KT NEWS SERVICE SAMBA, Aug 26: District Development Commissioner Samba, Saurabh Bhagat today reviewed the progress of development in forest, social forestry and soil conservation sector in a meeting of the officers of the departments. It was disclosed that effective steps needs to be taken to protect the forest wealth spread over an area of over 22 thousand hectares in the district, out of which more than 5000 hectares area has been denudated due to deforestation, illegal felling and turned into barren land. First priority would be to take up a forestation of suitable species under "Rehabilitation of degraded forest". While reviewing the programme under Soil Conservation Sector, it was disclosed that an amount of Rs. 7.00 lakh would be utilized during the current year for taking up various soil treatment measures. The community land at Sumbli in block Purmandal and Sandhi in block Ghagwal shall be taken up for treatment with fencing of 4300 rft and plantation of over 20000 plants and laying of crate works and construction of one meter wide on km inspection path and DRSM works including check dams measuring 283 cubic meters. Besides, 80000 ploy raised plants shall be produced and distributed from Birpur and Sadhyal nurseries in addition to maintenance of existing plants numbering 80400. It was reported that by taking up different soil conservation measures, 41 hectares area would be prevented from soil erosion. While concluding the DDC exhorted upon the DFOs to maintain transparency in working, forest protection needs to be monitored very closely so that no further devastation of green forest cover takes place. All required steps towards gap filling and rehabilitation of degraded forest be taken up as per the approved programme.