Srinagar, July 27: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir has stressed for strict implementation of Water Shed Management Programme (WSMP) to develop the target areas in such a way that it would provide better job opportunities besides creating durable infrastructure as per the guide lines of the scheme, an official statement said.
 The Minister stated this while reviewing the progress over the Water Shed Management Programme in the State.
 Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Shafi Rather, both the Directors of Agriculture Kashmir and Jammu, Director Command area, Director Project Planning and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
 The Minister asked the Directors to personally monitor the developmental works of Water Shed Management Programme in their respective provinces and send the progress report of developmental works on monthly basis to the Administrative Department. He asked them that developmental works and other activities under the programme should be visible on the ground. He also directed for consulting  the local legislators to identify the areas to be taken under the programme.
 Mir was informed that 23 Water Shed Projects of Jammu and 10 Water Shed Projects would be completed during this fiscal year for which funds worth Rs. 3.13 Cr are being released soon. He was further informed that Rs. 25.58 Cr would be spent under Micro Management Programme.
 The Minister was informed that various seed villages have been set up across the State to bring J&K at par with the national level seed replacement policy which is 25 per cent.
 Regarding the implementation of National Saffron Mission as announced by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his recent visit to J&K, the Minster directed both the directors to start the ground work from today and dig bore wells at Pampore and Kishtwar to provide better irrigation facilities to the Saffron growers.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST