GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR Chief …jkcmmonitoring.nic.in/iproject/PVR of strip plantation...3/4, Third Floor, Civil Secretariat, GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR Chief Minister’s

3/4, Third Floor, Civil Secretariat, www.jkcmmonitoring.nic.in

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell

Physical verification report of the project namely

“STRIP PLANTATION FROM KHELLANI

Floor, Civil Secretariat, Jammu/ G-15, Civil Secretariat, Srinagarwww.jkcmmonitoring.nic.in, email: [email protected]

Ph#0191-2520430 (Jmu)/ 0194-2485570 (Sgr)


Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cellwww.jkcmmonitoring.nic.in


“STRIP PLANTATION FROM KHELLANI NALLAH TO

District Doda

By Deputy Director,

CM’s Monitoring Cell.

, Srinagar [email protected]

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Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell


NALLAH TO THATHRI”

3/4, Third Floor, Civil Secretariat, Jammu/ G-15, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar www.jkcmmonitoring.nic.in, email: [email protected]

Ph#0191-2520430 (Jmu)/ 0194-2485570 (Sgr)

2

Name of Project: Strip Plantation from Khellani Nallah to Thathri in district Doda

Implementing Agency: Social Forestry Department

Funding: State Plan

Year of Start: 2012-13

Year of Completion: 2014-15

Financial Progress

(Rs in Lacs)

Estimated Cost 73.15 Funds Released 24.15 Expenditure Incurred 24.15

Physical Progress SNo Items approved Physical status

achieved 1 Fencing 45027 rft 2 Plants 56,176 numbers

Need for the project

The Social Forestry Project of planting different plant species along

the banks of river Chenab in district Doda has been taken up primarily to

reap the following 02 benefits:-

1) Occurrence of landslides on the ridges along river Chenab shall be minimized after the almost barren slopes are stabilized due to growth of

vegetation which is planted under the Social Forestry project.

2) Locals can obtain fodder for their cattle and firewood form the plantation grown along the mountain slopes in order to meet their day to

day household and farming needs.


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Field Observations

A project for strip plantation from khellani Nallah to Thathri along

the Batote-Kishtwar Highway has been taken up by the Social Forestry Department during 2012-13. The project shall be executed under State

Plan during a period of 03 years. The project cost of Rs 73.15 lacs shall be provided in 03 instalments as per year-wise break-up of funds given

below:-

Year Funding

(Rs in lacs)

2012-13 24.15

2013-14 24.45

2014-15 24.55

Total 73.15

The physical targets fixed for the year 2012-13 as per technical sanction are as follows:-

S.No Location Targets for 2012-13

Fencing

(rft)

Plants

(Nos)

Amount

(Rs in lacs)

1 Khellani to Pul Doda 8750 11030 4.908

2 Stretch: Km-52 4252 5354 2.276

3 Stretch: Km-53 630 798 0.326

4 Stretch: Km-55 16555 21477 8.808

5 Stretch: CO 33/ch 11550 15004 6.196

6 Stretch: Km-57 3290 2515 1.636

Total 45027 56178 24.150

During 2012-13, as envisaged under the project, an amount of Rs 24.15 lac provided to the Social Forestry Division, Doda has been

expended in full. During the field visit it was observed that strip plantation has been carried out all along the slope of the ridge on the left

bank of river Chenab from Khellani to Prem Nagar. It has been reported that 56,178 plants, as targeted, have been planted on the portion of the

slope between the river and the National Highway. About 05 different varieties of plant species have been planted on 37 stretches which are

also fenced with barber wires.


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The different variety of plant species along with their numbers planted is given below:-

Name of plant species Number of plants

Rubinia 44778

Allanthus 500

Ulmus 6400

Melia 3500

Poplar 1000

Total 56178

It has been reported by the DFO that the plantation work had been carried out in the months of February & March, 2013. The purpose

behind selecting these two months for plantation is that the area witnesses maximum rainfall during this period and the moisture content

in the soil as well as atmosphere is conducive for growth of vegetation. Since the field visit was conducted on April 10, 2013 it is natural that the

plantation had just begun sprouting. The species planted are adapted for growing in a wide range of climatic conditions and usually have good

survival rate in dry areas.

On the day of visit 06-07 stretches were inspected randomly. Most

of the stretches looked green as the plants planted in them had started growing. However, in one of the stretches only stumps of plants planted

were found. It was enquired from the DFO if the plants had dried. The DFO scratched the stumps and the inspection team found that the

stumps were green indicating that sprouting of leaves had not yet begun. The DFO informed that this stretch had damaged due to land slide and

plantation work had to be repeated in that stretch. As the plants had been planted only a couple of weeks back the sprouting is yet to start in

this stretch. It was reported by the DFO that the fence which had also got damaged had to be repaired subsequently.

It was difficult to count the total number of plants planted in the

stretches that were inspected for the slope towards the river is too steep and dangerous to traverse on foot. However, after counting the plants

grown along the road side it has been estimated that the survival rate is

tentatively around 70-80%.

It is pertinent to mention here that the dry and hot summer season is yet to come and the actual assessment of survival rate of the

plantation can be made only after the next 06-07 months.


Ph#0191-2520430 (Jmu)/ 0194-2485570 (Sgr)

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Problem Areas/ Suggestions

1. The statement of physical targets technically sanctioned reveals

that plantation had to be carried out in 06 stretches while the same

were found spread over 37 stretches. This probably is because of

the uneven and dangerous portions of the slope where it is difficult

to carry out plantation.

2. The mesh of the barbed wire fencing is not dense and domestic

animals passing by can easily sneak into the plantation area

through the fence. The mesh needs to be made denser by winding

barbed wire not just horizontal to the surface level but vertical as

well as in a zigzag manner.

3. The National Highway is also used by the Gujjar and Bakerwal

community during seasonal migration on foot along with their

livestock. During such migration the small sized livestock such as

goats and sheep can easily tread into the plantation. The field staff

of Social Forestry needs to be vigilant and keep a watch on the

migrating livestock so as to prevent them from entering into the

fenced area and destroying the plantation at least until the time by

when the plants have grown up into trees.

4. Most of the slopes of the ridges along the banks of river Chenab in

district Doda are barren. This is indeed one of the reasons for

frequent occurrence of landslides in the area during the rainy

season. The soil on the slopes of the undulating ridges is extremely

fragile. There is a need for implementing many more such projects

in the district.

Physical Verification Conducted by :

Madan Gopal Sharma, Deputy Director Planning,

Ravinder Singh, Senior Assistant

Monitoring Cell, Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Officer of Executing Agency who accompanied the

inspecting officer:

Sh. Lalit Mangotra, District Forest Officer, Social Forestry, Doda-

Kishtwar range. Sh. Ramesh Chander Sharma, Range

officer, Doda.

Date of conduct of physical inspection:

10-04-2013


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Meliea (Draink)

Rubinia (Kekar)


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Allanthus (Dadri)

Poplar


Ph#0191-2520430 (Jmu)/ 0194-2485570 (Sgr)

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Plants yet to sprout but stems on scratching were found green

Fence comprising just 04 barbed wires running horizontally

Documents

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR Chief …jkcmmonitoring.nic.in/iproject/PVR of strip plantation...3/4, Third Floor, Civil Secretariat, GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR Chief Minister’s