Comprehensive five year plan for eco-restoration of degraded catchments in the northern basin of river Jhelum has been formulated, Jammu and Kashmir Forest and Environment Minister Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi has said.
The Rs 30 crore project, covering about 15,682 square kilometre area in 24 catchments of the River Jhelum, would focus on preventing land degradation by adopting multi disciplinary approach of soil conservation and watershed management, improvement of land capability and promotion of land use, Sofi said addressing a meeting here on Monday.
Pointing out that the project was included in the prime minister's eco-restoration scheme package for the state, he said Kupwara and Budgam districts were being covered under the scheme along with Ninghal, Viji Dakhul, lower Jhelum, Sukhanag and three priority micro watersheds areas of Pohru catchments.
The minister said population explosion, rapid urbanization, biotic interference, fast depleting vegetative cover, receding forest line and non-judicious utilization of natural resources has resulted in shirking of water bodies in the state and the Jhelum basin was facing a lot of degradation due to it.
"Depleting water sources, silting-cum sedimentation of water bodies, dwindling forest cover and the resultant climatic changes has necessitated immediate treatment of the Jhelum basin, which is back bone of the economy, agriculture and tourism of Kashmir valley," he added.
{{/usCountry}}"Depleting water sources, silting-cum sedimentation of water bodies, dwindling forest cover and the resultant climatic changes has necessitated immediate treatment of the Jhelum basin, which is back bone of the economy, agriculture and tourism of Kashmir valley," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Sofi said such projects were also being introduced in south basin of Jhelum and Chenab basin in Jammu.