Leh, Sept 22: The Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi conducted a half day workshop on “Security Infrastructure and FC (Amendment) Act 2023: Changing Scenarios and Way Ahead” to sensitize the different User Agencies regarding the recent amendments in the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The chief guest for the occasion, Dr. Pawan Kotwal-IAS, Advisor and Administrative Secretary, Forest Ecology and Environment, UT Ladakh inaugurated the workshop by throwing light on the need for maintaining balance between conservation and development and expected that the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 would go a long way in making the forest clearance hassle free for the various project proponents.
This was followed by a comprehensive session on advent of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and its contribution in conservation by Dr. Khurshid Alam Khan, Deputy Director, MoEF&CC. Later, Raja Ram Singh, IFS, Deputy Inspector General (Forest Conservation), IRO, MoEFCC explained the recent changed in Forest Conservation Act in detail and addressed practical issues faced by user agencies in process of proposals.
Sajjad Hussain Mufti-IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests/ Chief Wildlife Warden, UT Ladakh, in his closing remark, vowed to extend all the possible help to the User Agencies in dispelling their doubts/difficulties while uploading forest clearance proposals on PARIVESH.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dhawan Kumar Rawat-IFS, Divisional Forests Officer, Leh. The workshop was attended by representative of various User Agencies like BRO, ITBP, Army, NHIDCL, RITES, Power Development Department and PWD etc.
