Preserve J&K's biodiversity: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Sunday that there was a need to "preserve the state's biodiversity, forest wealth and environment, which have earned the state the sobriquet of heaven on earth".

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Sunday that there was a need to "preserve the state's biodiversity, forest wealth and environment, which have earned the state the sobriquet of heaven on earth".

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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 service as a mission and help rejuvenate the depleted forests besides bringing more and more vacant lands under plantation," he said.

Omar said the state's tourism largely depended on the natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir.

Laying the foundation of Forest Resource Management Centre (FRMC) at Narwal (Bachan) here, Omar expressed hope that the new complex would provide better conditions to forest department staff to work.

The new complex, expected to be completed at a cost of over `10 crore, is being executed by the JKPCC and is scheduled to be completed in two years.