Inspects Shalimar Garden restoration works
SRINAGAR, AUGUST 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday emphasized the critical need for self-sufficiency in Jammu and Kashmir’s agriculture and allied sectors, stating that these areas are the backbone of the region’s economy and offer vast potential for employment.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while presiding over an event at the Shalimar Convention Centre, SKUAST-K, where he formally handed over appointment orders to newly recruited Veterinary Assistant Surgeons (VASs) and Horticulture Development Officers (HDOs).
Addressing the new appointees, the Chief Minister underscored the pivotal role of agriculture, noting its significant contribution to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP. “No matter how much we grow in other sectors, there is no alternative to agriculture and its allied sectors, which contribute the most to our GDP,” he said. He dismissed the notion of a competition between agriculture and tourism, highlighting that the primary opportunity for employment and growth lies within the agriculture sector.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah spoke at length about the government’s focus on the dairy sector, announcing plans to establish one dairy processing unit in every two districts of J&K. He pointed out that only 4% of the daily milk production is currently processed, leaving a vast 96% raw material available for industrial use.
“This is an area where we have the raw material for industry, and we don’t need to import it or look for a market outside,” he said. He added that processed milk could generate a much higher value for farmers compared to unprocessed milk.
Chief Minister Abdullah also touched upon the challenges facing the agriculture sector, including the increasing population, shrinking agricultural land, and unpredictable weather patterns.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the historic Mughal Garden Shalimar to inspect the ongoing conservation works being undertaken with the assistance of JSW Foundation under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by the Commissioner Secretary, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Director Floriculture Kashmir and representatives of the JSW Foundation.
During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected various key heritage monuments of the garden, including the Pink Pavilion, Rani Mahal, and Black Pavilion. Detailed briefings were given regarding the progress of restoration and conservation activities.
On-the-spot directions were issued to expedite the pace of work and ensure the timely completion of all identified pending tasks, while maintaining the essence of heritage conservation.
Pertinently six Mughal Gardens of Kashmir, including Shalimar, are presently enlisted in UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. The Department of Floriculture has undertaken restoration and conservation works to preserve the originality, authenticity, and cultural integrity of these heritage gardens for future generations.
