* Inaugurates Wildlife Week
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 2: To ensure timely sale of paddy and remunerative prices to the farmers, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today e-launched 20 Paddy Procurement Centres (Mandis) in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts.
In a first, the Government of J&K has started procuring wheat in addition to paddy.
Speaking at the launch, the Lt Governor said the amount of sale proceeds will be directly credited into the accounts of the farmers through DBT within 72 hours.
He assured the farmers that the number of e-Mandis will be increased further in future, and reiterated the commitment of the Government to provide all possible assistance to the farmers to increase their income. ‘Contrary to the rumours being spread by certain section with vested interests, I assure the farmers that the number of these Mandis will be increased further in future’, he said.
The Lt Governor said that the use of technology has enabled all these Mandis to get linked digitally with the procurement portal, so that the Food Corporation of India can register the farmers on the portal and transfer money to their accounts through DBT within 72 hours.
He said the initiative would eliminate middlemen and end distress sales. He also directed the Deputy Commissioners and other revenue officers to provide land record documents to the farmers on priority. “I have been informed that advance registration has started on the online portal. For the convenience of the farmers, revenue authorities should start providing the land record documents to the farmers, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor informed that under PM KISAN, the assistance of Rs 1,721 crore has been provided by the central government to the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir, thus providing huge relief to them during the Corona epidemic.
He said that UT administration is committed and steadfast for the welfare of farmers. The farmers’ welfare programs that are being implemented will speed up the process of qualitative and quantitative changes in rural J&K, doubling the income of our farmers.
Farooq Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare; Dr. Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Deputy Commissioners, Director Agriculture, and other senior officers, besides a large number of farmers were present on the occasion, in person and through virtual mode.
Meanwhile, LG inaugurated the Wildlife Week, 2021 to be observed from 2nd October to 8th October, today at SKICC.
The Lt Governor also e-inaugurated the online permission for entry to Dachigam National Park, Hangul Eco-Stop near Parimahal, and released Hangul census report and brochures of Trekking Routes.
While speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that observance of the Wildlife Week in J&K along with rest of the country is a sincere effort to create awareness among people for the protection of precious wildlife resources.
The Lt Governor said that the Government has opened Dachigam National Park for the public and to provide easy access, permission will be granted through an online portal operated by J&K Forest & Wildlife Department. We have also opened several trek routes to promote eco-tourism in Jammu Kashmir, he added.
In order to conserve and protect the wildlife, the government has notified 11.5% of the total geographical area, which is much higher than national average of 5.5%, the Lt Governor added.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the significance of Wildlife and Bio-diversity of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. He called for community participation in wildlife conservation efforts to ensure that forest & wildlife areas are plastic free. He also advised to involve the schools in conservation efforts by constituting the Eco-clubs.
Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, informed about various activities being undertaken by Department of Wildlife.
Dr. Mohit Gera, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF spoke about the importance of wildlife week and informed about the efforts being undertaken by the forests department to address the issue of human-wildlife conflict besides protection and conservation of wildlife habitats.
Suresh Kr. Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K in his welcome address gave historical perspective of wildlife conservation in Jammu & Kashmir, major achievements after the implementation of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and various initiatives taken by the department for wildlife conservation & protection.
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