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Shoppers flood markets
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Appeal to observe a green Divali
Chinese crockery, dry fruits preferred Divali gifts
State archives speak high of The Tribune
Jammu farmers seek compensation for damaged crops
Panchayat poll may finally be held
Heritage School hosts 21st National Chess Tournament
PAHL students promote crackers-free Divali
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Shoppers flood markets
Jammu, November 4 For regular travellers and office goers, the festival season is nothing less than a traffic nightmare. “I travel from Gandhi Nagar to Janipur everyday in my car, but the travelling time now has almost doubled because of traffic jams,” said Amit Khajuria, a resident of Gandhi Nagar. “Usually, it takes me 20 minutes to reach my office, but now it takes nearly 45 minutes. The first busy traffic point is from Last Morh to Gole Market, which is a bottleneck. The second one is the road along the Asia crossing to Bikram Chowk. But, the worst traffic spots are B.C. Road and New Plot and Janipur,” added Amit. Canal road, Talab Tillo, Paloura, Raghunath Bazar, City Chowk, Old Hospital Road, Purnai Mandi and Link Road are the other most affected areas due to heavy rush. It is really impossible to move freely in the market in the evening as the markets are flooded with customers for Diwali purchases. A senior traffic police officer said extra cops had been deployed to solve traffic congestion these days more would be pressed into service if the problem persists. The department this year had taken the necessary measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic. |
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Appeal to observe a green Divali
In this view, a good number of people, especially environment activists, have started laying focus on a clean and eco-friendly
Divali. They are appealing people to say no to the temporary joy of bursting firecrackers and observe the festival as “green Divali”. Dr Rabinder Rattan Pal, medical superintendent, Chest Diseases Hospital, underlines the hazards of fireworks. “In one night, the pollution level increases to dangerous levels. It can cause asthmatic attacks among the patients, besides causing allergies to any normal person with symptoms like coughing and sneezing. Those in extreme age group are always prone to such disorders”. “The poisonous gases generated by firecrackers like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide can cause back pressure on heart in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease,” he said and added, “High-decibel nose is further dangerous for newborns, old age and frail people”. “After
Divali, the number of patients complaining respiratory problems and allergies suddenly goes up every year,” he said. His message: “Realise the hazards of crackers and discourage them. Observe festival of lights in an eco-friendly way”. “Firecrackers should be discouraged,” said Dr Aniece
Choudhary, head, ENT department, Government Medical College and Hospital, adding, “The festival should be celebrated in an inclusive way keeping in view the convenience of everyone”. He advised that those having respiratory problems should use mask for not avoiding poisonous gases in the atmosphere. AK Sharma, an environment activist, says, “The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has set an example by ensuring green Divali for the past more than 10 years. The ban on high-decibel crackers has been strictly implemented there”. “In Jammu, a similar ban was ordered by the then DC Jammu in 1998, PK
Tripathi, but the ban remained on paper only due to a lack of political will,” he said. He further suggested, “The huge money that is spent on crackers should go for the welfare of street children, their education and healthcare”. Yash Pal, senior scientist at the Directorate of State Pollution Control Board, Jammu, said, “We have been monitoring the level of pollution at seven different points from Ambphalla to
Satwari. Data collected before, on and after Divali would be collected and analysis would be drawn”. In his appeal to the masses, he said people should avoid spending money on crackers and celebrate Divali by gifting plant saplings for the conservation of environment. |
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Chinese crockery, dry fruits preferred Divali gifts
Jammu, November 4
The majority of people have switched over to presenting either dry fruits or Chinese crockery as gifts to their near and dear ones. Hugh rush of people can be seen in the markets of the city, who are buying gifts for friends and relatives. Earlier, people used to present sweets to their friends, neighbours and relatives, but because of abundant recovery of adulterated khoya and sweets from local markets by the Jammu Municipal Corporation, people have shifted their preferences. Residents have shown inclination
towards China made products particularly Chinese crockery and appliances, which are cheaper and attractive. Chinese statutes costs 70 to 350, crockery Rs 100 to 3,000 and appliances between Rs 300 and Rs 5,000. “Chinese products are affordable. These products are attractive as well. I have purchased a crockery set for my sister, which I will present her on Divali,” said Neelam Choudhary, a local resident while coming out of a crockery shop. Amit Bhat, another customer, said, “The prices of Chinese products are reasonable. At the same time, it becomes easy to select a gift item for a friend as we have a huge variety here”. Ram Paul, a shopkeeper, said, “The sale of China-made products accounts for 90 per cent of my total sales so far. This time I have earned double the profit as compared to previous year”. Besides Chinese crockery, people are also showing their preference for dry fruits, decorative items and bakery products as well. Jugal Sharma, a dry fruit seller, said, “Like previous year, this time too I have recorded 65 per cent rise in sales. I earned profit on expected lines. Most of the people particularly those who are health conscious are purchasing dry fruits as Divali gifts”. However, sweetmeat shop owners are disappointed. Trilok Chand, a sweetmeat seller, said, “Earlier, we used to earn huge profit on Divali, but now our business is suffering because of misdeeds of a few people. Our business has been reached to a naught”. |
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State archives speak high of The Tribune
Jammu, November 4 It was, however, The Tribune, then published from Lahore, that pursued an independent policy on Kashmir in view of the larger interests of the native states and the country. These observations are well documented in a series of official files and valuable records preserved by the J&K Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums. Dr DC Sharma, a former senior librarian of Jammu University, has also penned down similar findings in his book “Documentation of English Newspapers on Kashmir”. Records available with the Archives Department reveal that in post-1880 period, most of the Anglo-Indian papers, including The Pioneer of Allahabad, were highly critical of the ruler of Kashmir and Kashmir affairs under a strategic plan. On the contrary, The Tribune held an independent opinion vis-à-vis Kashmir. Dr Sharma’s book and the archival records referred to many instances when different newspapers, including the Civil
and Military Gazette of Lahore, Englishmen (Calcutta), Indian (Rawalpindi) and the Indian Daily News, published from Calcutta, had carried a series of “provocative and misleading” stories on Kashmir only to be rebutted or clarified by the Maharaja’s publicity department. One such typical instance of misleading the masses had come to the fore when Patna-based Indian Nation in its February 23, 1932 issue, under “Jummoo” dateline, had carried a story that Lt Col Forrester Farewell Colvin, a Briton, had taken over from Raja Hari Krishan Kaul as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The story was far from truth, but had momentarily created ripples. Similarly, the records reveal that Urdu newspapers from Lahore like Alfazal and Siyasat, which were referred to as “Muslim Press”, were equally publishing “misleading and anti-Hindu” stories. It was, however, the popularity and the independent view of The Tribune that in 1936, the state had ordered that this newspaper, along with three other English dailies, be dispatched to most of the educational institutions, including Prince of Wales College, Jammu, and SP College, Srinagar, besides high schools at Akhnoor, Bhaderwah, Sopore, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Kishtwar, Samba, Kathua and Bhimber. The other national dailies which marinated journalistic standards and were recommended for education institutions included Eastern Times (Lahore), Statesman (Delhi). The records further reveal interesting anecdotes linked with The Tribune. The proprietor of Onkar Brothers at First Bridge, Srinagar, was the newspaper’s sole distributor for the state. The firm also had a branch office at a picturesque spot of Pahalgam where tourists and high dignitaries were provided the newspaper. From 1936 to 1939, Onkar Brothers continued to supply The Tribune to the state machinery, government institutions and even the Prime Minister of the princely state. However, in 1940, by a government order, the charge to supply the Tribune was given to Raina News Agency, Srinagar, as Onkar Brothers was found irregular at times. |
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Jammu farmers seek compensation for damaged crops
Jammu, November 4 Farmers have all reasons to come out on the streets because of this failure. On the one hand farmers have been agitating to acquire the seeds and fertilizers while on the other hand authorities have failed to set up the procurement centers to purchase their paddy crop. Similarly, authorities have failed to provide adequate an compensation to the farmers whose crops were affected by draught or hailstorm since the last three years. Ironically, the government with much publicity has announced to provide compensation to the paddy growers of RS Pura where the crops were damaged due to the recent hailstorms. Farmers have not been given compensation for their crops damaged in 2008. Large number of farmers had suffered huge loss due to hailstorm in the year 2008 in the Arnia belt of the Jammu district. After the affected farmers had come to the roads, the government had constituted a team of experts to assess the total loss and submt a repot. On the basis of that report, the government had sanctioned compensation, which has not been distributed. “Farmers have been facing hardships due to wrong policies of the government,” said Trilok Singh Bajwa , a prominent Kissan leader and Vice-President of the Peoples Democratic Party, who is in the forefront for the cause of farmers. Bajwa has already warned to block the movement of traffic on the national highway in case the demands of the farmers were not fulfilled within a stipulated period of time. Narrating woes of the farmers, Bajwa said that compensation had been sanctioned for the affected farmers of 2008 hail storm but majority of them had not received their cheques. “The cheques have been handed over the Revenue Officers for distribution but these officers hardly attend their offices,” he said. He further demanded atleast Rs 10,000 should be given as compensation to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to hailstorm. Sukhnandan Choudhary, BJP leader and MLA Marh, who had blocked the Jammu-Poonch national highway along with his supporters on Wednesday, charged the government with adopting an indifferent attitude towards the farmers of the Jammu region. He pointed out that farmers were not getting seeds and fertilizers on time. “We have given an ultimatum to the government to solve our problems within a week’s time”, he said and asserted that their agitation would be further intensified if their demands were not met. He said blocking the national highway was just a beginning. “It is unfortunate that despite repeated representations and memorandums, only hollow promises are made and in practical nothing has been done for the improvement of the problems being faced by farmers in Jammu,” he said. |
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srinagar diary Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so. This old adage is rightly applicable to the changing situation from time to time in Kashmir. During the past five months there have been umpteen ding-dong battles between stone-pelting youths and security jawans on the streets. These battles, particularly during the first four months between June and September, have left many tales about the atmosphere of hostility and animosity between local youths and CRPF jawans at various places. But, things seem to have gradually changed over the past one month even as stray incidents of clashes do take place here or there. The love for sports for many youths like jawans when not on duty brings the younger lot closer to each other. There are many instances where local youths, forgetting the hostile atmosphere, do participate in friendly sports matches with security personnel (See picture) inside camps in various areas of the Valley. Instead of hurling stones on police or CRPF men, these youths ‘clash’ with jawans during volleyball bouts. Polythene stages comeback
After a much-hyped campaign against the use of polythene carrybags to maintain pollution-free environment, it has staged a comeback thanks to the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir. In the wake of continued shutdowns and occasional curfew restrictions, the authorities concerned have not been able to enforce a complete ban on the use of polythene carrybags in the markets. The authorities had started going to the extent of banning the transportation and supply of polythene bags into the Valley during the early campaign. But, the drive against polythene has petered out due to the ongoing turmoil and most shopkeepers have no restrictions on keeping its stocks for customers. Vegetable sellers in particular had switched over to alternative carrybags or were demanding these from their customers. Many of those without any carrybags in their possession would have to go without consumer items occasionally. But the prevailing situation has led to the unchecked supply and use of polythene bags in the markets. Now garbage dumps can be seen having a major chunk of colourful polythene covers, endangering the environment.
(Contributed by Ehsan Fazili). |
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Panchayat poll may finally be held
Jammu, November 4 Since 2001, the state government for varied reasons had not been able to hold panchayat elections and hence, a cash-strapped state like Jammu and Kashmir continued to lose huge amount of Central aid. However, it now seems that the government has decided to decentralise the powers to the needy and indigent at the grass-roots level. “Probably, by December this year we would hold the panchayat elections across the state,” Ali Mohammed Sagar, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister told The Tribune. “An all-party meeting is being convened shortly to put forth an agenda and thereafter, the proposal will be taken to the state Cabinet,” said Sagar. When reminded about the evitable loss of Rs 300 crore every year, Sagar admitted that the magnitude of monetary loss was certainly a big one and a deterrent in the development at the grass-roots level, but claimed that the entire exercise had been completed to hold the elections this time. The present regime had been postponing the elections on the plea of disturbed conditions in the state and other engagements like December 2008 elections to the state Assembly followed by Rajya Sabha elections, Upper House poll and then the Lok Sabha poll. In the last fiscal year, over Rs 2 billion were sought by the Rural Development Department, but the Union government had spurned the request on the grounds that the state government had failed to hold the elections directly associated with rural populace. The state has 4,587 panchayats out of which elections were held to nearly 1,900 in 2000. However, this time, too, the disturbed atmosphere in Kashmir may become a roadblock. Sources in the intelligence agencies said militants might play spoilsport. “Situation in Kashmir may further deteriorate in view of the boycott calls by separatists, which are likely to be supported by militants,” they said. Nevertheless, the election authorities have been asked to complete the exercise of preparing voters’ list by November, said the sources. The minister concerned (Ali Mohammed Sagar) has been asked by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to put in place prerequisites to hold free and fair elections by December. The sources said acting upon Sagar’s firm resolve to meet the deadline this time, the election authorities were working overnight to come out with a final list of voters. The Chief Minister doesn’t want to lose further the Central funds, but at the same time volatile situation in Kashmir would be a tough task, they added. Meanwhile, in the run-up to the panchayat elections, electoral photo-identity cards (EPIC) have been issued to nearly 63 per cent of over 65 lakh eligible voters in the state. Nearly 41 lakh registered voters out of a total of 65.31 lakh have been issued EPICs so far, said the sources. “We are on the job to issue EPICs to as many voters as possible before the panchayat elections,” said an official at the office of the Chief Electoral
Officer’s office. |
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Heritage School hosts 21st National Chess Tournament
Jammu, November 4 Hemant Kumar Lohia, IGP, Traffic was the chief guest and Sunita Gupta, Chairperson, Heitage School was the guest of honour on the opening. BN Sarkar, Principal, Heritage School, welcomed the guests. Around 114 chess players from 22 states would be participating in the tournament, which would conclude on November 11. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said this tournament would go a long way in popularising the game in this part of the country. While addressing the audience, Atul Gupta, President, All Jammu and Kashmir Chess Association, Jammu said this was the first National Level Chess Tournament being organised in North India especially in the state. Among the players, three are international masters and one is an under 12 Champion. Dharmendar is the Chief Arbiter of the tournament. |
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PAHL students promote crackers-free Divali
Jammu, November 4 On the occasion, they promised to make all efforts to spread awareness regarding the harmful effects of the poisonous gases, which can prove to be harmful.The students conveyed the message of a safe and a happy Divali and encouraged children to 'Say no to crackers', advising them not to waste money on crackers. They appealed people to join hands with them in their efforts by helping them to make their mission successful. The students said Divali should be celebrated by lighting houses and avoiding crackers. |
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Jammu, November 4