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Power crisis turns ugly
Rain leaves city drains choked
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Drugs worth Rs 1.1 lakh seized
Minister inspects CAPD, FCI stores
Residents’ miseries swell as monsoon arrives
YAIKS protests non-fulfilment of vacant posts
Defunct tube wells add to farmers’ woes
Ration distributed among flood-hit
Women bag top 9 positions
Use of polythene bags continues unabated in Poonch
JU organises seminar on Urdu writer Khawaja Ekram
Lakhanpur-Sarthal tourist circuit yet to take off
Workshop on AIDS prevention
Five travel agents held
DPS, Emman Club log wins
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Power crisis turns ugly
Jammu, July 6 The PDD employees have demanded the registration of a criminal case against those who allegedly attacked the sub-station and set it on fire around midnight. They have made it clear that they would stay away from their duties till the government ensures security of the PDD employees, who, according to them, were being attacked following power crisis. Sources said some unidentified persons also attacked revenue centre-cum-complaint cell of the Electricity Department at Trikuta Nagar and set it on fire. “The miscreants also set on fire a room where the PDD employees who perform night duties keep their belongings. All the furniture, clothes, beds and other items were reduced to ashes,” the sources said, adding that the PDD employees, who were on duty, were rectifying a technical snag at Sector 9 when the incident took place. A PDD employee, who wished not to be named, claimed that it was for the second time that they had been attacked by the unidentified persons. “Few days ago, one of our colleagues was severely beaten up by the miscreants. The entire state has been facing power outages and fluctuations but it is unfortunate that the people attacked us for no fault of ours,” he said. He disclosed that they had decided to stay away from their duties till the administration provides fool-proof security to the employees, particularly during night hours. Later, representatives of the Provincial Power Employees’ Union (PPEU) and the All J&K Daily Wagers Association staged a demonstration outside the sub-division office, Green
Belt Park, Gandhi Nagar, and raised slogans in favour of their demands. “The PDD workers are being targeted and the administration has turned a blind eye to the problem. We will register our protest and continue our agitation till the administration makes suitable security arrangements for the PDD workers and action is taken against the culprits,” said Aijaz Qazmi, general secretary, PPEU. SHO Trikuta Nagar Police Station said they had not received any written complaint from the Electricity Department. It may be mentioned that the winter capital has been facing scheduled and unscheduled power cuts due to a shortfall of 800 MW of power between demand and supply. Several localities have been witnessing massive protests against the power outages with city residents blaming the ruling dispensation of failing to ensure uninterrupted electricity. |
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Rain leaves city drains choked
Jammu, July 6 Just a day after the short spell of rain yesterday, almost all the major sewerage drains of the city were found choked. Solid wastes, including non-biodegradable materials, were seen at various openings, leading to outflow of sewerage. Bhushan Parimoo, president, Environment Awareness Forum, said it was due to lack of planning and management by the JMC. He said, “It shows the JMC is never prepared for such situations whereas it should always have a better management for such conditions. Drains must be cleaned regularly so that rainwater gets a clear passage. “We have been witnessing waterlogging due to silt at Krishna Nagar and bus stand nullahs after the rains but the JMC has not yet made any plan to deal with the situation.” He alleged that the JMC was solely responsible for defiling of the city after the rain spell as it has been ignoring the indispensable component of urban development from its plans. Neha Bharti, a resident of Old City, said the city was always lacking a better waste management and traffic management. “I don’t know what stops the authorities concerned from implementing a plan of action to avoid chaos. Such a situation occurs during the Amarnath yatra when myriad of pilgrims from across the country halt at this city. Right from the railway station or bus stand to other parts of the cities, we have been showcasing the filthy outlook of the city,” she said. Swati Khajuria, a homemaker, said she was worried about the health of her children due to clogged nullahs, which were an open invitation to all sorts of diseases and infections. Dr Arun Sharma, Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital Sarwal, said chances of spreading water-borne diseases increase after rains. “Normally threat perception increases for the spread of water-borne diseases in rains and such situations can become a reason for breaking out of some epidemic,” he
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Drugs worth Rs 1.1 lakh seized
Jammu, July 6 According to reports, a naka was laid at the Lakhanpur checkpost to check the consignment of medical preparation being imported into the state from outside. The team headed by the drug inspector, Lakhanpur, seized a consignment containing drugs Niclofen injection, Nitaxim 500 injection and Nefzon 1000 injection, all manufactured by M/s Nitin Life sciences, Poanta Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, which was being transported in violation to the conditions of the storage mentioned on the label thereby violating Rule 96 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule, 1945. The drugs were bound for M/s MH Traders, Anantnag. The approximate value of the seized goods was estimated at `1,10,000. |
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Minister inspects CAPD, FCI stores
Jammu, July 6 The minister inspected the quality of wheat, rice and sugar and instructed Parvez Malik, director, CAPD, to personally check the quality of ration being received from the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He directed the officials concerned to ensure adequate availability of wheat, rice, sugar and other essential commodities in all parts of the Jammu division. He urged the officials to personally monitor ration supply to the far-flung and remote areas of the Jammu division so that people living in these areas get hassle-free ration supply.
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Residents’ miseries swell as monsoon arrives
Jammu, July 6 Sources said National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), which were given development works, including laying of sewer lines across the winter capital city, have not restored the damaged roads and lanes to their original shape, causing several hardships to the residents. “The residents had to pay the price of indifferent and callous approach of the executing agencies yesterday, when mud, filth and dirty water entered their houses and shops in many parts following blockage of storm drains and nullahs due to heaps of debris,” the sources added. A senior official of the civil administration, who requested anonymity, said the executing agencies had failed to complete the prescribed works within stipulated period. “These agencies have violated all prescribed construction norms and all development works are already running late. In contrast to other states, where digging of roads is discontinued during monsoon i.e. from June to September, to prevent the city from turning into a mess, the executing agencies here are busy digging up roads to lay the sewer lines,” he regretted. He alleged that roads and lanes in the old city have virtually turned into a dumping place where big heaps of debris has affected the business of shopkeepers. “Similarly, the traders and shopkeepers along the Kunjwani-Satwari National Highway are the worst affected as dust, filth and heaps of debris has ruined their business,” he added. Paraminder Singh, a grocery shop owner in Digiana area on the Kunjwani-Satwari highway, accused the authorities of being ignorant towards the grievances of the shopkeepers and traders. “So far, we have been suffering losses due to dust and large heaps of debris along the highway. Dusty conditions forced customers away from our shops. The first spell of monsoon has added woes to the shopkeepers as their shops were inundated following blockage of drains due to debris and construction material,” he said. He said the continuous digging and road-cutting pose a threat to pedestrians and commuters, particularly during the night. “The unplanned digging of roads throughout the length and breadth of the city for carrying out various works is one of the main features that calls for an introspection. Why the executing agencies find monsoon as a feasible period for carrying out digging?” former Mayor of JMC Narinder Singh questioned. JMC Commissioner KL Khajuria and NBCC general manager Hem Raj were not available for comments.
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YAIKS protests non-fulfilment of vacant posts
Jammu, July 6 The unemployed Kashmiri Pandit youth, under the aegis of YAIKS, led by its president and member, Apex Advisory Committee, RK Bhat held the protest to show their resentment against the government’s decision on proposed new advertisement for filling up the posts which had remained vacant owing to de-reservation of 800 posts and non-joining of 643 vide advertisement notice No.01 of 2010 dated 12.01.2010. While addressing the protesters, Bhat said, “We have been assured time and again by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla and MoS for Revenue Nasir Aslam Wani that vacant posts would be filled from pending merit list but unfortunately we have been betrayed by the government.” “We make an appeal to Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister, and Revenue Minister to intervene into the matter and accord necessary sanction to the filling up of the remaining 1,443 posts from the merit list already prepared by the recruitment agency,” he added. In response to the government announcement regarding three years one-time exception in age relaxation in favour of pending 1,443 posts under the PM’s employment package, the protesters criticised the government for its confusing decision that three years age relaxation will be given to pending merit list candidates for the 1,443 vacancies.
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Defunct tube wells add to farmers’ woes
Jammu, July 6 Farmers of the Bishnah, RS Pura and Vijaypur areas are the worst hit, as tube wells installed in their areas are not functioning properly due to low voltage. The Bishnah, RS Pura and some border areas of Vijaypur are considered the rice bowl of the Jammu region. But due to lack of irrigation facilities, most farmers have been unable to sow their crops this season. Manjit Singh, a former minister, alleged that a majority of the tube wells in the Vijaypur Assembly segment were defunct and farmers were facing hardships due to the absence of irrigation facilities, especially in the border areas. “Instead of involving the department concerned in sinking tube wells, the authorities assign the job to private companies, which often commit fraud with poor farmers,” he claimed. The non-availability of power in the rural areas has added to the woes of the farming community, he added. He demanded immediate restoration of defunct tube wells to solve the problem of the farmers. The farmers living in the border areas, where water of the Ranbir or Ravi-Tawi canal cannot be supplied, depend on tube wells or rain for cultivation. This year, the delay in monsoon has made the farmers completely depended on tube wells to irrigate their fields. But the failure of the authorities to fix defunct tube wells has caused a lot of harassment to the farming community. A large number of tube wells were sunk in the Bishnah, Vijaypur and RS Pura areas to make optimum use of the fertility of this belt. The aim was to bring the entire land under irrigation as part of a scheme financed by NABARD. Tube wells were dug in those areas where water of the Ranbir canal or the Tawi could not reach. |
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Ration distributed among flood-hit
Jammu, July 6 Water in these areas had entered into the houses of the residents thereby causing heavy damage to their belongings. The JKDF leader distributed rice, flour, pulses and other ration to 92 flood-hit families. He said the front would extend every possible help to the flood victims in order to bring life back to normalcy in these areas. |
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Women bag top 9 positions
Jammu, July 6 Mohit Raina has topped the merit list followed by Pooja Rasgotra and Anissa Nabi in the second and third positions, respectively. Mohit secured an aggregate 1,452 marks, while Pooja and Anissa managed 1,424 and 1,391 marks, respectively. An official spokesperson said the General Administration Department (GAD) had referred 142 vacancies, which included 117 Junior KAS, 16 J&K Accounts (Gazetted) Service and nine J&K Police (Gazetted) Service to the Commission on May 31, 2011. The spokesperson added that the commission notified the vacancies on June 20, 2011, and the preliminary examination was conducted on September 25. A total of 21,414 candidates appeared for the preliminary examination, out of which only 3,555 candidates qualified for the mains examination, which was conducted from February 15, 2012, to March 10, 2012. A total of 503 candidates qualified for the interview. The interviews were conducted from May 21 to July 2 at Srinagar. The spokesperson said the meritorious candidates would appear before the medical boards at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, and GMCH Srinagar. |
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Use of polythene bags continues unabated in Poonch
Poonch, July 6 These bags are virtually available at all the markets of the district. Even the district headquarters is not an exception to this. The district administration had initially started a week-long drive to enforce the ban on the use and store of polythene bags. Recently, 200 kg of polythene bags were seized from vendors and shopkeepers in Poonch town. In Surankote and Poonch towns, professional sweepers are engaged to clean the polythene bags as they fall under municipalities. But Mendher town, where polythene bags are the major reason behind poor sanitation system, is the worst sufferer in the district as it does not have a municipality or a notified area committee. Locals said the drains remained clogged with garbage and polythene bags and thus the water flowed on the roads creating inconvenience to the residents, pedestrians and the shopkeepers alike. The traders, however, are of a different opinion. They claim that there is no alternative to polythene in the district. “Most people who come to buy vegetables and other goods generally do not carry their own bags. They request us to pack the goods in polythene bags. We have no option but to give in to their demand as we do not want to lose our customers,” said a vendor at the main Poonch market. “If there is a complete ban on the use of polythene bags in Jammu and Kashmir, then why it is being sold in the wholesale shops. Why the district administration is a mute spectator to this?” asked a shopkeeper in Mendher. Sudarshan Sharma, an educationist, said, “It is sheer ignorance on the part of the people that they do not use paper or jute bags. Awareness should be created about the ill-effects of using polythene bags. It is the duty of the government to create awareness about the effects of the use of polythene.” When contacted, District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, said “There are no plastic bag manufacturing units in Poonch district. As far as the use of polythene bags by shopkeepers and vendors is concerned, we have seized polythene bags in Poonch and Surankote towns many a times but it will take time without people support. We are also organising awareness campaigns for the purpose.”
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JU organises seminar on Urdu writer Khawaja Ekram
Jammu, July 6 Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, was the chief guest on the occasion and Prof Qudoos Javed, former HoD, Urdu, Kashmir University, was the guest of honour. The function was presided over by veteran journalist Ved Bhasin. Prof Ishar congratulated Khawaja Ekram for his new assignment. He said JU in future would collaborate with the NCPUL. Earlier Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, HoD, Urdu, and president of the Rasa Javedani Momorial Literary Society discussed his close association with Dr Khawaja Ekram. “Dr Khawaja is the youngest director of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language and under his leadership the council is doing a lot for the promotion of the language in the country,” he added. Prof Qudoos Javed, former HOD, Urdu, Kashmir University, talked about the life and works of Khawaja. Dr Khawaja said he would do his best for the promotion of the language. He said the NCPUL would collaborate with JU in future for organising literary activities. The function was attended by students, scholars, teachers of the university, poets and writers.
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Lakhanpur-Sarthal tourist circuit yet to take off
Jammu, July 6 Work on the project was taken up under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme at a cost of Rs 7.99 crore. The Centre has reportedly realised amount worth Rs 6.39 crore but nothing is visible on ground. The Lakhanpur-Sarthal road is still a fair weather track and even local residents avoid travelling on this road what to say of tourists. Keeping in view the pace of work on this road, it is believed that the road would not be completed before 2017. In 2010, Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani had said the work on the project was going in full swing and would be completed soon. Almost two years have been passed but there is no progress in the same.Along with other tourist circuits, the Lakhanpur-Bani-Basohli-Sarthal tourist circuit was announced when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister of the state. Aim of the tourist circuit was to connect Bhaderwah and other areas of the erstwhile Doda district with alternative route to divert tourists in this belt, which has a huge potential of tourism. While announcing the tourist circuit, it was planned that tourists interested in adventure tourism would be diverted to this track. It was also mentioned while announcing the tourist circuit that function of the circuit was to create tourist infrastructure, upgrade and maintain tourist assets at identified destinations and promote local traditions, art forms, crafts and culture. Aim of the circuit was to ensure participation of local residents in tourism activities, especially in establishing eco-tourism projects. The government had also announced to explore the tourism potential of the Bani and the Basohli areas of Kathua districts because this belt can attract tourists from abroad.
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Workshop on AIDS prevention
Jammu, July 6 Dr Arun Sharma, Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital Sarwal, Jammu, who is also master trainer on HIV AIDS, had an interaction with more than 110 female multi-purpose health workers present there and gave a detailed information regarding HIV AIDS. |
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Katra, July 6 Complainant Anil Kumar said he was unable to get reserved tickets for a trip to Delhi and was told to get confirmed tickets from this travel agency. “When he went there and stated how urgently he had to go to Delhi, he was asked to pay Rs 1,000 extra for a ticket which originally costs Rs 414,” Katoch said. — OC
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DPS, Emman Club log wins
Jammu, July 6 In the first match, DPS Club scripted a 6-5 win over Blue Brazillian Football Club. In the second match, Emman Football Club, Habak, defeated Burn Hall School 3-2. — TNS |
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