Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
PAMPORE, March 21:
The Geology and Mining Department of Kashmir marked World Plantation Day with a plantation drive aimed at promoting environmental conservation and sustainability. The event took place at the Mining Department Office in Panderthan, Srinagar.
Suraj Parkash Rukwal, Director of Geology and Mining Department, J&K, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Senior Drilling Engineer Kashmir Er Abdul Hamid Wani, Dr. Amarjeet Singh Sodhi (Ex-Deputy Director), Er. Masood Ahmad Khan (Ex-Drilling Engineer), Er. Bilal Ahmad Dar (Drilling Engineer), and other officials.
Department officials and employees participated enthusiastically in the plantation drive, reaffirming their commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Er. Abdul Hamid Wani, Senior Drilling Engineer, Kashmir, who highlighted the significance of tree plantation in combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. He emphasized the role of afforestation in mitigating environment challenges and encouraged all present to contribute towards a greener tomorrow.
The event witnessed active participation from students of Government Girls Secondary School Panderthan Srinagar and Delhi Public School, Athawajan, Srinagar, who delivered insightful speeches on the importance of trees in maintaining ecological balance and combating global warming. The Programme aimed to instil a sense of environmental responsibility among the younger generations. Students eloquently highlighted the crucial role of trees in purifying air, conserving water, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity.
Their speeches reflected a deep understanding of the environmental challenges faced today and the urgent need for afforestation. Every one commended the enthusiasm and awareness displayed by the students. As a part of the celebrations, students along with Department employees planted samplings at designated sites, reinforcing their pledge to protect nature, officials told Sachnews.
Suraj Parkash Rukwal, Director Geology and Mining Department J&K who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, commented the efforts of the employees in organizing the event and underscored the importance of World Plantation Day in fostering environmental awareness. He reiterated the Department’s dedication to sustainable mining practices and the preservation of natural resources. The plantation drive saw the active participation of officials and staff, who planted saplings at designated locations, symbolizing their collective responsibility toward environmental conservation.
Speaking to Sachnews, Senior Drilling Engineer Kashmir said that this is the first time the Geology and Mining Department has taken the initiative to observe World Plantation Day. He emphasized the growing concerns of global warming, citing how the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg had to be postponed due to changing climatic conditions. Similarly, the ongoing rainfall is not contributing to groundwater recharge, leading to the depletion of water reservoirs.
He highlighted the significant role of the Geology and Mining Department, as mining activities are essential for government revenue generation. The department grants leases to miners and major mining companies, which, in turn, supports a large marginalized population. Many underprivileged individuals are directly and indirectly involved in mining activities, relying on them for their livelihood. However, he acknowledged that extracting small minerals also leads to environmental degradation, stressing the need for sustainable practices.
He further said that the department has taken a significant responsibility to restore and rehabilitate the areas where mining activities take place. He emphasized that wherever mining occurs, efforts will be made to restore the land through afforestation to prevent soil erosion.
As part of this initiative, the department has planted 1,000 trees on the 10-kanal land within the Geology and Mining Office premises Panderthan. He described this as just the beginning, announcing plans to expand the plantation drive to other districts in the coming year.
To support this effort, the department has allocated personal funds from the 1% royalty collected from mining activities, which is specifically set aside for reforestation and soil conservation in areas affected by deforestation and mining.
Additionally, he said that District Mineral Offices (DMOs) have been instructed to actively involve employees, local communities, schools, and other departments in these efforts. He stressed that environmental conservation cannot be achieved by a single individual but requires collective action from society, educational institutions, and various government departments, including the Forest Department.
He highlighted the urgency of addressing deforestation, mining-related land degradation, and climate change, emphasizing that rising global temperatures, increased carbon dioxide levels, and oxygen depletion make such initiatives even more critical.