Urges Balance Between Development and Ecology; Stresses Forest Rights for Tribals
KD NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, July 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the Van Mahotsav 2025 celebrations in Jammu, issuing a clarion call for a balanced approach to development and environmental preservation. The event, held at the Abhinav Theatre and organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department, saw wide community participation including tribal members, students, and citizens from across the Union Territory.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here, visible, and alarming,” said the Chief Minister in his keynote address. “Our environment is a sacred heritage that we must preserve for future generations. If we can’t improve it, we must at least protect what remains.”
Stressing the need for genuine afforestation, Omar Abdullah said the current trend of deforestation must be reversed. “Development is necessary, but it must not be reckless. For every tree uprooted, we must plant a hundred more. Let Van Mahotsav not be just a ritual, but a people’s movement,” he urged.
The event was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Forest Secretary Sheetal Nanda; Secretary Tribal Affairs Prasanna Ramaswamy G; and senior forest officials including Principal Chief Conservators.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to forest dwellers, the Chief Minister reaffirmed that the administration will ensure the benefits of the Forest Rights Act and access to minor forest produce reach every deserving tribal and forest-dwelling household.
Minister Javed Ahmed Rana underscored the role of tribal communities in conserving forests, proposing that the Tribal Affairs Department should become the nodal body for implementing the Forest Rights Act. He outlined major initiatives including water conservation projects in Kandi belts through check dams and rainwater harvesting, employment generation under the Van Dhan Yojana, and promotion of eco-tourism through eco treks.
He also mentioned the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, an umbrella program focusing on tribal empowerment, infrastructure upliftment, and saturation of government services in tribal belts.
Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani echoed the sentiments, saying, “Forests are not just natural resources; they are our living companions. From firewood to fodder and the air we breathe—they sustain us every day.” He called for a revival of traditional tree-planting customs and said these rituals were once powerful symbols of gratitude and responsibility toward nature.
The ceremony also featured the distribution of appointment letters to newly selected candidates in the Forest Department. Several individuals and environmental groups were felicitated for their contribution to forest conservation and ecological awareness.
In closing, the Chief Minister reminded all that the state’s development would never come at the cost of its green cover. “We must grow, but we must grow responsibly. Nature, when respected, returns the favour. When abused, it retaliates,” he concluded.
