The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Encroachers rule the roost in Jammu Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, August 26 After encroaching unorganised wetlands (gair mumkin khuds), the encroachers have now set their sights on the Tawi, also called Suryaputri, that divides the winter capital into two parts. In the recent years, several houses and other concrete structures have come up right next to the river, despite the fact that the mighty Tawi may pose a serious threat to the inhabitants, particularly during the rainy season. After keeping mum on the unholy nexus between disgruntled politicians, police officers and land mafia, which has usurped unorganised wetlands across the Jammu region, it seems that the authorities are again turning a blind eye to the menace, says a retired police officer. According to an estimate, nearly 5,000 kanals of riverbed has been illegally occupied by encroachers, obviously in connivance with some disgruntled politicians and officials in the administration. “It appears that the government is waiting for a catastrophe to happen because during the monsoon when the Tawi is in full spate, the water level rises alarmingly and one could gauge the condition of houses built right along the river,” said the former police officer. The situation is alarming along the banks of the river, particularly in the Gujjar Nagar area where encroachers have constructed houses and other structures, he adds. Earlier, following reports of encroachments over government land by the land mafia, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had declared 2011 as an anti-corruption year, had ordered a high-level probe on February 15 to expose the nexus. In 2001, the government came up with the J&K State Lands (Vesting of Ownership Rights to Occupants) Act in a bid to check encroachments upon government land and to generate revenue to fund hydro power projects. “While forestland in Bhatindi, Sidhra and Sunjuwan has already been usurped by the land mafia, people have not even spared the Tawi,” rued SP Singh, an environmentalist. In their greed to usurp land, they even forgot that by doing so they are inviting a serious trouble for their families in the years to come. It is high time that the government brings its act together and stops the malpractice, which is being encouraged by certain elements within the administration, he adds. The Tawi, which has an immense religious importance for Hindus, originates from Bhaderwah and after meandering along Doda, Udhampur and Jammu districts, merges into the Chenab.
	Horse polo grounds to be developed at Drass, Shargol Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 The government is planning to develop horse polo grounds at Drass and Shargol in Kargil district of the Ladakh region. This was stated by Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports RS Chib during a meeting with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council at Kargil recently. He added that, “Ladakh possesses rich potential for the development of sports, especially horse polo, ice hockey and archery”. He underlined the need for promoting these sports, which, he said, formed part of the heritage of Ladakh. Chib said adequate steps were being taken for the implementation of the Panchayat Youva Khail Krida Abhiyan and creation of posts of physical education teachers. While discussing issues regarding technical education, the Minister assured that the vacant posts of instructors would be filled in the ITI, Kargil. However, he asked chief executive councillor Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan that since the ITI, Kargil, was under the PPP mode, the chairman, IMC, could appoint faculty members under intimation to the Administrative Department.
	Govt to constitute panel for development of pastures Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 The government has decided to constitute a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Dr Tej Partap Singh, vice-chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, SKUAST (K), to formulate a comprehensive project for the development of pastures and increasing of green fodder for livestock population of the state. The decision was taken by Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir at a meeting here recently convened to review the status of research in pasture development, feed and fodder and horticulture in the state. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said there was a dire demand for mission project to meet the present and future demand of green and dry fodder on the pattern of saffron mission for the livestock, whose population had reached one crore across the state. He said the regeneration of pastures and development of wastelands were necessary for making available green fodder for the livestock, particularly sheep and goat. The Minister asked the committee members to focus on all the areas during their deliberation in future meetings so that comprehensive proposal would come out of it. The meeting decided that that the members of the committee are all the heads of departments, who participated in the meeting. The Minister asked the vice-chancellor of the SKUAST (K) to submit the report within three months. The meeting was attended by vice-chancellor, SKUAST (K), Dr Tej Partap Singh, principal secretary, agriculture production, MI Khanday, principal chief conservator forests, director agriculture, Jammu, director, research, SKUAST (K), director, research, SKUAST (J), director, extension, SKUAST (K), director, extension, SKUAST (J), director, agriculture, Kashmir, director, horticulture, Kashmir, director, horticulture, Jammu, director, animal husbandry, Kashmir, and director, animal husbandry, Jammu.
	He spares half of his pension for charity Raju William Tribune News Service Doda, August 26 Yog Raj Thakur, a retired government teacher, may be a native of the remote mountainous area of Parynote in the district, but this has not stopped him from championing the cause of the poor. For the past about 28 years, he has been helping both monetarily and morally poor and needy students, orphans and widows. Even after retirement from the government service in 2002, he has been saving half of his pension for such causes. In recognition of his exemplary service, he was presented the Best Social Worker award by J&K Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora on the Independence Day this year at Doda. But the best recognition comes from his children who have promised to carry on his charitable work. “Occasionally, I used to help students wherever I served by providing fee and stationary to those who could not afford. In due course, I started doing this on a regular basis by expanding its scope by helping orphan girls on their marriages as well as widows who were facing financial crisis. It gives me immense satisfaction and that’s all,” he said when asked what motivated him to work for humanity. Born on July 20, 1944 in an illiterate farmer family, he had his early education from Doda and went on to complete M.Com and MA Economics. At the time of retirement in 2002, he was working as senior lecturer. “I never gave private tuitions for which teachers of commerce are the most sought after,” he added. He is also a recipient of the Best Teacher award in Doda district. “I am a secular person and do not allow any considerations on caste and communal lines to come in my way,” he said, narrating an incident where students belonging to a particular community were not included in the list of beneficiaries by the principal of a higher secondary school. “Their names were included only after I insisted,” recalled Thakur, who is a regular listener of a religious programme, Hai-Alfalah, on Radio Pakistan. His wife, Usha Thakur, also a government teacher, also joined him actively after her retirement in 2009. The couple has so far contributed around Rs 4.50 lakh from their pension for helping students of Government Degree College, Doda, and of various schools. Their selfless service for the poor and downtrodden is appreciated by all. “He is a saintly figure of Doda district,” commented Manzoor Ahmed Batt, patron of Young Star Cricket Club, Doda.
	Delay in land acquisition hits NH projects Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, August 26 Even as the government has started the work of widening the Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar national highways, a delay in the acquisition of land has created hurdles in the progress of these projects. Though the land from Kathua to Kunjwani has already been acquired, the authorities have been facing problems in acquiring land from Kunjwani to Satwari to further expand the highway. Similarly, the authorities are facing problems in acquiring land to expand the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at different places. At some places, the land owners have rejected the compensation being offered to them. Dr Pawan Kotwal, divisional commissioner, Jammu, recently convened a high-level meeting to review the progress of land acquisition for various projects, including the expansion of the highways. The divisional commissioner called upon the officers to gear up the process of land acquisition under various road projects. He also urged the Border Road Organisation (BRO) to take up the matter under its jurisdiction so that no road project suffered due to a delay in land acquisition. Discussions were held on issues pertaining to the payment of rent and compensation to the rightful owners in respect of land to be acquired for border fencing in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and other districts. Dr Kotwal exhorted the officers to work with zeal, synergy and dedication so that the pending cases of payments for land acquisition for border fencing and BRO roads could be settled at the earliest. Land acquisition cases for various roads under project Sampark were also reviewed. He was apprised of the progress in the acquisition of land for the construction/improvement of Samba-Riyan-Mawa-Regal road, Jakh-Khjipur-Khour-Nandpur-Narayanpur road, Khour-Ramnagar-Pakhuri road, NH-1A from Chhakhatriyan-Katal-Londi-Bobiya, Rajpura-Madwal-Phulpur road, Parol-Korepunnu-Parole-Rajpura road, NH-1A to AP Karote, Malla-Jugwan road, Akhnoor-Pallanwala road, Akhnoor-Jourian road, and Agra Chauck- RS Pura-Dablehar-Rathana-Amla-Khour road. He also reviewed the progress of land acquisition and requisition cases for border fencing, construction and the widening of roads under Sampark at a meeting attended by civil administration functionaries and representatives of the BSF, Army and other agencies.
	State progressing in seed replacement, says Mir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir has said that the state Agriculture Departments of both the provinces were progressing swiftly towards achieving the national target in seed replacement. The Minister said this while reviewing the progress of seed and fertilisation position in the state at a meeting here recently. He said the Agriculture Department had launched a comprehensive programme to establish more and more seed villages across the state to meet the target, adding that the department in its own farms was producing quality seeds in different crops toward achieving the target. He directed both the directors of agriculture, Kashmir and Jammu, to mobilise all resources in producing quality seeds in all crops and vegetables and to ensure that the farmers get their seed replacement at the right time, an official spokesperson said. Giving the details of the progress of seed replacement in the Kashmir division, director Agriculture, Kashmir Farooq Ahmad Lone, informed that in paddy seed, the department replaced 10 per cent in 2010, 16 per cent in 2011 and in 2012, the department would replace 25 per cent of seeds. In Maize, he said, two per cent replacement was achieved last year, 7.08 per cent this year, while 23 per cent was the target for the next year. In potato, it was 7.1 per cent last year, followed by 18.5 per cent during the current year, while 32.3 per cent was the target set for the next year, he informed. Similarly in Rabi crop like oil seeds, in 2010 the Agriculture Department, Kashmir, had achieved the target of 28.65 per cent and this year, the department had fixed the target of 33 per cent oil seed replacement, the director informed. In wheat, he said, 12.58 per cent seed were replaced in 2010 and in 2011, seed replacement target was 25 per cent, while as in peas it was 12.9 per cent in 2010 and the target was 25 per cent seed replacement in 2011. In vegetables, 33 kg of hybrid seed was produced at Dialgam farm on parental lines provided by the SKUAST (K) which includes 18 kg of tomato and the rest was capsicum, cucumber, the director, Agriculture, Kashmir, informed the meeting. While giving the progress of the Jammu division, the director, Agriculture, Jammu, informed the meeting that in paddy seed, the department replaced 19 per cent this year against the 14 per cent last year. In maize, it was 22 per cent in the current year against the 15 per cent last year. In wheat, it was 30 per cent last year and while this year, the target was 33 per cent in the current Rabi season. While in potato, it was 27 per cent last year and a target of 28 per cent seed replacement had been fixed for this year. Expressing satisfaction over the progress in seed replacement of paddy, wheat, maize, potato, peas, oil seeds, the Minister directed to also focus on pulses in both the divisions to improve the production in pulses. He asked the SKUAST to work jointly with the Agriculture Department to produce quality seed banks in pulses so that the farmers were benefited. The Minister stressed for setting up seed vegetable villages under the technical guidance of the department in both the provinces so that the farmers could receive quality seeds for increasing the vegetable production in the state.
	Hoteliers told to make judicious use of potable water Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Taj Mohi-uddin has stressed the need for the conservation of water in view of the depleting sources of water. Interacting with a deputation of the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation, led by Mushtaq Ahmad Burza, here recently, the Minister advised them not to use drinking water in lawns and toilets and instead go for establishing shallow hand pumps on their premises. He said the treatment cost of potable water was very high and it needed to be conserved for drinking use only. Taj gave six months time to the federation for digging shallow hand pumps on their premises for cleaning and maintenance purposes. The Minister assured the deputation that water meters would not be installed at their units for a period of six months and issued directions to the concerned in the department, accordingly.
	Srinagar DIARY Setting house in order ahead of Eid For the past couple of months, Fozia, a private school teacher and a housewife in Srinagar, has been facing problems with the working of LPG stove in her kitchen. But due to her hectic schedule, particularly during the holy month of Ramzan, she had been carrying on the show. Her husband, also engaged in his hectic job from dawn to dusk, could not realise the problem which needed immediate corrective measures. It was only this week that the family head carried the stove to the market place and got it repaired. He also made it sure that other incomplete jobs at home are accomplished before Eid-ul-Fitr, which according to the lunar calendar, is being celebrated on Thursday next week. It has been the case with almost every household in the Valley since the beginning of the holy month on August 2. People are engaged in accomplishing their necessary minor tasks while continuing with the prayers during these auspicious days ahead of the festival. People are not only shopping for household items (See photo) but also giving final touches to spruce up their houses. Students set for exams The State Board of School Education (BOSE) has released the date sheet according to which exams will be held in October. The matriculation examinations will start from October 12 in the Valley and other areas falling in the winter zone. The University of Kashmir has also announced the schedule for conducting classes of undergraduate courses. These classes will be held from November 1 this year. The announcement came without any hue and cry over the completion of the syllabi of various classes, particularly at the level of class X, XII and above. While the students had suffered a great deal due to unrest last year, they have been feeling comfort with the peaceful summer this year. Their studies have continued without any disturbance this season, although there has been disturbance for some time due to a strike called by over 850 contractual college teachers in 35 degree colleges of the Kashmir division. The crisis was resolved well in time. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili)
	Annual Meet Drukpa lineage Buddhists throng Leh Our Correspondent Leh, August 26 A large number of devotees of the Drukpa lineage Buddhist, one of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism came from Europe and Asia, are in Leh these days to attend the third annual Drukpa Council. The four-day assembly of masters and devotees of the lineage was inaugurated recently by Gelwang Drukpa Rinpoche, the spiritual head of the Drukpa Lineage. The inaugural function of the council was also attended by the chairman of the National Council of Bhutan, Lyonpo Namgay Penjore, Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, and several other political leaders of Ladakh. A series of lectures focusing on the theme of the third annual Council like sustaining the spiritual heritage and legacy of universal humanity like taming the deluded mind, understanding the foundation of truth and wisdom of good heart were delivered yesterday by the masters of the Drukpa Lineage. On the occasion of the inaugural function, a three-day-long free medical camp for the local people has also been started and as many as 31 doctors from two hospitals in Taiwan, namely Taipei Veteran General Hospital and Yang lung Hospital, are providing services in the camp. It is being organised in connection with the Drukpa Council by the Live to Love, a foundation under the Drukpa Lineage.