Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Placing highest priority on the export-oriented horticulture sector, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today reiterated his Government’s resolve to improve the quality of fruit by starting the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) and weather-based Crop Insurance for fruit growers to protect them against risk of losses.
He said high-yielding rootstocks are being imported from Europe to rejuvenate our old orchards and fruit mandis are being upgraded to enhance exports to markets outside the State.
The Chief Minister said this while undertaking a marathon tour of South Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam, during which he took stock of several ongoing projects.
Mufti Sayeed said Market Intervention Scheme will be taken up in Shopian and Sopore Apple Towns in the first instance, where C-grade apples will be procured to ensure that top quality fruit is exported to the markets.
He said similar branding of fruit will also be launched for Mango, Kinnaw and Pear in Jammu and apricot in Ladakh region.
On his arrival in Pulwama Fruit Mandi, the Chief Minister emphasized upon expanding the existing site and upgrading the facility with in-transit CA stores, Grading and Packaging Line and a dedicated Truck Terminal.
At the under-construction site for Shopian Fruit Mandi, which was badly damaged by floods of 2014, Mufti Sayeed directed the DC and Chief Engineer, I&FC, to conceive a project that secures the mandi site by way of construction of a protection wall.
The Chief Minister also asked Minister for Horticulture, A. R. Veeri, to activate special mobile squads which would inspect various orchards to prevent the fruit from the threat of diseases, in particular scab, and check the quality of pesticides.
Later, at Haal Transit Accommodation, Mufti Sayeed interacted with the Kashmiri Pandit Government employees, who raised several issues pertaining to lack of maintenance, inadequate accommodation, improvement in sanitation and drainage, delay in release of salaries, uninterrupted power supply and fencing of the premises.
The Chief Minister assured that their demands will be looked into and addressed on priority. He also passed directions for setting up a dispensary and primary school for children, besides fencing of the colony.
Minister for Finance, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, who is also the MLA of the constituency, announced setting up of an ATM Counter in the Colony, out of his Constituency Development Fund.
At Hall village, Dr. Drabu, who also holds the charge of Culture portfolio, informed the Chief Minister that it will be developed as a Model Heritage Village.
Mufti Sayeed directed that while developing the village, the traditional facade of the existing structures be maintained, besides taking measures to improve the aesthetic appearance by landscaping the area.
At Government Higher Secondary School, Keegam, the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to immediately fill up the vacant post of school Principal. He said the institution will be provided computers to equip the Lab, besides acquainting the students with e-learning concepts like smart classrooms.
Addressing the people at Keegam, the Chief Minister stressed upon zero tolerance on the scourge of corruption. He said the Government is committed to provide clean and accountable administration that will bring in a discernible change on the ground and provide succour to the people.
The Chief Minister also took stock of the ongoing work on Shopian Mini-Secretariat, which is being executed by JK PCC. He issued directions for immediate landscaping of the Secretariat premises and construction of a restaurant to facilitate the people.
Minister of State for PHE / I&FC, Animal Husbandry & Forest, A. M. Paddar, MP, Nazir Ahmad Laway, legislators, Khalil Bandh, M. Yousaf Bhat, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, M. Amin Bhat, , Abdul Majeed Bhat, Zaffar Manhas, former VC Jammu University, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Secretary to Chief Minister, M. H. Malik, Director Tourism & MD JKTDC, Farooq Shah and DCs of Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts accompanied the Chief Minister.
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