Ramgarh, February 5
With dal already out of the reach of a common man, atta may also become dearer this year making the life of ‘aam aadmi’ more difficult.

The ongoing protracted dry spell and then a brief hailstorm on January 29 have virtually damaged wheat crop in the Ramgarh sector near the International Border (IB) here.

With no rains this winter, the wheat crop had already suffered extensive damage in plains across the Jammu region and then a brief spell of hailstorm recently did the rest of the job, rued Dessa Singh, a farmer in Bandral village of the Ramgarh sector.

The Weather God has played a cruel joke with us this winter. The wheat crop, which should have grown approximately two feet by now, is nowhere in sight and in some cases, the entire crop has blighted, he added.

Going by the damage, obviously wheat may get dearer and in turn the price of flour may also see an upward trend, said Singh, adding that fodder, too, has taken a beating because of the dry spell.

However, if we get rains this month, still we could be able to salvage something out of what we had cultivated, said Mohar Singh, another farmer from the same village. He described rains as indispensable for a rich harvest of wheat crop.

Though canals are choked with silt and filth, even if we get irrigation water via canals wheat seeds germinate into plant, but grains fail to form properly, said Sansar Chand, who also lost his petty investment to the ongoing dry spell.

Besides, the farmers who sowed paddy, also lost it and now we eagerly await rains so as to salvage whatever we can, he added.

Other farmers in the village rued their luck that at a time when dry spell has been giving them sleepless nights, none from the revenue and the irrigation departments visited them to soothe their frayed nerves.

Srinagar, February 5
It was almost 14 years ago when a few volunteers joined hands to open a clinic to help cancer patients.

The clinic looked after cancer patients of the Kashmir valley for the first three years after which the volunteers formed the Cancer Society of Kashmir in March, 1999.

“For the first three years we used to see patients at a small clinic in a downtown locality but a new clinic was opened in the Lal Mandi area of the city after forming the Cancer Society of Kashmir,” said Dr. Ashiq Hussain Naqshbandi, founder of the society.

The society now plans to set up a super-sociality cancer hospital in the valley with donations from people of Kashmir but political apathy may not let this dream take shape.

“Cancer is taking a heavy toll on the people of Kashmir and the formation of the cancer society was a modest step to do something in this direction,” said Shamshad Kralwari, a member of the society.

The cancer society has so far been neglected by the successive state governments. The society had identified land in Awantipura to set up the super-specialty hospital for cancer patients in the valley but the land was not given due to political intervention.

The government later gave land to the society in Zewan but the people objected to the setting up of the hospital there, fearing that the opening of a cancer hospital in the area might spread the disease amongst local residents,

Dr. Naqshbandi said. The government then handed over 40 kanals to the society at Zakoora. The society spent about Rs 7 lakh on the construction of a boundary wall but the project ran into rough weather as the government stayed the construction of the hospital there under ‘political pressure’.

“We have met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has committed to looking into the matter personally,” Dr. Naqshbandi said.

Leh, February 5
Tsewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer, who earned name in the construction of artificial glaciers in Ladakh to mitigate water woes of locals, is in the process of developing six more artificial glaciers in Leh district this year.

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology is financing two projects while the other four are being financed by the Army under its Sadbhavana project. For his innovation in creating artificial glaciers, Norphel is also known as “Ladakhi ice man”.

Norphel says, “All six glaciers will be slightly different to each other. The best will be adopted by the Ministry of Science and Technology to replicate it in other Himalayan regions of the country”.

Claiming that the artificial glacier is the first innovation of simple water harvesting and conservation technique in the world, Norphel says it was innovated in 1987 at Phuktse Phoo village in Changthang subdivision where water scarcity was severe in spring when villagers could not harvest any crop.

Due to severe cold in Ladakh, only one seasonal crop is harvested from April-May to August-September. Snow and glaciers are the only source of water for irrigation and other purposes.

In spring when farmers badly need water for timely plantation of crops and to irrigate trees after the long winter season, the discharge of water from melting of snow is not enough to meet the requirement.

Norphel says artificial glaciers are an alternative source of water constructed near villages by saving winter water for spring use and has proved effective to mitigate drought-like conditions and climate change effect. He adds that he also got an opportunity to present his innovation in the recent Copenhagen Climate Summit.

It is built by diverting glacier water at the start of winter in November to the shaded areas of the hill facing north side where winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a mountain slop.

Under centrally sponsored watershed development scheme, Norphel, through his implementing agency Leh Nutrition Project (LNP), has set a record of constructing 10 artificial glaciers in Kharu and Nyoma blocks of Changthang subdivision of Leh district.

With the technique proving helpful, economically and environmentally, including the availability of irrigation water in early spring, reducing water disputes among neighbours and families, the LNP has decided to spread the technique among farmers by organising a series of exposure visits to the sites, workshops and training camps.

In a tete-e-tete with The Tribune, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Minister of State for Forests, Environment, Power and CAPD, discussed various challenges before the state, particularly relating to environment and power supply.

Two students, Megha Chopra and Ubaid-ul-Khaliq, from JP World School joined The Tribune team with their queries.

Jupinderjit Singh: You are an advocate by profession. How did you land up in politics?

Shabir Ahmed Khan (SAK): When I was studying law in Jammu University, I was quite active in student politics. I was the general secretary of the NSUI and our organisation did a commendable rescue work during 1988 floods. Later, Rajiv Gandhi visited the city and I was floored by his personality. Since that day, I am a loyal Congressman. I remained with the party and kept working for it even when I practised law at Rajouri. Later, Ghulam Nabi Azad encouraged me. I rose to the position of a district president, then chairman of the Pahari Board and eventually won the election by defeating my uncle and a seasoned politician. It was the most hard-fought election of any Assembly in the state. I won by 333 votes.

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): How much forest cover is left in the state? What are we doing to save them?

SAK: I don’t have ready figures available, but the forest cover has improved. There was a lot of damage because of militancy and counter-militancy operations, but now things are back on track.

RKK: The plunder of green gold in the state goes on unabated. For instance, illegal sawmills that too deep inside jungles.

SAK: No doubt, there had been illegal sawmills in the state and they were once located in jungles, but ever since we took over the reins, strict action was initiated. And in certain cases we have cancelled the licences of sawmills, both in the Kashmir and Jammu regions.

RKK: Rich and influential people, including politicians, have encroached upon the forestland. Bhatindi and Sidhra townships have come up on forestlands.

SAK: We admit that forestland had been encroached upon in the past and there was a deep nexus of land mafia and politicians in some cases, but wherever incidents are brought to our notice, we will definitely initiate action.

Ashutosh Sharma: Every year thousands of acres of forest cover is lost in fires. What mechanism your ministry is putting in place to minimise the incidents?

SAK: In a recent cabinet meeting, serious discussions were held over fire-fighting techniques. We have all equipments with us and if needed we will purchase more. The need of the hour is to reintroduce social forestry through which people can help us in raising forest and protecting them.

Sunaina Kaul (SK): Are you taking any preventive measure to save trees from the electromagnetic rays emitting from cellphone towers, which are having harmful effect on trees?

SAK: Yes, the rays coming out from cellphone towers are having degrading effects on trees. We are discussing the issue. These towers are necessary for uninterrupted communication, so we cannot stop the installation of these towers. We will soon come out with a policy for taking prevent measures.

Megha Chopra (student): What are you doing to save the environment? Jammu and Kashmir glaciers are in the centre of debate on global warming.

SAK: We are concerned about it. The Union government is helping us. We held discussions with Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on the issue, but we need public cooperation in preventing damage to the environment.

SK: You are State Power Minister as well? When will people get rid from unscheduled and long-hour power cuts, particularly in the areas where the Power Department has installed electronic meters?

SAK: We have come up with a policy on power cut which will be announced soon according to which there will be no unscheduled power cuts in the state. In the areas where we have installed electronic meters, there will be no power cuts. There will be 100 per cent uninterrupted power supply and power cuts will take place only if some major problem occurs. We will try to implement the policy before this Assembly session. We have installed around 5 lakh meters in different areas and around 3.50 lakh meters have also been approved for installation. Within three years, we will install around 13 lakh meters.

Ubaid (student): So students can hope of better power supply this summer?

SAK: Yes, many new power projects are under construction. Some others are being commissioned. I can say that soon the state would be power surplus.

RKK: What about the prestigious Sawalakote project that hangs in limbo. Will it come up? If so, when and at what cost?

SAK: The High Court recently quashed an arrangement with the Sawalakote consortium. Let the judgement come to us, we would study it and then see how the things could be pursued afresh. Having said so, I am more than confident that power scenario would improve in the next two to three years. We are going to start the second phase of Baglihar. Things would also fall in place as far as Sawalakote is concerned and Sewa II has almost been completed. The process has been set in motion for around 300 small and big hydel projects in the state.

Archit Watts: Why can’t the government encourage industrialists to install solar energy projects?

SAK: We are meeting the industrialists and our Chief Minister also held a meeting with the delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries a few days ago in this connection. The government has also offered subsidy to public for installing solar projects.

Dinesh Manhotra (DM). Junior Ministers (MoS) always complaint that their seniors do not give them adequate powers. How do you manage the things?

SAK: As I became the minister first time, it is a new experience for me. I am getting full cooperation and support from my senior Cabinet colleagues. For taking every decision, my Cabinet ministers take me into confidence. Being Cabinet Ministers, our seniors have more power than us and we have to keep the thing also in mind.

DM: Although you do not belong to any faction of the Congress, don’t you think that bickering within the party has been badly affecting the performance of the government as well as the Congress?

SAK: I do agree that there are some differences of opinion, but these differences are not so serious. The coalition government has been functioning smoothly with the cooperation of the Congress. Minor differences between some leaders are not affecting the performance of the government. As far as the Congress is concerned, the party has been strengthening with every passing day. In the days to come, the Congress would emerge as a strong force in the state. Differences of opinions may be there, but they are resolved.

DM: To whom do you give the credit of strengthening the Congress in the state?

SAK: It is the combined effort of all leaders. But I admit without hesitating that it was Ghulam Nabi Azad, who, as a Chief Minister of the state, had laid the strong foundation of the Congress in this state. Had controversy over the Amarnath land not raked up, the party would be in a position to form the government on its own. Even people, who had voted for the BJP in the last Assembly elections, have been realising that they had committed historical blunder.

Archit Watts: After more than three decades, the Congress had won the Assembly elections from the Rajouri Assembly segment. What are you planning to convert this segment as citadel of the party?

SAK: Being an elected representative from Rajouri, I am working overtime to further strengthen the party in this belt. We have already set up organisation structure of the party at the grass-roots level. The Congress is not only strengthened in the Rajouri segment, but also in the adjoining Darhal where the party would emerge victorious in the next Assembly elections.

DM: Being a Pahari leader, what do you suggest to solve the controversy over Gujjars’ opposition to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Paharis.

SAK: Educated Gujjars are not against the ST status to Paharis. There are some vested interests who have been trying to rake up the issue to create wedge between the two communities. When Gujjars were granted the ST status, Paharis did not oppose, so there is no reasons for Gujjars to stall the process of granting the same benefits to Paharis. I am hopeful that this issue would be solved amicable and the ST status would be given to Paharis as Gujjars would not oppose the same.

Srinagar, February 5
With a view to enhancing farmers’ perception on weather and climate and its impact on crop yield, agricultural scientists during a day-long awareness programme organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K) impressed upon farmers that the climate has maximum influence on crop production and agricultural practices should be followed accordingly.

The interface between farmers and scientists, “Weather, Climate and Farmers”, organised by the Division of Agronomy, SKUAST-K, was sponsored by the IMD, Ministry of Earth Sciences. It revolved around issues related to ways and means of improving communication of weather and climate, weather forecasting, its types and relevance to farm management, weather and climate risk management, climatic risk in production of different crops like paddy, maize and mustard and crop disease incidences and weather.

“Climate has 70 per cent impact on crop production,” said Dr Raihana Habib Kanth, assistant professor (Agron), SKUAST-K. She added that favourable climate followed by the use of quality seeds would produce better yield. She said climate determined the choice of farming system and crops, ideal cultivars, choice of irrigation, likelihood of pests and diseases and indication of harvest time. Dr Raihana said earlier, not many agricultural practices were followed by farmers. “Less qualitative product made scientists and farmers to ponder over the situation. They noticed that climate has its serious impact.”

Dr Raihana explained agricultural operations from sowing to harvesting to be followed. She deliberated on weather parameters with negative influence like excessive and untimely rains, scanty rains with prolonged dry spell, heat and cold waves, floods, high winds, dust storms, thunderstorms and hail storms. She mentioned the impact of temperature, solar radiation, humidity, cloud, rainfall, wind and precipitation on crop production.

Farmers from five districts joined the programme and participation by women was also encouraging.

Jammu, February 5
In the absence of manpower, most of the health infrastructure that was developed by the previous coalition government remains under utilised. The existing infrastructure is already overburdened making things difficult for patients and medical staff simultaneously.

The planning department is yet to start the recruitment process for the proposed 4,100 posts of medical and paramedical staff that were proposed by Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in 2008 for its own smooth functioning along with associated hospitals like Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, Government Chest Diseases Hospital and Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital.

The newly constructed OPD at the Government District Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, saw light of the day recently after it remained locked for two years. But despite an increase in the number of patients, the new OPD is being run with the same limited staff and equipment.

The newly constructed 200-bed pediatrics hospital in the premises of Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital that was set up with the cost of nearly Rs 16 crore is still a non-starter.

The 550-bed SMGS Hospital is the only gyane and pediatrics hospital in the Jammu region is also facing space constraint and severe staff shortage.

Dr Satish Sharma, medical superintendent of the hospital, said: “To make the new block operational, we need at least 80 nurses, 60-70 orderlies and 50-60 sweepers, besides medical and teaching staff”.

“A power substation has already been set up in the hospital whereas other things are in the process of completion. All we need is manpower to run the hospital,” he added.

Similarly, Rs 7-crore emergency block of Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital remains closed since it was completed in May 2008.

Bed occupancy at the existing emergency wing remains more than 150 which is against the medical norms.