Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said there was need to preserve the state’s bio-diversity, forest wealth and environment, which have earned the state the sobriquet of ‘heaven on earth’.
He termed the conservation and protection of state’s environment, water bodies, forests, fauna, flora and biological diversity as national duty of all residents of the state.
“You (Forests and Environment Department) have to render you service as a mission and help rejuvenate the depleted forests besides bringing more and more vacant lands under plantation,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the state’s tourism largely depends on the natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir.
Laying the foundation of Forest Resource Management Centre (FRMC) at Narwal (Bachan) in Jammu, he expressed hope that the new complex will provide better conditions to forest department staff to work and contribute positively towards growth and development of forest-related activities.
The new complex, expected to be completed at a cost of over Rs. 10 crore, is being executed by the JKPCC and it is scheduled to be completed in two years.
