Udhampur, July 16
The Municipal Committee, Katra, removes garbage from the base camp of Vaishno Devi to provide a clean environment to the pilgrims. However, it dumps the garbage on the Katra-Reasi road that leads to the famous shrine, creating unwholesome conditions for the pilgrims to the Shivkhori shrine.

Barely 500 metres from Katra towards Reasi, the MC dumps garbage regularly alongside a gorge. A foul smell emanates from the garbage scattered all over the place. Pilgrims on the way to Shivkhori as well as daily commuters between Katra and Reasi find it difficult to pass by.

Besides creating unhygienic conditions, the garbage, during rain, flows into the Ban Ganga, the water of which holds religious significance. Its water is used by people for various purposes, including domestic chores. It has become a happy hunting ground for stray animals. Interestingly, the district administrative officers have to take this road to reach the district headquarters at Reasi.

District Officer, Pollution Control Board, Angrez Singh said the garbage indeed created environment hazards as the Katra MC had been using this spot as a dumping ground for the past seven years.

“We have served several notices on the MC to stop using the place for dumping garbage and make proper arrangement for the purpose. The issue was also taken up at the District Planning Board’s meeting, but to no avail,” said Angrez Singh.

Expressing helplessness, Katra MC secretary Rattan Lal said 150 kanals had been purchased at Kun village, 3 km from Katra, for garbage dumping. “The work on constructing a road to the new site is on. The work was held up due to the monsoons. It will resume soon after the rains are over. The garbage will then be dumped at the designated place,” he added.

Jammu, July 16
Blaming the Opposition and patriotic groups for terrorism and mishaps has become a habit for the Congress government, which should better get its act together or quit, said state BJP spokesperson Dr Nirmal Kamal here today.

In a press note issued here, Kamal said the statement of national general secretary of the Congress Digvijay Singh that “the involvement of the RSS in the recent Mumbai serial blasts cannot be ruled out” was nothing but sheer mental and political bankruptcy of the Congress.

She said Digvijay Singh’s statement showed the mindset of the UPA government at the Centre. Such thoughtless and immature utterances were bound to disintegrate the country and encourage terrorists, she added.

Jammu, July 16
The Kranti Dal held a condolence meeting at the Dogra Shoura Smarak, Ambphalla, today and paid tributes to the victims of the Mumbai blasts of July 13.

Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of the Kranti Dal Pritam Sharma condemned the blasts.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for his controversial remarks, besides some other Congress leaders for comparing India with Pakistan and Afghanistan with regard to the security scenario.

The Kranti Dal members also lit candles and prayed for peace to the departed souls.

Jammu, July 16
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla has said the state government has approved the construction of a 200-bedded maternity hospital on the premises of the Gandhi Nagar Hospital at a cost of Rs 69 crore.

“With the construction of this hospital, the rush of patients at the SMGS Hospital will reduce,” said Bhalla.

The minister stated this while interacting with the medical and the paramedical of the Government Gandhi Nagar Hospital here yesterday.

Bhalla inspected all wards, including the emergency ward, blood bank, operating theatres and laboratories and took stock of the facilities being provided to patients.

He asked the hospital authorities to provide free-of-cost medicare to senior citizens, physically challenged and poor patients. He added that the government would bear all the expenses of treatment to the poor.

Expressing happiness over the functioning of the hospital, Bhalla congratulated the medical and paramedical staff. He also asked the Power Development Department (PDD) to install one more 6.3 KVA transformer in the hospital so that it could be made fully air-conditioned.

Jammu, July 15
Though the fresh academic session started in the colleges in the city today, the rain dampened the excitement of the first day in college. No classes were held in the colleges and the students had to return home after getting their roll numbers.

The scene was altogether different as compared to the last year as the freshers lacked enthusiasm and excitement due to the inclement weather. The attendance was also thin in most of the colleges.

The rain started early in the day and most of the students were seen carrying umbrellas. The rain played spoilsport and the fun and amusement of the first day in college were missing.

“I was excited about my first day in the college, but the rain played spoilsport,” said Pooja, BA I student of Government College for Women, Parade.

“My father dropped me at the college this morning. But after coming here I came to know that there would be no classes. And now I am waiting for bus to return home,” said Jyoti, a fresher at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar. She added that she too was excited about attending the college, but was disappointed.

Raman, a student of MAM College, said, “I was disappointed as no classes were held.”

Ajeet Angral, Principal of MAM College, said, “The academic session has started and we have put the time table on the notice board. The attendance was thin due to the rain today. The classes will start from Monday now.”

Nalini Kohli, Principal of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, said, “Though the academic session has begun, the students usually take two or three days to acclimatise themselves to the new environment.”

Udhampur, July 16
The Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC), Doda, is organising a cricket coaching camp at Doda to help budding cricketers hone their skills as part of its efforts to promote cricket in the Chenab valley region.

Patron of the YSCC Manzoor Ahmed Batt said a three-day refresher-cum-coaching camp would be organised at the Sports Stadium, Doda, in which experts and senior national players would give finer tips about the game to the budding cricketers of the Chenab valley region as well as from others parts of the state.

He claimed that Assad Pathan, who plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, had agreed to offer his services for the purpose.

Batt also announced that block-level cricket tournaments would be held in different parts of the erstwhile Doda district of the Chenab region, including Kishtwar and Ramban districts. Four winning teams from different parts of the state would represent their respective districts in the state-level tournament to be held in Jammu in October or November this year, he added.

Jammu, July 16
The Salal Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab in Reasi district is being closed tomorrow for checking its functioning. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is closing it to check the functioning of the Local Breaker Back protection, an official spokesperson said.

He added that though the state Power Development Department would use all the possible means to meet the power shortage due to the shutdown of the project, the public should cooperate and use electricity judiciously. — TNS

Nagrota, July 16
The White Knight Corps started a special drive today to increase the green cover in the Nagrota Garrison and surrounding areas.

A major plantation drive was initiated by Lt-Gen JP Nehra, General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps. In a ceremony near the man-made lake in the Nagrota Garrison, the Corps Commander planted a sapling in the presence of Army officers and their families, who also participated in the drive by planting saplings in areas adjoining the lake. Compared to the surrounding areas, the garrison has a better tree cover. However, there has been a reduction in the tree cover in the past few years due to various development activities. The Army has always contributed to the environmental wellbeing of its surroundings. The Nagrota Garrison has planned to plant 10,000 saplings in the next two weeks.

Lt-Gen Nehra called upon the soldiers to take the lead in protecting the environment. He said, “Increase in population, number of vehicles and industrialisation pose a big challenge to the environment. Planting more trees is one of the solutions to these problems.”

“We owe to our future generations. Therefore, plant as many trees as you can and nurture them,” he added. He motivated the schoolchildren to respect nature.

Srinagar, July 16
Three top commanders of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were among the five militants killed in the day-long encounter with the security forces in Kupwara district yesterday.

The five militants, including four belonging to the LeT, were killed in the encounter last night after a massive explosion in a house, where they were hiding, at Maidanpora village in the Lolab area of the district, a defence spokesman here said. The charred bodies of the militants were recovered from the debris of the house. Five AK-47 rifles were also recovered. An Army jawan was also killed in the gunfight while four other soldiers were injured, he said.

The four slain LeT militants have been identified as Saqib, alias Sohail, from Kasur in Pakistan and divisional commander for north Kashmir; Hamad, alias Haneef, alias Alfa Islam, from Abbottabad in Pakistan and divisional commander for Kupwara; Qari Saifullah, divisional commander for central Kashmir; and Chotta Saad, Lashkar’s battalion commander. The fifth militant has been identified as Umair, alias Hafiz, battalion commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad.

While Saqib was the backbone of the LeT in Lolab and had been active since 2009, Hamad was one of the most wanted militants in north Kashmir and had been active since 2008. He was injured in an Army operation in December, the spokesman said. Saifullah had been active in the Ganderbal and Harwan areas, near Srinagar.