Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari today directed the officers to take necessary measures to make approved Fruit Mandies in the state functional at the earliest.For this, the Minister directed the concerned to expedite allotment of slots/shops to traders/growers, take legal action against those breaching the terms and conditions of the lease besides initiating strict action against unscrupulous people/activities in accordance with the Agriculture Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act 1997 and the rules framed there under.The Minister said this during a meeting convened to review the progress of Horticulture Sector in district Rajouri besides taking up the issue regarding shifting of Fruit Mandi at Rajouri.Minister for Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali and Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Abdul Ghani Kohli were also present in the meeting.During the meeting, the Ministers took detailed review of the progress made in the district Rajouri with regards to Horticulture sector and measures, initiatives launched by the department to facilitate growers.Bukhari taking note of the progress directed district officers of the department to keep local representatives, MLAs in loop while implementation of various schemes besides making plans for the district in consultation with these representatives.
‘MLAs are familiar with the ground realities of their areas and by taking them onboard, the efforts of the department can be channelized in right direction to attain maximum output’ the Minister asserted.He also directed the concerned officers to regularly review the progress made on ground, besides taking measures to fill in the awareness gaps in the state.Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali addressing the officers of the department, commented that though there are works being done in the sector in the region, the impact of these works is not highly visible on ground. He suggested for a comprehensive plan for Pir-Panchal region to tap the healthy potential for fruit production in the region. He said that under the plan cluster wise integrated development should be initiated for targeted departmental interventions.Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Abdul Ghani Kohli raising the concerns pertaining to his constituency demanded for enhanced measures to facilitate growth of Horticulture in the area.He said that his constituency holds healthy scope for growing a range of fruits including pecan nut, walnut among others and asked the department to undertake awareness creation efforts to educated people about the various state and centrally sponsored schemes available to them.Secretary Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Director Horticulture Jammu Anuradha Gupta, Director Horticulture Kashmir Mohammad Hussain Mir, Director Horticulture Planning & Marketing Manzoor Ahmad Qadiri, ADDC Rajouri, Joint Director Horticulture Jammu, Joint Director P&M besides concerned CHOs, DDs and DHOs were present in the meeting.