Srinagar, Jan. 6 -- Jammu and Kashmir government has installed thousands of geo-tagged boundary pillars in foreststo curb encroachment.

Geographical tagging is the process of adding geographical identification data to any fixed object. This data consists of latitude and longitude coordinates. The coordinates could then be used to identify the geotagged item and monitor them through satellites.

Jammu and Kashmir has a total forest area of 20230 sq km (20.23 lakh hectares). Out of which, Kashmir region has 50.97 percent and Jammu has 45.89 percent.

In 2010, the process of geo-tagging boundary pillars in the forest areas was initiated by the central government which stressed "re-greening forests"

Data shows that 34,077 in-situ pillars ha...