The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	15 killed, 49 hurt as bus rolls down 400-ft gorge Bus driver was under the influence of liquor, says police Tribune News Service Jammu, November 24 Fifteen members of a marriage party were killed and 49 others injured when a bus carrying them rolled down into a 400-foot-deep gorge near Dudu of Ramnagar tehsil in Udhampur district. Till the filing of report, rescue operations were going on and the death toll could be higher. The incident happened when the driver of the bus failed to negotiate a sharp curve. The accident occurred around 4.30 pm. The bride and the groom along with their parents, however, escaped unhurt as they were travelling in another vehicle. The ill-fated bus (JK02 J 1735) was going from Marothi village to Basantgarh when the incident took place. The police and eyewitnesses said the driver and some passengers were under the influence of liquor when the accident took place. After getting the information, a team of the CRPF and the police reached the spot and started the rescue work. Due to tough terrain, the rescue team was facing difficulty in retrieving the bodies. Udhampur SSP Ashkoor Wani said 15 persons were killed and 49 had been injured in the accident. He said all the injured have been shifted to hospitals in Jammu and Udhampur. Sarpanch of the Dudu panchayat Thakur Hans Raj said two vehicles and a tipper were pressed into service to shift the bodies to Primary Health Centre in Latti. As ambulances could not reach the spot, many local residents used their private vehicles to ferry the dead and injured to the hospitals.
	Governor, CM express grief Jammu: Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in a road accident in the Dudu Basantgarh area of Udhampur today. In a message, the Governor conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls. He directed the district administration to provide all help to the injured, ensuring them best possible medicare. The Chief Minister has also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road accident. In his condolence message, Omar expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured.
	Assembly panel suggests action against erring officials Delay in construction of Ganpat Bridge over Chenab at Doda Tribune News Service Jammu, November 24 The Public Undertaking Committee (PUC) of the Legislative Assembly has taken a serious note of the inordinate delay in the construction of Ganpat Bridge over the Chenab at Doda and called for fixing responsibilities on officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for sub-letting the project to a private contractor. The JKPCC is a state government company which was allotted the work for the construction of the bridge. The PUC, which met on Wednesday to discuss the present status of the bridge, has decided to convene a meeting on November 26 to single out officers, who were responsible for huge losses to the state exchequer. The officials had sublet the construction work of Ganpat Bridge to a private company without following a proper procedure. Sources said one of the members of the PUC had suggested action against successive JKPCC Managing Directors, who were at the helm of affairs, when work was allotted to the JKPCC and was later sublet to a private contractor without floating tenders. The sources said the members pointed out that the private contractor, who was allotted the project, had left the work incomplete, causing huge losses to the state exchequer. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report, which was tabled in the budget session of the Assembly, had said the state government had suffered losses worth crores, as government agencies had favoured a contractor and allotted him work costing Rs 29.95 crore, without inviting tenders. Official documents revealed that the JKPCC had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on December 2006 with the J&K Power Development Corporation for constructing a motorable bridge at Ganpat, Doda, at a cost of Rs 29.95 crore. An official handout stated that the PUC of the Legislative Assembly had discussed the present status of the bridge. The PUC, which met here under the chairmanship of MLA Abdul Majid Wani, discussed the CAG audit report on the bridge. Legislators, Chaman Lal Gupta, Charanjit Singh, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo and Bashir Ahmad Shah, expressed concern over the slow space of construction work on the bridge and directed the officials concerned to speed it up. The members suggested to the officials concerned to prepare a fresh detailed project report by taking all aspects into consideration.
	High Court asks govt to file report in two weeks Illegal quarrying around Abhinavgupt caves in Budgam district Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 24 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has given the state government two more weeks to file its response on the status of quarrying and mining activities in and around the Abhinavgupt caves in Budgam district. Two social activists had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court seeking an end to illegal mining activity around the ancient caves. The directions were issued by a double bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar this week. On October 16, the High Court had stayed illegal mining activities around the caves and had also directed the state government to submit a report explaining how it regulated quarrying and mining activities in the region. “The PIL came up for hearing this week before the High Court which has granted the state government two more weeks to file its response. The court has asked it (government) to explain the status of mining activities in and around the cave site. The state government has also been directed to submit a reply to the PIL within two weeks,” said counsel to litigants Irshad Ahmad. The PIL was filed by Veer Saraf, convener of the Roots in Kashmir and Tanvir Hussain Khan, head of an NGO Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD). In the PIL, Saraf and Hussain had submitted that the caves (also known as Batte Gof which means priest’s cave) were under a serious threat from rock mining which had been going on for the past two decades since the Kashmiri Hindus migrated from the Valley. It was claimed in the PIL that the authorities were allowing mining in the area. The petitioners said they had written to the officials and also met them to get the mining stopped but no action was taken. The petitioners had prayed the High Court issue directions to the authorities asking them to restrain persons responsible for carrying illegal quarrying in the area. The PIL had also prayed that the court declare the cave area as a site of “cultural and religious importance” and direct the authorities to develop it as a tourist site. The PIL claims that the Hindus recognised Abhinavgupt as the spiritual head of the Shiva school of thought which was widely followed in Kashmir before the arrival of Islam. The case Two social activists had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court seeking an end to illegal mining activity around the ancient caves. On October 16, the High Court had stayed illegal mining activities around the caves and had also directed the state government to submit a report explaining how it regulated quarrying and mining activities in the region.
	Udhampur-Katra railway link nearing completion Our Correspondent Katra November 24 The wait for those who want to travel to the Vaishno Devi shrine by train will soon be over as the Udhampur-Katra rail link will complete by April next year. The 25-km Udhampur-Katra route consists of 30 bridges and seven tunnels, including a 185-foot-high tunnel. The seven tunnels cover over 10 km. An official of Northern Railway at Katra said with the completion of the T1 Tunnel earlier this month, the construction of all tunnels had been completed. The work on the track was in the final stage. The new rail link will help pilgrims reach Katra without having to halt at Jammu. At present, the rail link is up to Udhampur and pilgrims have to travel around 30 km by road to reach Katra. With the completion of the project by the end of this year, pilgrims can reach the Katra base camp by train. The facility is also expected to give a push to the economy of the area. The 53-km long Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational. Once the Udhampur-Katra line, which is part of the Kashmir rail link project, becomes operational, trains can reach Katra from anywhere in the country. Katra town in Reasi is the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine. At least 10 million devotees visit the shrine every year. The Udhampur-Katra rail route, estimated to cost Rs 928 crore, passes through inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely challenging engineering project. Sources in Northern Railway said the Udhampur-Katra rail section would get operational by March-end. The Katra station is also almost ready, with the basic infrastructure facilities in place. The requisite staff has also been deputed. Earlier the project was delayed due to some problems in the construction of two tunnels. “A portion of the 3-km-long T1 collapsed due to seepage, dealing a blow to the project. The engineers constructing the T3 tunnel were faced with the challenge of plugging the constant flow of trapped water in the construction area,” an official said, adding that the tunneling problem was rectified with latest Austrian tunnelling method. Track-o-meter The new 25-km Udhampur-Katra rail link will help pilgrims reach Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine, without having to halt at Jammu The rail link now is up to Udhampur and pilgrims have to travel around 30 km by road to reach Katra The new track consists of 30 bridges and seven tunnels, including a 185-foot-high tunnel. The seven tunnels cover over 10 km The construction of all tunnels, including the T1 Tunnel which had seepage problem, was completed earlier this month.
	PDP trying to create rift between NC, Cong: Omar Our Correspondent Anantnag, November 24 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today the PDP was trying to create a rift between the coalition partners - the Congress and the National Conference. “They (PDP) have a one-point agenda and that’s to be in power. They have burnt religious places, used guns and befooled people to grab the power,” the Chief Minister said while addressing a gathering of sarpanches at Dak Bungalow, Anantnag. Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and various other members of both the parties were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister said the PDP had been unnerved with the progress of the coalition government and they were using the upcoming Legislative Council polls to create fissures within the coalition partners. “Members of the PDP go to panchayat members affiliated with both the Congress and the National Conference and give them an impression that they are among them,” Omar said. He said while the PDP is playing a divisive politics, he sees this as a chance for the coalition partners to strengthen their ties at the grass-roots level. Cautioning the panchayat members about people within the system who are against the empowerment of panchayats, Omar said, “I assure you there are some people among us who don’t want the institution of Panchayati Raj to be empowered for their own vested interests and you have to fight all those forces.” “I want you to remain patient. The coalition government is leaving no stone unturned for the empowerment of the panchayats and the day is not far when you will see your very own institution at the helm of affairs,” said Omar. He appealed to the panchayat members to vote for the candidates nominated jointly by the coalition partners. “There are people who will try to mislead you. However, you have to remain cautious of all such forces.”
	Legislative Council poll: Omar govt indulging in deceit tactics, says Mufti Tribune News Service Jammu, November 24 To mobilise support for his party candidates for the Legislative Council elections, former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today raked up the issue of denying powers to the elected panchayat members. Mufti alleged that the National Conference-Congress coalition government had insulted the panchayat members who were elected by the people of the state with a hope that formation of local self-government would help in solving their day-today problems. “With a hope to form local self-government, people braving all odds had turned out in large numbers to cast their votes in the panchayat elections but their hopes were shattered by the state government”, he said and charged the Omar Abdullah-led government with indulging into deceit tactics to erode sanctity of the democratic institutions, including panchayats. Mufti, who was addressing a meeting of party workers from Jammu province, tried to invoke panchayat members by raking up the issue of delay in setting up a three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the state such as in other parts of the country. “The decision of the state government to cancel Block Development Council elections authenticates our allegation that the government is not interested to set up a strong Panchayati Raj system in the state”, he said and asserted that his party would intensify the campaign to restore the constitutional rights of the panchayat members. He exhorted his party men to educate the panchayat members about gimmicks of the government to deprive them (panchayat members) of their constitutional powers. He also reiterated the party’s resolve to restore sanctity of all the democratic institutions in the state. He claimed that the PDP was the only party which had been playing an important role in the state politics.
	18 lakh pilgrims visit Shiv Khori shrine this year Our Correspondent Katra, November 24 The historic Shiv Khori cave shrine situated in the Sanger hills of Reasi district has witnessed around 18 lakh pilgrims this year so far. The number of pilgrims this year was 4.23 lakh more than the last year. The information was given by vice-chairman of the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board Nirmal Sharma here today. The pilgrim influx to the cave shrine, which was 2.39 lakh during 2004, has witnessed a gradual increase over the years. Records say 3.7 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine in 2005, 3.47 in 2006. 4.54 lakh in 2007, 5.21 lakh in 2008, 8.64 lakh in 2009, 10.82 lakh in 2010 and 14.32 lakh in 2011. The yatra touched its highest ever mark of 18.55 lakh pilgrims, breaking all the previous records. A heavy rush of pilgrims is being experienced at the cave shrine these days. The shrine board is making all efforts to provide better infrastructure facilities to the visiting pilgrims. A number of development projects have been taken up, including a multistoried waiting hall complex building near the shrine for the convenience of the pilgrims. Parks, gardens, plantation of medicinal plants all along the way, shelter sheds with toilet facilities, adequate provision of drinking water, power supply and bus stand are being built at Ransoo, which is the base camp for the cave shrine. A tourism reception centre has already been constructed at Ransoo for the convenience of the pilgrims. With adequate facilities being put in place, the Shiv Khori shrine is now emerging as the second biggest pilgrimage destination in the state after the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine.
	Honorarium for panchayat members soon, says Soz Our Correspondent Anantnag, November 24 President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Saifuddin Soz today asserted the coalition partners were striving hard for the empowerment of panchayats. He said panchayat members would soon get a monthly honorarium. Addressing a gathering of panchayat members in Anantnag, Soz said both the Congress and the National Conference were sincere in bringing governance at people’s doorsteps and for that panchayat empowerment was essential. “There might be some differences of opinion while you are in a coalition government. However, we have to look beyond those differences for the larger interest of the people,” said Soz while addressing the rally. The rally was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and leaders of the National Conference and the Congress. The rally was organised to campaign for the Legislative Council elections, wherein the coalition partners have formed a pre-poll alliance. Soz said he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for sanctioning a monthly honorarium for the panchayat members. “I am also in talks with Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and hopefully it will be implemented soon,” said Soz. He said the panchayat members would be insured and premiums would be paid by the Central government. “The Chief Minister will also take up these issues with the Central government soon,” he said. Soz also appealed to the panchayat members to vote for the candidates nominated by the coalition partners.
	Pulwama shuts down over LPG, electricity shortage Our Correspondent Anantnag, November 24 Protests rocked Pulwama town for the second consecutive day today. People were protesting against the non-availability of electricity and cooking gas. There were reports of clashes between the police and protesters at several places across Pulwama town. Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed for the second consecutive day today and traffic was off the roads. Residents of the town said they had been reeling under electricity and cooking gas shortage for over two months. “We have been pleading to the administration to put an end to our woes. Nothing has been done by the administration and we have been forced to take to streets,” said Hilal, a protester. The protesters said they were forced to buy cooking gas at inflated rates from the black market. “Distributors have created a shortage of cooking gas in the market, forcing the residents to buy it from the black market at escalated rates,” said another protester, Mujahid. Reports said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who was in Pulwama town to attend a rally talked to civil society members about problems being faced by them. “The Chief Minister has assured them that all their woes will be addressed and due action will be taken in this regard,” said Shafat Noor Barlas, Deputy Development Commissioner, Pulwama. The clashes were going on between the police and the protesters till the reports last came in.
	Guv, Omar pay homage to Karbala martyrs Tribune News Service Jammu, November 24 Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today paid rich homage to Karbala martyrs on the eve of ‘Ashura Muharram’. In a message on ‘Ashur-e-Muharram’, the Governor said Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions sacrificed their lives for upholding the high values of truth, justice and righteousness. He said their martyrdom reminded the mankind of the high principles of human dignity and morality. The Governor prayed for peace, harmony and normalcy in the state. The Chief Minister has said Hazrat Imam Hussain symbolised the firm faith in Almighty, high principles of righteousness, purity of thought and highest degree of sacrifice to uphold truth and human dignity. Omar said Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions exhibited unparallelled courage and patience and made historic sacrifices at Karbala which would enlighten and guide the mankind forever. “Karbala teaches us the lesson of upholding the principles of righteousness under all circumstances and deny evil forces which make us succumb or bow before them,” said Omar. The Chief Minister prayed for peace and well-being of the state and its people on the occasion.