SRINAGAR: Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology, and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress on ongoing development works being executed across the Union Territory in the Forest and allied sectors.
The meeting focused on initiatives under various schemes including CAPEX, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and Green India Mission (GIM).
During the detailed review many issues were discussed threadbare including District-wise physical and financial achievements for the year 2024-25 and 2025-26 under various Centrally sponsored schemes. Also discussion was held on the funds received, expenditure incurred, utilization certificates submitted under CSSs/CSs (2024-25). She also reviewed the Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) approved and funds received for the year 2025-26 as well as work-wise physical and financial progress under UT CAPEX budget (2025-26),Updated progress in respect of budget announcements for the year 2025-26 were also discussed. Latest status of approved projects under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) was also reviewed.
Commissioner Secretary exhorted officers to ensure that all schemes, especially the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, are implemented in letter and spirit. She laid stress on intensifying plantation drives and expediting financial bookings especially under CAPEX Budget throughout the districts.
The Commissioner Secretary issued strict directives for the timely execution and quality delivery of all departmental projects. She directed various departments under the Forest umbrella to ensure a minimum of 70% of all planned works, including infrastructure upgrades, afforestation and other conservation efforts are completed by December 2025.
The Commissioner Secretary directed that winter plantation activities must commence immediately in temperate zones of UT. She underlined that this initiative will cover degraded forest areas, urban green spaces and community lands.
Implementing agencies were urged to immediately expedite the installation of Boundary Pillars (BPs) for forest land demarcation as well as in wetlands across UT, to ensure legal protection and clarity of forest boundaries.
Recognizing the potential of Ecotourism in promoting sustainable livelihoods, the Commissioner Secretary instructed that all pending Nagar Van (Urban Forest) projects must be finalized and made operational by December 2025. She added that these projects aim to create accessible green spaces in urban areas, fostering community engagement and biodiversity conservation.
The Commissioner Secretary also underscored the need for enhanced inter-departmental coordination and proactive field-level execution. Departments were also encouraged to maintain transparency, adopt modern monitoring tools, and actively engage local communities in plantation and conservation efforts.
The Commissioner Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to ecological preservation, sustainable development, and climate resilience through community-driven forestry initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HoFF); Sarvesh Rai, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Vasu Yadav, Chairman Pollution Control Committee; Sandeep Kujur, Director Social Forestry J&K along with all Chief Conservators of Forests (CCFs), Director Finance (Forest), Conservators of Forests (CFs), Regional Directors (RDs), and Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) of both the regions.