Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Jul: A meeting of the Uttarakhand Governing Body of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) was held today at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During the meeting, a detailed review of the schemes implemented through CAMPA funds was conducted. The CM directed that the funds be judiciously utilised for sustainable forest management, ecological balance, forestry development and the welfare of communities dependent on forests.
Dhami further directed the officials to seek approval from the Central government to use CAMPA resources for increasing green cover within Dehradun city limits. Stressing the urgent need for source conservation, the CM called for a robust action plan focused on the preservation and rejuvenation of water sources in the hills and the forest regions. He directed that the Forest Department collaborate with the Drinking Water, Watershed, Rural Development and Agriculture Departments to formulate a unified plan for this purpose. He also instructed that a comprehensive forest fire prevention strategy be prepared with the help of modern technologies and enhanced community participation.
Dhami stressed that the afforestation initiatives must not end with the planting of saplings but should ensure the survival and growth of planted trees. He ordered regular review meetings to evaluate the quality and timely execution of projects funded by CAMPA. Emphasising the importance of the upcoming Harela Festival, he instructed the officials to conduct statewide plantation drives, prioritising fruit-bearing and medicinal plants. He also underlined the need to encourage people to plant at least one tree in the name of their mothers and directed that fruit-bearing trees be planted in every forest division to commemorate the birth centenary of environmentalist Gaura Devi.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal stated that forest conservation should be linked with livelihood creation. He suggested launching self-employment schemes to engage local communities more actively in forest protection and sustainable use of forest resources.
Among those present at the meeting were MLA Bhupal Ram Tamta, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary (Forest) RK Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sameer Sinha, Secretaries Radhika Jha, Chandresh Kumar, SN Pandey, Sridhar Babu Adanki and senior officers from the Forest Department.
