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Tuesday,
April 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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CAG REPORT Kabuli flays extension of POTA to J&K Dal Lake ‘shikaras’ await tourists
Dismiss Gujarat Govt,
say Sikh leaders Three-tier security in J&K
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Drive to update electoral rolls
in J&K Five dead, 40 injured in road mishap H. K. Sema made SC Judge
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CAG REPORT Jammu, April 8 In a comprehensive report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the state government invariably blocked money which was to be released to the implementing agencies with the result the projects were not completed as per the cost and the time schedule. As per the report the programmes aimed at augmenting the drinking water supply were not completed either because of delay in the release of funds or on account of bad planning. In this sector the percentage of utilisation of funds ranged between 23 and 59 under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). The report said the earmarked Central assistance of Rs 119 crore was not released to the state government due to the failure of the state agencies to utilise the funds, released earlier, fully, and on account of the late submission of proposals and reporting of wrong expenditure figures. As many as 298 out of 420 water supply schemes were taken up for execution without administrative approval and technical sanction. This resulted in cost overrun of Rs 1.72 crore in the execution of just 16 schemes. The department failed to ensure sustainability of water sources on the long-term basis which resulted in available expenditure of Rs 3.60 crore on the revival of 17 schemes and unfruitful expenses of Rs 1.06 crore on four other schemes. Inadequate store management led to locking up of Rs 3.96 crore by way of purchase of material in excess of requirement. The water testing laboratories were established only in eight out of 14 districts in the state. Out of these only three laboratories functioned partially which resulted in the supply of untested and untreated water to the rural areas. The implementing agencies failed to utilise funds under the AUWSP (Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme) in full leading to a marked decline in the utilisation percentage from 84 to 31 by 2000-01. The report has found irregularities in several other government departments in the shape of the misuse of funds, overdrawal of salary or wages and diversion of funds from one sector to the other. Referring to 12 major irrigation schemes pertaining to irrigation the report pointed out that these schemes, costing Rs 76.53 crore, were scheduled to be completed by 1994. No scheme had been completed despite an expenditure of Rs 66.45 crore as recorded in March 2001. As a result of the delay the cost of these schemes had been revised to Rs 351.29 crore which indicated an increase of 359 per cent between June 1996 and March 2000. And now these schemes are scheduled to be completed by 2004. In Health and Medical Education Department too the CAG report pointed out instance where equipment was purchased worth several crores of rupees but the same remained in stores for want of infrastructural support. In some cases costly equipment had turned into a junk. In the programme of controlling and preventing diseases several schemes were not taken in hand as funds earmarked for them were diverted to other sectors, including meeting the wage bill of the employees. Again poor utilisation of funds resulted in a delay in the release of Central funds for prevention and control of diseases. Out of over Rs 14 crore earmarked by the Centre only over Rs 10 crore had been released. |
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Kabuli flays extension of POTA to J&K
Srinagar, April 8 The Centre, with the help of the state government, had got POTA extended to Jammu and Kashmir without any discussion and debate, damaging the special position of Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution, Kabuli told a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Solidarity Council, of which he is the chairman. The Disturbed Area Act and other stringent laws were enough to tackle militancy in the state and there was no need to enforce laws like POTA, which could be misused, he said. Kabuli expressed concern over “non-fulfilment” of the promises made by the Centre from time to time to free the state of economic distress, unemployment and poverty. The meeting passed a resolution condemning the police action against mediapersons in Gujarat, terming it an “attack on freedom of press and democracy in the country”. Kabuli also criticised Farooq Abdullah, saying it was his “moral responsibility” to visit riot-hit Gujarat and meet the victims. PTI
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Dal Lake ‘shikaras’ await tourists Srinagar, April 8 The month-long riots in Gujarat are believed to be the major reason for the poor flow of tourists to Kashmir this season, coupled with the earlier suicide attack at Raghunath Temple in Jammu. “These incidents have led to a steep decline in the flow of tourists to the state”, says Mr Mohammad Ashraf, Director-General, Tourism Department, Jammu and Kashmir. Most of the tourists, including pilgrim tourists visiting the Vaishnodevi Shrine at Katra near Jammu who visit Kashmir between March and May, belong to Gujarat. Even as the Jammu and Kashmir Government claims to have made all efforts to invite tourists to Kashmir, those associated with the tourist trade charge the government with lack of efforts. The flow of tourists suffered a jolt with the eruption of militancy over a decade ago, rendering jobless thousands of people associated with the business. Nearly 50,000 people have been affected due to the setback to the tourism industry. In order to boost tourism in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir, the divisional administration here plans to “invite tourists” from across the country and abroad for the conduct two-day Baisakhi festival here from Saturday. The attempt is the first of its kind during the past five years, although other steps have been taken too. Those associated with the tourism industry, including the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHARA), the Houseboat Owners Association, shikarawallas and taxi operators, hit hard by the ongoing turmoil, have hailed the government move to hold the Baisakhi festival for sending a positive signal outside the state and abroad that Kashmir is ready to receive tourists. “Why should not the Central Government come forward to set right the hotels hit hard by the turmoil”, comments Mr Habibullah Mir, Chairman of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHARA). He claims that over 30,000 people associated with big and small hotels from Banihal to Uri have been affected by the turmoil. He holds that “even if the infrastructure (hotel property) is maintained, it needs adequate funding”. The package announced by the state government in 1995 envisaged focus on tourist spots like Srinagar, Jammu, Gulmarg and Pahalgam alone, Mr Mir maintains. “The recent announcement (of package) is nothing but extension of the old declarations focused on the four spots,” he adds. As compared to last year, there is no advance booking in hotels and houseboats by tourists. “This is because of the negligent attitude of the government, which did not make any effort in the winter to attract tourists to the valley,” opines Mr Mir. Mr Abdul Razak Kotru, chairman of the Houseboat Owners Association, claims that over 1100 registered houseboats are vacant. While there was 20 per cent advance booking early last year, it has been negligible this year. Focus remains mostly on the annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir. Those associated with the tourist trade lament on the government approach for not encouraging the pilgrims for visiting other spots, including Srinagar and
Gulmarg.
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Dismiss Gujarat Govt,
say Sikh leaders Jammu, April 8 The demand was contained in a resolution adopted at a meeting of leaders of the state Akali Dal, the AISSF, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Sikh Naujawan Sabha and Youth Akali Dal here today. Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser, Bhai Kanahiya Nishkam Sewa Society presided. The resolution expressed deep concern over the police lathi charge on mediapersons at Sabarmati and demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. It said mediapersons were injured and manhandled possibly to prevent men from the print and electronic media from reporting facts about the volatile situation in Gujarat. Mr Jagdev Singh, Mr Paramjit Singh and Mr Kulwant Singh demanded suitable compensation to those mediapersons who were injured and whose costly equipment was damaged in the lathi charge. |
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Three-tier security in J&K Jammu, April 8 Jammu topped the list with the setting up of 25 police posts, followed by 24 in Kupwara, 20 each posts in Poonch and Rajouri districts and 10 police posts in Kathua, the sources told PTI. These border police posts chain would serve as a third tier of security in the state, the sources added. First tier of the security consists of the Army, followed by BSF troops and fourth tier is the Border Defence Committees (BDCs), the sources said. The police posts will work under the security grid of paramilitary forces, the police, the Army and intelligence agencies, the sources said. This has been done to activate the police set up, in case one escapes or infiltrates from across the border would be trapped by third security tier.
PTI
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Drive to update electoral rolls
in J&K New Delhi, April 8 Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr K.J. Rao, Consultant in the Election Commission, said the state Chief Secretary, Chief Electoral Officer and representatives of various political parties had apprised Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh and Election Commissioner B.B. Tandon of the need to update the rolls during their visit to Jammu and Srinagar early last month. Taking into consideration the representation made by political parties, the commission has ordered the inclusion, deletion and modification of names in the electoral rolls from April 3 to April 18. Mr Rao said copies of the existing electoral rolls had been given to all recognised political parties and displayed in the offices of Deputy Commissioners, Executive Officers, municipalities,
tehsildars, BDOs , panchayatghars and polling stations. |
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Five dead, 40 injured in road mishap Jammu, April 8 The bus was heading towards Doda from Jammu and as it was negotiating a sharp turn when the driver lost control over the vehicle and it fell into a deep ditch near Padder
village. The seriously injured have been rushed to Government Medical College here and others have been admitted to various hospitals in Doda district. Meanwhile, the police has confiscated the vehicle and registered a case in this connection.
UNI |
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H. K. Sema made SC Judge Jammu, April 8 Mr Justice V. K. Jhangi, a High Court Judge of Jammu and Kashmir, would be acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. According to sources, the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court is not required to take fresh oath of office. |
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