Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari today said that the Horticulture Department shall take innovative measures on modern scientific lines for better water management and to utilize maximum possible benefits for irrigation.
The Minister said this while chairing a meeting convened to discuss creation of Community Irrigation Infrastructure in district Anantnag and Baramulla.
The meeting was attended by Director Horticulture Kashmir Mathora Masoom, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Flood Control Kashmir Imtiyaz Ahmad Dhar, Joint Director Science & Technology and Innovation Council Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad, Executive Engineer Ground Water Division Srinagar, Assistant Director Horticulture Kashmir, Chief Horticulture Officer Baramulla, District Horticulture Officer Anantnag, Executive Engineers and AEEs.
In order to yield higher yield in crop cultivation, the Minister said it is imperative to adopt modern irrigational methods. Stressing the traditional tube wells and boar wells used for irrigation hamper higher yield, the Minister directed the concerned officials to identify the areas for irrigation and provide sustainable irrigation by means of water lifting, water channelizing and solar energy operated machine wells. He directed concerned officers to explore possibilities to utilize available water recourse to improve irrigation infrastructure.
In this regard, the Minister constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Director Central Horticulture M Y Dar. The other members includes AEE Ground Water Tariq Kichloo, AEE Science and Technology Department Khalid Mahmood, AEE Civil Farooq Ahmad Sultanpuri and all concerned Chief Horticulture Officers.
The Minister directed the Committee to come up with detailed reports so that Government will take further decisions how to improve irrigation facilities.
The Minister directed the concerned Chief Engineers to monitor the status of work on the schemes in the districts. He asked the officers to reach out to the people and sensitize them about welfare schemes being implemented by the Government so that they can avail maximum benefits out of these schemes.
Bukhari said that the Government is committed to enhance the productivity and revamp horticulture scenario of the State for that better and sustainable irrigation facilities to orchards is necessary.