Srinagar, September 11: The Forest Department on Friday observed Forest Martyrs Day at Shankaracharya Hills in Srinagar, paying tribute to forest personnel who died while performing their duties.
The programme was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) Sarvesh Rai, IFS, along with senior officers and field staff of the department.
Among those present were the Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir; Joint Director, Forest Protection Force (FPF), Kashmir; Joint Director, Soil Conservation, Kashmir; Divisional Forest Officers; Deputy Director, FPF Srinagar; Range Officers and other officials. CAMPA NGO member Nazir Benazir also attended the programme.
Rai and other senior officers laid floral tributes at the Martyrs Memorial in remembrance of forest personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Speaking on the occasion, the PCCF & HoFF highlighted the risks faced by forest personnel while carrying out their responsibilities, including encounters with wild animals and confrontations with timber smugglers.
He paid tribute to the forest martyrs and acknowledged their contribution to protecting the forests and ecological resources of Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of the observance, the department also planted conifer saplings at Balwan, Srinagar, under the “Ek Ped Shaheedon Ke Naam” initiative in memory of the martyrs.
A similar programme was held at the Kashmir Forest Training School, Chitternar, Bandipora. The Principal of the training school, along with staff and trainees, paid tribute to forest personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties.
Comments are closed.