The Centre has approved a special package of Rs 100 crore for the restoration of the degraded catchments of the Jhelum and Chenab basins in Jammu and Kashmir. The project will last five years. According to Mr Mohiuddin Sofi, Minister for Forests and Environment, of this a sum of Rs 19 crore would be utilised during the current year. This would help portect the degraded areas of the two important basins.He said the Centre had released Rs 12 crore for the afforestation of 5,985 hectares.