forest Officer Bagh Azhar Bashir, District Forest Officer Sudhanuti Ehsan-ul-Haq, District Forest Officer Haveli Ijaz Qamar and Range Officer Haveli Shafi Kiani.
Protection of forest lands
It was decided in the meeting that complete protection of forests and forest lands will be ensured at all costs and comprehensive measures will be taken for this purpose.
Increasing green areas and protecting trees are essential to address the challenges of climate change, the participants agreed.
It was also decided that in order to make the protection of forests in Haveli district more effective, no permission will be given to extract wood through any legal or lawful means during night hours.
Along with this, more than one depot will be established within the district for the transparent extraction of wood so that the legitimate needs of the public can also be met in a transparent manner while remaining within the ambit of the law.
The participants were informed that since the competent authority has taken notice of this matter, any transfer without NOC will be stopped wherever forest land is occupied and strict action will be taken against the concerned officers of the Revenue Department and Forest Department in case of violation.
It was also decided in the meeting that a comprehensive plan will be made for the removal of trees and dry trees from the Bhedi compartment of Haveli district, especially from the entire division, so that no illegal removal of wood is possible.
The legal team of the Forest Department will take immediate steps to get the stay orders obtained from the courts dismissed in connection with the auction of legal removal of wood.
Commissioner Poonch Division said that according to the priorities of the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, the protection of the forests of the entire state and especially of a beautiful tourist destination like Haveli is a common national responsibility of all of them, on which, he added, no compromise will be made.
He said the administration will fully cooperate with the Forest Department for the protection of forests so that by making joint efforts, it is possible to protect the valuable asset.
