J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Feasting in valley, not for invitation
Jammu, May 26
It is marriage season in Kashmir these days. It is the time for feasts. Hence there is no euphoria over New Delhi’s invitation to Pakistan’s Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf for talks.

Tourists’ rush to valley
Srinagar, May 26
As many as 4.39 lakh tourists, 35,000 of them foreigners, visited the Kashmir valley during the past three years, while 52,000 others, 37,000 of them foreigners, visited the Ladakh region during the period. Flow of tourists to the valley, with rise in mercury in other parts of the country, is picking up slowly since March last.

‘Finalise J&K Plan’ 
Jammu, May 26
The president of the National Mazdoor Conference (NMC), Mr Subhash Shastri, has urged upon the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, to hold discussions with the J & K Government and finalise the annual Plan of the current financial year at the earliest.

Give UGC scales to staff: Farooq
Jammu, May 26
The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, while addressing the inaugural session of the 5th National Convention of All-India Colleges and Universities Employees at the university campus here this morning, said the UGC pay scales should be given to the college and university employees.

Feasting in valley, not for invitation
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 26
It is marriage season in Kashmir these days. It is the time for feasts. Hence there is no euphoria over New Delhi’s invitation to Pakistan’s Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf for talks.

No doubt the decision of the government to withdraw the ceasefire from May 30 has given moments of worry to people, they seem to be quite busy making arrangements for the weddings.

People do discuss the end of the ceasefire and the invitation to Gen Musharraf for talks in Delhi. But not many are hopeful about the outcome of the bilateral parleys. Abdul Rashid, a bank officer says: “We have not achieved much from Tashkent to Shimla to Lahore. We, therefore, have no hope in the proposed Delhi talks.”

Mohammed Amin, teacher, and who is keen watcher of the internal developments in Pakistan, is of the view that “in the light of economic distress in Pakistan Gen Musharraf may have no other alternative but to settle the Kashmir issue though with some bargain.”

An Editor of a Srinagar-based local daily is of the view that the US Government may mount pressure on Gen Musharraf to adopt a give and take attitude so that peace was restored in Kashmir.

What seems to disturb most people is that the security forces may be armed with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act after the end of ceasefire which may empower them to carry out search operations in any area they like. “We fear it may be a bullet for bullet approach now onwards,” says Mohammed Yaseen, a college student.

But the mainstream political leaders, including those belonging to the Congress and the National Conference, seem to be happy over the way the APHC and other separatist groups have been sidelined by the Central Government. Though APHC leaders have welcomed direct Indo-Pakistan talks but they feel embarrassed at the way they have been marginalised. In close door meetings they have made it known that there would be no meaningful outcome of the Indo-Pakistan talks. They still believe that only tripartite talks could end the deadlock.

In Jammu region opinion is in favour of offensive for flushing out militants. Prem Sharma, a chemist, says “the security forces have to adopt catch and kill strategy which alone can end the menace of terrorism”.

Rahul Verma, a student, is of the opinion that “ceasefire was meant only for the security forces. Militants got ample opportunity to kill innocent people.” He says, “time has come for the security forces to retaliate effectively.”

The Army and the BSF authorities feel that they would achieve success against militants when the Armed Forces Special Powers Act would again come into force after the end of the ceasefire on May 30. They have disclosed that massive operations will be carried out in the 20 km radius in the border belt of Poonch and Rajouri.

A majority of people in the Jammu region have appreciated the way separatists in Kashmir have been marginalised.

Tourists’ rush to valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 26
As many as 4.39 lakh tourists, 35,000 of them foreigners, visited the Kashmir valley during the past three years, while 52,000 others, 37,000 of them foreigners, visited the Ladakh region during the period. Flow of tourists to the valley, with rise in mercury in other parts of the country, is picking up slowly since March last.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is making efforts to put the tourism industry back on the track, which had suffered a colossal loss during the past decade of militancy. A number of steps have been taken to involve private sector in the promotion of tourism. The Tourism Department is promoting traditional tourist areas, which are relatively safe for tourists. The efforts have yielded encouraging results and pilgrims visiting the Vaishnodevi shrine now extend their visit to the Kashmir valley. This step was initiated by the private sector and supported by the Tourism Department, an official spokesman said.

The department also contemplated to formulate a 20-year prospective plan for all three regions of the state. This would form the basis for the planned development of tourist resorts in the state and also help remove infrastructural imbalances, if any, the spokesman added.

The revival package sanctioned by the government in 1998 has been implemented upto 90 per cent by advancing soft loans to various units in the industry. The J and K Bank and State Financial Corporation have extended loans upto Rs 22 crore to the tourism industry for revival of infrastructure. Almost 80 per cent of the sanction is earmarked for incentive to private sector.

Meanwhile, more than Rs 11 crore would be spent by the State Cable Car Corporation on the construction of phase II of the Gulmarg Gandola Project from Kongdoori to Affarwat this year.

While inspecting the site of the project at Gulmarg yesterday, the Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Sakina Ittoo, said the phase I was completed at a cost of Rs 20 crore in 1990 and has made a significant contribution to the development of tourism in the state.

She said since its commencement in 1997 the corporation had earned Rs 3 crore upto November last year. The corporation had planned to take up construction of phase II of the project soon. French engineers had agreed to resume the work on this project, she said.

The corporation Managing Director, Mr Farooq Ahmad, told the minister that the corporation planned to install a chairlift system at Patnitop for facilitating winter sports. 

‘Finalise J&K Plan’ 
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 26
The president of the National Mazdoor Conference (NMC), Mr Subhash Shastri, has urged upon the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr K.C. Pant, to hold discussions with the J & K Government and finalise the annual Plan of the current financial year at the earliest.

Addressing an NMC workers’ conference at Bamyal, near Jammu Mr Shastri regretted that last year’s Plan was finalised very close to the end of the financial year which betrayed its very purpose as many projects could not be undertaken and the employees working under the Plan schemes got their salaries late.

To revive the developmental works and timely payment of salaries, the early finalisation of the Plan is desirable.

Mr Shastri urged Dr Abdullah to release 2 per cent DA instalment to its employees which is effective from January this year as also COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) in favour of public sector undertaking employees of the state.

Give UGC scales to staff: Farooq
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 26
The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, while addressing the inaugural session of the 5th National Convention of All-India Colleges and Universities Employees at the university campus here this morning, said the UGC pay scales should be given to the college and university employees.

Dr Abdullah hoped that the HRD Ministry would take earnest measures to ensure this.