Srinagar, November 17
It was a low-key affair at Aman Setu (peace bridge) on the LoC today when 24 persons returned from PoK after they had boarded the bus to Muzaffarabad prior to the devastating earthquake on October 8. The earthquake caused heavy damage to life and property on either side of the LoC that also hampered the movement of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service on the Jhelum Valley road after it began on April 7 this year.

The officials, who were present on the occasion, included Mr Shafiq Ahmad Kiyanee, Relief Camp Commander of the PoK, and Army and police officials from this side of the LoC to facilitate the transfer of the passengers. The passengers who arrived from the PoK today, included six women, while 19 others according to a Pakistan official were still in PoK. All of them had crossed over by the bus prior to the earthquake.

Of those stranded in PoK due to the earthquake, seven had returned via Wagah border. Two others had died in the devastating earthquake, while two others from Uri sector had earlier crossed over to this side after the quake. However, no passengers from this side of the LoC crossed over today.

The passengers walked down the makeshift road on the other side of the bridge to cross over to this side at about 1.30 p.m. Most of them expressed their happiness over returning to the valley after witnessing devastating earthquake in the PoK, which also led to a lot of destruction in parts of north Kashmir. They were taken to Salamabad, near Uri, before proceeding to their native places. Most of them belonged to Uri area, while three were the residents of Poonch district and one each from Tangmarg in Baramulla district and Tangdhar in Kupwara districts of north Kashmir.

The Aman Setu, which has suffered damage on the other side of the LoC due to the quake, serves as a relief distribution point that was opened on November 9 last. Heavy stocks of relief material, including eatables, tents, kitchen sets and medicines are being sent for the quake survivors on the other side of the LoC since its opening. Both India and Pakistan have opened five relief points across the LoC, beginning with that of Chakhan-da-Bagh in Poonch district on November 7 and concluding with that of Silokote near Uri yesterday. Two other relief points have been opened at Teethwal in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, and at Roshni in Mendhar sector of Poonch district.

The earthquake had extensively damaged the 18-km stretch of the road between Uri and the Kaman bridge divided by the LoC. It was expected that the damaged road would be restored in a period of two months, but due to the tremendous efforts made by the Beacon personnel, with the assistance of the IAF, had made it possible to get it restored within one month. The road was thrown open for light vehicular traffic on November 3.

Jammu, November 17
Fighting corruption is a tight ropewalk for Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as it is deep seated not only in political circles but also in the officialdom and hardly any efforts have been made by the previous governments to eradicate the menace.

The test case has come for Mr Azad within a fortnight of taking over the reins of the government as the state’s accountability commission yesterday indicted senior minister and PCC chief, Peerzada Sayeed in multi-crore scam in the Rural Welfare Department.

Immediately after becoming the Chief Minister earlier this month, Mr Azad had announced that eradicating corruption would be his top priority and no tainted person would find a berth in his ministry. Observers are now keenly watching as to what action he takes on the scam.

It is to be seen whether Mr Azad succeeds in curbing, if not eradicating, corruption that has over the years become the way of life in Jammu and Kashmir. The state has come to be known as second after Bihar in corruption.

The people wonder whether Mr Azad will stick to his stand or let corruption flourish as in the past. The achievement of the PDP-led government was that the then Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, established the accountability commission to look into complaints of corruption at high places. Bureaucrats thwarted such efforts by Dr.Farooq Abdullah during the National Conference regime.

The names of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats are on the fingertips of the common man on the street, but the Vigilance Department has remained ignorant and never dared to touch them.

Jammu, November 17
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today ordered the Health Department to reconstitute the drug purchase committees and make their functioning transparent.

Mr Azad ordered this while reviewing the functioning of the Health and Medical Education Department here. He had earlier made a surprise visit to the government medical college where allegations of purchase of substandard drugs and equipment had been received.

He underlined the need for upgradation of the healthcare facilities, particularly in the rural areas. NGOs of world repute should be involved in this direction.

He directed the authorities to take steps for transferring land to Jammu Medical College that was being upgraded to the level of AIIMS at a cost of Rs 120 crore.

The Chief Minister ordered that the newly appointed doctors should be bound to work in rural areas for five years without which they would not be entitled for promotion.