Jammu, October 6
The Traffic Police has decided to tighten the noose around errant auto-rickshaw drivers for allegedly overcharging and misbehaving with commuters. The auto-rickshaw drivers in the city have been defying government directions to install electronic meters for long.

The traffic police will launch a special drive on October 8 against such auto-rickshaw operators.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Traffic Jammu, Shakeel Ahmed Beig, said auto-rickshaw operators have been asked to get electronic meters installed within three days or face strict action.

“We have constituted special squads in various sectors for the drive. The campaign against those jumping traffic lights and two-wheeler drivers without helmets has already been launched. More than 2,356 drivers have been penalised for violating traffic rules over the past three days,” he said. An amount of Rs 4.70 lakh as compound money has been realised from the defaulters, he added.

Residents have welcomed the move as they feel it would stop harassment of commuters on city roads since they were being forced to pay fares as per the whims of auto-rickshaw drivers.

“So far, there was no check on them. Most of the drivers charge as per their will and passengers are left with no option but to pay extra for travel,” said Pallavi Sharma, a college student.

Dharam Pal Khajuria, a senior citizen, said, “Auto-rickshaw drivers refuse to turn the meters on. They continue to fleece commuters while the authorities have turned a blind eye despite having full knowledge about the situation.”

On the other hand, auto-rickshaw operators accuse the transport department for not installation and non-functioning of electronic meters in three-wheelers.

“A meter costs between Rs 3,000 and 3,500 which is beyond our means. The hike in the petrol prices has hit our margins and how can we survive on the fare per kilometre as fixed by the government,” an auto-rickshaw driver said.

The administration had directed auto-rickshaw unions across the state to comply with the government-approved rates and install electronic meters in their vehicles. As per the rates fixed by the government, the passengers should be charged Rs 14 for the first kilometre and Rs 11 thereafter. The auto-rickshaw unions are demanding that the rate should be revised keeping in view increase in the fuel prices.

Jammu, October 6
The Government Railway Police (GRP) has removed 25 encroachments by vendors from the railway station. The Municipal Corporation also began an anti-encroachment drive in Raghunath Bazaar and other areas of the city to remove encroachments from the footpaths.

Despite being a temple city, the railway station has turned into a huge garbage dump as fruit sellers and shopkeepers setting up their kiosks here.

Sale of products of any kind was banned outside the station to maintain cleanliness here as thousands of pilgrims and foreign tourists come here.

Even a small portion of ground in front of the railway station is being used as a garbage dump.

Lack of coordination between Jammu Development Authority (JDA), Railway authorities and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has made the place a safe haven for stray dogs.

“Yesterday we removed more than two dozen makeshift shops and more steps are being taken to make the place garbage free. We have warned the shopkeepers not to dump solid waste in open around at the station,” said a GRP officer.

Many people say that the shopkeepers are major contributors to the garbage and the railway authorities are also to be blamed for not maintaining cleanliness at the railway station.

“There is no shortage of manpower but lack of coordination between the railways and the civic authorities is responsible for the encroachments,” said a visitor.

Jammu, October 6
With General Administration Department (GAD) announcing the shifting of Darbar on October 26 from Kashmir Valley, renovation of Civil Secretariat, which will be the seat of the government for the next six months, has begun.

The Estates Department has also begun the face lifting of residential quarters, which will accommodate the employees for the next six months. The GAD on Thursday issued notice that the Secretariat and other move offices would shut down in Srinagar on October 26 and reopen in Jammu on November 5. “The total budget for maintenance of the Civil Secretariat in Jammu and Srinagar and government quarters is Rs 8 crore per annum and the exercise is undertaken every six months,” said an Estates Department official.

Meanwhile, the Estate and other departments have started renovation of the quarters where the employees are provided accommodation during winters. The government quarters at Janipur, Sarwal, Subash Nagar and BC Road are being prepared for the employees to arrive.

Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is also gearing itself for the annual Darbar and has pressed in men and material to make Jammu city ready for the Darbar move.

Annual expenditure on the security and lodging of Darbar employees is Rs 200 crore, while the expenditure on their security over the last two decades stands at Rs 2,000 crore. This year the government spent Rs 40 crore on boarding and lodging of employees from jammu in Kashmir. All government departments have been asked to send advance parties on October 22 consisting of a Gazetted Officer and four to five non-gazetted employees to receive the records here.

Director Estates RK Koul said renovation and white washing is being done in all the buildings to house the employees. All arrangements will be completed by October 15 before the first batch of employees come here. 

Jammu, October 6
The Association of Hotels in Jammu yesterday demanded that the government should review its decision to throw open the Katra railway line, which is expected to be opened for traffic next year, alleging that it will destroy the tourism industry in the city.

Under the banner of All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA), they have rejected the statement of Higher Education Minister Abdul Gani Malik in the Legislative Council on Thursday that the government has taken adequate steps to ensure that business does not suffer and the capital city does not lose its importance after the train services are extended to Katra.

“These claims are hollow and an attempt to hoodwink the people, particularly the tourism-related trades in Jammu. All the tourism-related projects here are being executed at a snail’s pace”, said Inderjeet Khajuria, president, AJHLA.

He alleged that the much-boasted Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex project would take another 10 years to complete to allow tourists to enjoy the grandeur of the Palace complex at the speed the work is going on their at present. The Association has alleged that other projects like the Tawi river lake and facelift of the river bank is going on at a very slow speed.

The vice-president of the association, BS Manhas, regretted that most of the tourism-related projects in Jammu were facing bottlenecks due to non- clearance by the Forest and Environment Department with regard to the construction of one pillar for the ropeway, which falls in the wildlife area.

“If the government can get clearance for the construction of Mughal road passing through a wildlife sanctuary, which is a habitat of some endangered species, and also for the construction of tunnel to link Leh, Ladakh with the Kashmir valley, why so much delay is being observed in respect of a project in the Jammu division”, Manhas alleged.

The AJHLA has also flayed non-seriousness of the government over the extension of Manda wildlife sanctuary, converting it into a National Wildlife Park, as agreed to by the Union government. It has observed that extension of the wildlife park from Manda to Nandini would attract a large number of tourists and will be somewhat comparable to Dachigam Wildlife Park.

Jammu, October 6
Roving Sikhs is arguably the first all Sikh rock band in the state.

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has been established by a team of professionals, including doctors and others, who find music food for soul.

Dr Rajdeep Singh, vocalist and founder member, says that they have come up with a concept that music could help people get out of stress and worries.

He says, "We are a team of professionals from different backgrounds and we have been maintaining the similar professionalism in the field of rock music. The band includes myself as vocalist, Dr Gurpreet Singh as bass guitar, Gurinder Pal on drums, Gagandeep Singh as lead guitar, Deepjot Singh as rhythm guitarist , Dr Vidyut on keyboard and Shivam Soni as sound engineer. Gurjeev is the manager, Sarabjeet Singh is the founder, Sushant Singh is the official cinematographer and Dr Khushwant Singh is our creative head."

On the idea of establishing the band, Rajdeep says that it was Sarbjeet Singh who had come up with the idea.

The band is not based on religious lines and their sole aim is to produce quality work in the field of rock, he maintains.

"We are proud to be based in the Temple City and it fills us with pride and pleasure when musicians and singers from across the globe admire our work." 

Jammu, October 6
A team of scientists of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, Udhampur, today visited Jib village in Udhampur district.

The visit was conducted as part of the ‘Village Visit’ programme of the university organised every fortnight under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof DK Arora. The team organised an interaction meeting with the farmers of the village and discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to agriculture, animal husbandry etc.

Dr Rakesh Nanda described at length the purpose of the programme started by SKUAST to provide farmers of the far-off villages an on-spot advisory on issues of concurrent nature.

Dr SK Kher exhorted the farmers to adopt modern practices to reap benefits and also took queries from farmers to facilitate them. Vijay Bhardwaj, District Agrilcuture Officer, Udhampur, stressed upon conducting of more such programmes frequently in different villages.

Dr Rajinder Dhar enlightened the farmers about the improved and latest production practices of wheat and maize crops in order to increase production and profitability.

Farmers raised problems of various weed flora in field crops especially lantana, parthenium, ageratum (both yellow and blue) etc.

Dr V Koul suggested appropriate plant protection measures to safeguard grain and vegetables crops from major insect pests and diseases. He also dwelt on control measures of termites which cause great harm to crops at different stages of crop growth. 

Jammu, October 6
The Government College for Women (GCW), Parade, the Post Graduate Department, University of Jammu and the Government College for Women, Udhampur, notched up convincing wins in the first round matches of the Inter-Collegiate Women Kabaddi Tournament which commenced at the Government Degree College, Kathua.

In the first match, GCW Parade got the better of GDC Samba by 34 points (46-12) while in another match GCW Gandhi Nagar advanced into the next round. GCW Udhampur toppled GCW Kathua by 21 points (33-12) whereas the PG Department, University of Jammu scripted a narrow win by six points (32-26).

The matches were officiated by Kuldeep Singh, Joginder Singh, Sukh Ram, Uttam Singh and Parveen.

Earlier, Zahida Parveen Khan, District Development Commissioner, Kathua, declared the tournament open. Dr Nater Singh, principal of GDC Kathua, Dr Janak Singh and Prof PK Rao were present on the occasion.

Jammu, October 6
Boys of Jammu district clinched both U-17 and U-19 titles today in the two-day tournament organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) at Delhi Public School (DPS) shooting range here.

Harshdeep Singh and Sangram Singh fetched gold medals in U-19 and U-17 age groups respectively in 0.177 pistol 10 metre range.

In the valedictory function, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Dilbag Singh, was chief guest who gave away trophies to winners and runners up teams along with medals and certificates.

Jammu-Kathua Range DIG JP Singh and Jammu SSP Prabhat Singh were also present.

Earlier, Deputy Director, DYSS, Ashok Kumar, welcomed the guests and presented a brief note. He informed the department had almost finished all the divisional-level departmental activities. 

Jammu, October 6
The Government College for Women (GCW), Parade, clinched the title trophy in the Inter-Collegiate Kabaddi Tournament hosted by the Government Degree College (GDC), Kathua.

In the final, GCW Parade toppled GCW Gandhi Nagar by a margin of four points (30-26). The match was officiated by Dr Balwinder Singh, Sanjeev Jamwal, Kuldeep Singh, Joginder Kumar, Sukh Ram, Uttam Singh, Parveen, Naresha Sambyal and Jog Raj.

Member of Parliament, Lal Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion — TNS