Naveen for arresting wasteful expenditure, formulation of need-based projects

Jammu: The plan proposals for Forests, Labour, Employment, AIR and trainings departments for next financial year were discussed here at pre- budget interaction meeting chaired by Principal Secretary Finance, Naveen Choudhary.
Marathon sessions held for each department separately, discussed in detail plan proposals projected by concerned government functionaries, even as Principal Secretary Finance directed them to restrain from wasteful expenditure and formulate cost effective projects as per people’s requirements.
“It is unfortunate to note that departments are very liberal in administrative expenditure, this practice needs to be stopped to facilitate utilization of maximum resources for public good” PSF asserted.
He asked the departments to come up with innovative plan proposals for pushing the economic growth at all levels.
Discussing proposals projected by Forests, Navin called for framing expert aided plans beneficial for farmers and other stakeholders. He asked the department to explore the possibility to encourage farmers of Kandi areas to go for Bamboo plantation. He also asked the concerned officers to fully exhaust the plant stocks grown in nurseries by supplying them to people free of cost or on nominal charges.
The Finance Secretary also asked the department to come up with innovative projects for natural resource rich Kashmir Valley.
He suggested for utilizing Dal weed for making organic compost and asked the concerned to come up with a plan proposal.
He further asked them to approach National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to take massive plantation along highways and roads leading to Tourist spots both in Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. He also called for launching plantation drive in twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar including providing saplings to households for planting in their premises with advice for better nourishment.
During discussions on Labour and Employment Department proposals, he asked the Secretary to start exercise for removing redundant laws as it was important for pushing industrial growth in the state. For this he suggested, for studying the best models adopted by other states.
Hailing performance of Government Printing Press Management, he said both establishments at Srinagar and Jammu will be modernized by upgrading the equipment and renovation of buildings.
The meetings were attended by Commissioner Secretary, Forest Manoj Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary Labour and Employment SurabhBahgat, Principal Chief Conservator Suresh Chugh, chairman State Pollution Control Board and other senior officers of the three departments.