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Autorickshaw drivers fleece passengers
Diverting Vaishno Devi pilgrims to other destinations a tough task
Rare Sharda manuscripts gather dust
Gulmarg buzzes with tourists
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Kashmir gears up to tackle harsh winter
jammu DIARY
Incentive cheques given to farmers
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Autorickshaw drivers fleece passengers
Jammu, January 3 Around 50,000 autorickshaws in Jammu and Kashmir are still operating without working meters with drivers resorting to overcharging and rude behaviour towards passengers. Ironically, the transport and traffic authorities, which had been making tall claims to sensitise the people about the traffic rules during the current Road Safety Week-2012 that began on January 1, have also turned a Nelson’s eye to the gross violations on roads as autorickshaws operating without electronic meters go unnoticed. Official sources said dozens of autorickshaws without functional fare meters had participated in the Road Safety Week-2012 rally which was flagged off by Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister of State for Transport Shabir Ahmad Khan and Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Kuldeep Khoda. “The local auto drivers are still following shuttle system wherein the passengers have to pay fare fixed as per the travel distance from one area to another. The fare has been fixed by the auto drivers as per their own wish and they seldom respect the fare list issued by the Transport Department,” said Sunil Sharma, 32, a scholar at Jammu University. Similar views were shared by Samriti Khajuria, 29, a housewife, who said the autorickshaws were charging exorbitant fare from commuters. “I took an auto from Ambphalla Chowk for Mubarak Mandi and the auto driver demanded Rs 60 for a distance of two-and-a-half-km,” she said. On December 13, the state transport commissioner had issued a circular that no route permit or fitness certificate would be issued to autorickshaws unless they are fitted with functional fare meters dully sealed by the Weights and Measures Department as provided under the Motor Vehicle Rules. All Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), Kashmir and Jammu, Assistant Regional Transport Officers (ARTOs) and the enforcement agencies in the field were asked to launch a special drive within their jurisdictions for the adherence of the circular issued by the government. “The circular was issued following the complaints that autorickshaws are not fitted with functional meters and are overcharging from the commuters. The officials concerned are still failed to act and implement the order positively and religiously,” said a senior official of the Transport Department. He said the government directions were not honoured by the officials and they needed to be made accountable for the non-compliance of any directive. The Minister for Transport, however, was not aware about any such circular, saying “I will check and will ask all RTOs and ARTOs to take immediate steps for the installation of fare meters in autorickshaws”. The Minister, while addressing an impressive gathering on the inaugural function of the Road Safety Week on January 1, had said launching of a massive awareness campaign was required to sensitise people about the traffic rules.
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Diverting Vaishno Devi pilgrims to other destinations a tough task
Jammu, January 3 Although the authorities repeatedly claimed to take some concerted efforts in this regard, yet these efforts proved to be more or less futile. While the number of Vaishno Devi pilgrims has been increasing with every passing year, the biggest task before the authorities is to divert this huge number of tourists to other destinations. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while chairing a meeting of the Surinsar-Mansar Development Authorities (SMDA) last week, had suggested the need to divert pilgrim tourists of Vaishno Devi in large numbers to other parts to help generating economic activities holistically. He opined that the steps initiated in this direction required further boost. The All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA), while hailing Vaishno Devi pilgrims crossing 1-crore mark, regretted that full benefits of such a large number of pilgrims visiting the state were not being achieved by diverting these pilgrims to other pilgrimage and tourist spots in the Jammu region. Inderjeet Khajuria, president of the AJHLA, said except claims nothing had been done on ground to divert such a large number of pilgrims towards other destinations. He expressed dismay over the observation made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a meeting of the SMDA that other tourist resorts in the state should also get the benefits of such a large number of pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi. “The Chief Minister’s observation in this regard is mere rhetoric, since it is his government which has to take steps to attract and motivate Vaishno Devi pilgrims to stay put for a day or more in Jammu and visit other tourist spots in the vicinity. For this, adequate infrastructure has to be created by the government, in which it has failed so far,” Khajuria observed. The government has created tourist circuits in different parts of the state but so far the authorities have failed to divert pilgrims of Vaishno Devi to other destinations. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while addressing the meeting of the SMDA,
said Mansar and Surinsar lakes, along with pilgrimage sites of Purmandal and Utterbani, had good potential for attracting tourists. He said the government had focused attention on creating befitting infrastructure at tourist places in consonance with ecology and environment requirements to maintain the balance between the two. He said the development authorities constituted in the state had prime duty of showcasing the areas under their jurisdiction for the national and international tourism and creating appropriate tourist facilities in their areas. He asked the SMDA to conserve and protect the natural beauty of the two famous lakes and provide up to the mark facilities for the tourists coming to these places and visiting Utterbani and Purmandal pilgrim sites.
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Rare Sharda manuscripts gather dust
Jammu, January 3 While some of these manuscripts are in possession of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Languages and Culture, a few are in the possession of the curators of SPS Museum in Srinagar. The Department of Archives and Research, which has some old libraries under its control, is also in the possession of such highly valuable manuscripts, which on study can further throw light on Kashmir’s socio-cultural history. Sources said over the past two years, an attempt was made by the Cultural Academy to decipher these manuscripts by inviting language experts to read Sharda script which is believed to have been developed in 8th century for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri. The academy had also impressed upon individuals to deposit manuscripts in their possession so that they could be preserved or deciphered. However, the exercise undertaken by the cultural academy did not yield valuable results since there were very few experts to understand, translate or decipher manuscripts. The sources said most of these extinct manuscripts were either written on birch
bark or delicate paper. In some cases, the paper quality was too brittle and needed immediate preservation by digitalising them, the sources said. The sources pointed out that in a deliberate attempt to ignore the Sharda for writing Kashmiri, there were now a few language experts to know the phonetics of the script. Dina Nath Yaksh, who passed away a few years ago, had helped the authorities in deciphering some of these old scripts, while Prof Badri Nath Kalla was still making his efforts to translate some of the manuscripts. However, Prof Kalla’s advanced age and falling eyesight was a matter of concern for the authorities who were banking upon his expertise, they said. In a bid to revive the Sharda lipi, which has a special relevance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, many attempts had been made in the past to pass on alphabets to coming generations. Millennium India Education Foundation, a Delhi-based organisation, is one such institution which is trying to revive the script. Dr U. Kakroo, convener of the foundation, said the organisation intended to hold short-term courses in Delhi and Jammu to help community members to get acquainted with the script, since their religious books, horoscopes, etc, were written in the script. Satisar Foundation is another organisation here trying to revive the Sharda used for the ceremonial purposes by the community. Kamlesh Tufchi, a representative of the foundation, said in the recent past they met with success in imparting courses in a bid to revive the script. Research scholar Pradeep Khodbali blamed the successive governments for the neglect of the script. Prior to 1947, Kashmiri language was equally written in Sharda. “But since the government under a wilful plan adopted only Nastaliq script for writing Kashmiri, it paved the way for the extinction of Sharda script,” Khodbali said. KK Lidhoo, another researcher, pointed out that some of the celebrated museums across the world were still in possession of Sharda manuscripts of immense value. These manuscripts were also lying in Lahore, West Pakistan, PoK, Peshawar and China and needed a thorough research, Lidhoo added.
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Gulmarg buzzes with tourists
The resort town, about 60 km from Srinagar, is buzzing as visitors crowd its streets and shops and hotels do brisk business. After many years, this north Kashmir ski resort that also offers snow boarding and ice skating reverberated with hundreds of tourists and locals welcoming 2012 with fireworks, music and mirth. The two dozen-odd hotels, with 1,200 beds, as well as the state Tourism Department huts were booked to capacity this New Year. And though some visitors left after the festive weekend, many are still streaming in, said a Tourism Department official. Hordes of tourists from the national capital and other cities are still making the winding way up to Gulmarg to enjoy the freezing temperatures and picturesque locales. Learning how to ski, said one father, who has brought his two children to Gulmarg, was just one excuse to get far from the madding crowds of the city. And local businesspersons, who have borne the brunt of successive years of strife when tourists stayed away, just can't stop smiling. All hotels at the resort and most of the Tourism Department huts had been booked by tourists and locals this year. "Most of the lodgers here had come to celebrate the New Year and we ran full occupancy for almost three days. Today our occupancy has come down to 50 per cent and still, given the figures of the last many years, this season has been a record," said Tahir
Ahmad, manager of the Hilltop Hotel. For the first time since the armed violence started here in the early 1990s, the state Tourism Department did not intervene to sponsor any free lunches for those who went to celebrate the New Year at Gulmarg. "We did not organise any special event in Gulmarg this year because tourism has found its own momentum there and we decided to allow things to go about at their own pace without any sponsorship. After all, tourism is a self-supporting industry as it has been in Kashmir for centuries," said an official of the state Tourism Department. Scores of youths danced on the snow till early morning welcoming the New Year. "We had come here from Delhi for the first time this year to welcome 2012. We have been to many places in Europe for the same celebrations, but our Gulmarg visit will always stand out because of the amazing beauty of the place," said Prakash Kumar( 27), who belongs to Greater Noida. A youth from north Kashmir's Baramulla town, Adil(23) had accompanied his guests from Delhi to Gulmarg for the celebrations. "My friends from Delhi had requested that they would like to spend New Year's Eve at Gulmarg and I came with them. We enjoyed every moment spent at the resort, especially the fireworks at the Gulmarg club and the dance," Adil said. Although the Valley has so far received scant snowfall this season, Gulmarg had enough snow on the slopes and the meadows to make the white winter memorable. The weather department has held out more hope, forecasting heavy snow in the next few days. The last year ended with Jammu and Kashmir receiving nearly 600,000 tourists, not including pilgrims for Vaishno Devi and Amarnath, signalling the return of peace. The New Year has begun well and the earnest hope is that it continues the same way. — IANS
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Kashmir gears up to tackle harsh winter
Srinagar, January 3 “In view of an approaching western disturbance, snowfall is expected between January 4 and 7 in the Valley. Directions have been passed to all the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners, SMC, Director CAPD, Tourism, Urban Local Bodies, Chief Engineers of Beacon, R&B, PHE, Electric Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering to ensure that necessary measures are taken to ensure minimum disruption of services and activate snow control rooms. A central snow control room has already been activated at Srinagar,” an official said here. The Mechanical Engineering Department has been asked to deploy 93 snow clearance machines in case of snowfall. The Valley has been divided into three zones with Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts in Zone-1 having 36 machines and Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts in Zone-2 with 24 machines, while Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora districts, including Gurez and Gulmarg, in Zone-3 with 33 machines. As a security measure in case of snowfall, only those vehicles which either have 4x4 facility or anti-skid chains fitted on the tyres, will be allowed to ply between Tangmarg and the world famous skiing resort of Gulmarg. This measure has been taken to avoid any mishap due to skidding of vehicles as the areas usually receive heavy snowfall. The police and traffic authorities have also been directed to be prepared for the expected snowfall. Instructions have also been passed to The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Kashmir, to ensure availability of adequate taxis fitted with anti-skid chains or 4x4 facility at Tangmarg and Gulmarg. There has been no let up in the freezing cold in the Valley this season, especially after the setting in of ‘chillai kalan’ - harshest 40 day-period of winter in Kashmir that began on December 21. The drop in night temperatures has also led to the partial freezing of the peripheries of Dal lake, while the locals have been complaining of frozen water taps in the morning hours. However, the city has been witnessing sunny days over the last two weeks. While the Valley received light to moderate snow and rain about two weeks ago, people are eagerly awaiting a heavy spell of snow that would not only improve the temperatures but also replenish the water bodies. Once the water levels decrease, the Valley faces an acute power shortage.
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jammu DIARY Reason: Hundreds of government as well as private vehicles have been parked haphazardly and illegally on the complex giving it a shabby look. Unattended heaps of debris and wild plants grown on culturally-rich walls of the complex are also the perfect description of “sheer neglect and nonchalant attitude” of the state government which is ruining the marvels of the priceless heritage. The wide roads leading to the complex are used for parking playing cricket by the youngsters. The residents fear that the complex, which is the insignia of the royal memorabilia and seat of governance for the erstwhile Dogra rulers, will fade into oblivion, if corrective measures are not initiated to remove the illegally parked vehicles. Road nuisance The much-hyped project of the Jammu super-speciality hospital has already missed several deadlines due to lethargic approach of the authorities concerned. But the major trouble which has erupted due to delay in the project is blocking of the Maheshpura bus stand link. For the past three months, the routes could not be used for commuting as patch of the road, outside the construction site of the hospital, has been excavated. The government hardly bothers about the problems of commoners who have to walk extra miles to reach the bus stand. Auto drivers have hiked fare to the spot and route diversion of buses and minibuses have added much to the routine traffic chaos, but the authorities are in deep slumber. Civic sense The civic sense of the City of Temples is visible from the scene at the Dogra Chowk, where on one side the waste is piled up over the dustbin placed by the Jammu Municipality and on the other a fruit seller is selling fruits, (see photo) which can pose health hazard. The municipality has placed these yellow bins on the sides of roads in the heart of the city and the smell emanating from these bins has become an irritant for everyone. Contributed by Arteev Sharma, Varun Suthra and Sonika Raina
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Incentive cheques given to farmers Srinagar, January 3 The cheques were distributed by the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kifiyat Hussain Rizvi, during a farm machinery mela held at Bijbehara in Anantnag. The cheques were distributed among the villagers of Zirpora, Arwani, Duptiyar, Hayar, Thajiwara, Laribal, Kanalwan, Banderpora, Satikpora, Opzan, Kandipora, Khaterteng, Waghama, Bevera, Aswora, Momen, Goundchail, Tulkhan, Samthan and Naina areas of Anantnag. Speaking on the occasion, Rizvi urged the farmers to adopt latest technologies to increase the production of crops. While Bijbehara is known for bhang (cannabis) cultivation, the Deputy Commissioner also urged the farmers not to cultivate the said crop. He also took stock of various agricultural activities at the area. The chief agriculture officer, Anantnag, Manzoor Ahmad Mir, said the main aim of the farm machinery mela was to make the farmers aware of various tools, equipment and techniques launched by the Agriculture Department to facilitate farming activities. —
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Gulmarg , January 3
For residents of the Mubarak Mandi and adjoining localities in the Old City, the historic Mubarak Mandi complex-the royal residence of erstwhile Dogra rulers in Jammu and Kashmir - has turned into a “parking mandi”.