DG Horticulture Kashmir violates COVID SOPs, holds meeting amid lockdown
'Being non-essential service, meeting could have been deferred'
Abdul Basit
Srinagar, January 22: The Director General Horticulture Kashmir Ajaz Ahmad Bhat Saturday violated COVID-19 SOPs by calling meeting with his employees amid lockdown and when the department is non-essential service.
As per statement from DIPR, the Director held a review meeting for the implementation of different departmental schemes particularly Modified High Density Plantation Scheme at Rajbagh office.
According to the statement, all the district heads were called to the meeting and apprised the director about the status of developmental schemes.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Horticulture, Chief Horticulture Officers, and other Officers of the Department.
Official said the director has violated the COVID-19 guidelines by calling the meeting and putting dozens of employees to risk. "There was no need to call the meeting when the administration has imposed covid lockdown tp prevent spread of the virus. The employees were asked the meeting when the department is non-essential service," sources said.
Dozens of officials and employees had do come from distirct headquarters and faced many difficulties while reaching Srinagar.
"As lockdown was imposed, police officials didn't allow us to move despite our pleading. It was an embarrassing Situation to face for us while persuading the policemen who were doing their duty," many officials said.
Health experts said such departmental heads need to take task who violate COVID-19 SOPs and put employees to risk.
