Cautioning the authorities of Gardens Parks and Floriculture Department (GP&F), the Minister for Gardens Parks & Floriculture, R&B department, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari elucidated upon them to take corrective measures for improving the working of the department and also evolve a system for generating more income for the department. He asked them to take required steps for bringing perceptible change in their work culture besides ensuring running of the department on professional lines. He directed officers of the department to change their mind-set by way of creating entrepreneurial sprint among themselves in order to make the department a profitable venture.
“Time has come for re-organizing the department” said the Minister and asked concerned officer to start process for this so that non-performing units are rejuvenated in the best interest of the department. He said the services of professionals will also be sought for this purpose, adding that non-performers will either have to improve their performance or face action.
This was stated by the Minister while reviewing the functioning of the department at an officers meeting held here last night.Among others, Special Secretary, GP&F, Directors GP&F, Kashmir. Sunil Mishri, Director, GP&F, Jammu, K K Sharma, Joint Director Kashmir and other district level heads of both the divisions were present in the meeting.
The Minister said that time has come when everyone working in the department has to change their approach and asked the heads of both the divisions to rationalize the available manpower for cater departmental needs besides improving the functioning of the department. He said need is to equip the base line functionaries of the department with changing innovative techniques and asked the authorities to reassess the working of Mali Training School in order to make it major training centre in the State. He said demand of Gardeners is increasing in the market and underlined need for bringing more people under the ambit of this programme.
Astonishing over the purchasing seedlings from market by the department, the minister instructed both the divisional heads to avoid this practice and ensure that new departmental nurseries are established at all district levels besides upgrading existing ones early. Asking for introducing hybrid variety of plants, he said this practice on one hand will cater the departmental requirements and on other hand generate income by putting extra seedlings on sale at departmental sale outlets.Expressing concern over the poor mortality rate of tulip seedlings being imported by the department, Altaf Bukhari directed authorities to take necessary steps for checking this loss. Instructing for judicious utilization of available mechanical inputs of the department, the Minister asked the authorities tosee how these equipment will be helpful in improve the financial health of the organization.
“Department is not a charity organization to provide free service to everyone” said the minister and directed authorities of the department to evolve a system for collecting charges from the departments as well as individuals for up-keeping of these public facilities. He asked the officers to remove all encroachments wherever it has been made.While giving details of achievements, Director, GP&F, Kashmir informed that Rs 6531.25 lakh have been earmarked for 60 works in the division against which Rs 780 lakh have been incurred so far. He said 20 works have been completed while work is going on remaining projects and are at different stages of completion. He said 34 new works costing Rs 9419.27 lakh have also been proposed in the division while the department has generated Rs. 4.34 crore during 2014-15.The meeting was told that Rs. 577.35 lakh have been expended during 2014-15 against Rs.771 lakhs earmarked for 57 projects in Jammu division out of which 9 projects stand completed so far while work is apace on rest of the projects. Apart from proposing 55 new projects costing Rs 3063 lakhs, the department has generated about Rs 1.19 crore during last two fiscals, the meeting was informed.