Srinagar (NVI): Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal has urged all the stakeholders to make coordinated efforts to work for safeguarding the environment and ecology of the region.
Speaking at a post-plantation drive programme, ‘Green J&K Drive’ at District Court Complex, Moominabad here on Thursday, Justice Mittal advised the Forest Department and other stakeholders to convert the plantation drive into a public movement, involving school children and all other sections of the society.
The ceremonial winter plantation drive was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Forests in collaboration with District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Srinagar.
The Chief Justice planted a conifer and chinar saplings to formally launch the drive.
Justice Mittal suggested planting of a sapling by each family on the birth of a baby to ensure participation of public in the programme.
“NGOs must be roped in for the massive plantation drives across Jammu and Kashmir. People who have passion for environment must also come forward and play their part in saving the environment and taking global warming head-on,” she said.
Besides, saplings of blue pine, deodar and chinar were planted in the Campus. Present were Judges of the J&K High Court and District Court, Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Inspector General of Police, SP Pani and several senior officials.
While complimenting the Forest Department for organising the programme The Chief Justice said that afforestration is critical for Jammu & Kashmir—whose survival is heavily dependent on plant life and biodiversity.
“Maintaining proper green cover in a tourist-friendly place like Jammu and Kashmir is all the more important for us. We all must develop passion for planting trees in our surroundings. We must contribute back to the health of our environment, the way it is nourishing us,” she added.
She directed the officers of District Legal Services Authority, Srinagar to take up the plantation drive in all the court complexes in collaboration with the Forest Department during current plantation season.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mohit Gera highlighted the achievements of “Green J&K Drive” which involves planting 50 lakh plants in the Union Territory during the current year out of which 20.07 lakh plants have already been planted in Jammu region during the monsoon season.
He impressed upon the officers of the Forest Department to involve institutions, students, panchayats and civil society in large numbers during plantation programmes.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, S F A Gillani and Principal District and Session Judge and Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Srinagar, Abdul Rashid Malik.
