Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today called for formulating an action plan to prevent land erosion in vulnerable areas of Chrar-e-Sharief Constituency.Chairing an officers’ meeting here today to review the progress of works in Chrar-e-Sharief constituency, the Minister directed the offices of Geology and Mining and Soil Conservation Departments to depute a team of experts and officers to Laden Nowgam, Watkulo, Chontinar, Chradipora, Hapathnar, Brinjan, Kanikote, Nilnag, Surisyar, Branwar and Neeru Jabad areas and conduct survey with regard to status of land of these areas and suggest views for immediate protective measures for land erosion and rehabilitation of affected families. He asked them to prepare a comprehensive report in this regard and submit the same to the concerned quarters within fortnight so that action plan will be formulated in consultation with other departments like Fire & Emergency, Revenue, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, R&B, RDD and Forest Departments.The Minister said construction of flood protection bunds on Apzari Nallah and Tulabrang Nallah in Chrar-e-Sharief constituency would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 60 lakh. He said construction work of protection bund at Lolipora on Apzari Nallah is already apace.The meeting was informed that Rs 4 crore have been utilized on Doodhganga Nallah project on different works.District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Mir Altaf Ahmed, Director Geology and Mining, Farooq Ahmed Khan, Assistant Commissioner Development, Budgam, Dr Zahoor Ahmed and other senior officers of Soil Conservation, R&B, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments were present in the meeting.
While reviewing the R&B sector, the Minister directed the concerned to take up the construction and upgradation work of Hapathnar and Branwar-Neegu Jabad roads on priority.While taking stock of Rural Development Works, the Minister announced release of Rs 12 lakh out of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in favor of Rural Development Department for taking up of different works in Chrar-e-Sharief Constituency. It was informed in the meeting that an amount of Rs 28 lakh would also be met out of NREGA.Mr. Hanjura asked the concerned to submit a detailed report about the works done under convergence programme.Addressing the meeting, the Minister directed the officers to speed up pace of work on all ongoing developmental works and complete them in a stipulated time frame. He also asked them for judicious use of funds and standard material.