Jammu, October 31
Congress, which is part of the coalition government headed by National Conference, today alleged that electoral rolls of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) were full of discrepancies and those who were at the helm of the affairs were not ready to rectify these faults. The party smells a deep-rooted conspiracy in preparing voter lists full of discrepancies.

Opposition BJP has already alleged that names of a number of genuine voters were deleted from the electoral rolls of JMC as part of a gameplan of the coalition government.

In the presence of party ministers and senior leaders, district president of Congress Jammu Urban Om Chopra said voter lists prepared by the JMC were full of discrepancies. “I am a former MLA of Jammu city. My name has been deleted from the voter list,” he shouted, adding, “Deletion of my name from the electoral rolls reflects how causally the officials are taking 
the task to prepare voter lists.”

“I have repeatedly filled up the form to get my name included in the voter lists but to no avail,” he said.

Not only Om Chopra, but also a number of Congress leaders who spoke at the function held to observe the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi highlighted discrepancies in the voter lists and alleged that it was a conspiracy on the part of the administration to delete names of a large number of voters from the lists.

“On one hand, the government has been claiming elections for urban local bodies would be conducted in December, and on the other, JMC officials are not ready to rectify discrepancies in the existing electoral rolls,” Chopra said and urged the party ministers to take serious note of it.

Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla tried to pacify the workers. He said the authorities have already extended the period for filing of claims and objections for summary revisions, so Congress workers should themselves take the initiative to get names of genuine voters included in the voter lists.

As reported, the period for filing of claims and objections for revision of municipal electoral rolls in respect of the Jammu Municipal Corporation was extended by a week from October 30. The electoral registration officers/assistant electoral registration officers who have been designated for preparation of Municipal Corporation Electoral Rolls, 2012, have already arranged the display of draft electoral rolls at their respective offices.

Jammu, October 31
Even as the state government has yet to enact a law for registering only those vehicles whose owners have proof of parking space, the aggregate motor vehicles have outnumbered the total households in Jammu district. Around three lakhs new vehicles have hit the roads in last 12 years.

Much to the common man’s disappointment, the road length of the district has remained same over the years which resulted in mounting road accidents figures and shrinking of parking space.

The latest Census puts the number of households at 3,02,016, including 1.46 lakh in urban areas, while the number of vehicles registered in Jammu district runs into a staggering four lakh as of September this year.

Official sources, however, said the vehicular population in Jammu had tremendously increased from 28,995 in 1982 to around four lakhs at the end of last fiscal year registering a growth of nearly 14 times. Around 3000 vehicles are entering the roads every month here.

It was only 45,961 in 2001 and there was spike thereafter with around 3, 44,132 in 2009. In 2002, the population of vehicles was 86,380. This number was 1,38,365 in 2003, 2,08,235 in 2004, 2,95,790 in 2005, 3,17,920 in 2006 and 3,44,132 in 2007.

“Jammu has witnessed an unbridled increase in the vehicular population. In the last six months, around 27,000 vehicles were registered with Regional Transport 
Office (RTO) Jammu. In 2010-11, a total of 31,484 new vehicles entered 
Jammu — a number which went up to 50,000 last year,” sources said.

Sources said a voluminous increase in vehicles has had a direct impact on road safety. “Out of a total of 23,700 road mishaps in the state during the last four years, nearly 25 per cent road accidents took place on Jammu roads. From 2008 to 2011, as many as 4,320 persons were killed in 23,700 road accidents in 22 districts of the state. In Jammu district alone, at least 800 people lost their lives in around 6,100 road mishaps,” sources said.

They said road infrastructure had not improved over the years. “The road length of Jammu city is just 704.22 kilometres while the density of vehicles is 574 per kilometre. The district has entered a traffic danger zone wherein the density of vehicles has assumed alarming populations. A traffic cop controls about 1,700 vehicles on Jammu roads,” sources added.

Experts said short-term measures, like introduction of one-ways, construction of flyovers and grade separators, had failed to decongest traffic. “The widening of all major roads and improving public transportation systems are the only options left to improve the situation,” they said.

Jammu, October 31
Government employees are again preparing themselves for a major showdown with the government after the Civil Secretariat opens in the winter capital.

Employees’ unions today announced a march towards the Civil Secretariat on November 6 in protest against the government’s failure to implement the agreement signed between them.

Addressing a press conference, senior joint consultative committee (JCC) leader Muhammad Gafoor Dar said employees will also go on a pen down strike on November 7 against alleged betrayal by the government in not implementing the agreement signed in 2010.

Dar endorsed the decision of the employee body in Srinagar to start an agitation in Jammu after the seat of government starts functioning from the winter capital.

“We appeal to employees to support the call and organise demonstrations outside the secretariat. The administration is befooling the employees,” Gafoor alleged.

Ganesh Khajuria, another senior member of JCC, said thousands of daily wagers and ad hoc workers have been waiting for regularisation in various departments, over which the government is silent.

JCC is demanding implementation of the agreement signed with the Cabinet sub-committee assuring full release of the sixth pay commission arrears and enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.

Enhancement in the retirement age is one of the key demands of an umbrella body of nearly 50 unions of government employees, which had negotiated with the sub-committee on a number of issues, including removal of pay anomalies, conversion of the cost of living allowance (COLA) into dearness allowance (DA) and regularisation of daily wagers.

“Last year, ministers had assured the unions that all their demands will be accepted before the annual budget is presented in the Legislative Assembly, but nothing happened,” said Ganesh Khajuria.

Apart from clearing pay commission arrears, employees are demanding removal of pay anomalies in clerical grades, extension of retirement age by two years and increase in the House Rent Allowance (HRA) to bring it on a par with that of Central employees.

Jammu, October 31
After being disappointed with inadequate facilities in the J&K State Sports Council Gym at MA Stadium, body-builders of the state have now opted for private health clubs in different parts of the district for practice in a bid to perform better in the upcoming national championships.

Sources said the new gym was constructed at the Indoor Sports Complex at the MA Stadium a few years back when the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) PS Gill was Secretary, State Sports Council, but the players had complained to the authorities about lack of equipment.

Sources added that even the already constructed weightlifting hall is presently in a shambles. The players have no option but to practise in the open. “For how long would we wait for the authorities to initiate any action? We have decided to go to private health clubs (gyms) so that our practice does not suffer anymore,” said one of the power-lifters on condition of anonymity.

“Private health clubs are much better than the official gym at MA Stadium both in terms of facilities and atmosphere,” said another power-lifter. “We have apprised the authorities concerned of the problem a number of times, but unfortunately, except mere assurances, nothing significant has been done so far,” the sportsperson claimed.

Owners of private gyms are elated about the surge in admissions. “It seems as if all the body-builders have now decided to opt for private health clubs because the gyms are now witnessing a heavy rush,” said Anu Manhas, owner of a private gym.

“We have deputed trainers under whose supervision the players are practising. In fact, our trainers are also getting useful tips from the players regarding specialised exercises to increase stamina,” he added.

Meanwhile, MS Baba, Chief Sports Officer, J&K State Sports Council, told The Tribune, “The players and the body-builders are facing problems during practice because there is insufficient space in the gym at Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium. There is provision for construction of a new gym in the proposed multi-purpose hall, construction work for which is likely to begin soon at MA Stadium.”

Jammu, October 31
A large number of students today joined the protesting scholars at University of Jammu and demanded dissolution of newly appointed panel of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA).

The condition of two scholars, who were on hunger strike for the last three days, deteriorated and they were provided medical treatment by the university authorities.

Raising slogans against the Vice-Chancellor, Mohan Paul Singh Ishar and the state government, the protestors alleged that the appointment of new panel of the JURSEA was ‘illegal and unconstitutional’. They urged the university to conduct open election for the scholars’ body after dissolving the panel.

Varinder Thakur, a university student, alleged the university authorities had not listened to their grievances.

He alleged that despite the fact that two scholars, Anil Sharma and Kapil Shastri, were sitting on hunger-strike for the last three days, it seemed that the university authorities had no concern about the matter.

“We warn the university administration that the students would not budge to the pressure tactics of the authorities and they would continue their struggle till the administration fulfills their demand,” he said. 

How it started

Giving a new impetus to their struggle against the alleged unconstitutional and illegal elections of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), a group of scholars on Monday went on a hunger strike in protest against the failure of the University authorities to accede to their demand for dissolution of the newly constituted body.

Jammu, October 31
Illegal parking in various parts of the city is creating a traffic chaos. The traffic police failure, to take any action against parking of the two wheelers, is encouraging people to park their conveyance.

The ever-increasing number of vehicles coupled with limited road infrastructure and paucity of parking space has played havoc with traffic management in the city.

The traffic congestion is emerging a biggest problem in the city and in absence of a proper management; it has become a nightmare experience for the people.

In areas like Jain Bazar, Panjtirthi, Parade Shalamar, Purani Mandi, Raghunath Bazaar, BC road, High Court road and Canal Road, it’s an arduous task for pedestrians to walk, where honking and screeching vehicles are the order of the day. Accidents and head-on collisions are a common sight.

The city has become so congested that people have to search for a place to park their vehicles. At many places, the drivers have created their own unauthorised parking.

“The problem is for the commercial vehicles, people park their vehicles on sides, leaving little space for movement which ultimately leads to traffic jam, said Ramesh Sharma, a local resident.

Jammu, October 31
With just few days to go for the state to start its Ranji Trophy campaign against Jharkhand on November 2, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) which is struggling to come out of infamous multi-crore scam has finally selected a 14-member squad today for the national cricket tournament.

The team comprised Abid Nabi, Samiullah Beigh, Adil Reshi, Mudassar, Amir Aziz, Arshad Bhat, Parvez Rasool, Ian Dev Singh, Hardeep Singh, Dhruv Mahajan, Manik Gupta, Bandeep Singh, Manish Dogra and Ram Dayal.

The final selection was done by a four-member selection committee of JKCA comprised Surinder Singh Bagal, Sanjay Sharma, Iqbal Ahmad Shah and Mohammad Ashraf Bhat. JKCA chief coach Bishen Singh Bedi is presently taking a joint coaching camp at GGM Science College hostel ground.

Sources said the squad was scheduled to be announced yesterday but an alleged controversy over inclusion of some players in the squad had delayed the process and the association then decided to announce the squad the next day. Sources said the internal bickering and politics in the selection process was responsible for the present chaos.

“This is not for the first time that a controversy has occurred during selection of the team,” said one of the sources. “Unlike other cricket associations across the country, who had announced their respective teams much earlier in order to give them ample time to prepare well, the JKCA has selected the team just a day before the commencement of a match, which really shows its lack of concern for the betterment of the game,” he maintained.

“Everyone knows about the statistics of the state team in the Ranji Trophy and other national-level tournaments in the previous seasons and keeping in mind the prevailing situation, there will be no surprises in this season too,” the source said.

When contacted, Manzoor Wazir, the JKCA treasurer told The Tribune, “The association has selected the best available team for the tournament and we hope that it will perform better in the tournament”. 

Jammu, October 31
Ahead of 73 Raising Day tomorrow, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) remains at forefront in performing multiple tasks, right from combating Pakistan-sponsored insurgency to guard vital installations, protecting VIPs and religious shrines, maintaining law and order, besides conducting annual Amarnath pilgrimage in militancy plagued Jammu and Kashmir.

The CRPF is deployed all over Jammu and Kashmir and is playing pivotal role to assist the state administrations in the maintenance of internal security and public order.

The CRPF is the only unique force in the world which is capable to be tasked with multifarious duties and ready to adapt various situational requirements, said CRPF spokesperson Sudhir Kumar.

He said CRPF’s flexibility has given it the distinction of being the most acceptable force by the Jammu and Kashmir administrations.

“Crowd control, counter insurgency operations, protection of VIPs and vital installations, such as airport, power houses, bridges, Doordarshan Kendra, All India Radio Stations, Central Jail and important temples and shrines in J&K are some of the work, which our men do 24x7,” he added.

CRPF had its origin on July 27, 1939 at Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) as the Crown Representative’s Police during British Day but after Independence it was renamed as the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act, passed in the Parliament, as one of the Armed Forces of the Union.

Major political development in the J&K in 1956 initiated the association of CRPF with the state. “The third battalion of the CRPF was entrusted with the sensitive assignment of guarding Sheikh Abdullah, the Prime Minister of J&K. Till now, the CRPF has been deeply associated with state administrations in J&K for restoring normalcy and maintaining law and order,” he added. 

Jammu, October 31
Kehli Mandi block clinched the football and hockey titles in the inter-block competitions, organised under the Centrally-sponsored scheme Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), at Higher Secondary School in Samba today.

Over 300 players drawn from various panchayats of all four blocks of Samba, Vijaypur, Ghagwal and Vijaypur participated in the sporting event held in the U-16 boys’ and girls’ in the disciplines of kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, hockey, football, athletics, wrestling and wushu.

Vikram Singh Jamwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Samba was the chief guest on the valedictory function. The competitions were held under the overall supervision of Jarpal Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Samba.

Meanwhile, in kabaddi (boys), Dhamore panchayat trounced Naran 
panchayat in the finals to bag the title whereas in kabaddi (girls), Panchayat Sarai beat Patyari to lift the trophy. 

Jammu, October 31
Headquarters Office defeated J&K in football today in the ongoing 10th Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Sports Meet at MA stadium here. In another match, HP thrashed Punjab.

In volleyball, Punjab had the last laugh against J&K while Headquarters Office overcame the challenge of Ludhiana. In the other matches played, HP toppled Jalandhar and Faridabad prevailed upon J&K.

In cricket, Faridabad defeated Headquarters Office while HP outplayed J&K and Delhi also emerged victorious. Meanwhile, in the round 3 of chess (women), Chandigarh had the last laugh against Faridabad whereas HP scripted win over J&K and Headquarters Office, respectively.

In the men’s section, Headquarters Office thrashed Ludhiana, Punjab overwhelmed J&K, Faridabad prevailed upon HP, Delhi beat Ludhiana and Dehradun scripted win against his opponent.

In round 4, Headquarters Office beat Dehradun, HP defeated Jalandhar, J&K thrashed Faridabad and Chandigarh eased past Ludhiana.

In carom (women), Headquarters Office beat Delhi, Ludhiana trounced J&K, Ludhiana got the better of HP and Headquarters Office defeated Faridabad. In the men’s section, Delhi proved too good for Faridabad, Jalandhar defeated Faridabad, Chandigarh toppled Dehradun, Headquarters Office beat Faridabad and Ludhiana outplayed HP.

In table tennis men's singles, Chandigarh beat J&K, Headquarters Office defeated HP, Ludhiana defeated Dehradun and Jalandhar got the better of Faridabad. 

Jammu, October 31
The divisional-level inter-district athletic meet got underway at University of Jammu (JU) ground here today. The sporting event, which was declared open by Prof Dhian S Bhau, director, Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, Jammu University, is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) under the supervision of Ashok Kumar, deputy director, DYSS.

Prof Bhau stressed upon the disciplined approach towards the sports. Sukhdev Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Udhampur, also spoke on the occasion.

Bronze medal for Jindrah Skating Club

The senior men’s roller hockey team of Roller Athlete Skating Club, Jindrah, bagged the bronze medal in the recently concluded 7th All India Invitational Roller Skating Championship.

The event was held at Saint Georges College in Mussoorie (Uttrakhand). The team was lead by international skater Atul Sharma. —TNS