The Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer LAHDC Kargil, Vikas Kundal today convened a meeting with the officers of District administration regarding conservation and multiplication of medicinal plants, promotion of eco-tourism and dissemination of knowledge regarding medicinal plants among the students and general public.The meeting was attended by the Director General, Indian System of Medicines, Chief Medical Officer Kargil, Chief Horticulture Officer, Deputy Director, Command Area Development, Chief Agriculture Officer, Divisional Forest Officer and other concerned officers.The Chief Medical Officer Kargil and Divisional Forest Officer in coordination with Chief Medical Officer were asked to identify schools for establishing school herbal gardens were students will learn about the value of these plants.The Deputy Commissioner also stressed upon development of new agro techniques for better and speedy multiplication of medicinal plants so that large number of good quality plants can be multiplied here at Kargil and more area can brought under cultivation.
The DC along with the DG ISM directed the Chief Horticulture Officer to identify 20 kanal of Government land in any horticulture or forest nursery were the medicinal plants nursery can be established under the strict supervision of ISM experts. He has been also directed to identify interested farmers who are willing to cultivate these plants in their fields and DG ISM assured that this produce will be properly marketed with the help of Horticulture, Planning and Marketing Department to ensure good returns. For the promotion of tourism, the promotion of panchkarma is to be taken up with the help of Chief Medical Officer and Divisional Forest Officer.ISM experts will impart training to the interested candidates. To totally curb the illegal extraction and transportation of banned forest produce, the DFO has been asked to gear up works regarding making proper estimates about such losses and their management. Chief Agriculture Officer and Deputy Director Command Area Development were also present in the meeting and were issued directions regarding cooperation with allied departments for successful implementation of this programme.Addressing the meeting, the DC said that the basic objective of this programme is to promote medical systems through cost effective AYUSH series, strengthening of education systems, promotion of tourism and conservation of existing medicinal plants. He stressed upon the departments to cooperate and make proper plans as per the ISM guide lines.