Jammu Tawi, Feb. 27 -- To straighten out the issue of conservation, protection, and regeneration of forests in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the government on Friday emphasised the use of drones and mobile apps for real-time forest surveillance.

Chairing the 19th meeting of the steering committee of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam stressed the use of IT tools in the preparation of thematic digital maps like GIS, GPS, ICT equipment, and use of drones and mobile apps.

"These interventions can potentially increase the qualitative output of the department"s efforts towards forest conservation, protection, and regeneration," he added.

He also informed abou...