Forest Deptt Foundation Day: Nowshera Division installs Doona Pattal manufacturing unit at Hardumalara

Rajouri: Nowshera Forest Division installed a DoonaPattal manufacturing machine at Hardumalara village of Rah Panchayat to mark the 131st foundation day of the Forest Department.
An impressive function was organized with DDC Member, Suresh Kumar Sharma as the Chief Guest and Conservator of West Circle RajouriVivekVerma and Rahul Sharma Chairman Block Development Council, ChowkiChora as Guests of Honour.
A self-help group of 11 people including seven women was created to prepare the Doona and Pattals from the leaves of BahuniaVahlii (Malwar) by using the installed machine. The unit will help to reduce the use of hazardous plastic plates and Doonas and at the same time provide a source of income to the members of self-help group.
The general public of the area welcomed the step taken by the forest department to promote the use of Forest biomass for income generating activities.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC member Suresh Kumar Sharma lauded the Forest Department for providing livelihood opportunities to the local people. He expressed his happiness over the installation of DoonaPattal manufacturing machine in the village, requested for installation of more such units and creation of self-help groups in other Panchayats of the area too.
The Conservator of Forest West Circle Rajouri, while throwing light on the functioning of machinery, said that the Unit will help in increasing the income of local people by producing quality and environment friendly products in large quantity in lesser time by using leaves of Malwar (Bauhinia Vahlii) which is commonly available in the forest area.
Divisional Forest Officer NowsheraNeelima Shah expressed her gratitude to people who helped the forest department in combating forest fires in recent days. She stressed that these types of entry point activities will help in developing coordination between the Forest Department and local people, which in turn help in better conservation and protection of Forests.
The department also distributed fruit plants and certificates among the parents who have the birth of a girl child in their family under the theme PED LAGAYEN HAR BETI KE NAAM (one Girl child one plant program). Later a Peepal sapling was also planted by the DDC member along with other dignitaries present on the occasion.
BDC, Rahul Dev Sharma, SDM, Virender Gupta, Sarpanch, BawaDitta and a large number of people were also present. The whole event was coordinated by Range Forest Officer Sunderbani, RakeshVerma and staff, Anil Bhagat, Range Forest officer, Nowshera.
Similar plantation drives were also conducted at Banpuri and Narian area of Nowshera Forest Division in the presence.