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| Horticulture Deptt officer violates norms while implementing ‘Back Yard’ Scheme | | | SAAHIL SUHAIL
EARLY TIMES REPORT
ANANTNAG, June 9: In violation of norms, the Horticulture Development Officer Srigufwara allegedly outsourced the exercise of identifying beneficiaries while implementing ‘Back Yard’ Scheme in Zone Srigufwara this year to a private person
According to norms the department has to identify the beneficiaries in consultation with Panchayat members or local Awqaf, however contrary to this the officer involved a private person for identifying the beneficiaries at village Khiram.
Local residents told Early Times that they were unaware till they spotted local residents distributing plants. “We spotted them distributing plants and on enquiring we were told that these plants have been provided by the Horticulture Department. We don't know actually whose name was on the list and whose wasn’t but it was apparently done secretly,” local residents said.
Employees at Horticulture Development Office Zone Srigufwara also confessed that they weren’t taken on board for identifying the list of beneficiaries.
“I don’t know anything about it and neither have I prepared the list of beneficiaries. HDO Shab engaged some private person and only they know about it,” an employee said, however he wished not to be named.
He said that they had received around 4400 plants from the department and these plants were to be distributed among the residents.
Horticulture Development Officer Srigufwara, Ishfaq Ahmad, who was suspended a few weeks ago and shifted from Srigufwara, told this reporter that he doesn’t know anything.
“You go to my office and check it there,” he said repeatedly and dogged questions on the mechanism he followed for identifying the beneficiaries.
Chief Horticulture Officer Anantnag said that the process of identifying the beneficiaries was briefed to every officer and directions were given to them to consult Panchayat members. “I will look into it,” he assured.
This year, the department of Horticulture Kashmir procured around 4 lakh plants under the ‘Back Yard’ Scheme to distribute among 1 lakh people in rural and urban areas. The beneficiaries were charged just Rs 6 for each plant, officials said.
Nursery Registration Officer (NRO) Javed Ahmad told Early Times that plants were procured from registered nurseries at the rate of Rs 60 per plant. “This year the rates were enhanced earlier we used to procure it at the rate of Rs 20 per plant but the nursery owners pressed for enhancement of rates,” he added.
Director Horticulture Kashmir, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat assured that he will look into the matter. |
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