Ganderbal, Nov 10: Commissioner/ Secretary Floriculture, Gardens and Parks, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad today visited Ganderbal to hold an interactive session with flower growers at Qamria Park, a press statement said.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, Director Floriculture Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Rather and District Floriculture Officer Ganderbal besides other senior officers of the Department were present on the occasion.

According to the statement, the Director Floriculture apprised the Commissioner about different developmental works undertaken and progress of commercial floriculture in the district.

The Commissioner was also apprised about the recent developmental works undertaken in Qamria Park including the construction of ornamental fencing, construction of view point, establishment of high-tech poly-carbonated greenhouse, renovation of fountain etc.

The Executive Engineer Floriculture briefed the Commissioner that Rs 65 lakh will be incurred in the current financial year for different developmental works in Qamria Park.

During the interaction with flower growers, the Commissioner was apprised about various difficulties that the growers have been facinglike the marketing of their produce and losses suffered by them during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Commissioner listened to the grievances patiently and assured a suitable solution to their problems, the statement said.

He further informed the growers that the Department of Floriculture, J&K is on the job to formulate a comprehensive commercial floriculture policy in which all the challenges and problems faced by the growers will be taken care of.

The DDC emphasized on the importance of the Department of Floriculture in maintaining the public gardens and parks of the district professionally.

He further informed that on the request of the Department of Floriculture, the district administration has identified 50 kanals of land for development of a Rock Garden at Kichpora on the Srinagar-Leh highway and 200 kanals of land for the development of a lavender-themed garden at Ganiwan,Kangan.

The Commissioner, Floriculture during his concluding speech assured all the attendees that the work on the development of two themed gardens will start very soon.

He further assured the general public that new sites for the development of public parks will be identified and developed for increasing the green space in the district and making the district more attractive and appealing to tourists.

At the end, as a token of appreciation for their hard work and their dedication, mementos and certificates of appreciation were distributed among the progressive growers of the district.