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Pak team
to inspect Bhagliar Exposing
PDP corruption a priority, Central
package for revival of tourism |
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Thermal
imagers for border surveillance soon Spurt in
militancy blamed on ‘healing touch’ Criticising the healing touch policy of the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the state BJP today said it had led to spurt in militancy in many areas of the state. J&K
Govt orders revaluation of diploma papers The Jammu and Kashmir Government today ordered the revaluation of answersheets of some diploma course examinations following allegations by the students that their performance was not properly evaluated. 
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Pak team to inspect Bhagliar project today Jammu, October 20 The team members, including Mr Izhar-ul-Haq and Mr Bashir Amhed, two advisers, were scheduled to visit the power project today but the last minute change took the Pakistani experts to the tourist resort of Patnitop where they will spend the night. The Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Water, Syed Ali Shah, told newsmen at the airport that “we had requested the Government of India to grant permission to our team to visit Bhagliar and soon after Delhi gave the nod we are here in Jammu to inspect the project.” During their three-day stay, which includes night halt at Patnitop, the team members would be briefed by the power engineers regarding the main feature of the Rs 4000 crore project which is to utilise Chenab river waters for generating power. Since three rivers, the Jehlum, the Chenab and the Indus flow from Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, the utilisation of the water of these rivers has to be made within the ambit of the treaty as is the case with the Ravi, the Beas and Sutlej, that flow from Punjab to Pakistan. Ever since the start of work on the Bhagliar project in 1997-98 the Pakistan Government has been seeking
permission to its team to see that the spirit of the treaty was not violated by the Kashmir Government. However, the 1999 Kargil conflict had delayed permission and after Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s peace initiative Delhi okayed the visit of the Pakistani team to Bhagliar. The successive Kashmir Governments have been demanding either thorough review of the treaty or scrapping it altogether on the plea that limitations imposed by the 1960 agreement had prevented the state from making optimum use of the river waters for power generation and lift irrigation. After Delhi rejected the demand for scrapping the treaty the state government started demanding Rs 6000 crore as yearly compensation in lieu of the losses suffered by the state on account of the Indus Water Treaty. The Finance Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig said despite repeated requests not only by the PDP-Congress coalition government but by the former National Conference government also the Centre had not paid any compensation for the losses suffered owing to the treaty. Under the treaty the Kashmir Government cannot store water of the Indus, the Jehlum and the Chenab beyond the permissible limit for power generation and lift irrigation with the result the state has not been in a position to generate electricity to its optimum potential of 15,000 MWs. In addition to this, a number of major power projects, including the 400 MW Uri, 105 Lower Jhelum and 600 MW Salal generate electricity from 20 to 40 per cent of their optimum capacity during the lean periods. A state government spokesman said that “we have nothing to hide and hence we have welcomed Pakistani team’s visit to Bhagliar.” He said “the government has not violated the spirit of the treaty in case of Bhagliar or any other power or lift irrigation project.” |
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Exposing PDP corruption a priority, says BJP chief Jammu, October 20 I have to expose the pro-militant face of not only the PDP but of the Congress, he said today, adding “it is unfortunate that in the name of healing touch the coalition government shielded those who had nexus with militants and punished those who initiated stiff operations against the rebels.” In this connection he cited the example of Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar whose ancestral house was used by militants while planning for the terrorist strike on Akshardham temple. He said before a proper inquiry could be conducted the Chief Minister and the Congress big wigs gave a clean chit to the Minister. Another priority, he said, was to “launch agitations” against non-implementation of the poll promises made to the people by the PDP and the Congress. He said there was an inordinate delay in implementing the Wazir Committee recommendations and setting up of regional development councils. Dr Singh, who is a Reader in the Department of History in Jammu university, said “people in Jammu and Ladakh regions continued to receive a raw deal from the valley-centric political leadership and
bureaucracy.” We have to agitate against delay in bringing Kashmiri migrants back to the valley and in holding the civic polls and in completing the Panchayat elections,” he said. The BJP Chief was also unhappy over ‘clandestine’ way of diverting Panchayat funds to
legislators and alleged that the coalition government had “hardly done anything to check corruption and resolve the problem of unemployment.” In reply to a question Dr Nirmal Singh claimed that he had succeeded in resolving the problem of dissensions in the BJP. In this context the BJP
spokesman, Dr Hari Om, explained that the erstwhile dissidents had extended support to the new chief. “My task is to make the BJP a vibrant opposition party so that we are able to do well in the next Lok Sabha poll and the civic elections,” Dr Singh said. |
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Srinagar, October 20 Rangil Shah has been appointed as senior vice-president of the party besides master Tassaduq Hussain and Aga Syed Mehmood as vice presidents, a party spokesman said here. The reconstitution of the PDP was necessitated as both positions of vice presidents had fallen vacant.
— PTI |
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Central package for revival of tourism Srinagar, October 20 Disclosing this the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said the package was sanctioned following the recent visits of the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the State. He said tourism had to play a vital role in the revival of the shattered economy and thus tourism revival was the thrust sector. Mr Mir, however, lamented that a fear psychosis among those intending to visit Kashmir prevented many of them to undertake tours to the Kashmir valley. This, he said, was because of the “undue publicity” that had a negative impact on the revival of tourism in the valley. The minister appreciated “people’s interest” in the revival of tourism activities in this trouble-torn state. He held that terrorism was a worldwide phenomenon, but militancy-related incidents had a negative impact on the tourism sector in the valley alone. As part of the implementation of a fresh central package, Rs 10,000 each would be disbursed among 235 shikara owners here on Wednesday. Under this programme all registered shikara owners of various shikara ghats of Dal Lake, Nageen Lake, Hazratbal, the Jhelum and Mansbal Lake were being covered. They would be eligible for assistance of capital grant of Rs 20,000 each for the repair and upgradation of their shikaras. The package also envisages bank loans for the renovation of houseboats, ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh depending on different types, at 4 per cent of subsidised interest rates. Under the package banks would provide loans to hotels and guest houses for renovation and refurbishing of rooms. The Department of Tourism, Government of India, would provide a subsidy so that the hoteliers get a loan at 4 per cent interest. This benefit would be available at the rate of Rs 50,000 per room for up to 50 per cent of the capacity of the hotels of all categories except five star hotels. |
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Thermal imagers for border surveillance soon Jammu, October 20 The Director-General, BSF, Mr Ajay Raj Sharma, said here yesterday. “We have sent our requisition to the Home Ministry. Its committee will float global tenders for the purchase of thermal imagers.” He said “We are experimenting with the samples sent by three countries and the one from Bharat Electricals.” “We have found the one from Bharat Electricals effective and we hope the one from other countries can be more effective in monitoring the movement of infiltrators before they sneak into our territory,” He explained the range of each machine was between four and six kms and these were very effective in monitoring the movement of the enemy troops and infiltrators during the night. Mr Sharma said: “We need several hundred thermal imagers which are to be installed on the border not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but in the western and the eastern sectors of the country.” “Each machine may cost between Rs 20 lakh Rs 25 lakh, he said adding, that installation of thermal imagers and deployment of additional companies of the BSF on the border could result in a fall in the rate of ingress by 80 per cent. He and Mr Sharma said thermal imagers had enabled the Army and the BSF to foil series of infiltration bids in the recent months. |
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Spurt in militancy blamed on ‘healing touch’ Jammu, October 20 “The government’s claim that this policy is bringing change in the hearts of the militants has proved wrong with the latest attack by ultras on the residence of the Chief Minister in Srinagar,” the newly elected president of the state unit of BJP Nirmal Singh told PTI here. The militants have rather stepped up their activities and were indulging in more and more killings of civilians and attacks on the security forces, he said adding, about 811 civilians had been killed since the government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed came into power in the state. He said the state government needed to review its policy, deal firmly with ultras and expose those who were “overtly or covertly” helping them in the government. “Time has come to throw militant-friendly and anti-civilian healing touch policy”, he said.
— PTI |
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J&K Govt orders revaluation of diploma papers Srinagar, October 20 The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by state Technical Education Minister Haji Nissar Ali who directed the Principals of all polytechnic colleges to obtain the willingness of the students who are desirous of revaluation by October 30. Such students have to deposit a fee of Rs 100 for this purpose but those seeking only to check their papers will have to pay Rs 50. The government decision comes after several students had complained that their answer scripts were not properly evaluated. Ali exhorted the State Board of Technical Education (SBOTE) officials to implement the norms already fixed for conducting of examinations to avoid any irregularities.
— PTI |
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