Efforts intensified for faster development
of livestock in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 28: For rapid development of livestock industry, which sustains the rural economy, as many as 11 centrally sponsored schemes are currently under operation in the Kashmir Valley. Over Rs. 19.14 crore are proposed to be expended on these schemes during the current fiscal year.

These schemes include integrated dairy development programme, extension of frozen semen technology, development of feed and fodder, extension of animal husbandry programme, eradication of rinderpest, integrated sample survey of major livestock products and systematic control of livestock disease of national importance.

Against the current year’s allocation of Rs. 19.14 crore a sizeable amount of Rs. 5.31 crore has been earmarked for extension of frozen semen technology, Rs. 4.53 crore for eradication of Rinderpest, Rs. 3.49 crore for integrated dairy development project, Rs. 2.32 crore for extension programme and Rs. 1.56 crore for development of feed and fodder in Kashmir valley.

The Animal Husbandry Department has taken in hand a project namely integrated dairy development at a cost of Rs. 6.08 crore in 2000. By March last, Rs. 2.59 crore have been expended on it, while the remaining amount of Rs. 3.49 crore is likely to be expended on it during the current year.

Similarly, on the semen technology programme, incurring a cost of Rs. 5.52 crore, nearly Rs. 21.50 lakh have been incurred on it by March last. Under this programme, a liquid nitrogen plant has been commissioned at Kargil during November last thereby bringing the desert and frontier district of Kargil within the ambit of frozen semen technology, for the first time. In addition, a 10 litre per hour capacity plant is being installed shortly at Handwara. The orders for purchasing the plant have already been placed with M/s Philips India, New Delhi. The plant is being imported by the firm from Netherlands. A similar plant is also planned to be installed at Pulwama this year.

There are six liquid nitrogen plants in the valley at present while include one each at Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla and Kargil and two at Srinagar. In addition to these liquid nitrogen plants and one frozen semen laboratory at Srinagar, there are 75 frozen semen centres while another 556 veterinary institutions have also been provided with frozen semen facility. Of these 556 institutions, 108 are in Anantnag, 104 in Pulwama, 88 in Srinagar, 82 in Budgam, 110 in Baramulla and 64 in Kupwara.

The Animal Husbandry Department is running 984 veterinary institutions in the valley. These include one central veterinary hospital, 7 district hospitals, 14 tehsil units, 2 veterinary hospitals, 125 veterinary dispensaries, 59 first aid centres, 20 Gujjar and Bakarwal centres, 11 mobile centres, 112 livestock development centres, 10 clinical laboratories,328 intensive cattle development centes and 99 trial centres.

Under the cattle development programme, the department conducted 1.445 lac artificial inseminations and 0.432 lac castrations during last year. During the same period the births recorded were as high as 0.528 lacs. Similarly, under the disease investigation programme, 10.80 lac vaccinations were administered to cattle and 36.29 lac to poultry birds. Over 10 lac animals were also treated under various contagious and non-contagious diseases, besides 5.13 lac dozings were given against various diseases including lever fluke.

The Institute of Animal Health and Biological Products, Zakura produced 14.361 lac vaccines against the target of producing 12.12 lac vaccines. These include 2.17 lac H.5 vaccine, 2.30 lac B.Q vaccine, 2.98 lac FDC vaccine, 0.415 lac Anthrax, 5.42 lac R2B vaccines and 1.62 lac FI vaccine during the last year.

Rs. 600 cr rural road upgradation programme on anvil

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 28: The R&B Department, Kashmir has submitted 380 projects to NABARD for availing Rs. 600 crore loan to take up massive upgradation of rural roads for providing connectivity to the far-flung areas in the Valley.

The projects formulated and submitted by R&B Kashmir to NABARD include 60 in Srinagar costing Rs. 55 crore, 111 in Budgam involving Rs. 102 crore and 55 in Baramulla estimated to cost Rs. 162 crore. Similarly, 89 projects costing Rs. 116 crore are for Kupwara, 45 for Anantnag with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 135 crore and 20 in Pulwama costing Rs. 61 crore. Of these, NABARD has so far sanctioned 157 projects involving Rs. 190 crore. These include 24 in Srinagar costing Rs. 20 crore, 41 in Budgam for Rs.45 crore, 26 in Baramulla worth Rs. 33 crore, 22 in Kupwara with a projected expenditure of Rs. 27 crore, 31 in Anantnag with estimated expenditure of Rs. 42 crore and 13 in Pulwama costing Rs. 22 crore.

Of these, 15 schemes have already been completed providing an upgraded road length of 256 kilometers for the people of rural areas. An amount of Rs. 51.31 crore has been spent on 157 sanctioned road upgradation schemes upto last financial year.

Under the NABARD programme road length of 33.50 kilometers was macadamized in Srinagar during last financial year, 3.72 kilometers were brought under bituminous cover, 103 kilometers metaled, 2.75 kilometers shingled and 2.30 kilometers made fare weather. Similarly, in Budgam 38 kilometers were macadamized, 35 kilometers brought under bituminous ciover, 178 kilometer metaled, 0.50 kilometer shingled and one kilometer road was made fare weather. In Baramulla 30 kilimeter were brought under bituminous cover, 97 kilometer metaled, six kilometer shingled and four kilometer made fare weather. In Kupwara 11 kilometer roads have been brought under bituminous cover, 48 kilometer metaled, 8 kilometer shingled and 1.50 kilometer made fare weather. In Anantnag 12 kilometer roads were macadamized, 16 kilometer brought under bituminous cover, 102 kilometer metaled, six kilometer shingled and another six kilometer made fare weather. In Pulwama 0.30 kilometer road length was brought under bituminous cover, 39 kilometer metale, four kilometer shingled and 2.06 kilometer made fare weather.

On the instruction of the Works Minister, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar the procedure for according administrative and technical approval to the NABARD schemes has been simplified so that more schemes are sanctioned within lesser time.

Rs. 4.2 cr increase in annual draft plan for Leh

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 28: The annual plan for Leh district for the current year has been formulated with an outlay of Rs.42 crore. The Capital component will include Rs.27 crore while Rs.15 crore will be the Revenue component.

The plan has been made by enhancing 10 percent the outlay for annual plan 1999-2000. For ongoing works, Rs.20.82 crore will be spent while Rs.1.8 crore will be utilized for most emergent nature of works. Besides, raw material and drugs will include Rs.1.6 crore, Rs.1.5 crore for subsidy/incentives and Rs.78.25 lakh will be spent on machinery and equipment.

To provide better education facilities, Rs.7.8 crore will be spent on education sector. With a purpose to promote secondary education in Leh , a provision of Rs. 4 crore has been kept in the plan. While Rs. 2.3 crore will be utilized on General Education. Other education programmes like provision of equipments for schools and residential hostel for centralized P/S will include Rs. 23.8 lakh.

Roads and bridges in Leh will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 6.2 crore. The existing road length of different specifications will be increased by 67.80 kms. Besides, 96 schemes in R&B sector including 3 new schemes have also been planned in the draft plan 2001-02.

An amount of Rs. 4.6 crore will be spent on Health sector to provide better healthcare facilities. The Health institution buildings including SDH building at Diskit, Nyoma and Khaltsi would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.7 crore. Besides Rs. 1.8 crore will be utilized on the important flood restoration works.

An area of 16 hectares will be brought under horticulture plantation at a cost of Rs. 48 lakh. To bring more area under commercial fruit plantation, the indigenous quality of fruit plants will be improved by way of top working.

Corporation sector will include Rs. 27.02 lakh with Rs. 20.5 lakh as capital component and Rs. 6.45 as revenue component. Besides the consumer goods worth Rs. 5 crore has been planned for 2001-02. Also 6500 qtls. of chemical fertilizers will be arranged for sale through cooperative institutions.

Agriculture is the main activity with 50% of the main workers engaged in cultivation. An amount of Rs. 78 lakh has been earmarked for agriculture sector in Leh. Food grains production target for wheat, grain, pulses, oil seeds and vegetables have been planned at 3700 Mts., 6700 Mts., 240 Mts., 200 Mts, 8700 Mts respectively.

Besides 15 foot spray pumps and 600 seed bins will be distributed on 50% subsidy to the farmers. Under farm mechanization 40 threshers, 25 Irrigation pump sets and 200 improved agriculture implement kits would also be distributed. While under floriculture scheme 20,010 Annuals and 500 prenials will be distributed.

An amount of Rs. 1.7 crore will be provided to Sheep Husbandry while Rs. 57.68 lakh for Animal Husbandry for implementation of various cattle development programmes. The priority will be given to production of milk, mutton and pashmina wool. For the departmental farms, a target of 50,000 litres milk production has been kept in the plan. Besides, a few projects have also been sent to the Central Wool Board for financial assistance.

Under forest sector Rs. 80.67 lakh have been earmarked for acting the plantation target of 90,000 trees including 50,000 under community and institutional plantation.

With a view to boost the irrigation potential in Leh, Rs. 1.8 crore will be utilized on medium irrigation while Rs. 1.3 crore on minor irrigation.

Under the said plan, Rs. 2.8 crore will be spent on PHE sector. During the current year 60 hand pumps will be installed besides expediting the pace of ongoing water supply schemes including augmentation of WSS Leh town.

Leh being one of the world famous tourist destinations needs to be developed on priority bases. Keeping in view this fact an outlay of Rs. 7.80 lakh has been kept in the plan. While Rs. 92.06 lakh will be provided to power sector in Leh.

An amount of Rs. 1.04 crore has been kept in the plan for Community Development. In order to enhance public utility works in rural areas an outlay of Rs. 60 lakh will be provided.

To meet the demand of the ruralties, Rs. 1.89 crore will be provided through various schemes meant for the upliftment of the poor of far-flung areas. These include C.A.D, D.I.C, S.G.S.Y, J. G. S. Y. S., I. C. D. S and E.A.S. schemes. Besides, Rs. 2.4 crore will be spent under C.C.D.F and water shed development schemes.

Delegation from Sopore calls on Vakil

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 28: A delegation of social and political activists led by Mr. Abdul Khaliq from Sagipora called on the Speaker, Mr. Abdul Ahad Vakil in his office chambers here today.

The delegation informed Mr. Vakil that Lift Irrigation Scheme at Sagipora for an amount of Rs. 20 lakhs has been earmarked by the Irrigation Department be immediately modernized as the villages of Sagipora, Tujer, Harwan and Zaloora are at the tail end of Zainagir canals and do not get sufficient water for agricultural purposes. The Speaker and the Works Minister, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar directed the concerned Chief Engineer to execute the work on this Lift Irrigation expeditiously. The Chief Engineer assured the Speaker that work the scheme will be taken up in the first week of June so that irrigation water to the area is ensured during the coming agriculture season. One more pump at Baghe Chetkak will be installed shortly, the meeting was informed.

A delegation of Fruit Mandi, Sopore comprising of Mr. Bashir Ahmed, Ghulam Rasool Waghey, Mohammad Ashraf Ganai and Ghulam Rasool also called on the Speaker. They told him that 60% of the total fruit is produced and exported in different markets of India and more than 3 crore boxes of fruit are exported annually which yield about Rs. 700 crore for the districts. An amount of Rs. 40 crore is being paid to the State Exchequer by way of taxes from this industry.

The delegation impressed upon the Speaker that immediate steps be taken to save this industry from extinction and pleaded for providing of immediate relief measure. They expressed thanks to the State Agriculture, Speaker and others for reducing the cost of plots in Sopore Mandi by 50% and reducing of the ground rent satisfactorily.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah has promised that the industry will be given due consideration and all back up measures will be contemplated in consultation with the representatives of fruit growers, dealers and experts shortly.

VC releases book termed "The Jhelum Factor"

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, May 28: A new factor has been added to the history of Kashmir, the oldest recorded of the world, with the publication of a book on the principal river of the Valley, the Jhelum, Termed as "The Jhelum Factor", it has, interestingly, been invoked by a person who is not a historian by profession or trainings.

Amid daily stories of violence, bloodshed and human rights violations coming out of the Himalayan province, author and poet, Khalid Bashir Ahmad has come out with a book, Jhelum: The River Through My Backyard, that a different et concerning everybody in the Valley. It deals with a important aspect of Kashmir’s identity but in a different sense than politics. It is a treaties on the Jhelum that interweaves the history of the Valley around it.

The book was released here by the Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, Prof. Abdul Wahid, before an impressive academic and literary gathering.

"It (the book) has invoked a new factor, the Jhelum Factor of Kashmir history", said Professor Muhammad Ashraf, head of the history department, Kashmir University (KU), while speaking at the function organized to release the book. Ashraf considers the work as" a genuine historical account" reminiscent of one of the greatest histories of recent times, ‘Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World,’ written by a French historian, Ferdenenand Brothier like whom, he said, the author has looked at the geological past of the Valley, its physical history, ecology. Belief system, mythology, social stratification, folklore, economy, literature and polity, making the Jhelum the fulcrum round which the history of Kashmir revolves.

A research work of six years, the book establishes reciprocal linkages between the Jhelum and the total environment of Kashmir. It is based on a wide range of sources, both conventional and non-conventional, and helps in understanding of why and how of what happened in the past in Kashmir.

In his presidential address,Prof. G. R. Malik, Head of the English Department, KU, lamenting on the present status of the Jhelum, said the ancient Kashmiris regarded all rivers as goddesss.He invoked both Hindu mythology and Islam to show the position of importance water had been accorded by different faiths and the "contamination of human attitude" towards Nature resulting in, what he called, Nature turning back on human civilization. He said Khalid Bashir Ahmad’s book "vreates a sense of reverence for the Jhelum and makes one fall in love with the river". He said he had read the book as a student of literature and regarded it as" a very successful and illuminating poem".

Interestingly the book is the first ever work on the Jhelum written by an author whose basic forte is Urdu verse. He has earlier written an award winning collection of verses,Sada-e-Neem Shab (The Midnight Call).

Khalid said the motivating force for him to write the book was to look at the river "beyond what had been shown from centuries through the lenses of mythology".

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