Governor Satya Pal Malik and Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, today flagged off new JKSRTC Electric Buses in Srinagar here at SKICC. A total of 20 E-Buses will ply on different routes in Srinagar.
Kewal Kumar Sharma and K Skandan-Advisors to Governor; DrAsgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary, Transport, Animal, Sheep Husbandryand Fisheries Department; Pravin Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Department of HeavyIndustry, Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises; Prof.Nazeer Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST Kashmir; Baseer Khan, DivisionalCommissioner, Kashmir; Alok Kumar, IGP Traffic J&K; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, DeputyCommissioner Srinagar were present among other dignitaries on the occasion.
Governor and other dignitaries also released a Coffee TableBook on Jammu & Kashmir State Livestock Breeding Policy, 2019 and a bookletof Bovine Breeding Rules, SRO 455 of 2019, on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor observed that the startof electric bus service is a step forward towards providing eco friendly publictransportation with modern facilities to the commuters in the region. Heemphasized on using E-Buses to abate pollution levels and urged people tolargely utilise public transport for their daily travel in a bid to contributetowards environment preservation.
On Jammu & Kashmir Livestock Breeding Policy, 2019,Governor noted that the Policy is the first of its kind in the State that aimsto increase both the production and productivity of livestock, fish and poultryin Jammu and Kashmir besides generating higher returns for the people engagedin this sector.
Governorcongratulated the Department of Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries forbringing out the Live stock Breeding Policy and observed that J&K’s climateis ideal for the growth of livestock and poultry and if managed scientifically,these sectors have potential to increase the farmer’s income manifold.
Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Union Minister for Heavy Industriesand Public Enterprises said that the fleet of E-Buses will contribute inreducing the pollution levels. He said that the Central Government is takingseveral initiatives to meet the challenges of environmental threats byfocussing on improving the quality of mass transportation.
Sawant appreciatedthe State Government for introducing a Livestock Breeding Policy to improvequality of livestock and promote the welfare of the farming community.
K Skandan Kumar whilespeaking on the occasion, said that the Livestock Breeding Policy has beendrafted in keeping with requirements of all the three agro-climatic zones ofthe State and to make livestock sector more viable.
During his address, Kewal Kumar Sharma appreciated theCentral Government for providing strong support for the successfulimplementation of various schemes relating to Animal, Sheep Husbandry andFisheries, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon briefed about the newly introducedLivestock Breeding Policy. Governor along with other dignitaries also took around in the electric buses.