Hon’ble Minister for Science and Technology Shri. Satish Sharma took a review meeting of the Department of Science and Technology today on 29.10.2024 at 2:00 PM in the Committee Room 4th Floor, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. The meeting was attended by Commissioner/Secretary, S&T Department and other senior officers of Science and Technology Department.
At the outset, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Science and Technology Department Shri. Saurabh Bhagat, IAS welcomed the Hon’ble Minister and gave a brief presentation about the Department of Science and Technology .
Additional Director, JKST&IC, Dr. Nasir Shah started the presentation of JK Science Technology & Innovation Council and briefed the Hon’ble Minister about the various schemes & programmes and projects being implemented by JKST&IC in the UT of J&K.
Regarding the establishment of Science Centre at Jammu, Hon’ble Minister directed for early identification of suitable piece of land in the vicinity of Akhnoor and assured full support for allotment of the said land. The Minister was also briefed about the latest status of upcoming Sub-Regional Science Cente Srinagar and was informed that the said centre would be ready for inauguration by March 2025.
Regarding the Industrial Bio-Technology Parks, Handwara and Kathua, the Hon’ble Minister was apprised about the latest status of these parks viz- a-viz the completion of construction work, release of funds and engagement of staff for making these two parks functional. The Hon’ble Minister instructed for taking up the matter with DBT, GoI and IIIM-CSIR, Jammu for its early completion and subsequent handover to JKST&IC.
Regarding the other schemes the Minister was given a brief presentation about the progress achieved by the Department in the implementation of the programs like IEC-Science popularization activities, Science talent promotion, transfer of land for establishment of demonstration farms of aromatic and medicinal plants and innovation dissemination centre, Srinagar.
Dr. P. R Dhar, Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA gave the detailed presentation about the various schemes being implemented by the Agency in the UT of J&K. The schemes like solarization of Government buildings in Capex/Resco mode were discussed threadbare, solarization of Jammu City under Jammu Solar City Mission also came up for discussion during the meeting. The Minister directed to take up the matter with MNRE for extension of the schemes. The Minister was informed about the implementation of different components of PM-KUSUM Scheme. The Hon’ble Minister laid emphasis about the role of renewable energy in agricultural sector.
The Minister expressed his satisfaction of the functioning of the Department of Science and Technology and the line sub-ordinate offices of JAKEDA and JKST&IC and assured his full support and cooperation in the removal of bottlenecks/impediments. He also appreciated the fact that Department of Science and Technology, UT of J&K had received an award from MNRE for highest installed solar and Renewable Energy Capacity.
