The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has approved the diversion of 1.80 hectares of forest land in the Sultilla area of Nurpur for constructing the proposed building of the local Arya Government Degree College.

The state Higher Education Department recently released Rs 17.11 lakh to the Union Environment and Forest Ministry against the net asset value of the forest land. Apart from this, the department has also released Rs 1,18,987 to the state Forest Department as the cost of compensatory afforestation.