|
|
|
|
|
‘Save Tawi’ gathers momentum
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hotels’ body hails MLAs’ concern
‘PDP fountainhead of divisive politics’
Despite criticism, govt to unveil Maharaja’s statue today
Army builds community hall
Children visit Raj Bhawan lawns on First Lady’s invite
Development of tourist spots sought
Criminal held with revolver in Kathua
NSG Tae
Kwon Do Championship
Cricket team calls on Doda DC
Cricketers stage protest against JKCA
Football
Tournament
|
|
‘Save Tawi’ gathers momentum
Jammu, March 31 The Jammu Municipal Corporation had also deployed a squad near the site to check use of poly bags. The squad was divided into two teams, with one team at the entrance point near the stairs on the left of the bridge at Bikram Chowk-end and the other team at the spot on the riverbed, where people immerse the “saankh”. The volunteers not only appealed the people to immerse “saankh” without poly bags but also went into the river to take out cluster of poly bags flowing into it. The team also made the best use of persons present on the spot, which included beggars and vendors, to remove the poly bags and collectively paid them some amount for the job. Both the MC and “Save Tawi” volunteer teams placed a big container near the entry point and pleaded the people to first leave poly nags there and then proceed for the rituals. Though many people followed the suggestions, many of them were also reluctant to leave their poly bags, saying that they were not having any substitute to carry the “saankh” up to the river bed. The Tribune team talked to the people who were supporting the cause and cooperated with the vigilant teams on the spot. Rekha and Anchal, who had come there to immerse the “saankh”, said people could not always blame the authorities concerned for the rising pollution. Amit, a city-based businessman, said, “I think people should not show reluctance for the
appeal. Moreover, everyone is aware these days and they should not wait for any appeal or
legal enforcement.” The volunteers, while sharing their excitement with The Tribune, said something was really needed on the ground to cleanse the river. “We don’t know what difference it will make but we have taken an initiative and if everyone is ready to contribute, some improvement will definitely be there,” said Abhishek Parihar, a Jammu University student and a volunteer. Earlier, the volunteers had a meeting at the Jammu University cafeteria, where they took some resolutions to save the Tawi. It was also decided unanimously by them to further carry the mission with name “My Tawi Campaign”. Nitin Singh Sambyal, who had made an appeal on a social networking site for the volunteers’ meet, said everyone should start sharing their views and suggestions on the Facebook and after compiling the concept, plans should be executed without delay. Uttam Singh Chib, another volunteer, said, “ We should get into the job as nothing could be achieved until things are implemented. These two days, today and tomorrow, the Tawi suffers optimum burden of pollution so we should reach the spot and begin our work.” Ritika Pathania said,
“A deputation comprising “My Tawi” volunteers should press upon the State Pollution Control Board to make public
the level of pollution in the Tawi through various means.” Deewakar Sharma, an advocate, said there were many components that needed to be taken
up properly and for that each volunteer should go through every aspect related to the heritage
river. He said the team should focus on legal aspects also and raise them on a suitable podium. BD Sharma, another volunteer, said not only the municipal waste was being dumped into the river but a large quantity of industrial waste was also being poured into the river through Balole Nallah. Later, the team decided
to hold fortnightly meet to execute the plans and proposals. Although the authorities and various agencies have launched a campaign against the dumping of poly bags in the Tawi during the Navratras but on the first day of “saankh” immersion, about 95 per cent of the people were carrying poly bags and over 90 per cent refused to avoid using the same. A number of persons were seen throwing the poly bags from the Tawi Bridge. The riverbed was defiled with thousands of poly bags floating over its surface. |
||
|
No ‘entry fee’, challan for ‘ethical’ minibus drivers
Jammu, March 31 In turn, the Traffic Police Department has decided that it would issue “special stickers and certificates (undertakings)” to such minibus drivers, which will exempt them from penalties and challans. Over 100 minibus drivers have approached the Inspector General of
Police (Traffic), J&K, Hemant Kumar Lohia, with a written undertaking that they will cooperate with the traffic cops in streamlining the traffic on the city roads. They have also requested the IGP (traffic) that a direction should be issued to all the traffic cops deputed on the city roads not to “harass” and “penalise” minibus drivers. “Over 100 minibus drivers have approached the department with written undertakings that they will cooperate with the traffic cops in restoring sanity on the city roads. They have pledged that they will not violate the traffic rules,” IGP (Traffic), Hemant Kumar Lohia, told The Tribune. The IGP said the department has decided to issue “special stickers and undertakings” to all such drivers. “They will paste these stickers and undertakings on their vehicles so that they are not penalised for minor violations. We are hopeful that more drivers will join this campaign and will help the department in streamlining the worsening traffic problem,” Lohia said. He, however, said the department was looking for sponsors for the preparation of “special stickers and certificates”. The IGP admitted that minibuses have turned out to be a major source of traffic chaos on the Jammu roads. “Around 1,600 minibuses operate on various routes of the city on a daily basis,” he said. Law-abiding citizens believe that oft-repeated warnings to minibus drivers will yield nothing and suggest that the traffic department will have to go for some “innovative measures” if it is really concerned to deal with the chaos prevailing on the roads. “The minibus drivers and the cops have developed a nexus as minibuses seldom follow the traffic rules. The cops have turned a blind eye towards the rampant violations taking place on the city roads,” said Anukush Sharma, a Jammu University scholar. Statistics revealed that the number of vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir has touched the staggering 9-lakh mark with around 5 lakh vehicles plying on the Jammu roads alone. The number of vehicles has witnessed a 11.98 per cent increase in 2011-12 as compared to previous year. About 70,000 new vehicles are hitting the roads annually. The road length in Jammu city is just 704.22 km and the density of vehicles is 574 vehicles per km. Srinagar is somewhat better off with a road length of 1,263 km. |
||
|
Hotels’ body hails MLAs’ concern
Jammu, March 31 The AJHLA thanked the MLAs and MLCs for demanding the removal of encroachments on the riverbed and its banks and for taking measures to check pollution in the river. Inderjeet Khajuria, president, AJHLA, said they had been highlighting the need for the preservation of the Tawi and facelift of its banks for a long time. “It is heartening that representatives of the people, irrespective of party lines, have awakened to the need for restoring the pristine glory of the Tawi,” he said. He said, “Though the government has conceded to their long-pending demand for setting up an artificial lake as a source of tourist attraction, it is regretted that the work on the project is going on at a snail’s pace.” He demanded that flowing of night soil of the city into the river and dumping of solid waste should be stopped forthwith. Besides Khajuria, others who attended the meeting included Ravi Mahajan, Kuldeep Wahi, Devender Chaudhary, Ashiq Hussain, Pawan Gupta, Suresh Gupta, Mahesh Padha, Kewal Krishan, Sham Lal, Bal Krishan, Mahender Kumar, Narender Kumar, Deewan Singh and Kuldeep Kumar Chaudhary.
|
||
|
‘PDP fountainhead of divisive politics’
Jammu, March 31 “The PDP has left deep scars on the minds of the people of the state by inflicting on them the miseries of the 2008 Amarnath land row and rather than repenting, they are indulging in the politics of deceit and trying to create communal disharmony and fissures between different regions and sub-regions of the state,” Rana said. He said all such moves of the PDP would be resisted tooth and nail by the National Conference and the party would expose their nefarious designs. Addressing a public meeting at Panchayat Aithem in the Nagrota constituency, Rana said the only aim of PDP’s leadership was to grab power and for that they could adopt any means, howsoever dubious they might be. He said: “The PDP has no ideology and speak one language in Kashmir, another in Jammu and an absolutely different in Delhi”. They (PDP) change colours like chameleons, said Rana. He, however, appreciated the wisdom of the people of the state who had not fallen prey to the politicking and skullduggery of the PDP. Rana said innovative, befitting and historical initiatives taken by Omar Abdullah-led coalition government for the overall development of the state speak of their efficacy as these have been recognised throughout the country and the PDP’s propaganda cannot eclipse these glowing initiatives taken by the Omar-led government to empower the common man at grass roots.
|
||
|
Despite criticism, govt to unveil
Jammu, March 31 A Jammu Municipal Cooperation officer said, “The MC is under huge pressure as there are three big events scheduled for tomorrow. Unveiling of the statue, a function involving the Chief Minister as the chief guest and concluding day of the Navratras — all these events coincide tomorrow.” The Panthers Party continued with its stand to oppose the government decision saying that it was ridiculing the personality of the great ruler by unveiling his statue on April 1. “We have already registered our protest and people of the state have acknowledged our demand. But if the government is still going to unveil the statue on April 1, it would expose its motives to the commoners,” said Rafiq Shah, MLC from the Panthers Party.
|
||
|
Army builds community hall
Jammu, March 31 Sarpanch Swaran Singh, on behalf of the village, expressed gratitude to the Army for constructing the hall. The Sabre Brigade had earlier constructed four bus stands, organised coaching camps for various exams and held medical camps and some education trips. —
TNS |
||
|
Children visit Raj Bhawan lawns on First Lady’s invite
Jammu, March 31 The children were invited to see the magnificent Raj Bhawan lawns, which has a variety of flowers in full bloom. They were taken for a tour of the lawns and orchards by the Raj Bhawan staff. They were also informed about various species of flowers and fruit-bearing trees. The children were delighted at the opportunity being provided by the Governor and the First Lady to be able to visit the Raj Bhawan lawns and broaden their knowledge about flowers and fruit trees. Refreshment was also given to the students and their teachers on the occasion. The students presented a handmade card to the Governor and the First Lady as a token of love and affection, on which “We are all smiles today” was painted. The management and the teachers of the school accompanying the visiting students, studying in class I to class IX, expressed their gratitude to the Governor and the First Lady for providing an opportunity to the children, belonging to the rural areas of Jammu district, to visit the Raj Bhawan lawns and orchards.
|
||
|
Development of tourist spots sought
Jammu, March 31 Speaking to the media here today, Narinder Gupta, chairman, AITTA, said there were many tourist spots in the Jammu region, including Surinsar, Patnitop, Sanasar, Machial, Shiv Khori, Bahu Fort, etc, which could be developed as famous tourist destinations with the efforts of the government.
— TNS |
||
|
Criminal held with revolver in Kathua
Jammu, March 31 The criminal, identified as Sham Murti (alias Shamu), a resident of Hamirpur in Hiranagar tehsil was arrested today by the local police from the New Housing Colony in Shiva Nagar of Kathua tehsil. The police spokesperson said that a country-made revolver and cartridges were also recovered. “A team of the Delhi Police headed by a Sub-Inspector has moved an application before the court seeking the custody of the criminal,” said Kathua SSP JL Sharma.
|
||
|
NSG
Tae Kwon Do Championship Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 31 Some of the members of the state contingent, while talking to The Tribune, said the authorities concerned had allegedly made an error while sending online entries in advance to the organisers of the championship mentioning the name and weight categories of each player. “We were enthusiastic about participating in the championship hoping to break jinx in increasing the medal tally but we all were shocked not finding our actual weight categories,” said one of the members of the U-14 Tae Kwon Do team. “There was a chaos at the competition venue as everybody was trying to approach the organisers to correct weight categories but all in vain,” he said. “Even if the error was not done advertently by the directorate, it was more than enough to pour water on all our hopes for winning a medal,” said another player. According to sources, only one player got an opportunity to compete in his own 18-kg weight category in the U-14 age group and bagged bronze, while the remaining players were unable to compete in their respective weight categories. Another promising player, who bagged bronze medal in the previous edition of the NSG and whose actual weight category was 23 kg, was placed in 25 kg category ended up losing the qualifying round. Further, one of the members of the U-14 contingent who was supposed to compete in the 41-kg weight category was included in the 43-kg category and surprisingly, there was no such category mentioned in the championship. “How can you expect from us to bring laurels to the state when officials at the helm of affairs are non-serious while performing their responsibilities,” said another player. “Only we know the hardships we faced during the championship as no proper refreshments were provided to us,” said another player. Jai Pal Singh, Director, Youth Services and Sports, said he had no information about this issue. “I do not have any specific information relating to the change of weight categories of the state contingent during the National School Games Tae Kwon Do Championship,” said Jai Pal Singh. Meanwhile, the U-14 State Tae Kwon Do contingent comprised of Achutam Dev Singh, Raghav Mehra, Aryan Gupta, Gopal Mehra, Vishwajeet Singh, Parmarth Singh Jasrotia, Bhaskar Gupta, Pranav Gupta, Mohit, Tameem Azad and Dheeraj Kumar. The U-19 girls’ team comprised of Saba Jaan, Asma Gul, Hina Jaan, Rehana Qadir, Komal Dhiman, Chahat Mahajan, Vishali Devi, Riya Chib, Narmita Katoch. The members of the U-19 girls’ team were Bilquss Fatima, Sunita Devi, Shreya Manhas, Suman Lata, Sunaiba Razar, Priya Sharma, Sakshi Bhat and Jahnvi Khajuria. The U-19 boys’ team comprised of Ahzam Khurshid Wani, Saomit Sharma, Paras Chopra, Rohit Sharma, Sarhan Buchh, Jugal Singh, Roshan Angurana and Basit Ali.
|
||
|
Cricket team calls on Doda DC
Doda, March 31 Hashmi informed the DC that various international clubs, including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, are likely to participate in the event. He added that many IPL and international players will also participate in the tournament. DC Doda assured full cooperation to the YSCC in organising the tournament successfully. Asif Ali Dev, Youth Services and Sports Officer, Doda, and others were also present on the occasion.
|
||
|
Cricketers stage protest against JKCA
Jammu, March 31 The cricketers expressed concern over the recent multi-crore JKCA scam and demanded stern action against the accused. The agitating cricketers said the JKCA had failed to fulfil the long-pending demand for the construction of a cricket stadium. “Officials at the helm of affairs are least bothered about the issues of cricketers, especially of the Jammu region,” said one of the protesting cricketers. “What is the logic behind sending of huge funds by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to the JKCA when they are not being properly utilised for the betterment of cricketers,” he added. “Instead of spending funds to create adequate infrastructure, JKCA officials are busy in making strategies to misuse them,” said another cricketer. “The JKCA has always done injustice to Jammu-based cricketers who were not given due consideration whether it is selection trials, coaching camp or selection of teams for various national-level tournaments,” one of the protesting cricketers said.
|
||
|
Football
Tournament Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 31 Young Star Club drew first blood through Abhishek in the 20th minute but could not get the momentum going. Sainik Colony Club made desperate attempts in the first half to score an equaliser but were thwarted by defenders of the rival team. After the half time, Sainik Colony Club intensified its efforts and finally achieved success. Gagan Singh struck in the 61st minute to make the contest evenly poised. Harvinder Singh then scored a sensational goal in the dying moments to seal the fate of the match in favour of Sainik Colony Club. The match was officiated by Rakesh, Vijay, Koushal and Sohan Lal. Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation. MLA Yashpal Kundal was also present on the occasion.
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE |
| Punjab |
Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
Arti, a student, said, “It’s our river, heritage and religion and it should not
be exploited with impunity for polluting the water bodies. We appreciate the efforts to save the river and this little step would surely bring out some considerable outcome.”