Present Activities Of The Department

A.        Environment Wing
1.   Environmental Education and Awareness

• Organizing seminars, drawing and painting competitions, rallies, etc. 
• Development/maintenance of Environmental Parks.
• Celebration of important Environment related weeks/days.
• Plantation in educational institutions to sensitize the students regarding role of plants in environment.

B.        Remote Sensing Wing

• This wing is entrusted with the task of generating GIS Database on natural resources for developing efficient Decision Support System (DSS) for sustainable development.
• This Wing has undertaken about 45 projects assigned by various departments/organizations.

Major policy issues and initiatives taken:
Following Hon’ble Chief Ministers visit along with the Hon’ble Forest Minister  on 24th of June, 2010  following 5 GIS projects have been taken up as an additionality by the Deptt. out of which one stands completed. The details are given as under.

• Measuring Physical accessibility to Health Care Network in the state using Remote Sensing and GIS.
  • Project Period                       -           2 years            (2010-11 & 2011-12)
  • Project Cost                          -          37.98 lac

   

• Space Based Forest Cover Watch-A model study on Shopian and Pir-Panjal Forest Divisions.

• Project Period                       -           5 years            (2010-11 to 2014-15)
• Project Cost                          -           109.49 lacs

 

• Environment Impact Assessment of PMGSY & other Rural Roads in J&K using Remote Sensing and GIS.
  • Project Period                       -           3 years            (2010-11 & 2012-13)
  • Project Cost                          -           23.40 lacs

   

• Snow Avalanche and Landslide Study of J&K using Remote Sensing and GIS (its Environmental Impact and Societal Concerns).
  
  • Project Period                       -           3 years            (2010-11 & 2012-13)
  • Project Cost                          -           30 lacs

 

• State Special Data infrastructure:
• Project Period                       -           3 years            (2012-15)
• Project Cost                          -           241.25 lacs

 

Preparation of State of Environment Report (SoER)

            The basic objectives of State of Environment (SoER) reports is to present an over view of the environmental situation in a particular region during the given period, create awareness about sustainable development among the various stake holders and to enable policy formulation and articulation of strategy so as to facilitate analytical and informed decision making. In the global context of SoER Reporting, initiatives taken in India are unique. Over the last two decades, SoER reporting experience has ranged from grassroots initiatives like wall posters to citizens’ reports, media and academic documents, and more formal government documents. While the quality of these outputs is varied, some of the processes adopted and products developed have been pioneering.  Consequently, they have contributed to policy and decision making within the country and reporting to the global system.

            Scheme of ‘Preparation of SoE Report’ was launched for preparing respective Reports in the States/UTs as a plan scheme in the 10thFive-Year Plan. The process included a more streamlined data collection and collation system, appropriate consultative processes, reporting system through a range of static and interactive media, and linking SoE reporting with logical follow-up decisions and actions. The scheme was taken up in the year 2010-11 and is in the process of finalization.

 

Preparation of State Action Plan on Climate Change

After the launching of “Nation Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)” in 2008 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, each State has been asked to prepare the State Action Plan on Climate Change addressing the State specific problems  and the missions applicable to each State. The 8 Missions of the NAPCC are:

• Solar Mission.
• Mission for enhanced energy efficiency.
• Mission of sustainable habitat.
• Water Mission.
• Mission for sustainable Himalayan Eco system.
• Mission for Green India.
• Mission for sustainable Agriculture.
• Mission on strategy knowledge on Climate Change.

The Himalayan States being the special category States having specific problems, Himalayan Chief Ministers Conclave was held on Oct, 29th to 30th at Shimla, HP to discuss this issue in a detailed manner in order to devise a common strategy for Himalayan States to combat the effects of Climate Change. In this meeting Hon’ble Forest Minister of J&K State represented the HCM, The conclave resolved to jointly face the challenges of Climate Change and ensure Sustainable Development in Himalayan Region.

The Govt. of J&K constituted J&K State Council for Climate Change with a three tier system consisting of a Governing Council headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, an Executive Council headed by the Chief Secretary and Expert Committee headed by the Director Environment & Remote Sensing. Vide Govt. Order No.210-FST of 2011 Dated:25/04/2011.

 

1st meeting of the Expert Committee was  held on 19th of Aug, 2011 in which 10 missions relevant to the State were identified and recommendations to constitute 10 mission heads was submitted to the Govt.

10 Mission Working Groups was constituted vide G.O No: 380-FST of 2011 Dated 04/10/2011.

1st meeting of the Governing Council was held on 24th of Nov, 2011 under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Chief Minister (Chairman Governing Council).

1st meeting of the heads of the working Groups was held on 17th of Dec, 2011.

 

Follow-up of Wetland Rules, 2010
As the follow-up of Wetland Rules, 2010 the Deptt. updated a Wetland directory according to which the state has 1230 Wetlands. The region-wise breakup is as under:
Jammu           =          150
Kashmir         =          415
Ladakh          =           665
Total             =          1230

 

Development of New Environmental Parks
During the last two years the Deptt developed two environmental Parks one each at Kashmir and Jammu. The details are as under:

 

1. Baba Nizam-ud-din Environmental Park Kijipora, Kangan.

Area                         =          16 Kanals
Expenditure              =          70.00 lacs
Funding source        =          State Plan.

2. Environment & Wildlife Awareness park at Bhawani Nagar, Janipur, Jammu.
Area                         =          20.16 Ha
Expenditure              =          100.47 lacs
Funding source        =          13th Finance Commission.