Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar, Feb 6: Taking a note of the news items published in the February 4 edition of Early Times in this regard, the deputy commissioner, Kishtwar, is said to have initiated a 'probe' into the plantation of trees in the district during dry season.
Over 10 lakh trees were reportedly planted by various government departments in the district in last few months despite the fact that it had witnessed dry season as rain and snow continued to elude the District.
Official sources said the DC summoned officials of Forest Department, Social Forestry, Soil Conservation Department, IWDP, Horticulture Department, Forest Department Territorial and allied departments and sought details from them with regard to plantation of trees in Kishtwar district including the detail of areas where these departments had made plantations, besides the purchase bills and other relevant details pertaining to purchase, funding and plantations area wise.
As already reported, various departments, linked with plantation of trees, had planted trees of various qualities including Apple, Walnuts, Far, Kail, Deodar and other fruit bearing plants in Kishtwar district this season.
Sources alleged that in connivance with various nursery owners, the department purchased trees from them and later distributed in various areas of the district despite knowing the fact that the season and the dry conditions were not feasible for survival of these plants.
Sources said in addition to plantation of over 10 lakh plants, NHPC, Kishtwar, also supplied over 12 lakh plants to various department for which the District Development Board has already directed DC, Kishtwar, to probe the matter. |
