Navin Choudhary reviews functioning of Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries

JAMMU, APRIL 29: Principal Secretary, Animal Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today convened a meeting to review the functioning of these departments.

The meeting had a detailed review of the CAPEX budget, funds released, expenditures incurred under centrally sponsored schemes for 2020-21 besides deliberating on the action plan of UT Capex/Revenue budget for the year 2021-22. Besides, Cattle Feed Production Scheme, Integrated Poultry Development Scheme, Fodder Development Scheme, Integrated Poultry Development Scheme, and other related schemes were also assessed during the meeting.

While reviewing the performance of the Animal Husbandry Department, Principal Secretary directed the officers to plan and submit a detailed project report for setting up multifunctional animal husbandry hospitals at three different locations in the Jammu division besides revamping the existing hospital at R S Pura under ‘Augmentation of Animal Healthcare Infrastructure in Jammu’ initiative.

Principal Secretary asked the Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir to get the expenditure under the Integrated Poultry Development Scheme audited. He said that the department needs to adopt a competitive approach to compete with the open market. He also asked the Animal Husbandry Directors from Jammu and Kashmir divisions to cross-verify past purchases of equipment against stock registers.

While discussing Mobile Veterinary Clinics, Principal Secretary emphasized that factors like geographical location, topography, and road connectivity be considered before allocating any number of ambulances in any particular district to facilitate remote areas of J&K.

Principal Secretary also set deadlines for making animal husbandry hospitals at Baramulla and Kulgam fully functional. He stressed the need to strengthen district and sub-division hospitals and directed the department to prioritize district hospitals of Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Shopian.

He also had a detailed discussion on the Integrated Sheep Development Programme of the Sheep Husbandry Department.

Principal Secretary highlighted the fish production potential at Verinag and Ganderbal in addition to other areas of the Kashmir region and asked the Director to facilitate massive fish production in these areas. He also discussed fish production in district Anantnag under the One District One Product.

Principal Secretary also expressed concern for fish production in the Jammu region and directed the officers to identify region-specific species of fish and start new projects in this regard. ‘There is the equal scope of fish production in both regions of the UT, said the Principal Secretary asking the officers to ‘give equal preference to both’.

Those present at the meeting included Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Vivek Sharma; Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar; Director Fisheries J&K, Bashir Ahmad Bhat; Director Finance Animal Sheep Husbandry Department and Technical Officers from Animal Sheep Husbandry Department while Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir and Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir participated through video conference.