Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today paid surprise visit to the Rake Point at Udhampur Railway Station to take stock of availability of fertilizers including urea, DAP and MOP which is dumped at the site for further transportation to the Valley and other parts of the State.MLA Udhampur Pawan Gupta, Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department, Pramod Kumar Jain, District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Niraj Kumar and Director Agriculture Jammu, M K Malhotra accompanied the Minister during his visit.During the Minister’s visit, it was informed that available quantity of fertilizers will be transported to the valley and other areas within next 10 days. The Minister directed the concerned to increase the number of vehicles so as to transport fertilizers on priority. He also directed them that rain affected fertilizers should in no case be transported to any area should be separated by the Enforcement Wing of the Agriculture department at the site itself.The Minister expressed dismay over the way fertilizers are dumped at the Rake Point and instructed the concerned that the fertilizers should be properly covered and necessary arrangements should be made to dump it properly. He also directed the District Development Commissioner, Udhampur to personally monitor transportation process.
He also asked the Enforcement Wing to give daily report of fertilizers being sent to the valley and Pir Panchal area.It was also informed that 35000 MTs of fertilizers have been received so far out of which 33000 MTs have been dispatched.MLA Udhampur Pawan Gupta apprised the Minister about the scope of agriculture and its allied sectors in the area. He also stressed for starting developmental works sanctioned under Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in the district.While responding to the demands of the legislator, the Minister assured him that due consideration will be given to mitigate the issues at an earliest.The Minister issued directions to the officers of Sericulture Department to formulate a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the establishment of Silk Unit at Udhampur and submit the same to the Administrative Department immediately so that the same be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Textile for accord of approval.Mr Hanjura was informed that Udhampur district has registered 1.68 lakh kgs of Cocoon production during the current fiscal. The Minister stressed for establishing Self Help Groups in the district for better results.