SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

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1 SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR SOIL & WATER CONSERVTION COMPLEX (bhumi wa jal sanrakhsha bhawan) Haft Chinar, Srinagar Camp Bikram Chowk Jammu Phone: Fax: &

2 2 Citizens Charter of Jammu & Kashmir Soil & Water Conservation Department ***** MISSION STATEMENT: The Department is created with the mission to conserve the valuable soil of the state by way of adopting soil and water conservation techniques and to create educational awareness among the stake holders for posterity. The Department also envisages the vision of conserving soil and water for sustainable management of forests and agriculture resources and to save water bodies from siltation and degeneration. CITIZEN S CHARTER: The State of J&K because of its mountainous relief, undulated terrain and being the youngest mountain ranges of the world are subject to moderate to heavy erosion. It has further increased due to the population explosion, faulty land use practices and over exploitation of Forests and extensive use of cultivation. The soil erosion has resulted into heavy soil loss, reduction in soil nutrients, frequent floods. Besides, frequent disruption of roads and communication system as well as silting of natural and man-made water bodies /reservoirs. Since it is a continues process and telling upon the agricultural productivity viz-a-viz income of the farmers, so halting this process was absolutely important especially in forest up-lands which are contributory to the miseries of the people due to the problem mentioned. Hence the Department of Soil Conservation was created in the year 1978 vide Govt. Order No.212-FST of 2014 dated to take care of this aspect and to devise ways and means to mitigate the suffering caused due to soil erosion. The organisation has been renamed as Soil & Water Conservation Department by the State Government in 2014 vide Govt. Order No.312-FST of 2014 dated Presently Soil & Water Conservation Department is working in all the 22 Districts of the State and implements programme under State Plan (State Sector as well as District Sector) besides to some externally aided projects.

3 3 MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT: Soil and water are two important natural resources which sustain life on this planet of universe. In terms of mandate viz; research, demonstration, formulation of soil and water conservation schemes and monitoring, evaluation and coordination of soil conservation activities of various departments i.e. Forest, Agriculture and Irrigation etc. read with the State Forest Policy-2011 and in view of the importance of soil and water in J&K State, their intrinsic link with human survival and criticality for livelihood security on sustainable basis, the following objectives are assigned to the Soil & Water Conservation Department:- To undertake formulation and implementation of site-specific schemes to conserve & manage soil and water resources in the state by adopting watershed approach as stipulated in the Forest Policy of Jammu and Kashmir State. To take up appropriate water conservation measures in and outside forest area, impounding of water wherever sites permit to increase ground water recharge and prevent floods. To estimate soil carbon tapped in the forests as well as non forest land of the State and take suitable measures to ensure retention of the carbon in the soil and increase it further. To create data base on soil and water conservation and conduct need based research to develop appropriate site specific models and techniques. To provide technical guidance for preparation of schemes on scientific basis for other line departments and implement catchment area treatment projects, wherever required. To coordinate with the institutions and departments working on water conservation in the State as well as outside including Govt. of India for capacity building to act as nodal agency in the State on water conservation. To create awareness about soil and water conservation by adopting suitable communication strategy and extension measures.

4 4 WE ARE COMMITTED TO: Protect, Ameliorate and to conserve Soil & Water loss in the State for improving the health of soil and the quality of water for better tomorrow. WE STRIVE FOR: Healthy soil and its protection from degradation and ensuring plenty of good quality water for progress and prosperity. Generating additional employment opportunities and income for secured livelihood in rural areas. Supporting the community s demand for food, water and energy by improving the productivity of natural resources. Enhancing and sustaining productivity of land available for primary production systems (crop cultivation, livestock raising and forest management). WHAT WE DO: Preventive soil conservation measures. Site specific treatment through vegetative and engineering works like DRSM, crate works, brush wood check dams etc. are executed by the Department to conserve the valuable soil and increase water regime of the area viz-a-viz the productivity. Afforestation The Department undertakes afforestation activities in areas which are degraded for the purpose of rehabilitation as well as providing usufructs like; grasses, firewood, small timber, MFP and other intangible benefits. The Department also venture out for the following activities on the specific demands of the public or as per the commitment of the Government:- 1. Construction of Water harvesting structures for conservation of water. 2. Sisal Propagation in highly degraded kandi belt of Jammu region for stabilization of land slips and fibre production. 3. Construction of drains for treatment of water logged areas / for safe disposal of run-off from upper catchments. 4. Construction of snow slide structures in Ladakh region for protecting Agriculture lands. 5. Treatment of Catchment Areas of the Hydro Electric Projects.

5 5 6. To create educational awareness among the masses regarding the need and importance of soil & water Conservation by way of organising camps, meetings, symposiums, seminars, tours as well as provide technical know-how. HOW WE DO: Identify the problematic areas for the improvement soil & water conservation by way of conducting survey, interaction and meeting with the people. Prepares the schemes/micro-plans and take up the works under State Plan, Finance Commission Award, BADP, TSP and special schemes. WHAT WE EXPECT FROM PEOPLE: Mainly people of all walks of life especially dealing with agriculture, construction, mining and infrastructural activities should understand that soil is the main constituent of life supporting system and wealth of the nation, so they should take appropriate measures for its judicious use and restoration in case of damages and degradation. Secondly, the people should come forward for providing timely information of such areas, which are under severe erosion and assist the Department in the preparation of the schemes and their implementation thereof. Thirdly, the people should understand the scarcity of water and the problems to be faced by everybody in near future, so that the job of water conservation becomes easier. HOW CAN PEOPLE APPROACH US: People can approach the Department and its functionaries through; Contacting the Field Functionaries of the Department i.e. Zonal Soil Cons. Officer and Soil Conservation Guard which are functioning all over the state. Contacting Divisional Soil Conservation Officers who are based at District Hqr. Meeting Joint Directors and Director or communicating through telephone or . The official address, telephone, details are given at Departmental website

6 6 TIMEFRAME FOR PROCESSING VARIOUS PROPOSALS: The appropriate time is the beginning of the financial year when plans and proposal are finalized. However, the demands can be sent at any time which would be scrutinized and taken up whenever the funds are available. The follow up of action would be intimated to the applicant regarding selection/rejection of applications on following specified time frame; Investigation and survey within 1½ month after receipt of application. Finalization of report by higher authorities within 1 month and intimate the applicant accordingly. The time frame for completion of soil & Water Conservation works:- The proposed time frame for completion of work would start after issuance of technical sanction and administrative sanction and depending upon quantum of work. S. No. Name of work Proposed time frame for completion. 1 Fencing 2 months after receipt of material. 2 Afforestation Planting season (Monsoon & winter). 3 Minor Engineering works: Dry Rubble Stone Masonry (DRSM) 2 months. Crate work 2 months after receipt of material. Nallah Training 1-2 months. Check dam/ check wall. 1-2 months. 4 Construction of water harvesting structures: Small size (pond) days. Medium size 5 Construction of irrigation drains for treatment of water logged areas / for safe disposal of runoff from upper catchments days. 1-2 months. 6 Gunny bag embankments. 1-2 months 7 Brush wood check dam days. 8 Inspection path days. 10 Contour bunding, bench terracing. 1-2 months. 11 Fire lines 1-2 months. 12 Nursery operations. Seasonal work (1month)

7 7 TIMEFRAME FOR DISPOSAL OF COMPLAINTS: Complaints will be acknowledged within 7 working days of receipt of the complaint& forwarded to concerned quarter. Investigation of the complaints will ordinarily be made within 1-2 months from the date of acknowledgement of the complaints, depending upon the quantum of issues involved. Visitors will be treated with courtesy and heard patiently. Efforts would be made to find an early solution to their problem. WHOM TO CONTACT: 1 (Nodal Officer) Joint Director, Central May to Oct.: Haft Chinar, behind Sher-Garhi Police Station, Srinagar, J&K Nov. to April : Behind Forest Information Centre, Bikram Chowk, Jammu, J&K address Tel &Fax Nos jdsoilcentral@jkdosc.com ^^^^^^^^^