SRINAGAR, Oct  25: The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) headed by Chief Secretary, B R Sharma Tuesday in its 95th meeting here discussed and cleared several proposals for allowing use of forest land for various development projects including roads, railway tunnel, Samba- Amargarh 400 KV transmission line, filtration plant at Batote and others.

Chief Secretary asked the Forest department to ensure that all requisite mitigation measures are undertaken against any likely negative impact of development projects in the forest areas.

Directions on minimum felling of trees and undertaking compensatory afforestation in lieu of diversion of forest land were reiterated in the meeting.