Jammu, Jan 19 (KNS): Chairman PDF and MLA Khansahib Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has expressed concern over fast shrinking agriculture land in the state adding that implementation of pragmatic Land use policy on war footing bases was pressing need of the hour to protect remaining agriculture land from conversion.
Speaking in a debate on demand of grants for Agriculture department in Legislative Assembly today, Hakeem Yaseen said that agriculture land is being converted into constructions at an alarming speed and sought stringent measures to check the trend at the earliest. He also demanded closure of all illegal brick kilns especially in district Budgam where about 500 odd brick kilns have been established on cultivable agriculture land. He said unless Govt. stops conversion of agriculture land for non agriculture purposes, the state will continue to depend on import of sheep, eggs, rice and other essential commodities.
Hakeem Yaseen urged for implementation of the Prime Ministers Fasal Beeme Yojna in letter and spirit so that farmers of the state are benefitted adding that this useful scheme has not reached to farmers as yet. He demanded to provide standard and tested seeds to the farmers adding that they should be allowed to purchase agriculture machinery of their choice from market alongside Agro industries corporation.
Hakeem Yaseen called for judicious use of central funds for creating irrigation sources for un cultivable land in kandi areas. (KNS)