JK: NMB to include 12 species in priority list

Srinagar, Dec 30: Jammu and Kashmir state has requested the National Medicinal Board (NMB) to include 12 more species of Medicinal plants available in the state in their priority list, official sources said.

Meanwhile, due to over exploitation of medicinal herbs, the government has imposed a ban on extraction of medicinal plants for five years from 2004.

They said the NMB has been requested to include these plants, available in different parts of the state, in their list for promotion and economic utilisation.

The state has already set up a Medicinal Plant Board to initiate steps for the conservation and sustainable development of medicinal plants available in the state.

Sources said an action plan for sustainable development and preservation of these natural resouces was being prepared for entire state and legal impediments or procedure coming in the way of development and utilisation on sustainable and organised basis are being addressed to in the action plan.

They said a state level holders meet on sustainable occupant of Medicinal plants in Jammu and Kashmir, was held here in June this year.

During the meet, a number of pharmaceuticals have offered to establish their units in valley while the Union minister of state for commerce has assured support from the centre in developing medicinal plant industry as an organised sector.

Sources said the state board has been asked to study the Uttrakhand and Chhatisgarh medicinal models for replication.

They said the forest department has proposed to establish a Field Research Station, including one herbal laboratory for storage, semi- processing and packaging in Gurez tehsil during the 11th five year plan.

UNI