Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary Department of Agriculture Education and Research (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture Government of India and Director General, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), visited Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) to take stock of the destruction caused by recent floods to the university infrastructure, equipment, experimental farms, student facilities, research material etc.
He was on a one- day visit to the State for inspection of farm universities of Jammu & Kashmir for making on-spot assessment of the losses caused by the floods to these universities.
Dr Pradeep K Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-J accompanied Dr Ayyappan to all the flood ravaged areas of the University at Chatha and R S Pura Campuses.
The DG, ICAR visited the laboratories, class rooms, libraries, student centre, experimental farms, students’ hostels and administrative blocks to take note of the damages caused by floods. Later he chaired the meeting of University Officers and Head of the Divisions at Chatha.
The Vice-Chancellor briefed the DG about the steps taken by the University to restore semblance of normalcy. VC further apprised that it has become difficult to run normal teaching and research work, and about Rs 25 crores are the estimated losses caused by these floods to the university.
The Director General, ICAR showed concern about the destruction caused to the university by the flash-floods. Dr Ayyappan said, “Disasters catch us unaware and the footprint they leave are so pathetic, especially for an upcoming University like SKUAST-J”. He impressed upon the University to come back with greater force to rebuild it. He appreciated the steps taken by the university to restore normalcy. Later Dr Ayyappan left for Srinagar.
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