Hurdles in much-hyped project
16/04/2019
Announced over two and half years back by the Union Agriculture Minister, the much-hyped Saffron Park at Kishtwar has remained on papers only due to inordinate delay in completion of formalities by the officers of the Agriculture Production Department of the State Government. Moreover, no time-frame can still be specified for any headway in this regard as even Detailed Project Report (DPR) has yet not been forwarded to the Union Government for approval. The proposal about establishment of Saffron Park at Kishtwar was mooted several years back in order to improve the overall production of saffron, enhance its quality and research and extension capability and it remained the buzzword for several Ministers of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government, who had even fixed different timelines for start of work on ground. However, till date the much-hyped Saffron Park has remained confined to papers only as even Detailed Project Report (DPR) has not been submitted to the Union Agriculture Minister.
This is notwithstanding the fact that State Level Sanctioning Committee for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary on September 5, 2017 had kept a provision of Rs 30 lakh for research and development on saffron in Kishtwar. This amount included Rs 5 lakh for preparation of Detailed Project Report for Kishtwar Saffron Park. Though a suitable land has been identified at Kishtwar and process has been initiated for its formal transfer to the Agriculture Production Department yet start of activities on ground depends on approval of DPR and subsequent release of funds. Stating that no time-frame can be specified for clearance of DPR and sanctioning of fundsbecause of Model Code of Conduct the Union Agriculture Ministry would not be in a position to take any formal decision and it would be only after the conclusion of LokSabha elections and formulation of new Government at the Centre that fresh discussion on Saffron Park would be initiated. Had utmost serious been shown in timely preparation of DPR and its submission to the Union Government funds would have been sanctioned and work started on ground much earlier and while holding officers of the Agriculture Production Department responsible for hanging fate of the Saffron Park.
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