Horticulture, Tourism Govt’s thrust areas: Veeri

TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/27/2017 9:07:43 PM Jammu and Kashmir

Rs 88.92 cr annual plan approved for Shopian

SHOPIAN FEBRUARY 27: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Monday said that prioritized focus is being given on boosting horticulture and tourism sectors in the State and measures are afoot to improve economy of Shopian district by focused funding of projects under these sectors.
The Minister made these remarks while chairing the District Development Board meeting of Shopian here today during which he took a detailed review of ongoing development projects in the district. The meeting unanimously approved the annual plan 2017-18 of Rs 88.92 crore for Shopian.
Member Parliament Nazir Ahmad Laway, Legislators: Advocate Muhammad Yousuf Bhat, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, Showkat Hussain Ganie and Vice President for Gujjar Bakerwal Development Board Chowdhary Zaffar Iqbal were also present in the meeting.
The meeting was briefed by District Development Commissioner Manzoor Ahmad Qadri about progress made under annual plan 2016-17. He said that an amount of Rs 40.26 crore were spend against the availability of Rs. 50 crore on various development projects which include two main bridges at Vishroo and Rebbon, construction of 348 houses under PMAY and 1465 works of tangible nature.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said Shopian will continue to receive focused attention of the present dispensation in the field of development and social security. He said the horticulture, tourism and other important sectors upon which the economy of the district as well as of the State depends would be prioritized for focused funding and development.
Emphasizing on increasing green cover in the district, he directed the official of Forest Department to identify land for afforestation and reforestation under CAMPA scheme so that the ecology and environment of the district can be conserved.
The meeting also discussed shortfall of staff in the district hospital Shopian, sub-district hospitals and PHCs in the district. The Director Health Services Kashmir was impressed to meet out the shortfall of staff. Officers of JKPCC were asked to complete the roofing of new hospital building in Shopian by June 2017.
The meeting was apprised that there are 57 veterinary centers in the district which caters to 232 villages. The Minister directed the concerned to conduct a detailed survey so that new veterinary centers can be created.
While reviewing the horticulture sector, it was decided that Horticulture Department in collaboration with Planning & Marketing Department would assess the need of coldstorage so that a cold storage plant can be established in the district in public private partnership.
Veeri also directed the concerned officers to carry out awareness among masses to take up the facility of cold storage so that they get effective prices for their fruit crops. He further added that people should be motivated to take up high density fruit plants for better production.
He directed the DDC to personally monitor ongoing development projects in the district and take measures for removal of bottlenecks, if any, for timely completion of the projects. He called upon the
officers to work with added zeal and enthusiasm to serve the people.
On the occasion, the legislators raised issues of their respective constituencies pertaining to basic services like power supply, education and health infrastructure, strengthening of PHE distribution network and promotion of horticulture and tourism sector.
DDC Shopian, Director School Education Kashmir, Director FCS&CA, Director Area Planning, Chief Engineers of different Engineering wings and other District and Sectoral officers attended the meeting.


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