Principal Secretary Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Department, Dr Asghar Hassan Samoon, today chaired a meeting here to review progress of the mega projects for special funding in livestock sector.The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Budgam Tariq Hussain Ganie, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Showket Aijaz Bhat, Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir Purnima Mittal, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir Dr Abdul Salam Mir, ADC Bandipora Zahoor Ahmed Mir, other officers of Revenue, Tourism, Fisheries, Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Departments.The meeting was also attended by Director Animal Husbandry Jammu Dr Tahir Beigh and other concerned officials via videoconferencing.During the meeting, Dr Samoon highlighted the potential of the livestock sector in transforming the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and providing employment avenues for youth.Dr Samoon sought status of transfer of 579 kanals and 400 kanals of state land at Hajin and Kulgam respectively for mega dairy development project at a cost of Rs 312 crore. He said that with the commencement of these projects, economic profile of these areas will receive a major fillip.
Stating that infrastructure build-up is important for giving necessary impetus to the livestock sector, he asked the officers to pace up work on building polyclinics in different areas.Dr Samoon also sought status of transfer of 100 kanals of wet land at Budgam for Duck Farm which will come up at a cost of Rs 16 crore besides transfer of 100 kanals of state land for Wool Park at a cost of Rs 173 crore.He also asked the Deputy Commissioners and concerned district officers of sheep and animal husbandry to finalise the beneficiary list under various schemes.With regards to the fisheries sector, Dr Samoon asked the officers to expedite the process of acquisition of land at Chandpora, Harwan for setting up a mega aquarium there. He said that it will be an added attraction in the tourism map of J&K which will contribute to state exchequer in a big way.During the meeting, Dr Samoon also sought status of transfer of land for center of excellence at Kokernag which would come at a cost of Rs 303 crore besides fixing modalities for establishing brown trout conservation villages.