Take immediate action against encroachments on saffron fields; Govt
Taking a serious note of illegal constructions and encroachments on saffron fields, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have ordered immediate legal action against the violators.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asghar Samoon also constituted a committee to look into the illegal constructions and asked it to report to him on weekly basis, an official spokesman said here.
He said Samoon passed the directions while chairing a high-level meeting regarding the illegal constructions on saffron fields.
The committee comprises Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Joint Director Agriculture and concerned Tehsildars.
Divisional Commissioner was informed that encroachers have occupied various places in 27 villages of Pampore, a saffron-rich plateau in south Kashmir, the spokesman said.
Samoon directed the concerned authorities to take necessary steps to stop illegal constructions immediately and initiate legal action against the offenders.
The spokesman said the National Saffron Mission (NSM) project was also thoroughly discussed during the meeting.
Last year, the Centre extended by two more years the Rs 371 crore National Saffron Mission, launched in 2010, to rejuvenate saffron cultivation in the Valley.
