JAMMU, APRIL 18: Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari today reviewed the status of progress made by the committee constituted for inspecting the sites identified for providing and developing irrigation facilities on community basis in orchid areas falling in Karewas of Kashmir division. The meeting was convened here at Kissan Ghar, Narwal Mandi, Jammu.
The Minister also took stock of the implementation of directions passed in earlier meetings and sought detailed report of the progress achieved by the committee and recommendations being made thereof.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Horticulture, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Director Horticulture, Jammu, Anuradha Gupta, Director Horticulture, Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, Additional Secretary Horticulture, Dr Subhash Chander, Deputy Director Horticulture, Mohammad Yousuf Dar besides committee members along with concerned officers of Horticulture department, PHE, I&FC and other departments.
Underlining the importance of enhancing the productivity and revamping horticulture sector of the state, the Minister emphasized on providing better and sustainable irrigation facilities for horticulture and asked the concerned officers to take innovative initiatives on modern scientific lines for exploring possibilities to improve irrigation facilities for horticulture growers on community basis through community ponds, tanks, bore wells and tube wells.
“It is imperative to adopt modern irrigation methods as the traditional tube wells and bore wells used for irrigation in the orchids are falling short of fulfilling the purpose”, he maintained.
The committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Director Central, Horticulture Kashmir which includes AEE Ground water, AEE Science and Technology department, AEE Civil and the concerned Chief Horticulture officers as its members submitted a detailed report of their recommendations.
The Minister asked the concerned officers to go for the exploration for possibility of water from bore wells and other irrigation sources and explore four areas – Shangus and Kokernag from the South and Kharchak and Bandipora from the North that has been identified for developing irrigation facilities.
Basharat Bukhari directed the officers to identify more areas where irrigation facilities are needed to be taken on community basis for assured supply.
Stressing on optimal utilization of resources and funds, the Minister called for clubbing different components to benefit the public at large. He directed the senior functionaries to personally monitor the status of work on the schemes in the districts. The Minister also directed the officers of the department to reach out the public and make them aware about the schemes in horticultures sector, so that maximum benefits can be availed by them.
Basharat Bukhari asked the officers to prepare DPRs as per requirements and availability of resources and different characterization of both regions and requirements of hectors per season shall also be considered. He passed directions for phase wise installation of bore wells.
The Minister said that the committee shall be extended as per requirements and the similar committee to be constituted for Jammu as well.
Several issues pertaining to availability of land, utilization of funds, topography, channelization of water, finding source of water & lifting of water for community ponds, timely irrigation, quantum of water supply required, spots identified in Jammu for community ponds and many alike were discussed during the meeting.
