Special sericulture package of Rs 16.35 cr for J

Srinagar, July 24 (UNI) The Centre has announced a packege of Rs 16.35 crore for the development of serciculture and silk industry in Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesman said Jammu and Kashmir had been considered as a special status state under which it is entitled for 90 per cent central assistance from sericulture schemes of Central Silk Board (CSB).

Accordingly, he said, the CSB has proposed to provide assistance to the extent of Rs 14.71 crore as Central assistance while the remaining Rs 1.64 crore has to be provided by the state government.

Under the package a sum of Rs 226.25 lakh, Rs 178.49 lakh, Rs 169.20 lakh and Rs 99.00 lakh have been released by CSB during 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 till October 05, respectively.

However, the expenditure under the J&K Special Package is being booked under Catalytic Development Programme.

Similarly during 2004-05, Rs 373.52 lakh was released to J&K state Handicrafts Development Corporation and J&K Apex Federation.

During 2005-06, Rs 500 lakh were allocated under Integrated Development Package for J&K, of which Rs 260.42 lakh were incurred February this year, he said.

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