125 Projects Cleared On Forest Land Since August, Only 97 Approved Last Year scroll.in

The Forest Advisory Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir administration has granted clearances to 125 projects involving diversion of forest land for other purposes between August and October, environmental magazine Down To Earth reported on Monday.

“In the 117th meeting held on October 17, 2019, 41 projects were cleared [by the Forest Advisory Committee],” Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, commissioner secretary to the forest, environment and ecology department of Jammu and Kashmir, was quoted as saying. “In the 116th meeting, 54 projects were cleared and in the 115th meeting, 30 projects were cleared. These clearance recommendations will be sent to the J&K cabinet and then finalized.” These meetings were held between August and October.

The Indian government had abrogated special status for Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 under Article 370 of the Constitution and imposed a curfew-like situation in the state. The restrictions are slowly being erased.

Jammu and Kashmir have a separate Forest Advisory Committee under the Jammu And Kashmir Forest (Conservation) Act, 1997. The panel is headed by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, and its members are officials of departments such as forest, revenue, finance, soil and water conservation. The committee makes recommendations, which are accepted or rejected by the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet.