Jammu, May 24
Even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took up the issue of the Ranjit Sagar dam vis-à-vis the denial of water and electricity to Jammu and Kashmir by Punjab with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Basohli yesterday, the state government is all set to float tenders to come up with an alternative channel upstream on the right bank of the Ravi in Kathua district.

The state government has already sanctioned Rs 20 crore in the current fiscal year for the purpose.

“Despite the fact that we sent the Punjab government numerous reminders to honour the Ravi agreement, the latter has been silent. Till date there has been no reaction from them to our official correspondences. It seems they are simply not bothered,” said an official from the state Home Department.

“We had thought of moving court, but first let some response come to us from them,” he added. Yesterday, Omar had raised the issue before Sonia Gandhi and told her how Punjab backtracked on the Ravi agreement and continued to deny Jammu and Kashmir its due share of water and electricity.

“This water wreaked havoc on the state. People lost their land and they were not compensated for the losses. Yet we are ready for a new beginning,” Omar had said in a clear reference to the dam.

A senior official of the state Home Department told The Tribune that in the wake of a lukewarm response from the Punjab government, the Jammu and Kashmir government had prepared a detailed project report to come up with an alternative channel upstream the Ravi.

“The Webcost, a Government of India company, has already prepared the detailed project report (DPR) and the tenders of the project are likely to be floated within a few days,” he said.

The official added that the take-off point of the alternative channel would be 900 metres upstream the dam site.

“For the purpose, the state government has sanctioned Rs 20 crore in this fiscal year, which I think, in all probability, can be used at the fag-end of the current fiscal year. As the work picks up momentum, more funds will be sanctioned,” he said. “Once completed, the state can draw 1,150 cusecs of water into the alternative channel and later we have plans to generate power from the project,” added the official.

The state government in 2009 had claimed that Punjab owed Rs 2,180 crore on account of the denial of power share of 20 per cent during the past 10 years from the dam and Rs 1,500 crore for the Punjab government’s failure to build the Shahpur Kandi Barrage over the river.

PHE Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din had said the losses had swelled to Rs 8,000 crore on account of the non-execution of the agreement by Punjab. However, once the alternative channel comes up, it would help irrigate 1.33 lakh acres in the state.

Jammu, May 24
The decision of the acting leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Jugal Kishore Sharma, to serve a notice of disqualification on seven suspended MLAs has triggered another controversy in the party, as the belligerent legislators have questioned Sharma’s authority and termed his action as an attempt to sabotage the efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.

“By such an action these “loyal” MLAs have been inviting trouble for themselves, as I am still the leader of the BJP Legislature Party and enjoy the support of the majority of the BJP MLAs in the House,” Chaman Lal Gupta told The Tribune. Gupta, who was removed from the post of the Legislature Party leader after the April 13 cross-voting episode, was among the seven MLAs who had been served the notice of disqualification by Jugal Kishore Sharma, the acting BJP Legislature Party leader in the Assembly.

“What right has Jugal Kishore got to serve a notice on me and other MLAs?, questioned Gupta, who smelt a deep-rooted conspiracy behind this development. “On the one hand the party high command is trying to resolve the crisis amicably, on the other four MLAs have been indulging in such activities that are further widening the differences,” he said. Such an action of the “clean” MLAs substantiated our allegations that the real culprits were among those who had been given clean chit by the party high command in the cross-voting controversy, he added.

Gupta, who enjoyed the support of seven suspended MLAs, said they would not hesitate from parading seven BJP legislators before the Speaker of the Assembly to prove their majority. Six MLAs had already written to the Speaker that Gupta was their leader in the House.

Sources close to the suspended MLAs said they were seriously thinking of getting a couple of “clean” legislators suspended as Gupta, in their view, was still the leader of the BJP Legislature Party and had the power to do so. “Being our leader in the Assembly, Gupta has all powers to take disciplinary action against any legislator of the party,” said Baldev Sharma, MLA, Reasi. He did not rule out the possibility of taking action against some “loyal” MLAs, whose role was dubious in the Legislative Council elections.

They said following an assurance from some veteran Sangh Parivar leaders, the suspended MLAs were sitting quietly and waiting for the outcome of the efforts of neutral leaders. The decision of Sharma, on the recommendation of the chief whip of the party, Ashok Khajurai, to issue the notice of disqualification to seven suspended MLAs had further fuelled the war, which was likely to intensify in the days to come.

The sources said the suspended MLAs had decided to convene a meeting in a day or two and authorise Gupta to take action against some “loyal” MLAs for violating the directions of the Legislature Party leader (Gupta’s).

Udhampur, May 24
Raj Kumar Dogra, a well known meditation music therapist based in Jammu, has offered to bear all expenses of Rimpy Gupta, daughter of a poor auto-rickshaw driver from Ramban, who has topped the BA Final (Arts) examination conducted by the University of Jammu this year, to enable her to pursue higher studies.

Dogra informed over phone today that he was moved by the plight of the poor but academically brilliant girl highlighted by The Tribune in its May 23 issue. “As a reader I must thank your newspaper for bringing out this report. Immediately after reading it, I and my wife decided to bear the entire cost of her studies, food, clothing and stay in Jammu for as long as she wishes. We offer to become her local guardians,” said Dogra, requesting The Tribune to help him get in touch with the girl and her family for the purpose.

Rimpy Gupta (20), who has created history by becoming the first girl from Ramban district to top the said examination was reported to be unable to pursue higher studies for want of financial resources. Her father, Shiv Kumar Gupta, plies an auto-rickshaw at Ramban while her mother stitches clothes to support the family having three daughters. Notably, Rimpy’s elder sister and classmate Chetna Gupta has also secured the first division in the same examination.

Dogra said he decided to help the girl because he too had been helped by others during his life’s struggle. “What could be a better way to return through this small gesture what I owe to society,” he said, adding that he was willing to approach the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu regarding her admission to the postgraduate course as a special case as well as submit a written commitment of support. As per rules, Rimpy is not eligible for admission because the entrance exam for admission to postgraduate courses was held before the declaration of her results.

Jammu, May 24
More than six lakh children and pregnant mothers have benefited from supplementary nutrition under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Jammu and Kashmir last year.

As per an official statement, under 141 ICDS projects and 23,375 anganwadi centres, which were in operation as on March 3, 2010, at least 619,550 children (in the age group of 6 months to six years), besides pregnant and lactating mothers were getting supplementary nutrition. Also, the number of pre-school education beneficiaries was 248,321.

However, on March 31, 2009, there were 129 ICDS projects and 18,797 anganwadi centres and the number of supplementary nutrition beneficiaries was pegged at 509,949.

It is to mention here that the ICDS is a centrally-sponsored scheme and the government releases the grant-in-aid to the states and union territories on a sharing ratio of 90:10 for all components, including the supplementary nutrition programme. It was claimed that during 2004-09 and 2009-10, the ICDS centres recorded an increase in the number of operational projects and anganwadi centres.

The ICDS, as on May 31, 2010, operated through a network of about 6,560 operational projects, the statement said. The services were currently being provided to 8.86 crore beneficiaries, including 7.29 crore children and 1.57 crore pregnant and lactating mothers.

Srinagar, May 24
Dr Talat Ahmad, Professor, Department of Geology, University of Delhi, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, and he will succeed Prof Riyaz Punjabi, whose tenure had completed on January 6. He is expected to take charge of his new assignment early next week.

Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, has in consultation with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (who is Pro-Chancellor of the university) appointed Dr Talat Ahmad from among a panel of three persons recommended early last month, an official spokesman here said. The selection had been made by a search committee chaired by Dr Abid Hussain, a former Indian Ambassador to the USA, and comprising Prof GK Chadha, CEO, South Asian University and former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Prof S Seyed E. Hasnain, an eminent scientist and, till recently, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad.

Dr Talat Ahmad has the exceptional distinction of being a Fellow of all Science Academies of the Country --the Indian National Science Academy (FNA), New Delhi, the Indian Academy of Sciences, (FASc) and, the National Academy of Sciences, (FNASc).

He began his career as a junior geologist with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and, subsequently, worked at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, as a scientist for over 19 years (1984-2003). He has been serving as Professor at the Department of Geology, University of Delhi, since October 2003.

Dr Ahmad is the recipient of many prestigious national and international awards and honours. Among others, he is a Honorary Research Associate of the Department of Geology, University of Leicester, UK; Associate Member, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Society; Member, Expert Panel for the Science and Engineering Research Council, “Deep Continental Studies Programme” of the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi; Member, Board of Research Studies for the Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Kashmir; Regional Coordinator, International Geological Correlation Programme; Member, Working Group for Geology for the National Science Digital Library Under the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, CSIR; and Member, National Assessment and Accreditation Council UGC.

Leh, May 24
Hotels in Leh town, which used to be vacant at this time of the year, are packed this season, as foreign and domestic tourists are visiting the town in a large number. The Ladakh region has added attractions for the tourists, making it one of the preferred destinations.

Earlier Leh and Ladakh used to be a popular destination only for the foreign tourists, especially those coming from European countries, but now it has become a favourite destination even for the domestics tourists.

This year tourists in a large number are visiting Leh to spend their vacation. Tourists are also facing a hard time getting accommodation in the town.

However, due to cold weather the tourism season in Ladakh is of a short period and extends through summer only. The arrival of domestic tourists in an unprecedented number has propelled the tourism season in Ladakh.

The tourist season will starts mid-June, but this year it started in mid-April. Dorjey Chita, a employee of a travel agency based in Leh, said, “Domestic tourists start arriving from mid-April while foreign tourists come here by mid-June”.

Some places in Ladakh like Khardongla Pass, the world’s highest motorable road, confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers at Shanti Stupa village and Rancho’s school in the movie “3 Idiots” have become the new tourist attractions, especially for the domestic tourists.

Wide publicity by the state government and the shooting of a recent-hit Bollywood movie like “3 Idiots” in Ladakh has increased the popularity of this most sort after Himalayan tourist destination in the country. “The maximum number of domestic tourists visiting Ladakh is from Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal,” sai Sonam Dorje, Assistant Director, Tourism Department, Leh. Dorje added that, “A total of 77,180 tourists visited Ladakh this year, out of which 55,685 were domestic tourists. In April this year, 3,001 tourists visited Ladakh and out of which 2,131 were domestic tourists”.

Ramban, May 24
Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Parmod Jain yesterday gave instructions to revenue officials to ensure that no vague entry of girdawari was made in the revenue records of Udhampur district, which may affect the interests of genuine land owners.

The instructions were given during a meeting of the revenue officers of Udhampur district convened to review the functioning of the Revenue Department at Udhampur yesterday. Jain asked the officers and field functionaries of the department to accord priority to accomplishing the revenue-related work in time in addition to attending to other assignments in areas under them.

Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Baseer Ahmed Khan briefed Jain about various activities and initiatives taken up by the district administration in the revenue sector. Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajinder Singh, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Gurvinderjeet Singh; SDM, Basantgarh, Amit Sharma; and Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars of Udhampur, Ramnagar, Majalta and Chenani were also present.

Jain instructed the Tehsildars to check the records of the field staff frequently and ensure that no vague entry of girdawari was made by them in the register, as this might cause unnecessary problems to the land owners. Revenue officials were also instructed to record their inspection reports on the Fard Partal Register.

Jain said the revenue officials would personally ensure the implementation of all guidelines in toto. They should also ensure that due supervision and monitoring took place at all levels in their areas and the Fard Raftar girdawari was written in advance and fully implemented.

Regarding the timely payment of compensation to the land owners, whose land had come under the National Highway and the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana in the district, Jain instructed the revenue officers to ensure the same was done by June-end. It would be reviewed in the first week of July, he added.

Jain informed that efforts were being made to equip the Revenue Department with basic infrastructural facilities so that services could be delivered to the public more efficiently. For the purpose, he said, a comprehensive plan was already under the active consideration of the government. He also reviewed the status of the complaints, court cases, PRCs, Patwar Khannas and stock verification records.

Jammu, May 24
The Kathua unit of the Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, GoI, in coordination with the Education Department, organised a quiz contest on the Pre and Post Independence Era and Freedom Movement of the country at Government Higher Secondary School, Nagrota- Gujroo, the other day.

Four teams of the host school, comprising two participants each, took active part in the contest. The team of Akshay Mahajan and Tarun Singh was declared the winner while the team of Kumari Ramanshi Gupta and Kumari Ashriya Gupta was declared runners-up. — TNS