Govt spends crores; income worth thousands
Sheikh Nasir Hussain
Paddar (Kishtwar); Zeera Farm situated in Paddar area of district Kishtwar is a testimony of government functioning in itself. With a total expenditure running in crores, the thirty-five years old farm has produced only 25 kgs Zeera till date. The official record, copy of which are with News Agency of Kashmir, reveals that the government is spending more than rupees four lakh per year on the salary of the employees posted in the farm, while the income generated from it has never been more than Rs 25,00. The world famous Kala Zeera is still being derived from wild sources of Paddar area. It was reliably learnt that trails were undertaken in late 80’s to cultivate this Zeera outside Paddar but it proved a failure. Well informed sources said that the government Agriculture department took up Zeera cultivation at Atholi Farm Paddar for an area of 4 kanals in the year 1973. The forest land, falling under Compartment No 29, was handed over to the department for the purpose and soon the farm was expanded at an area of ten kanals and seven marlas, sources added. The department has appointed one development officer, one Research Assistant, one Field Inspector and two gardeners to ensure quality Zeera production from the farm. The total expenditure on the salary of these employees is more than rupees four lakh per year, sources said. Official sources said that till 1990 the total production from the farm was only in grams and it never reached even one kg per year. Though the production has now slightly improved, the farm is producing Zeera not more than rupees 2500 per year. As per the produce deposited by Saffron Development Officer, Kishtwar the farm has produced Zeera weighing 2 Kgs in 2004-05 and 2.140 Kgs during 2005-06 worth Rs 2000 and Rs 2140 respectively. On the other hand the total expenditure on the farm in the two years remained Rs 5.86 lakh and Rs 4.17 lakh per year, respectively. The record revealed that the farm has produced 500 grms of Zeera with an expenditure of Rs 1.90 lakh in the year 1993, 900 grams with an expenditure of Rs 1.84 lakh in the year 1994-95, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .96 lakh in the year 1995-96, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .83 lakh in the year 1996-97, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .73 lakh in the year 1997-98, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs 1.75 lakh in the year 1998-99, 1.9990 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 1.27 lakh in the year 1999-2000, 1.800 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.21 lakh in the year 2000-2001, 2.500 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.29 lakh in the year 2001-2002, 2.500 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.61 lakh in the year 2002-2003 and 3 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 4.02 lakh in the year 2003-2004. On the other hand local residents alleged that the farm is a complete failure and it has never produced Zeera. “The officials are purchasing Zeera from the local residents and than depositing it in the head office showing it as the production from the farm”, Sarpanch of the area Ram Singh told News Agency of Kashmir. A local resident, Naik Ram said that the Zeera cost rupees one thousand per kilogram in the market and the annual production from the farm and expenditure incurred on it speaks itself about the performance of the department. Experts said that the production Zeera is not an easy task for the officials as it is mostly derived from wild sources of the area. Zeera seed takes about 4 years to develop into a bulb of 2 cm size and the crop is produced after 5th year after sowing, an agriculture expert said.
Sheikh Nasir Hussain
Paddar (Kishtwar); Zeera Farm situated in Paddar area of district Kishtwar is a testimony of government functioning in itself. With a total expenditure running in crores, the thirty-five years old farm has produced only 25 kgs Zeera till date. The official record, copy of which are with News Agency of Kashmir, reveals that the government is spending more than rupees four lakh per year on the salary of the employees posted in the farm, while the income generated from it has never been more than Rs 25,00. The world famous Kala Zeera is still being derived from wild sources of Paddar area. It was reliably learnt that trails were undertaken in late 80’s to cultivate this Zeera outside Paddar but it proved a failure. Well informed sources said that the government Agriculture department took up Zeera cultivation at Atholi Farm Paddar for an area of 4 kanals in the year 1973. The forest land, falling under Compartment No 29, was handed over to the department for the purpose and soon the farm was expanded at an area of ten kanals and seven marlas, sources added. The department has appointed one development officer, one Research Assistant, one Field Inspector and two gardeners to ensure quality Zeera production from the farm. The total expenditure on the salary of these employees is more than rupees four lakh per year, sources said. Official sources said that till 1990 the total production from the farm was only in grams and it never reached even one kg per year. Though the production has now slightly improved, the farm is producing Zeera not more than rupees 2500 per year. As per the produce deposited by Saffron Development Officer, Kishtwar the farm has produced Zeera weighing 2 Kgs in 2004-05 and 2.140 Kgs during 2005-06 worth Rs 2000 and Rs 2140 respectively. On the other hand the total expenditure on the farm in the two years remained Rs 5.86 lakh and Rs 4.17 lakh per year, respectively. The record revealed that the farm has produced 500 grms of Zeera with an expenditure of Rs 1.90 lakh in the year 1993, 900 grams with an expenditure of Rs 1.84 lakh in the year 1994-95, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .96 lakh in the year 1995-96, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .83 lakh in the year 1996-97, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs .73 lakh in the year 1997-98, 2 kgs with total expenditure of Rs 1.75 lakh in the year 1998-99, 1.9990 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 1.27 lakh in the year 1999-2000, 1.800 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.21 lakh in the year 2000-2001, 2.500 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.29 lakh in the year 2001-2002, 2.500 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 2.61 lakh in the year 2002-2003 and 3 Kgs with total expenditure of Rs 4.02 lakh in the year 2003-2004. On the other hand local residents alleged that the farm is a complete failure and it has never produced Zeera. “The officials are purchasing Zeera from the local residents and than depositing it in the head office showing it as the production from the farm”, Sarpanch of the area Ram Singh told News Agency of Kashmir. A local resident, Naik Ram said that the Zeera cost rupees one thousand per kilogram in the market and the annual production from the farm and expenditure incurred on it speaks itself about the performance of the department. Experts said that the production Zeera is not an easy task for the officials as it is mostly derived from wild sources of the area. Zeera seed takes about 4 years to develop into a bulb of 2 cm size and the crop is produced after 5th year after sowing, an agriculture expert said.
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Itis duty of media to unveils such facts in front of public and high officals so that feedback will be possible in establishing the lucid activities honestly
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