Kathua, March 4
Suffering power shortage and that too while living next to a hydro electric project. This is the irony of scores of villagers who despite living close to the Ranjit Sagar Dam are not getting regular power supply.

The villagers have to bear long cuts across the year. When the project was announced, the residents were promised round-the-clock power supply, besides jobs and compensation. None of those promises was fulfilled completely.

Swaran Singh of Palahi village, which over looks the scenic reservoir of the Ranjit Sagar Dam, alleges that the residents suffer 10 to 12 hours of power cuts daily, “Sixty per cent of my 48 kanal land was gobbled up by the reservoir. We had to practically start our life again. We had to shift our house. But we just got 30 per cent of the compensation promised to us. Then, we thought at least we would get good power supply, which also did not happen”.

Kamlesh of the same village remembers how as a teenager, he helped his father till their land. “The power project promised the moon, but it took away whatever we had. Today, I am forced to run a small dhaba near the dam to make both ends meet,” he rues.

“The state government did not give due compensation. They made different slabs and babus categorised the cases at their will. Some got compensation but many were left out,” he adds.

The water reservoir of the dam engulfed land in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Under the agreement, the Punjab government was to pay compensation. State Irrigation Minister Taj Mohi-ud-din has been claiming that Punjab neither paid the compensation nor the promised power supply.

“We are suffering serious shortfall of electricity. We have taken up the matter with the Punjab government many a times but they dilly dallied,” he told The Tribune. The issue is still pending.

However, the Punjab government abrogated all water agreements a few years ago, putting an end to all hopes of these residents of good power supply.

Girdhari Lal Sharma of Raheri village said the farmers of Punjab, who were their neighbhours, got handsome compensation. “We don’t know if the J&K government got money or not. But the Punjab farmers got much more compensation for the same area than us. They claimed their land was plain and fertile. But so was ours”.

He also countered the state government’s claim that compensation was paid to the farmers. “We got some compensation but it was far less and inadequate. But the power supply was definitely what was promised to us”.

The Irrigation Minister claimed no compensation was received from Punjab and whatever was paid to the farmers was given from the state exchequer. While the process was on to get more power supply, the state government had started the process of setting up power projects of its own on a special canal in which water from the Ravi would be taken, he added.

While both governments continue to fight over the issue for over two decades now, the residents hope for Centre’s intervention.

Girdhari Lal said they were now expecting the Central Government to come to their rescue.”

Jammu, March 4
Repeated promises made by the state government with technocrats have remained only on paper, forcing unemployed youth to agitate for their rights.

Members of the PDP, BJP, Panthers Party, Jammu State Morcha and the CPM raised this issue in the Assembly and took the government to task for adopting s casual approach towards the agitating technocrats who were appointed on a contractual basis with a promise to regularise them subsequently.

BJP member Chaman Lal Gupta expressed surprise that at the time of their appointment, the government had promised to regularise their services but the authorities concerned were now refusing to do this.

Harshdev Singh of the Panthers Party regretted that instead of resolving their problems, the government had used force on them while they were staging peaceful protests. He has sought immediate action against the police officers responsible for ordering a lathicharge on the protesting unemployed youth.

Balwant Singh Mankotia (Panthers Party) said if the problems of unemployed youth, who have been on a dharna here, was not addressed there was apprehension of the law and order situation getting disturbed. As BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta moved an adjournment motion on this issue, Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir assured the House that effective steps would be taken.

The minister said the government had constituted a cabinet-sub-committee in 2006 to examine ways to engage contractual technocrats in gainful employment. Even though the committee had deeply studied the issue, it could not submit its report as, in the interim; Governor's rule was imposed on the state.

Mir said the Chief Minister at a recent meeting directed the officers concerned to formulate a regularization framework for vetting by the Planning and Finance Departments before the proposal is sent to the Cabinet for approval.

Jammu, March 4
Going by the figures of road mishaps in 2010, Jammu district attained the dubious distinction of being at the top among the 22 districts of the state.

Jammu, which has topped the list of “killer roads” with 1,684 accidents and 192 accidental deaths, is followed by Kathua district where a total of 111 persons were killed in 400 road mishaps.

At third place is Ramban district with 94 accidental deaths. Udhampur district is also not far away as 85 persons were killed due to negligence on part of drivers or the authorities to take some steps to keep a check on traffic violations and rising road mishaps.

The death toll due to road mishaps has given the fifth position to Samba district where 73 persons lost their lives in 2010.

Interestingly, all top five positions in this category went to districts falling in the Jammu region, as Srinagar district with the death toll of 55 persons shares the sixth position with Kishtwar district of Jammu region.

In a reply to the Legislative Council, the Minister of Transport had given the facts that in 2010 alone, 6,129 accidents took place across the state in which 1,080 persons were killed.

Giving a break-up of various regions, he said in Jammu region 4,303 accidents occurred, which claimed the lives of 777 persons.

In Kashmir Valley, 1,826 accidents took place and 303 persons were killed.

While Kargil and Kupwara share the position of least number of road mishaps with six accidental deaths each. 

Jammu, March 4
An educational-cum-motivational tour, “Ibadat-e-Watan”, was flagged in by Lieut-Gen JP Nehra, General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps, at Nagrota recently.

The tour was organised by the Khari Battalion of Counter Insurgency Force (Delta) for senior citizens of militancy affected areas of Ramban district. A total of 25 senior citizens returned from the tour of Jodhpur, Ajmer, Jaipur and Delhi. Prominent military and civilian officials were present on the occasion.

During the flagging-in ceremony, General Nehra handed over certificates and photo albums to the senior citizens as a memorabilia. The GOC highlighted the importance of such visits for the self-development of locals and that of their community by enriching their knowledge as also by witnessing the advancement of the country in different spheres.

The General asked the senior citizens about their experiences, which they shared with a lot of enthusiasm. He also asked them about other problems and issues facing them.

Having met the President in Delhi, Mohammed Abdul Bhat, the senior most participant of the tour, jubilantly shared his experiences with the mediapersons. He said he had wonderful memories and good wishes of his countrymen to share with his village and relatives.

Speaking to the mediapersons, General Nehra said, “The Army has been endeavouring to provide peaceful environment for all-round development of the region. We have shown a glimpse of the outside world to these senior citizens from the Khari area of Doda. I am sanguine that they now would be in a better position to show the right career path to their youth and contribute meaningfully in the development process”. He also said people’s safety and development was Army’s prime concern.

During the tour, the senior citizens visited Hari Singh palace in Jammu, Umaid Bhavan and Mandore Garden in Jodhpur, famous Dargah Shariff in Ajmer, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Birla Planetarium and historic Amer Fort in Jaipur, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Mughal Gardens and Akshardham Temple in Delhi.

The senior citizens expressed their gratitude to the Army for conducting such a memorable and educative tour.

Jammu, March 4
To check the smuggling of drugs and narcotics from Punjab via Lakhanpur to the state has become a major challenge for the state police, said Kuldeep Khoda, DGP, J&K. He said: “Though we launch anti-drug drives from time to time, smuggling from the other side of the state has made all our efforts useless”.

He said: “For this purpose, we have also requested the Punjab police to assist us. But it seems that they are yet to take any action”.

He accepted that the incidents relating to drug peddling and smuggling were a big challenge for the police. Khoda said the sleuths of the Narcotics Control Bureau also helped them in conducting raids.

He said: “The number of drug peddlers arrested in the past one year is much higher than the previous years. Yet there is need to frisk those coming from the border villages. Even some people and NGOs will have to come forward to save the younger generation from this menace”.

However, sources claimed that most drugs come from Punjab via Lakhanpur border and officials deployed there give an easy access to these anti-social people, as they grease the palms of the cops deployed there.

A large number of educated youth are thronging the locations concerned in search of application forms for various jobs in the state and central governments. The release of a report by the expert group headed by C Rangarajan (See photo)on a job plan on Thursday has also raised hopes among the youth for admission to job-oriented courses during the next three to five years .

Admission forms are also much in demand in various degree colleges and the universities in the Valley.

With the results of plus two examinations held by the State Board of School Education (BOSE) declared recently, the successful candidates have been thronging various colleges for admission to degree courses.

After the University of Kashmir also declared the results of bachelor’s degree exams early last month, aspiring candidates have been thronging the Kashmir University campus for admission forms and guidance on various courses.

Srinagar, March 4
Going ahead with its policy of extending world-class banking services to the people in the far-flung areas of the state, J&K Bank pressed two more ATMs into service at Sogam and Trehgam in frontier district of Kupwara recently.

Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, a former zonal education officer, and a senior client of the bank (since 1979), inaugurated the ATM at Sogam while Mohamamd Shafi Rather, district development commissioner, Kupwara, did the honours at Trehgam in the presence of Tafazal Hussain, bank’s president, Nazir Ahmad Parimoo, zonal head (north), and scores of customers, local traders and senior citizens of the area.

Speaking on the occasion at Sogam, Hussain gave a brief overview of the bank’s performance and its policies. He said, “Customer convenience remains the foremost priority of the bank and the installation of ATMs will certainly save the precious time of public and help minimise footfalls of customers at the business units thereby ushering in the best service delivery systems of the bank”.

At Trehgam, the Kupwara DDC lauded the role of the bank in shaping the financial destiny of the people of the state.

Inviting the attention of bank’s leadership towards few areas of concern, he said, “There is enough room for network expansion in the frontier districts and vast scope for posting of additional staff to enable extension of prompt and better customer services by the bank”.

Hussain assured the gathering that the bank was committed to improve its customer services, and said, “The bank is in the process of implementing segregation of services into business operations and social sector operations.” 

Jammu, March 4
In an informal ceremony, Maj Gen TPS Waraich, GOC Tiger Division, bade farewell to Lt Col Biplab Nath, PRO and spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, on his retirement from service at the headquarters of Tiger Division here recently.

The PRO had assumed the appointment on February 16, 2009 in order to provide media cover for White Knight Corps and Rising Star Corps.

General Waraich lauded the efforts of the PRO, Jammu, in successfully covering various media events of the formation.

In his distinguished career spanning almost 22 years, Colonel Nath held various command and instructional appointments.

He was commissioned in 12 JAT (Thundering Twelfth).

He has the distinction of serving in various combat scenarios such as Sri Lanka (Operation Pawan), Operation Meghdoot and Operation Vijay early in his career.

Thereafter, Colonel Nath joined Intelligence Corps and is well known in military intelligence circles for his field intelligence skills and analysis.

He has handed over charge to SN Acharaya, who will officiate as the spokesperson and PRO of the Ministry of Defence.

Srinagar, March 4
A week-long counselling and guidance camp organised by the Public Relations Centre for the aspirants of the University of Kashmir began at its Hazratbal campus here recently.

On the first day, hundreds of students attended the camp which was inaugurated by Dr Mehraj-ud-din, director, Information Technology and Support Systems.

Students generally choose their career not by choice but by chance because they lack information about various occupations and professions, it was observed.

The students also were not aware about their own capabilities and potentialities, said Dr Mehraj-ud-din, adding that these camps would go a long way in helping the students make better career choices.

While talking to various groups of students at the camp, Dr Mehraj-ud-din told them that by focusing their interests, they would have a starting point that was uniquely about them and their career choice.

Jammu, March 4
Anyone who is visiting Tatta Pani in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district for the first time on a wintry night is likely to get astonished over seeing people enjoying dips in the hot water spring under the moonlit sky.

While the chilling air keeps people indoors, how could one even think of taking a bath under the open sky? Still, many wait till the midnight when crowd starts thinning at the famous spring. The riddle about spring gets solved as you touch the water out of curiosity. The spring keeps bubbling at 48 degree Celsius. It is widely believed that people get immensely benefited after taking a dip in this spring.

Those who have joint pains do make it a point that they take a bath in the spring every year. A huge chunk of visitors at Tatta Pani is drawn from the Kashmir Valley.

"Our elders used to come here. Kashmir witnessed prolonged winters and snowfall. There is hardly any sunshine during the winters. So, we come here and the bath proves therapeutic for us," said Bashir Ahmed, a Railway employee from Kashmir.

"Taking a bath in this spring is very stimulating and therapeutic," said Mohd Saleem, another visitor, adding that: "One can feel the benefit immediately after the bath as digestion system and sleep-related disorders improve immensely". While the Department of Tourism has done some construction over the spring, but it seems disastrous. Before preparing the construction layout, hardly any thought has been given to the requirement of the place. Neither any provision has been made to keep the belongings nor there is any proper seating arrangement. The entire structure has turned out as a mindless exercise of the department involving the wastage of public money.

Though the department has also set up a dormitory near the spring, it is again craving for attention due to the lack of facilities and manpower. Due to the poor sanitary conditions in the dormitory, hardly someone (if he has no other option) would dare to spend a night there.

"If the government gives proper attention to it, this place has a vast potential to emerge as a hot spot on the tourist map of the state," the locals said. "We want infrastructure development so that more and more visitors come here. It will not only generate employment opportunities, but also strengthen traditional ties between the people of Jammu and Kashmir," they added.

Srinagar, March 4
Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has stressed for carrying the latest agriculture technology from universities and institutions to farmers which will ensure the better quality and good production in the agriculture and horticulture sectors in the state.

He said the government contemplates to provide three-month training to the youth having a keen interest in the agricultural sector so that they could set up their own income-generating units for themselves, besides rendering better service to the sector.

The Minister was addressing the valedictory function of the two-day training programme on “Training and Pruning of Apple and Apricot” at the Central Institute of Temperature Horticulture (CITH), Rangreth, Srinagar.

The Vice-Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST), Dr Tej Partap, Director, CITH, Dr Nazir Ahmad, Director, Horticulture and Agriculture, Dr Ghulam Hassan Shah, scientists and a large number of progressive farmers were present on the occasion.

Mir said: “The state has a vast potential of development in the agriculture sector. However, it needs efforts to make it a profitable and primary sector which will motivate the educated youth to harness this potential”.

He announced that two-and-a-half km link road from Handalbagh to KD Farm costing Rs 1.21 crore would be ready by March end for the facility of the people.

The Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST, and the Director, CITH, also apprised the farmers about the new agriculture know-how.

Later, the Minister distributed agriculture kits and certificates among those who participated in the training course. He also released pamphlets prepared in Urdu for the awareness of the farmers.

Earlier, the Minister inspected the nursery of Saffron and other fruit plants set up by the CITH in the area.