Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 7: The Central team from Union Ministry of Health and Medical Education has inspected two sites for J&K’s Ist National Institute of Medicinal Plants project being set up at Bhaderwah in district Doda of Jammu region.
The work on Rs 100 crore prestigious project for setting up of first ever National Institute of Medicinal Plants (NIMP) in J&K State by the Union Health Ministry is presently moving on snails pace, despite the fact that the project was approved about two years ago by the former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
With the sole motive to tap the huge potential of medicinal plants in this Himalayan State, perhaps for the first time the Union Health Ministry realized to set up an institute of national repute at Bhaderwah in district Doda of Jammu region but due to indifferent attitude of the State Government and reluctance on the part of the Union Health Ministry to release funds, the project still hangs in balance.
Sources in the Health department told the Excelsior that the project which was approved by the then Union Health Minister during UPA regime and sanctioned by the Health department as a part of Central Sector Scheme of ‘Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants,’ under 12th Plan, earlier faced rough weather due to lackadaisical stance of Kashmir centric leadership of the State, but now some people in the BJP led NDA Government were trying to derail the project, depriving the people of Jammu region. Chenab belt of erstwhile Doda district has massive potential of medicinal plants and herbs and the J&K Forest department earns huge revenue from its extraction from this region.
The Department of AYUSH, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had asked for at least ten acres of suitable land for the said project. The State Government after several communications and reminders from the Union Ministry identified the land in two patches near Bhaderwah and has communicated to the Department of AYUSH. But thereafter, no much progress has been witnessed. Even the Central team had visited the site twice and further gave its formal consent. No visible progress has been witnessed on the project due to delayed information/ clarifications communicated by the State Government to the Centre.
The sources revealed that Secretary Health and Medical Education, J&K vide his letter dated October 16, 2014 while replying to all the observations and clarifications of Department of AYUSH (GOI), requested for the release of funds to commence work on the proposed project but till date no further response has been received from the Union Ministry. Even some additional information sought by AYUSH was also conveyed on December 10, 2014.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Bhupinder Kumar when contacted disclosed that Health Ministry had sent requisition for acquiring nearly 10 acres of land at Bhaderwah for setting up of National Institute of Medicinal Plants and the District Administration commenced its work on the task.
The Revenue officials concerned identified the required land in two patches at most suitable places as desired by them near Bhaderwah. One patch belonged to Horticulture department, measuring around 100 kanals near Bus Stand at Bhaderwah while the second site (about 120 kanal )near Basti village on Bhaderwah-Bani-Basohli road, about 8 kms from the town. Most of this second site falls in private land.
When asked if there was any directions to the Revenue authorities to acquire land from Health Ministry, the DC said till date there was no information to them. The Central team which visited the two locations hardly two months back was said to be satisfied with the site but there was no communication at all to the district Administration thereafter. He said the project is of much importance for the people of this region and is first of its kind in J&K so far.
Congress legislator from Bhaderwah, Naresh Gupta said this project is going to give new impetus to the conservation, propagation and research of medicinal plants in the entire country. This project may generate lot of employment for the local people and also enhance their income. He said that after the coming of new Government in Delhi and also in the State, some people were trying to derail this project. He said some local leaders had gone to Delhi and also met Mr Azad to exert pressure on the Union Health ministry to expedite work on the project. They have given assurance to Mr Azad that the process of transfer of land would start shortly. The project has been much delayed and legislator from Doda area would also meet State Health minister in this regard to seek expeditious work on the project, he added.
Meanwhile, in a fresh letter to the Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Azad has sought his personal intervention for expediting work on this important project and releasing funds for the its execution. The former Health Minister also regretted the delay being caused to implement the project with which not only J&K State but the entire country will be benefitted.
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