Jammu, July 20
Devan’s Modern Breweries situated at Talab Tillo has thrown all pollution control norms to the winds allegedly in connivance with officials of the State Pollution Control Board.

Around one lakh people living in eight colonies in the vicinity of the factory have been demanding the shifting of the distillery.

The residents of Dutta Colony, Durga Nagar, Colonel’s Colony, Wazir Mohala, Tirath Nagar, Friends Colony, Manorma Vihar and Priyadarshani Nagar say they feel suffocated due to air pollution and foul smell of effluents emitted by the factory.

With their patience running thin, the residents even approached the State Pollution Control Board, but to their dismay it did not take any action.

The residents also filed an application under the RTI Act on May 28, 2010, but till date no response has come despite the lapse of the scheduled time of 45 days.

They say they have also taken up the matter with the management of the factory a number of times, but again nothing has been done to minimise their problems.

They say, “We fail to understand as to how the authorities allow the brewery to run in the heart of the city (within municipal limits) and emit poisonous gases.”

RK Tickoo, general secretary of the Durga Nagar Welfare Committee, says in the past 25 years, the area surrounding the factory (within a radius of 500 m) has completely turned into a residential area with the approval of the government.

MM Khasu, a resident of Durga Nagar, says, “Pollution is created round the clock by the factory in the shape of poisonous gases which keeps coming out of the chimney of the factory.”

“The foul smell of polluted air is also unbearable and at times, it becomes difficult even to breathe,” said RK Mantoo, a resident of Tirath Nagar.

The residents say nights are worst as polluted air spreads in the atmosphere and makes things difficult for them.

They further say the intensity of the pollution at times is so strong that in the morning hours, one could see a thin layer of black soot on the rooftops of their houses.

“Continuous inhaling of polluted air has its adverse effects on people, especially on children and senior citizens of the entire area surrounding the factory,” said SL Raina, a resident of Colonel’s Colony.

DD Sharma, a former block development officer, who is living adjacent to this factory, says the factory emits all types of pollution (air and noise), which creates trouble for the residents.

“Paddy husk is being used as fuel in the factory. It spreads everywhere with the ash which comes out of the chimney and causes problem for the people. Neither we can sit in porch nor can we stand on the terrace”, he adds.

Some families have shifted from the area due to the nuisance cause by the factory. The air pollution has adversely affected business establishments in the area as well.

Vijay Sharma, a shopkeeper, says, “My business is being affected due to the presence of foul smell. Our customers cannot stand here even for a minute because they have to hold their breath while purchasing goods.” Similar views were expressed by other shopkeepers of the area.

The residents also allege that the factory discharges its water effluents into a nearby irrigation canal, thus polluting the water used for irrigating fields. They say even farmers of the nearby areas have several times made complaints against the factory owners, but all goes in vain.

Vijay Devan, vice-president, Devan’s Modern Breweries, said, “The factory started functioning in 1961 and at that time, the entire land was barren. Now, the area is congested and we already have a proposal to shift the factory to Samba where we have purchased land but it will take at least more than three years”.

“All allegations levelled by the residents are baseless. We have full-fledged effluent treatment plant and not even a single drop of untreated water is being released from the factory”.

“When we have to repair a defective part, only then foul smell comes out of it, otherwise there is no such problem. Besides, officials of the State Pollution Control Board inspect our factory on a regular basis and every year, we get pollution clearance report from them.

“Whenever we receive any complaint from residents, we always take extra care. The canal is no more an irrigation canal, it is a nullah. We use barley to make bear and not paddy husk.”

Shokat Choudhary, director, State Pollution Control Board, said, “We have received an application under the RTI from the residents and due to some formalities, it will take more time for whatever information they have sought. Though I have recently joined the post and yet to examine the case, I will personally look into the matter”.

“All allegations against us are baseless. We always monitor everything and no one can violate rules and regulation. If the devices being used by the factory are found lacking, we will issue notice to them”.

Paddy husk is being used as fuel in the factory. It spreads everywhere with ash that comes out of the chimney and causes problem for residents

— DD Sharma, former block development officer

We have a proposal to shift the factory to Samba where we have already purchased land, but it will take at least more than three years

— Vijay Devan, vice-president, Devan’s Modern Breweries

All allegations against us are baseless. We always monitor everything and no one can violate rules and regulation. If the devices being used by the factory are found lacking, we will issue notice

— Shokat Choudhary, director State Pollution Control Board

He said late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had envisioned these district development board meetings for bringing the administration closer at the district level so that the delivery system could improve, adding that decisions in the board meeting should be implemented in letter and in spirit so that the plans yield desirable results on grounds.

“Despite odds pitted against the government, we are making all efforts to upgrade and augment basic amenities being provided to people,” he said, adding priority has been accorded to power sector, better road connectivity and water supply.

“Water recourses are depleting and we have to optimally use the available ones,” he said, adding that the problem of water scarcity in the area would be resolved in the best possible manner. He assured that necessary steps would be taken to improve power scenario in the district. Slathia also stressed on proper implementation of the MNREGA in Rajouri district and said the scheme was the effective tool to improve economic condition of people and provide them job opportunities at their doorsteps.

He said the scheme could help to change the face of rural populace and concerned departments should keep people aware about the benefits of the scheme.

It may be stated here that mountainous districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar, which have immense tourism potential, still remain underdeveloped due to the nonchalant attitude of successive regimes.

District development commissioner, Rajouri, GA Khwaja, said in the last fiscal year, the total allocation was to the tune of Rs 7,774.68 lakh and out of which, Rs 7,760.84 lakh were utilised, thus recording 99.83 per cent fund utilisation

Jammu, July 20
Having good matrimonial relations is the basic requirement of every family, but these relations are no longer good among a large number of families in the district.

The woman cell of the state police has received a record number of complaints in the past one month. Sources told The Tribune that the cell had received nearly 130 complaints in June, which was at an all-time high.

So far this year, the cell received 575 complaints and out of it, 375 complaints have been disposed of with compromise between the families.

The police claims that it always try to take families of both husband and wife to strike a compromise after counselling. “There is no particular category of people who come here to lodge their complaints. People living in the rural and urban areas are almost similar in number so far as matrimonial disputes are concerned,” says Shakti Devi, in charge of the woman cell.

She says the main role of the cell is to investigate the matter and try to take both parties to a compromise after counselling so that the future of their children should not be at a stake.

Social workers and members of local NGOs say there is no specific reason behind matrimonial disputes. “It takes two to quarrel. Generally, both are equally responsible for the dispute. If there is something wrong taking place between a husband and a wife, they should first try to understand the problem and if it is not helping then they should involve their parents besides involving neighbours or friends to resolve the issue,” believes Deepika Thusoo, a social activist.

She adds that before marriage, proper counselling of both the boy and the girl becomes mandatory.

“It has been observed that in almost every complaint, financial crisis and dowry are the major reasons. Though we along with the police always try to resolve the dispute, there is a need for more and more people to come ahead and help the needy women,” adds Deepika.

An aggrieved woman told The Tribune that she had two little sons and their family income was too less to meet the expenses, but her husband is a drunkard and comes late at night and quarrels with her. “This is a routine and I have never complained to anyone. But now when I have come to know about his extramarital relations, I have filed a complaint with the woman cell, which is looking into the matter,” said the woman, who lives in a village in RS Pura sector.

Talking about this case, the police said investigations had been initiated and they had summoned the alleged accused to the woman cell.

“Such complaints are serious and they can ruin two families, so we take precautions while investigating and sometimes it takes long because we can’t take the marriage to an end without investigating it properly,” said a police official.

Nowgam-Sumbal, July 20
Azra Bano’s in-laws have been engaged in carpet weaving since decades. Before her marriage, she too did it, but left thereafter.

Azra was keen to provide proper education to her three children, but her in-laws wanted her daughters to join the family profession and son to be sent to school. But, she went against their wishes and her family was driven out of house.

Azra’s family had no financial support and they lived in a two-room thatched house in Nowgam-Sumbal in Bandipora district. The couple faced innumerable problems to earn a decent living.

Tailoring was their main source of income and Azra helped eking out some income by doing staple silk work. In May 2005, she joined a woman self-help group (SHG) formed under the aegis of the Indo Global Social Service Society and the Welthungerhilfe (formerly known as German Agro Action).

Slowly and steadily, the ball was set rolling and the group started functioning. Being the first SHG to be formed in the area, it was named as Bismillah SHG. The members started with weekly contribution of Rs 5. Despite hurdles, the SHG continued its work.

The members mostly do carpet weaving at their respective places. But, Azra does it in one of the members’ house, as she doesn’t have a loom at home.

As the SHG got its first grading of Rs 25,000, it was utilised by Azra and other SHG member Raja Bano. Azra availed a loan of Rs 15,000 and purchased a land. The rest was availed by Raja to set up a bakery shop.

“Due to cumbersome procedure involved in availing and repaying loan in banks, I thought it better to avail here,” says Azra, adding loan has to be repaid within 5-6 instalments.

Azra sold the land after one year and earned some profit. Her husband wanted to purchase a sumo to ferry people in and around the village and earn a living. “He couldn’t do it for the want of money. As such, I sold the land and purchased a sumo for him,” she says.

Mother of three children, Azra wishes to avail another loan for setting up a shop or a candle-making unit. She feels latter would be beneficial due to erratic power supply here.

Loan has been availed by almost all 15 SHG members for various purposes like marriage, renovation of house, health purpose and likewise. “No such concept of SHG existed here before. The members lacked awareness and there was no guidance. Apart from group and individual activity, the members learnt their respective signatures,” shares Azra.

Pattan, July 20
Chak Jamaal Mir village, 3 km from Pattan town in Baramulla district, is devoid of basic amenities.

A kutcha road leads to the village and it is difficult to walk through, especially during rough weather. The absence of transportation adds to the problem that turns manifold when a patient has to be taken to a hospital, mainly during an emergency. A patient is carried on hands or a horse cart to a nearby health centre which is also a few kilometers away from the village.

The village lacks a dispensary. “Even for minor treatment, we have to walk 3 km to Palhallan-Pattan. When we approached the chief medical officer concerned, he told us that if the minister sanctions a dispensary for the village, he would be more than happy to implement the orders”, said village youth. The village comprises two mohallahs, Mir and Dar, having a population of few hundreds. The village has no a ration depot, which is awaiting approval of the area MLA, shared residents.

Abdul Hamid Dar, a contractor and president of the Village Welfare Committee (VWC), said four years ago, the village was provided 15 latrine units by an agency, but people wanted units for everyone, so the idea was dropped.

“We’ve again taken up the issue with the authorities and they’ve assured us to take up the matter,” said Dar, who joined Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) - Welthungerhilfe (formerly known as German Agro Action), when it started its intervention here four years ago.

The Seven-member VWC also played its role in getting a two-room primary school fenced. “We’ve taken up the issue of upgrading the school with the authorities,” shared VWC members.

Till recently, residents say the school had no water point in latrines. The same was provided after villagers threatened to lock the school. Two classes are taught at a time and rest is taken up after that due to the paucity of space, they added.

Students have to go to Palhallan after finishing their primary schooling. This is one of the reasons of increasing number of school dropouts, especially girls. “Young age, heavy school bags coupled with a lack of transport facilities make students disinterested in studies. They drop out and join child labour,” says Abdul Raheem, a villager.

Till 2006, no person had completed matriculation in the village. Currently, there are about 12, seven of which are women. Situation is, however, changing and parents are showing interest in educating their wards.

Despite living in abject poverty, almost all villagers were having above poverty line (APL) ration cards till recently. “Once awareness was there, we applied for below poverty line ration cards”, said a group of women, adding that the village deserves to be categorised as backward area. “Since it falls within the vicinity of Pattan town area, the status hasn’t been provided”.

VWC members shared that workshops about Right to Information (RTI) Act organised by IGSSS has been of great help.

Well, pronunciation plays a major role in properly conveying things but when it comes to English, things may go haywire and at times sound funny.

“O jaldi karo Tawi mein flesh flood (not flash flood) aaya hai, kuch tourists trape (not trap) ho gaye hain”. The other day I heard these words while sending stories during rush hours trying my best to meet the deadline.

However, “flesh flood” and “trape” caught my attention and a weird thought came to my mind. Is “flesh” flood really a possibility in Jammu’s Tawi river?

Well, going by the degeneration in society here and sex scams that rocked the city in recent times starting from a former Miss Jammu, I felt that how correct was the person in his wrong pronunciation and accent.

Leh, July 20
All irrigation canals of Phyang village of Leh district have been washed away on Sunday night due to the overflow of snow-melted water in the village stream. Irrigation in Ladakh is done through canal by channelling snow-melted water coming from mountains.

Stanzin Dorjey, nambardar of the village, said the footbridge of the village has also been damaged badly by the rising water level in the main stream of the village.

Damages to bridges, roads and agriculture fields have also been reported in several other parts of the district.

Unusual increase in water flow in the stream of Hanu Gongma and Hanu Yokma villages of the Khalsi subdivision has also damaged two houses, some agriculture fields and orchards of the villages.

Former Skurbuchan councillor of the LAHDC, Leh Dawa Tsering, said it has also threatened to damage the primary school of Hanu Yokma village.

There are also reports of damages to agriculture fields and orchards at Dhomkhar village in the Khalsi subdivision. Due to the damage to the road to Khardong and Tangya villages of the Nubra subdivision on Sunday night, the villages have remained cut off with Diskit, the headquarters of the Nubra subdivision.