Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: Scientists of SKUAST-Jammu are at their lowest of carrier and feeling highly neglected due to the apathetic attitude of the Government authorities and the local politicians. As already reported recent flash floods caused huge losses to SKUAST-Jammu not in terms of infrastructure, but scientific and intellectual properties.
The flood water from Balol Nullah entered into the experimental farms, PG class rooms, UG lecture theaters, offices and laboratories with water level varying from 1-5 feet. It completely damaged scientific material including germplasm, microbial cultures, insect repository, chemicals, extracts, fractions and even isolated pure molecules.
Moreover, all the expensive laboratory equipments including computers, machinery used for farm research, official vehicles including power tillers, experimental farms, orchards besides glass houses, net houses / high tech polyhouses are in shambles at Faculty of Agriculture, Chatha.
Decades of hard work and dedication of scientists was lost in seconds. In the present era, where research in agriculture is being highly promoted by the Central and State Government, it is surprising that both the Governments are turning a blind eye and deaf ear to SKUAST-Jammu. The scientists including the University administration is worried about the carrier of students and despite the prevalent unfavorable conditions, the teaching faculty has started teaching regular classes.
President of SKUAST-Teaching Association Jammu (SKUAST-TAJ), Dr Vikas Sharma discussed about this major set back to the University with the executives of the association Dr Vivek M Arya, Dr PK Rai and others.
Dr Vikas further impressed upon the Government machinery and the local administration to look into the hardships being faced by the only farm/professional varsity of the region and assess the losses immediately to allocate additional budget for the revival of research and academics at this Main Campus Chatha of SKUAST-Jammu.
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