The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department Sunday observed the ‘National Forest Martyrs Day’ to pay homage to the brave forest officers and frontline staff who laid down their lives while protecting the forest wealth in Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that the Forest Martyrs Memorial, Shankaracharya Hills, Srinagar, erected in memory of Forest Martyrs of J&K, was dedicated by the frontline forest staff to the J&K Forest Department in presence of Mohit Gera, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF. Also present on the occasion were Neelu Gera, PCCF and Chairperson Pollution Control Committee, and T Rabi Kumar, APCCF Kashmir.

They laid wreaths at Forester’s Memorial to pay tributes to martyrs on this day. Besides, senior forest officers, regional heads of various allied Departments, and frontline staff also offered floral tributes and prayers to the martyrs to mark their respects.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India had declared the 11th of September as National Forest Martyrs Day in the year 2013 in recognition of the infamous Khejarli Massacre of 1730.

In J&K, around 100 forest officers/officials have laid their lives for the protection of the rich forest wealth of the Union Territory and in recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the Forest Department has erected four Foresters Memorials recently. Out of the four, two are located in Jammu and Kashmir, two memorials have been erected in Shankaracharya Hills and Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar. National Forest Martyrs Day was also observed in other Forester’s Memorials.

After paying homage, a brief function was held at Forest Headquarters Sheikhbagh, Srinagar for the distribution of Departmental Awards to 17 frontline Forest Officers and staff for outstanding performance in the field of ‘Afforestation/ Forest Protection/ Training and Capacity Building/ Demarcation for the year 2021-22’.

On the occasion, Nazir Benazir, Chairman of NGO was also felicitated for his dedicated efforts in afforestation programmes of the Forest Department, including Green J&K Drives. 75 students (Bal Brigade) were also felicitated with certificates for their involvement in afforestation activities and supporting the establishment of Bal Van in Srinagar.

Speaking on the occasion, Gera PCCF and HoFF thanked the UT Administration for all the support.

He remembered the Forest Martyrs and exhorted upon the officers to evolve with the emerging challenges faced by the Department. He spoke in detail about the need for the protection of forests and their future role given increasing pressures – urbanization, development, rise in population, and the changing climate.

He informed that forests are going to play a central role in the future towards water security, food security, energy security as well as health and wellness, besides providing ecological security to the fragile mountainous region of Jammu and Kashmir. This calls for an increasing role of the Forest Department and its officers, especially the frontline staff.

Gera appreciated the efforts of Forest Officers and frontline staff in the protection of forests and for implementation of recent flagship initiatives of the Government, particularly “Green J&K Drive”, rejuvenation of Amrit Sarovars, Ecotourism, Industry friendly initiatives, and online services for ease of doing business.

The efforts made by Zubair Ahmad Shah, Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle, Abid Nazir, DFO Urban Forestry Srinagar, and others in successfully organising the National Forest Martyrs Day were also appreciated.

Srinagar, Sept 12: In a big relief to the residents of Srinagar, the bear and a cub which were roaming in the city captured by a team of wildlife department on Monday.

The wild bear had created fear and authorities now say all schools can function normally.

“After 21 hours non stop operation, Black Bear spotted yesterday in Rajbagh area has been tranquillised. Great job by the Team led by Wildlife Department, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Aijaz Asad said in a tweet.

“Area has been scanned and sanitized. All educational institutions in the area shall open normally as per daily routine, he added.

The bear on Sunday injured a security guard of private school at Lal Mandi. It has not been revealed so far by the authorities as to how the bear and the cub reached the densely populated area of Srinagar.

JAMMU, Sep 12: The Meteorological (MeT) office said on Monday that Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness cloudy sky with light rain at isolated places during the next 24 hours.
Weather was inclement in the union territory during the last 24 hours.
“Mainly cloudy sky with light rain at isolated places is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 20.8, Katra 18.7, Batote 13, Banihal 11.8 and Bhaderwah 13.7 as the minimum.
Srinagar had 14.2, Pahalgam 9.1 and Gulmarg 6.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Kargil in Ladakh region had 16 and Leh 11.9 as the minimum temperature. (Agencies)

Kashmiri Pandits today protested in Jammu demanding for relocation from the valley.

The community fears for their lives in Kashmir in the current situation with ongoing terrorist activities and targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits.

Shouting slogans like, ‘We want Justice’, and holding placards that read, ‘Don’t rehabilitate us on the cost of our blood, orphaning our child and widowing our wives’, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits took to the streets demanding relocation until the situation improves in the Valley.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday warned Pakistan for its support to terrorism and said the people in the Union Territory want tourism and not terrorism.

Speaking at the Gulistan News Conclave, Tarun Chugh said, we are turning J&K a tourist capital, instead of a terrorist one.

PM Modi is the only figure who motivated people in Kashmir to go for voting: Tarun Chug BJP National General Secretary.
We challenged the boycott narrative of political parties in Kashmir, Tarun Chugh said at Gulistan 2022 Conclave.
For 32 years KPs brutally suffered and still they are living unsecure there. We should really ask who was in power that time: Tarun Chugh said at Gulistan conclave 2022.
Local political parties are not able to envisage progress here done by BJP:Tarun Chugh said
The terrorists in j&k who are waging war against India are trembling with fear because of us, he said.

Srinagar, Sep 10: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Saturday forecast cloudy weather with light rain in Srinagar and light to moderate rain in Jammu division during the next 24 hours.

“Cloudy weather with light rain is likely in the valley and light to moderate rain in Jammu division during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.

Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded 17.7 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 12.8 and Gulmarg 9.5 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature this morning.

Drass town in Ladakh clocked 8 degrees, Leh 11.5 and Kargil 15.2 degrees.

Jammu received 21.5 degrees, Katra 22.3, Batote 16.5, Banihal 16 and Bhaderwah 16.3 as the minimum temperature.