The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Power crisis deepens in Rajouri areas Ex-minister threatens to start dharna Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, September 2 Former minister and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chander Sharma has warned of starting an indefinite dharna in view of the worsening power situation in the Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote areas of Rajouri district. The region has been facing unprecedented power curtailments due to overloading of a transformer which was installed at Kalakote a couple of months ago. Earlier, the same transformer had developed some technical snag and instead of installing a transformer of higher capacity, the authorities installed the same 20 MVA transformer. The locals had been demanding that a transformer of not less than 50 MVA would be sufficient. “Instead of installing a transformer which can bear the load of three tehsils, the authorities have befooled the people by installing a transformer with inadequate capacity,” Sharma said and warned that the patience of the people had been wearing thin due to the erratic power supply. Sharma regretted that despite the fact that the matter was repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities, no action had been taken so far. “We are being forced to take some extreme step to make the authorities aware of our problems,” said Sharma, whose party is a partner in the coalition regime headed by Omar Abdullah. Sharma, who had represented the Nowshera Assembly segment from 2002 to 2008, regretted that the authorities were not serious in solving the problems being faced by the people of Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote. Besides Sharma, another Congress leader Ravinder Sharma, who is spokesman for the Pradesh Congress Committee, has also blamed the government for the prevailing power crisis in the three tehsils. Ravinder, member of the Legislative Council, has regretted that the situation had been worsening with every passing day, but the authorities were not serious in solving the problem. He expressed concern over the erratic power supply in the area and urged the government to take immediate short-term measure to upgrade the transformer of 20 MVA at Kalakote to 50 MVA. In September last year, when Chief Minister had commissioned a power station at Burn in Jammu, he was apprised of the power situation. At that time, Ravinder Sharma had asked the Chief Minister to take some immediate measures to solve power crisis in the three tehsils, but the authorities failed to act. Meanwhile, residents of Nowshera have already launched a stir against the power crisis in their areas. A committee comprising representatives of various political parties has already constituted to spearhead the agitation.
	Leh offers meditation course to boost tourism Yangchan Dolma Leh, September 2 A meditation course has been introduced as an added attraction for tourists visiting Ladakh during the 15-day annual Ladakh Festival beginning, which began at Leh yesterday. The festival is being celebrated by the Tourism Department to extend the short tourism season in Ladakh as its prime objective. It is one of major tourist promotional events in Leh during which the tradition and culture of Ladakh is showcased. Tsewang Dorje, assistant director, Tourism, said, “Every year, the department tries to introduce new attractions during the Ladakh Festival. This year, Vipassana meditation has been introduced to promote Ladakh as a spiritual tourist spot because of its tranquil and peaceful environment”. He added that the festival could not be organised last year due to the cloudburst tragedy. To promote the tourist spots of the rural areas, the event is also being celebrated in regions like Nubra, Changthang and Sham. For the first time, the festival is being organised in the Sham region. Dorje also said the main features of the festival were doubled humped camel safaris, Buddhist Thangka exhibition, mask dances of monasteries, traditional archery, polo matches, music concerts and river rafting. Meanwhile, all travel-related associations have announced special packages and discounts for tourists visiting Ladakh during the festival. The Hotel and Guest House Association and the Taxi Cooperative Society have announced 20 per cent and 15 per cent discount, respectively. The festival is a major public celebration after the last year’s cloudburst incident. Last year, all mahor events like Losar (New Year), Eid, Christmas and marriage ceremonies were cancelled to express solidarity with the victims. The Independence Day celebrations this also could not materialised due the cancellation of the cultural performance by artistes to express solidarity with the family of 15 artistes who died in a road mishap on the eve of Independence Day near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh.
	Post-Census, more to get rations under PDS: Minister Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 2 Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon has said the consumers will get all ration items at reasonable rates once the Census-2011 is completed and the Central Food Security Act is given the final shape and implemented. The Minster, after inspecting FCI godowns at Kulgam and Mirbazar, reviewed the stock and supply position at the meetings of the CAPD Department at Chowalgam, Kulgam and Dak-Banglow Khanabal in South Kashmir recently. Akhoon was accompanied by commissioner, CAPD, Pardeep Gupta, and director, CAPD, Kashmir, Abdul Wahid Tak, an official spokesperson said. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo and district development commissioner, Kulgam, Farooq Ahmad Khan, were present in the meeting held at Kulgam, whereas MLA, Pahalgam, Rafi Ahmad Mir, MLC, Ch. Nizam-ud-Din Khatana, and DDC, Anantnag, Syed Kifiayat Hussain Rizvi, took part in the meeting. The Minister said after the implementation of the Food Security Act and the completion of the Census-2011, the Department of CAPD would conduct a fresh survey to incorporate left out families and uncovered BPL populace under the ambit of the distribution system. He said: “The department has already introduced some changes to streamline the system. Some more changes are being contemplated to improve the functioning of the system further and make it consumer friendly”. The Minister asked the Director, CA&PD, and the respective deputy commissioners to intensify market checking to curb black marketing, hoarding and profiteering and ensure that rate lists are displayed at CA&PD sale outlets. At Kulgam, the Minister was told that 23,520 quintals of rice, 1,500 quintals of flour, 2,500 quintals of sugar and 1.44 lakh litre of kerosene have been distributed during the current month, whereas sufficient quantity of food grains are available in the district to cater to the consumer needs. Later, the Minister kick-started the distribution of ration tickets to Gujjar and Bakerwal nomads against which the nomadic beneficiaries would get rice and flour for the first time in the history. In the initial phase, the ration has been sanctioned for three months. On the occasion, 2,200 ration tickets were distributed among the nomads of Anantnag district.
	Rise in suicide attempts by consuming poison Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, September 2 There has been a sharp increase in the cases of poisoning in the Jammu region as per the details procured from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), here. On an average, four to five cases of poisoning are reported to the hospital daily. As per the official records of the hospital and the police, 139 such cases were reported in August, of which 16 persons lost their lives. The records further revealed that the number of deaths due to poisoning had also increased sharply. A police officer at the GMCH police post said the number of such cases had been increasing at an alarming rate. “Earlier, we have never seen such a large number of poisoning cases,” he said. Perusal of the records further revealed that a majority of those who consumed poison were youngsters. The hospital authorities said such cases had become a routine here. A renowned psychologist, running a private hospital, said the incidents of attempt to commit suicide were more than the accidental intake of poison. “Most of the people are trying to commit suicide due to family problems,” said the doctor, adding that only 15 per cent of the cases were accidental in nature, rest all were the cases of attempted suicide. He added that proper counselling was necessary so that the people could be stopped from taking such an extreme step. “A majority of the people living in rural areas still lack basic facilities. They don’t have any source of entertainment and when faced with some other adverse situation, they try to commit suicide by consuming poison,” he added. He further suggested that life-threatening drugs should not be easily available which usually become the reason for committing suicide.
	Guv’s wife visits orphanage Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 2 Usha Vohra, Governor’s wife, accompanied by Sakina Ittoo, Minister for Social Welfare, visited orphanage centre at Nishat and Chotay Taray Foundation Special School for Physically and Mentally Challenged Children at Kursoo, Rajbagh, here recently. Earlier, Usha Vohra, along with Sakina Ittoo, visited the Markazi Fallahi Mastoorat of the Social Welfare Department at Ishber, Nishat, and interacted with 23 orphan girls who are being provided free boarding and lodging and education facilities up to class X. She announced that Raj Bhavan would provide financial support for the purchase of beddings and a TV set for the inmates. During her visit to the Markazi Fallahi Itifal, where the Social Welfare Department is providing free boarding and lodging and educational facilities to 55 orphan boys, Usha Vohra asked the director, Social Welfare, Kashmir, HA Parray, to ascertain the availability of computers under the Central government’s special scheme for rural areas so that five computers could be provided to them by the Raj Bhavan. The Governor’s wife enquired about the diet being provided and the sports facilities available to the inmates. She appreciated the talent of boys and girls and asked them to take a keen interest in studies to achieve excellence and wished them a bright future ahead. Later, Usha Vohra, accompanied by Sakina Ittoo, visited Chotay Taray Foundation-run Special School for Physically and Mentally Challenged Children at Kursoo, Rajbagh. In all, 60 physically and mentally challenged children are being provided the facilities of speech therapy, vocational training and education by the NGO, which was established in 2003. Usha Vohra lauded the initiative of the foundation. She announced a financial support of Rs 51,000 for the Chotay Taray Foundation.
	Urdu, Hindi depts sought at Central varsities Tribune News Service Jammu, September 2 The Rasa Javedani Memorial Literary Society (RJMLS) has demanded the establishment of an Urdu department in the Central University of Jammu and the Central University of Kashmir. The demand was raised in a meeting presided over by Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, president of the society. Others who attended the meeting included Aseer Kistwari, general secretary, Ravi Thakur, joint secretary, Payre Hatash, treasurer, Prof SA Qazi, senior vice-president, besides others. The members said the department of Urdu had not been established in any of the Central universities. The department should be given a priority because Urdu was the official language of the state and also a link language of the three regions of the state. The members said though the Department of Foreign Language had been established, country’s own languages Hindi and Urdu had been ignored. The members demanded that the departments of Urdu and Hindi should be established in both universities. Prof Malik congratulated Dr SS Bleoria for becoming of the first vice-chancellor of the Central University of Jammu. He said Dr Bleoria had a vast administrative experience and hoped that under his leadership, the department of Urdu would be established.
	srinagar DIARY Iftar parties to boost public relations A number of Iftar parties were organised by senior government functionaries, police and security forces officers and political leaders during the fasting holy month of Ramzan. After the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, Eid milans are also being organised in the summer capital and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley. But these occasions are being organised with the intention of interacting with people from different sections of society. During the last month, Iftar parties were organised by the police at different places to have an interaction with the people, particularly prominent citizens of particular areas. This is being done as a part of the efforts to have healthy police-public relations . Certain gatherings are being organised only for mediapersons and certain prominent personalities and that too with certain purposes. Summer capital’s traffic problem It does not happen only here, but elsewhere in the state as well when the government takes action under public pressure to make people adhere to rules and regulations. Take the case of traffic on roads which happens to be creating more trouble for people on regular days than providing them facilities. This became clear on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr earlier this week. The traffic police, in order to restore normalcy on roads, ordered restrictions on the movement of passenger vehicles on the MA Road and the Residency Road passing through the commercial hub of the Lal Chowk for two days prior to the festival. Other regulations for the parking and movement of private and other light vehicles were also in force. This gave a breathing time and space for both shoppers and business community in the area for two days. However, the situation is set to take the same old arduous course once the normal life is restored after Eid holidays are over. What has become clear once again after the restrictions were imposed is that the irregular and haphazard stopping of passenger vehicles in the midst of road leads to traffic congestion and snarls (see photo). The authorities seem to be helpless in enforcing rules and regulations and identifying bus stops on the two roads. In the absence of such regulations, haphazard stopping of passenger vehicles leading to traffic jams is bound to continue and add to the sufferings of the common man. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili)
	Minister for communal harmony through sports Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 2 A five-day national conference on “Sport for Peace and Prosperity” began at Brahmakumaris Academy, Gyan Sarover, Mount Abu, in Rajasthan, yesterday where J&K Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Youth Affairs and Sports RS Chib was the chief guest on the inaugural function. Speaking on the occasion, Chib said: “Sports is an effective instrument for promoting comradeship, brotherhood and communal harmony and ultimately peace and prosperity among society cutting across both borders and different sections of our society”. He said: “Through the medium of sports, we can involve our youth so that they can play a vital role in social integration and economic development of our all segments of society”. Elaborating the role of the youth of our country in nation building, the Minister emphasised upon them to attain physical and mental fitness by participating in sports activities, adding that it would help them in preventing their involvement in violence and drug abuse. He added that sports would act as a great motivating factor to attain creativeness and their participation in social activities in their respective areas, an official spokesperson said. Chib complimented the sports wing of the Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation for organising this conference to create awareness about sports among youth. Rajyogani Dadi Janki gave blessings to the participants and expressed her confidence that these types of seminars and conferences would definitely promote a sense of discipline, dedication, commitment and confidence among the youth to understand their responsibilities towards the nation.
	CM inaugurates part of Hyderpora flyover Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Srinagar, September 2 Srinagar is all set to have another flyover on the Bypass road at Hyderpora, one track of which was thrown open by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here recently. Emphasising on the timely completion of the right track of the flyover by May 2012, the Chief Minister said after the offices return from Jammu in May next year, the second part of the flyover should be ready for inauguration. He said the inaugurated track of 9-m width would give relief to the people and facilitate the movement of vehicles. The Chief Minister asked the R&B Department to formulate a proposal for installing sound and view-proof screens on the sides of the flyover to protect the privacy of neighbouring households and also give them relief from noise pollution. He directed for conducting survey of the damages caused to the households due to the construction of the flyover so that they were paid compensation. The Hyderpora flyover estimated to cost Rs 33.84 crore is a part of the four laning of 17.80-km national highway bypass, Srinagar, taking off at Athwajan and terminating at Parimpora. The road project also envisages the construction of four bridges at Lasjan, Padashahibagh, Channapora and Tengpora. Padashahibagh Bridge has been completed and opened to traffic, while Lasjan Bridge is likely to be completed by September this year and the other two bridges by May 2012. The total cost of the bypass is Rs 212 crore and it forms a component of the four laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway project being implemented by the NHAI. The R&B Department, Kashmir, is the executing agency of the Srinagar bypass. An amount of Rs 188 crore has been incurred on the project. The four laning of the road has been already completed at a cost of about Rs 123 crore. The construction of bridges and flyover is involving an expenditure of Rs 84 crore, of which Rs 62.50 crore has been incurred so far. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for R&B Javid Ahmad Dar highlighted the efforts of the Chief Minister for channelising huge funds from the Centre for the development of roads and bridges in the state. He said the vision of the Chief Minister for creating useful system of projectisation to meet the financial needs of big projects has given new impetus to the pace of development. He said the Chief Minister earmarked Rs 135 crore under projectisation this year. He said as many as 950 km of roads had been improved and upgraded in the state during the past four months which also included 242 km roads of Srinagar city. Dar said the Chief Minister had got six major bridges sanctioned from the Centre under the CRF each involving over Rs 12 crore. He said the efforts of Omar had also helped the state to receive Rs 300 crore under the PMGSY this year. Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, who is also the MLA of the area, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for inaugurating the flyover. He said a massive road construction and upgradation programme initiated during the last two-and-a-half-years is showing results on ground. Nasir advocated for the payment of compensation to the households whose houses had been damaged due to the construction of the flyover. He also referred to various development works requiring focused attention in his constituency. Legislators Mustafa Kamal, GQ Pardasi, Dharam Veer Singh Oberoi, principal secretary, R&B, KB Agarwal, chief engineer, R&B, Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad, officers and functionaries of the R&B Department, besides prominent citizens were present on the occasion.