Jammu and Kashmir’s Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing plans to spend a whopping amount on holding a food festival here in October and for the purpose it has submitted a proposal to the government.
Sources told KNS that the Department has sought funds worth Rs 57,000 from the government for holding the food festival at Institute of Hotel Management, Srinagar on October 4.
Director Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing Om Prakash Sharma in a letter no: DERS/15/Food Festival/2296-99 dated: 17-09-2015 to Principal Secretary Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology sought the money for holding the festival titled: “Junglik Khazanne Temaikh Khen Chenn.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”
This has raised eyebrows with experts saying this is contrary to what the Department is meant for. “The Department can’t spend such a huge amount on food festival as it isn’t its mandate to organise such events. Basic job of the Department is to identify areas of environmental concern and to advise the Government on such issues,” said an environmental expert.
“Instead of holding food festival, the Department should organize seminars and debates in schools and colleges to create awareness among the students regarding environment. It would have cost less money and would have yielded better results,” they added. (KNS)