|
|
|
|
Unscheduled power cuts
Trouble brewing over delay in student body poll
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Civic body elections soon
Minister calls for preserving ‘green gold’
‘Dard Ka Rishta’ on TV from June 8
Jhelum embankments to be beautified
JAMMU DIARY
|
|
Unscheduled power cuts
“After a brief relief a week ago due to rain and cloudy weather conditions, which had stabilised electricity supply to some extent, power cuts and scarce water supply are back to haunt us,” said Harvinder Singh, a resident of the densely populated Nanak Nagar. “Unscheduled power cuts for hours together are a routine. Though we somehow brave the hot and humid weather, it becomes very difficult for small children and elderly people to cope up with the extreme weather conditions, he added. Chief engineer of the Power Development Department Shehnaz Goni recently apprised Law Minister Ali Mohammed Sagar about the status of power supply in Jammu and other far-flung areas. Goni claimed before the minister that the PDD replaced the damaged transformers within 24 hours in Jammu so that the people did not suffer. However, in reality, the department acts at its own will to replace the damaged transformers taking days together, said Harnam Singh, a resident of Digiansa. And despite repeated attempts neither the Law Minister nor the chief engineer responded to the telephone calls, exposing “intentions” of the present regime in delivering good governance. “Just a couple of days ago, electricity played hide-and-seek with us. My grandfather, who is an asthmatic patient, had to undergo a nightmarish experience because of frequent power cuts. After almost six hours, power supply was restored at 4 am. Now one can imagine the condition of an asthmatic patient in blistering summer when mercury hovers above 40 degree Celsius,” rued Amit Gupta, a resident of New Plot area. When reminded that the present government is conducting Jammu secretariat to ensure efficient working, Gupta laughed at the initiative describing it nothing but eyewash. “Do you think politicians and bureaucrats really bother about the common man?” he asked. Had it been so, the Chief Minister would have led by example conducting open darbar in Jammu as well, like the way he did in Srinagar soon after the darbar offices shifted there, he resented. In the past two days, this correspondent tried to contact the PDD chief engineer and made at least 30 calls on her phone, but the official didn’t respond. Meanwhile, acting upon Omar Abdullah’s instructions Ali Mohammmed Sagar, who holds the portfolio of Rural Development, Panchayats, Justice and Parliament Affairs also, will attend the Jammu summer secretariat for a week from June 6. On Monday, he reviewed the functioning of various departments associated with delivery and regulation of basic services, besides pace of progress on developmental works across the region at a high-level meeting. Pawan Kotwal, divisional commissioner, Jammu; Dilbagh Singh, IGP Jammu; Ajay Khajuria, director agriculture; Shehnaz Goni, Chief Engineer PDD; Vinod Sharma, VC JDA; Basant Rath, SSP Jammu; Vinod Luthra, SE PHE; PK Puri, SE PDD; and divisional-level officers of various departments attended the meeting. The minister reviewed the functioning of the government departments with special reference to PHE, Irrigation, Jammu Municipal Corporation, PDD, CAPD, Traffic, Transport, UEED, JDA and Rural Development Department. |
|
Trouble brewing over delay in student body poll
Jammu, June 7 The university authorities had last year announced that the students’ council poll would be held from next year, but so far nothing has been decided, which has agitated the students. With the fate of the elections hanging in the balance, the intelligence agencies have reported that students can disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the university if the authorities failed to announce the poll schedule on time. “The elections have become a necessity as the authorities have been adopting anti-student policies. No one is ready to listen the plight of students as everyone is busy in corrupt practices. The money of students is being spent on unnecessary things, especially on the renovation of offices. This can be checked only by elected representatives of the university who can raise their voice at all platforms. So, we demand that the authorities should conduct elections from this year,” said Vikas Sharma, state president, NSF. He further said if the authorities failed to announce the poll schedule in the first week of the new academic session, they would adopt various methods to get their demand fulfilled. Similarly, the representatives of other students’ unions and research scholars said when neighbouring states could conduct the students’ council poll, then why the University of Jammu authorities were not ready to follow them. However, the university authorities claimed that the matter was pending for the approval of vice-chancellor Varun Sahni who is the supreme authority to decide whether the elections would be conducted or not. A senior official of the university said they were ready to conduct the elections, but the students would have to follow the norms decided by the Lyngdoh Committee for the elections. The Supreme Court had made it mandatory for all universities and those found guilty were liable to be penalised, he added. |
|
KPs find solace at replicas of Kashmiri temples
Jammu, June 7 One such replica is that of Khir Bhawani Temple, constructed at Bhawani Nagar in Janipur locality here. The temple resembles the centuries’ old Khir Bhawani temple of Tulmulla, Kashmir, where Pandits used to visit since generations to pay obeisance and seek blessings of Mata Ragneya, particularly on Jesht Ashtami, which is being observed as a holiday in the entire Kashmir region. This year, the festival, commonly known as Mela Khir Bhawani, falls on June 9. The replica temple had to be constructed here as most of the Kashmiri Pandits, post-migration, could not visit Tulmulla shrine due to militancy. The faith and urge to worship their Isht devi, which also finds a mention in Kalhana’s Rajtarangni, forced the community to construct an identical temple here, with goddess Ragnya seated on a platform raised from the base of a serpentine shape spring. The temple here, however, is not surrounded by mighty Chinar trees as are visible in Kashmir nor is a tributary of Sindh flowing by its side. Also, no holiday is observed here on this day in government offices and schools. Since 1990, this temple has attained a similar importance like the original one situated in Kashmir. Apart from daily aarti and puja, its Prabandhak Committee organises annual Khir Bhawani Mela, in which thousands of devotees take part. Triloki Nath Kaul, a devotee of Mata Khir Bhawani, recalls the days when he along with fellow community members used to visit Tulmulla on Jesht Ashtami. “Since 1990, I could not visit Kashmir, but I am a daily visitor to the temple of Mata Khir Bhawani here. I get the same sort of solace at this shrine as well,” said Kaul, an octogenarian. It was only after 2000, with the situation showing signs of improvement that Kashmiri Pandits had mustered courage to revisit the shrine at least twice a year during the months of Jesht and Ashad on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month. However, there are hundreds who have not been able to visit Tulmulla after their exodus. The temple at Bhawani Nagar here suffices their spiritual and religious needs where they seek solace and pray for peace so that they could go once again to Kashmir. |
|
Civic body elections soon
Jammu, June 7 The civic body elections were held in 2005 after a gap of more than two decades, but after the completion of the term of the existing bodies, fresh elections were not announced. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who also holds the portfolio of the Housing and Urban Development Department, said the civic body elections would be held after the completion of the Panchayat poll. Highlighting the importance of Panchayati Raj Institutions in empowering people at grassroots level, Tara Chand said it was late visionary Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who, by his futuristic approach, brought 73rd and 74th amendments in the Constitution to pave way for the decentralisation of power to these basic units of Democracy. He said holding of Panchayat elections in the state after three decades shows the commitment of the government to establish an effective Panchayati Raj. He said holding of Panchayat elections was a giant leap by the government to transfer power to the people and the same would go a long way in addressing the area-specific
problems of the people. Tara Chand said the government was contemplating to transfer maximum powers to the elected representatives at the panchayat levels and a high-level committee was working on the model to equip these grass-roots level institutes with all required administrative powers so that they could take decisions at their own for the welfare of the people. He said elections for Municipal Corporations, Committees and Urban Local Bodies would follow the Panchayat elections, thus fulfilling the commitment of the government to transfer power to the grassroots level. Appreciating the whole-hearted support of the Central government in funding development projects in the state, the Deputy Chief Minister said with the active support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, a development revolution had been launched in the state, adding that major infrastructure projects had been taken up in power, roads, health, PHE and urban development and the same would help in fulfilling the development aspirations of the people of the state. Tara Chand said the present coalition government was committed to all-round development of all three regions and sub-regions of the state. He said mega projects launched by the previous government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad were being carried forward by the Omar Abdullah-led government. The result of these mega projects was now visible on ground in shape of better health care infrastructure, roads, buildings, power projects and other infrastructure projects, he added. |
|
Minister calls for preserving ‘green gold’
Srinagar, June 7 Addressing a state-level function held at SKICC here recently in connection with the “World Environment Day”, Altaf said the maintenance of equilibrium in biodiversity was necessary for living organism and sustenance in the world. Altaf appealed the people in general and officers of the Forest Department in particular to make all-out efforts to preserve green gold and other significant organisms like wildlife and birds so that the environment remains healthy and secure. He impressed upon one and all to take strenuous steps to preserve the environment and ecological balance by planting saplings at every available piece of land. The Minister underscored the need for conserving forests while emphasising on afforestation of degraded forests on a massive scale. Appreciating the departmental field functionaries for curbing of timber smuggling as well as encroachment of forest land, the Minister said the department had controlled this menace in the Shopian, Peer Panchal and Rafiabad forest areas. Earlier, Altaf launched a website of the J&K Events Centre, Department of Environment and Remote Sensing, to make available the information of the department and also seek valuable suggestions from the people, especially environmentalists. He also released three publications - Lakes and Water Bodies in J&K, Posture and Grazing Land in J&K and wasteland of the department. A large number of JK Lions Scouts and Guides, at another event in the day, converged at foreshore road and proceeded in a procession around the Dal Lake to express their concern for finding Srinagar city ideal symbol for heavenly environment. They were of the opinion that threat faced by the Kashmir Valley on account of re-emerging of polythene and increasing population of stray dogs is causing damage to our environment. |
|
‘Dard Ka Rishta’ on TV from June 8
Jammu, June 7 The serial, which was regarded as “Outstanding” by the Preview appointed by PBBCI, Directorate General for DD Kashir Channel Commissioned Programmes, is based on the plight of a girl Sarah, who, at the tender age of six years, is kidnapped from Kashmir in 1998 and sold to a childless couple in Mumbai saying that she belongs to a remote area of Kashmir and her family was killed by the militants. Ten years later, the kidnapper is trapped and shot when he tries to kidnap another child in Kashmir, but before dying he tells the police about Sarah and eventually turns her life upside down. Sarah, now a beautiful 16-year-old, is retrieved and restored back to her Kashmiri parents. Her dilemma is whom should she consider as her parents- those who raised her or the ones who gave her birth? Tragedy and trauma of her unfortunate Kashmiri parents and the pain and suffering of the couple who raised her and had to part ways after 10 long years of fulfilment and joyous life, had all been woven into a heart-wrenching and realistic drama full of emotion, pain and sacrifices. The story, influenced by real-life happenings of the early 90s and the latest incident of 3-year-old Mehran, who is still missing, has been crafty woven by the writer Israr Khan and produced by Nighat Cinematics. The serial is directed by noted Bollywood director Jaidev Chakravorty, who has number of feature films ‘We Are Friends’, ‘Raktbandhan’ and TV serials like Mahima Shani Dev Ki, Vikram Aur Betal, Ek Din Achanak and Darr on satellite channels like Star Plus and Colors, to his credit. Background score is given by Sunil Koushik, who gave music for film ‘Achanak’, Hollywood serial ‘Mystery’ and hundreds of TV serials like Junoon, Saboot and Noorjehan. Title song has been rendered by famous Bollywood bigwig Afsar Sajad. Another highlight of the serial is the cinematography of Raj Khilnani of ‘Great Maratha’ fame, capturing the varied and interesting locations of Mumbai, Himachal and Kashmir. Top Bollywood and TV actors like Deep Raj Rana (of ‘Na Ana is Desh Lado’ and ‘Mangal Panday’ fame), Nazneen Patel of serial ‘Mukti Bandhan’ on Colors and actors of the state like Omar Imtiaz, Roomi Sharma, Shahid Gulfam and Ali Afridi are part of the serial. The serial has been given green signal for 26 episodes’ extension as well and producer has sent the script for approval. |
|
Jhelum embankments to be beautified
Srinagar, June 7 The direction to this effect was given by the minister during his tour to Aramwari, Rajbagh, Kurso and Ikhrajpora of his constituency to take stock of the ongoing developmental projects. Nasir said the work on the beautification of embankments of the Jhelum on the left side from Aramwari to footbridge was left unfinished and asked to start the work so that locals would not face inconvenience. He said Rs 60 lakh have been released for its development. He also directed the Irrigation and Flood Control officers to speed up the construction work of public-park near footbridge, for which Rs 16 lakh would be spent. At Aramwari, Nasir directed the UDAC to complete the Langoo lane at the earliest, on which Rs 2 lakh have been spent and assured release of Rs 1.40 lakh. He directed the PDD authorities to start repairing of the street lights in Aramwari immediately. He directed Executive Engineer, R&B, to macadamise lanes and by-lanes of Aramwari, Kurso Padshahibagh and Rajbagh. At Kursoo Rajbagh, the minister directed the UEED for construction of drain costing Rs 35 lakh near Childcare Public High School. Nasir inspected construction work of the Khanlipora to Kurso Rajbagh link road. He directed the completion of the earthwork of the road at the earliest so that the road could be handed over to the R&B for G-3 and blacktopping. |
JAMMU DIARY
As number of local leaders have started assembling to support Ramdev, it seems their main agenda is not to support the cause, but to get the publicity.
It can be better gauged with the number of press releases being issued by such organisations.
Normally, people who usually send one press release to each media house, are now sending three to four press releases daily. Their reason for doing the same is that the matter is of national interest and should be published. Concrete jungles in
seismic zones
It may sound harsh to environmentalists and those who care about Mother Nature, but going by the jungles of concrete in Jammu
(see photo),
it becomes clear that nobody really bothers either about environment or for their
own lives. In seismic Jammu and Kashmir, which falls in zone IV and V, unplanned construction (with active support of people flouting building and construction laws) may wreak havoc any time. (Contributed by
Archit Watts and Ravi Krishnan Khajuria)
|
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Jammu, June 7
The World Environment Day
just passed like any other day in the capital city with few plantation drives and routine lectures.