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Turmoil costs state Rs 3500 cr
Faith scores over physical disability
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Airport expansion
Orders to ensure teachers' attendance
Cabinet reshuffle?
Bus Stand police station
cries for attention
Users of social networking sites play safe
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Turmoil costs state Rs 3500 cr
Jammu, July 23 In 2008 when the Amarnath land row had engulfed the state for more than two months the state had suffered heavy losses and this time, too, the business community in Jammu is at its wit's
end because of the present turmoil in the valley. "The losses are in crores. The people of Jammu, particularly the business community, has been suffering for the past one month because of shutdowns and strikes in the valley," Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) president YV Sharma told The Tribune. No financial transactions are possible and businessmen are not getting payments from their Kashmir counterparts. The business, in fact, has borne the maximum brunt of the turmoil in the valley, said Sharma. By July 31 the businessmen had to file VAT returns but because of the volatile situation in the valley now it would not be possible for the trading community in Jammu to meet the deadline, he added. The JCCI has approached Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, seeking one-month relaxation, said Sharma, adding that their counterparts in the valley were also into big losses. Being dependent on each other trade and industry certainly takes a beating in the state whenever there was a shutdown either in Jammu or in Kashmir, he said. And to sustain the business in such a volatile situation with payments getting blocked and merchandise not reaching in time, it becomes very difficult for the businessmen, particularly for small businessmen, to bring his venture back on the rails, said the JCCI president. When normalcy returns to the affected region after a prolonged spell of strikes the government offers no help to bring business activities back on rails, he added. Sharma felt that bandhs, shutdowns and strikes in any part of the state should be the last resort in the larger interest of the economy and issues should be sorted out through negotiations and dialogues. Strikes and shutdowns not only derail the economy but also deprive poor people and their children of two square meals,
he said. In this economically weak state lives a vast population in both regions, which works on a daily basis to feed the families. Though the JCCI has sought relaxation
in filing VAT returns the government says that ` 400 crore had to come to its coffers in the form of taxes by
July 31. The present situation in Kashmir has already caused a whopping loss of ` 500 crores to the Jammu industry. As compared to 1000 cargos that on an average daily carried merchandise, including essential commodities, to the valley the number plunged sharply in the past one month. Meanwhile, reports suggested that the valley has also suffered losses amounting to approximately ` 3,000 crore in the past one month.
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Faith scores over physical disability
Panjtarani, July 23 In this religious congregation, a number of physically challenged people can also be seen moving towards the holy cave. On the traditional route of yatra i.e. Pahagam, The Tribune team met a number of such people, who looked unable to move but their undeterred faith took them close to the cave and that too after climbing the tough terrain under harsh weather without any support. One such person, Balaji, a sadhu from Shirdi, who had only left leg, narrated his story that how he fulfilled his dream of coming to the Amarnath cave. “I have come for the first time on this pilgrimage, but it was my long pending desire. Finally, I am on the way to fulfill my dream. Though I was aware that the pilgrimage is very tough, I am determined either to lose my life on way to Amarnath or have darshan of Lord Shiva”. Balaji, who was moving with the help of crutches, said he had accompanied a sadhu, who had been helping him for the holy cause. Balaji said he lost his one leg in a road mishap in 1999. He added that it was all special power of Lord Shiva, which brought him to the cave. He said since he undertook the yatra on one foot it took him three days to reach near the holy cave.
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Airport expansion
Jammu, July 23
The residents demand that the government should either shift the airport to the proposed new terminal building, for which land has already been earmarked near the Tawi or it should rehabilitate around 56 families, who are living in the vicinity of the airport by providing adequate land and compensation as per current price within the city limits. “It is learnt that the government has earmarked land for selective families only. Instead, the government should shift all families who are living near the airport as all are facing similar difficulties,” said Lt Col CS Raina (retd), a resident of Rani Bagh colony. “With a view to widening the airport, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) under the State Land Acquisition Act had twice acquired land from residents and now it is for the third time that it is going to forcefully acquire land from people by demolishing their houses,” said Colonel Raina. He said as per norms, there should be no residential colony within the 100-m radius from the airport boundary wall. Unfortunately, residential colonies have come up adjacent to the boundary wall of the airport, but they are there for the past 35 years, he added. “Neither the government nor the AAI took any action at that time. Now the area is highly populated and there is no sense in removing residential colonies for temporary expansion of the airport,” he said. Colonel Raina further said, “When land is available near the colonies in front of the airport, why the AAI wants to uproot poor families”.Choudhary Harbans Lal, another resident of the colony, said his entire agricultural land of around 28 kanal and 11 marla was acquired by the AAI in 1983. “We are living under the constant fear of being displaced from our house. This fear has spoiled the future of my only son who is highly qualified and cannot do job outside the state because he does not want to leave us alone (parents)”. Expressing disappointment, Inderjeet Choudhary, son of Harbans Lal, said, “I want to do a job in Delhi but I am helpless. The fear of uncertain demolition of my house always keeps me under stress.” The residents said, “The authorities have put a ban on the expansion of our houses. We cannot undertake any additional construction work to expand the house.” Balwant Singh and his family here too have been going through such a situation. He said, “I can never forget the moment and the harassment which we faced when the authorities demolished the second floor of my house”. “We cannot even repair our damaged houses. Rainwater enters my house and increases our difficulties. The studies of my children are getting affected, but the government has turned a blind eye towards our miseries,” he added. His son Baljinder Singh (21) said though he had completed his graduation recently and wanted to do MBA from out the state, he could not do so. “My parents are disturbed due of the fear of migration and I cannot leave them along under such circumstances,” he said. “The authorities demolished the second floor of my house. At that time my daughter’s marriage was scheduled. So I could not do anything,” said Daleep Choudhary, a resident of adjacent colony. A small house of Sunita Devi, wife of Somnath, an autorickshaw driver, is in dilapidated condition and she is also suffering from similar trauma. She said, “We are poor. The fear of evacuation from our house stalks us all the time.” Though her daughter, Kamni Mehra, wants to pursue higher education and attain good job so as to help parents financial, she feels handicapped. “Under such circumstances, I cannot concentrate on my studies”, she said. Similar are the problems of Jagjeet Singh’s family, who is a private bus driver and Kanta Devi’s family, wife of a daily wage labourer Puran Chand. However, M. Suresh, director AAI, Jammu, said there was a proposal to shift the airport to another place near the Tawi which would involve 1,300 kanals of land. “The land acquisition process has begun and the government will hand over the land to us (AAI) after the process gets complete. The project will take some time to take shape,” he said. Meanwhile, the department wanted to expand the present airport within two months, he added. “As per directions of the state government, we will acquire land of adjacent colonies for the expansion of the airport. People living in these colonies will be rehabilitated”. The director said there was a need to give a facelift to the airport as most passengers were not able to identify the airport in its present shape. “Development works like car parking, aircraft parking and expansion of the runway are necessary,” he said, adding, “The present length of the runway is 6,700 ft and there is a need to expand it to at least 8,000 ft. We are able to park only three aircrafts at a time so we need more space”.
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Orders to ensure teachers' attendance
Srinagar, July 23 "The Deputy Commissioners have been asked to constitute monitoring squads at the district and zonal levels to monitor the attendance of teachers. The directors concerned will also monitor and check the attendance of teaching staff," a circular issued by the Education Department stated. It also said that those going on leave without permission shall immediately be placed under suspension by Chief Education Officers and those with highest qualification in the area shall be appointed for smooth conduct of the classes. The teachers suspended during the course shall not be reinstated except with prior approval of the government, it added. Also, the heads of the institutions shall cover syllabus and make up for slippage in the academic schedule, the circular said. — PTI
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Cabinet reshuffle?
Jammu, July 23 After the visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to the Union Capital where he held discussions with Congress leadership about the functioning in the coalition government, rumours are in the air that some ministers of both the parties would be dropped by the ministry. Interestingly, neither the Congress nor the NC leadership has confirmed changes in the ministry, but the ministers don’t want to take any chance so they have intensified their activities in their respective areas. During the last one week, the ministers have been conducting surprise checks of their respective departments to streamline the functioning in their ministry. They are also convening meetings of officers of their concerned departments to review the functioning of the departments. The ministers are not only visiting different areas, but also they are sitting in their offices till late to project themselves as hardworking before their leaders. Every minister has been trying to give an impression that he is very particular about streamlining the functioning of his ministry. Furthermore, these ministers have also given strict instructions to the officers of the Information Department engaged with them to ensure that their review meetings get wide publicity in the media. While as the ministers of the NC are very particular about getting publicity in the local media, those belonging to the Congress have been adopting all means to get publicity in the national media to impress the leaders sitting at the Union Capital. As it is widely alleged that some ministers have been making money by transferring officers to plum positions, some ministers have decided not to transfer any officer for the time being. They have directed members of their personal staff not to give assurance of transfer to any officer at this juncture when their opponents have been alleging them of making money through transfers. Sources said due to prevailing factionalism in the Congress, rival groups of both factions in the party have been blaming the ministers of their opponent factions of making money through transfers. During the last one week, there is a rumour in the corridor of power that five ministers of the coalition government would be dropped. Out of these five ministers, two belong to the NC and three belong to the Congress.
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Bus Stand police station
cries for attention
Jammu, July 23 A visit to this police station reveals that even the windowpanes are broken due to which rainwater enters the premises. During rainfall, cops are seen busy in throwing water out or making temporary arrangements to save files and documents. Besides, stairs and furniture are also in poor shape and cleanliness is a far cry. Though the staff deployed there prefer to keep mum on the issue, the pathetic condition of the building speaks for itself. “Everyone knows about the condition of the building, but no action has been taken. We have told our higher-ups a number of times but it proved useless,” said a police officer. He said in sharp contrast, the Gandhi Nagar police station was housed in a newly constructed building and was equipped with all electronic gadgets. “Are we not serving the public or we are not in the same department?” Though the cops claimed that their work was not getting affected due to the poor working conditions, there is hardly any space for a visitor or complainant to sit. A senior police officer told The Tribune that the maintenance wing of the police had assured them that the renovation work would be started in a short period. |
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Users of social networking sites play safe
Srinagar, July 23 Youths have been uploading videos and pictures of police and security forces action on stone pelters, hosting blogs and posting comments of current situation on social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and Twitter. Most of the users had changed their profile pictures and uploaded a poster that reads “I PROTEST”. The users have been reportedly kept under scanner and allegedly summoned to police stations. The police has, however, been denying this charge. A group of youths said they have changed their profile information, including name, location, picture and gender, out of the fear that a few youths have been allegedly arrested on account of pasting provocative messages on these sites. Manzoor Ahmad (name changed) said immediately after he learnt that the police is summoning and detaining youths on charges of misusing these sites, he changed his profile information together with the profile picture. “Even my friends have opted for this,” says Manzoor, adding “We prefer female user names now and use flowers or other innate objects as profile pictures. We’ve even changed information about our educational institutions or place of work”. He added: “We are using fictitious names now but that is the only option left with us. We don’t want to take any risk. These websites are scanned now and we can’t express ourselves freely with our real identification. So, it’s better we hide our identification”. Reports say that 20 youths have been picked up from Anantnag town recently on charges of stone pelting and using “provocative” messages on Facebook. Seventeen youths have lost their lives in police and security forces alleged firing since last month.
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srinagar diary The common Kashmiri has been confined to his house, thanks to the continuous restrictions and strikes in the Kashmir valley for almost a month now. Whenever there is relaxation in curfew or restrictions people try to come out of their houses and sit together on roadsides (see picture) as the markets remain closed. The ongoing strikes have crippled life of the people of Kashmir and adding to their woes is the fact that shops are running out of stock at many places, making it difficult for people arrange ration items. Some people compare the current situation with the turmoil the valley witnessed during the Amarnath land row agitation in 2008. Even though there is no economic blockade on Kashmir like that in 2008, people still are unable to get items of daily use as shops remain closed due to the ongoing unrest. Cashing in on misery
When the on one hand common masses are suffering on account of separatists' shutdowns and curfews and restrictions imposed by the authorities every now and then, there are some people, who don't waste even a single opportunity to make a killing in of the existing situation. In a way they earn out of the miseries of
common masses. Some shopkeepers selling essential commodities like vegetables, milk and likewise not only indulge in profiteering but also sell inferior items. As there is no market checking squad around, they are at liberty to do things the way they want. They increase rates at will and consumers are left with no option but to oblige them in the given situation. New tourist destinations
The development of Chohar Nag and Margan Top as the new tourist destinations will not only help develop tourism in the valley but also offer added attractions to the traveller. Apart from basic infrastructure, ways to create accommodation in the form of huts, viewing decks, walkways and pony tracks at these areas ought to be looked into. There are many such areas in the valley that have not yet been promoted as tourist destinations despite their vast tourist potential. Integrated development of these scenic spots should be worked out with a well-planned strategy so that tourists flock these areas as well. This will also give a fillip to the economy of these places by generating more employment. (Contributed by Tejinder Singh Sodhi and Afsana Rashid) |
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Jammu, July 23
Jammu, July 23
Jammu, July 23
srinagar diary
