SRINAGAR: Minister of State for Forests, Environment, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Cooperative and Fisheries, Mir Zahoor Ahmed today visited Mamar Fish Farm and took review of its functioning.
Officials apprised the Minister that 15 quintals of Trout and 1.5 lakh seed production was recorded during 2016-17. He was also informed that presently 52 Trout ponds and 50 carp ponds are functional in private sector in the Ganderbal district.
It was given out that 142 angling permits were issued during 2016-17. It was also apprised that an amount of Rs. 3 lakh has been realized as an revenue against sale of fishes from April 2017 to June 2017 at Fish Farm Mamar.
Mir Zahoor impressed upon the officials of the fisheries department to conduct frequent field visits of private fish farms and aware them about technical knowhow of fish culture. He urged upon the youth to take up fish farming for better employment generation opportunities.
During his tour, the Minister also reviewed stock position of timber being supplied to the consumers and present stock position at depots .
On the occasion, he was apprised that State Forest Corporation has distributed and supplied 1.26 lakh cfts of timber among the consumers of Bandipora, Gurez, Ganderbal, Kangan and Sonawar constituencies from November 2016 till date.
He was also apprised that 7102 quintals of fire wood were supplied to Masjid Shariefs, Imam Baras and Government Departments. It was given out that 8 cfts of Devdaar timber was also supplied to 470 boatmen for repairing their boats while as 12 cfts to 15 cfts of timber was given to them for construction of new boats. A quantity of 50 cfts of timber per head were supplied to 100 cases for eviction of flood channel at Naid Khai.
Interacting with the management, the Minister asked them to work with utmost dedication and ensure timely supply of timber to the consumers. He also instructed them to ensure transparency in the system and give timber to the consumers on first come first basis.
Senior officers of fisheries, forests, SFC and other departments accompanied the Minister during the tour.