Jammu, January 7
Prolonged foggy conditions and haze have taken a heavy toll on the growth and production of vegetable crops and fruits in the region. And if the weather conditions do not improve soon, the retail prices of commonly used vegetables will witness a sharp increase soon.

Agriculture experts said the prevailing conditions were not favourable for the current and ensuing seasonal crops as well. The vegetables which are likely to be affected by the dip in maximum temperature are brinjal and all kind of gourds.

Dr MK Khushu, chief scientist of agrometorology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, said the prevailing conditions would have a negative impact on the growth of vegetable crops.

“Whenever there is a dip in temperature, it affects the germination of vegetable seeds besides leading to delay in fruiting and flowering of vegetables. The depletion of radiation level has been affecting the photosynthesis process which would ultimately affect the growth and production of crops,” the chief scientist said.

Khushu said the foggy conditions were favourable for wheat till the temperature reaches below zero temperature.

Tajinder Singh, president, J&K Kissan Council, said the growth of vegetables and flowers had been affected due to continuous mist and foggy conditions following low temperature.

“The prevailing low sunny conditions have been hampering the growth of vegetables and flowers,” Singh said.

It will also affect the next seasonal crops, including vegetables, and there was every possibility that market prices of vegetables will shoot up in the coming days, he said.

Singh said there was also a great risk to wheat crop of being getting infected with diseases because of prolonged chilling weather.

“The government should formulate policy keeping in view the change in climatic conditions and there should be a special provision to include such policy in the 13th Finance Commission. Agrometorology techniques should be disseminated among farmers well in advance,” Singh said.

The maximum temperature in Jammu region has been hovering below normal for the last one month with people battling hazy conditions. On Saturday, the city recorded the 20-year low day temperature at 8.4 degree Celsius.

the aftermaths
Experts say prevailing conditions to affect ensuing seasonal crops
Vegetables likely to be affected the most by a dip in maximum temperature are brinjal and all kind of gourds
Experts say the foggy conditions were favourable for wheat till the temperature reaches below zero temperature

Jammu, January 7
With weather conditions showing no sign of improvement, vegetable vendors and traders say they have been suffering huge losses due to significant decline in sale.

Business activities at various vegetable and fruit markets have virtually come to a standstill since people are preferring to stay indoors.

The prices of vegetables and fruits have started witnessing upward trend in wholesale markets but retail vegetable vendors were forced to sell on low prices.

“We have been suffering losses due to low movement of customers in the market. People generally prefer to stay indoors due to cold and chilling conditions. We are forced to sell vegetables on lower prices because the surplus vegetables would either get wasted or rotten if not sold,” Ram Krishan, a vegetable vendor at Mandi Parade said.

“We purchase tomato at Rs 16.50 per kg from Narwal Mandi while it is being sold at Rs 15 per kg here. Our business is running in losses and we have left with no option but to purchase less quantity of vegetables from the wholesale market.”

Kuldeep Sharma, another vegetable vendor, said, “Cold conditions have virtually ruined our business as the retail vegetable vendors are selling at lower prices than the wholesale market. We have been suffering losses on each and every commodity. For instance, the retail price of green peas was Rs 15-Rs 20 per kg which has been bought at Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg in the wholesale market. The same is happening with fruits.”

Vegetable traders believe the prices of vegetables will go up if the weather does not show any improvement soon.

Jammu, January 7
Cold wave continued unabated across the region today with the winter capital of the state experienced the coldest day in the last 31 years.

The maximum temperature of the day plummeted to 6.7 degree Celsius.

Dense fog and poor visibility badly affected the rail and air traffic forcing authorities to cancel several flights and trains.

The School Education department also ordered the closure of all government and private schools in Jammu division till January 13 due to inclement weather. A decision in this effect was taken following the instruction of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who holds the portfolio of school education department.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said Jammu experienced the coldest day today as the maximum temperature dipped to 6.7°C, breaking the previous record of 1982. The maximum day temperature was recorded at 7.1°C on January 5, 2011. The minimum temperature was 4.3 degree C.

“Jammu residents battled the shivering cold wave as the day temperature was the lowest in the past three decades. There seems to be no immediate relief to people from intense cold for the next couple of days,” an IMD official said.

The official said the weather would be mainly dry and cold all over the state. “Foggy conditions are likely to prevail over the plains of Jammu region. The maximum temperature may show slight improvement tomorrow,” the official added.

Foggy weather continued to affect the movement of air and rail traffic as many flights were cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

“Due to poor visibility, three flights-two of Spicejet and one of Air Mantra-were cancelled today,” Ashok Sharma, Superintendent of Police (SP), anti-hijacking, Jammu Airport said.

The inclement weather, however, badly affected train services at Jammu Railway Station. A railway official said Pooja Express train was cancelled due to poor visibility while all other trains were running behind the schedule.

“Himgiri Express was running four-and-half-hour late while Mour Dhwaj Express was late by more than three hours. Himsagar Express was running four hours behind schedule while Jammu Mail was running more than two hours late than its schedule timing,” the official said, adding that the movement of all other trains was badly affected due to dense fog and poor visibility.

The traffic movement on the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also remained affected as the authorities could not restore the two-way movement on the highway due to slippery conditions triggered by accumulation of snow in the Ramban area.

behind schedule
Himgiri Express was running four-and-half-hour late
Mour Dhwaj Express was late by more than three hours
Himsagar Express was running four hours behind schedule
Jammu Mail was running more than two hours late than its schedule timing

Rajouri, January 7
The Rajouri police has filed a chargesheet against an Army jawan for allegedly attempting to rape a four-and-half-year-old daughter of his colleague on the unit campus in November last year.

Sources said the accused jawan Naik Shandy of ASC Bn is presently with the intelligence wing of the Territorial Army unit at Rajouri.

The police has filed a case under Section 376 of the RPC. The father of the victim (name withheld), also from the intelligence wing, had complained that his minor daughter was a frequent visitor to the quarter of the accused.

In November, the girl told her mother about severe pain in her private part. Sources said the matter was immediately taken up with senior officers and the girl was sent to hospital where a board of doctors conducted her medical check up. The doctors found certain signs of the heinous act.

On November 25, the father of the victim approached the police and on his complaint the accused was arrested by the police. The accused was interrogated by the police. SHO V Gupta said the accused had confessed to his crime.

“The girl was made to undergo medical examination at the district hospital by the police following which it was established that the accused had attempted rape her,” said a police officer.

Reports said the accused was handed over to the Commanding Officer by the court to be produced on January 21 for trial.

“Sexual assault cannot be ruled out,” a doctor said.

Rajouri, January 7
Lodging a massive demonstration against the Public Works Department (PWD), residents of this border district today blocked the traffic movement for over an hour demanding repair of the historic Hamilton Bridge.

The protesters, who were led by Mushtaq Bhat, said they were protesting against local MLA Shabir Ahmed Khan, MP Madan Lal Sharma and the Public Works Department, Rajouri. They said the authorities concerned areeast bothered about repairing the historical bridge which is in a deplorable condition for a long time thus risking the lives of commuters.

“Thousands of vehicles ply over the Hamilton Bridge. The district administration is waiting for its collapse as they have failed to regulate traffic on the bridge which was declared unsafe for heavy vehicles by the Public Works Department and the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department four years ago, Mushtaq Bhat said.

The bridge leads to Manajakote, Poonch and many other adjoining places. It was the only bridge which connected Rajouri with other parts of the country during pre- independences time.

The protesters lifted the blockade after officials assured them with early repair of the bridge.

Rajouri, January 7
Over 2,000 residents of Dharal area in the border district of Rajouri are facing acute shortage of potable drinking water for the past couple of months.

The villagers are forced to travel long distances amid chilly weather conditions to procure water for daily use.

The residents of Nadia, Nagwal, Kluta, Naka, Budam, and Nadia Kotra of the forward border area of Dharal, 25 km from the district headquarters, are facing a difficult situation despite the implementation of water schemes.

Though water pipelines have been laid in villages but drinking water has not been supplied so far by the department concerned, a villager said.

A gravity pumping scheme was envisaged to put an end to water shortage in these villages but the equipment is out of order for the past few months, the villager rued.

Nasim Akhtar, another villager, said the village did not have road connectivity which was forcing the villagers to cover a distance of 4-5 km on foot to fetch water from a spring in a nearby village.

“Our children are wasting time in procuring water by waiting hours in queues since elder members of the family are busy earning livelihood,” she added.

Mir Hussain, a resident of Nadia village, said, “The demand and supply situation with regards to drinking water is getting critical by each passing year. But just as the resources are running out, the Public Health and Engineering (PHE) department is running out of ideas too.”

The authorities concerned and the local MLA have turned a blind eye to the problem which people are facing here, villagers said.

Several attempts to reach for a comment by a senior PHE official were unanswered.

Jammu, January 7
The faction ridden state unit of BJP is trying to rake up the issue of revocation of Article 370 to refresh the demoralised party cadre. After the cross voting episode of April 2011 and mass exodus of party activists and leaders, the BJP is finding it difficult to regain the lost ground because credibility of local party leaders has reached the lowest ebb.

BJP leaders, while addressing a function at Sunderbani, again tried to rake up the Article 370 issue today. The function was organised to remember the ‘martyrs’ who had laid down their lives during the ‘Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan and Ek Nishan’ agitation, launched by erstwhile Praja Parishad and Jan Sangh in 1953 for the total integration of J&K with rest of country. Three persons were killed in Sunderbani when police resorted to firing on people who were trying to hoist the national flag by removing the flag of the state.

Under the leadership of Prem Nath Dogra, the erstwhile Jan Sangh had launched a massive movement against special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Before 1953, there was a permit system in the state and no person from other parts of the country was allowed to enter the region without that permit. The movement was launched to abolish that permit system.

Speaking on the occasion, state president of BJP Jugal Kishore Sharma said patriotic persons had sacrificed their lives for the cause of the country.

Demanding declaration of martyrs’ day in memory of 1953 agitators, Sharma said instead of working towards the full integration of the state, the Union government under Jawahar Lal Nehru incorporated Aticle-370, which granted special status to J&K.

BJP general secretary (organisation) Ashok Kaul, while paying tributes said the 1953 agitation witnessed massive participation of people from all sections of the society as they all were of the view that the state was a part of the country like other states and hence the provision of separate symbols was not justified.

Batote, January 7
To generate goodwill and help the local youth in preparation for joining the Defence Forces through the Combined Defence Forces examination, the Army started three-month free coaching classes under its Civic Action Programme, at Sarna, Bhaderwah in Doda district today.

According to an Army press release, as the youth expresses a desire to join the defence forces during a motivational talk at Government Degree College, Bhaderwah, recently, the Army wanted to motivate and help them to join the Army, thereby eradicating unemployment from the state.

To begin with, nine youth would take the coaching.

Rajouri, January 7
Revered Sufi saint Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah (Almaroof Baji Sab) of Bravi Kalakote, Rajouri, today invited general public to participate in the Urs Mubarak of Late Jenab Syed Rasool Shah, popularly known as Nanga Baji Sab in the state.

According to reports, the Urs Mubarak Nanga Baji is being held from 4th to 9th of January, at Bravi Kalakote, Rajouri district. On the last day of Urs Mubarak, 9th January, there would be recitation of the holy book ‘Quran Sharif’ and prayers will also be held for peace and tranquility, at 10 am.

The late Sufi saint, Nanga Baji Sab has been a pious and spiritual personality of Malangam in Bandipur Kashmir. His tomb is thronged by thousands of people from all over the state during Urs.

Sufi Saint Almaroof Baji Sab is the grandson of Nanga Baji Sab, settled at Bravi Kalakote for the past 30 years, commands a large number of followers and has been organising annual Urs here.

The area has no proper electricity and water supply and also lacks roads to the venue. Despite of all these problems, the devotees pay respects in large number. The government has been urged, since a long time, to develop the area and make arrangements for the facility of the devotees. — OC

Jammu, January 7
Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad today stressed upon all citizens to adhere to traffic rules strictly to avoid loss of human lives in road accidents.

The DGP was flagging off ‘road safety rally’ at Police Sports Stadium, Gulshan Ground, here this morning. The rally was organised by the Traffic Police in collaboration with the Transport Department in which a large number people, including the students, participated.

The rally started from Police Sports Stadium and after passing through Panama Chowk, Bahu Plaza, Green Belt and Gandhi Nagar, culminated at the stadium.

Prasad said the rally would help generate awareness regarding road safety among commuters.

He said fatal road accidents were caused mainly due to human error, which could be avoided by generating awareness among the masses.

He appreciated the efforts of the Traffic Police in organising the road safety week to generate awareness of traffic rules and disadvantages of their violation.

He said the erring commuters should be discouraged and educational institutions should be involved to minimise the graph of road accidents in the state.

Jammu, January 7
The National Council for Urban and Rural Development Society, J&K, organised a prize distribution function at State Institute of Education (SIE) today, to felicitate the young scientists who brought laurels to the state in the recently concluded 20th National Children Science Congress, held at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Dev Lata, Director, School Education and Avinash Chander Aima, SIE Principal, distributed prizes among the students. The project of Guneet Kaur of Government Higher Secondary School, Miran Sahib, was selected among the top three. It was for the first time that a project from J&K got selected at the national level.

Three other students namely Harshdeep Singh (Shiksha Niketan Senior Secondary School), Rameen Abdal (Tyndale Biscoe School) and Tanya Sharma (BSF Senior Secondary School) got an opportunity to visit the Baba Atomic Research Centre.

Zaffar Ullah Khan, state coordinator of the society said scientific research at micro-level would contribute significantly to the development of the nation and National Children Science Congress was a step towards that goal.

Kuldeep Gupta, State Academic Coordinator, Surjeet Singh Jamwal, Kulbhushan Chander Chalotra and Dr Ashiq Hussain also spoke on the occasion. SK Raina, Field Advisor presented the vote of thanks.

Batote, January 7
The general public and thecustomers of banks and government offices of Ramban district, had to suffer again today because of the snapped BSNL communication link. This was due to the damage of the cable at two places in Batote and on the highway in Banihal .

According to the sources, many private land line telephones had been lying defunct since the last night, when a section of 50, 100 and 200 pair cables were ‘damaged’ under the culverts at Baggu Nallah, in Batote and near TCP check post in Banihal respectively.

“We found all our Internet services disconnected when we resumed our on-line transaction today morning. The BSNL officials preferred to remain tight lipped. However, from the nearby shopkeepers I came to know that a full road length cable was stolen . The BSNL officials managed to restore our land line and the work was restored in the afternoon,” said General Manager, Wani Branch of State Bank of India, Batote.

“This was the third time in the last few months when we had to suffer because of the thefts at the same spot,” he added.

Source said many phones of the Army offices in Banihal also remained disconnected since afternoon today.

Expressing his serious concern on the issue of recurring thefts or damages of cables, the Territory Deputy Manager, BSNL, Udhampur, Avnish Kumar Sharma said he had already taken up the matter and directed the concerned staff to take immediate necessary action and replace the stolen or damaged cables.

Jammu, January 7
A three-day workshop-cum-awareness programme on Natural Language Processing, organised by Post Graduate Department of Dogri, University of Jammu, in collaboration with Linguistic Data Consortium for Indian Languages (LDC-IL), Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, commenced at Jammu University (JU ) here today.

The workshop was inaugurated by Professor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, JU, who was also the chief guest at the inaugural function.

In his welcome address, Shiv Dev Singh Manhas, Head, Department of Dogri, highlighted the importance and relevance of the workshop. He said it was the first workshop of its kind in which 40 scholars of Dogri, Hindi, English and Computer Sciences were participating.

The basic purpose of the workshop was to give awareness on the work done on Indian Languages for technological purposes in India, he added.

The V-C, in his presidential address, congratulated the department for organising the workshop, which could help in the promotion and development of Dogri language. By organising such programmes, the future of Dogri language could be secured, he added.

Jammu, January 7
Jammu United (JU) got the better of Engineers XI by 4-0 goals in the opening match of the ongoing 7th Christmas Gold Cup Football Tournament, organised by All J&K Christian Welfare Association, at Mini Stadium, Parade Ground, here today.

JU dominated the proceedings from the start by making decisive moves in the first half. Rahul Kumar drew first blood in the 14th minute to give his team an early lead.

Engineers XI had their chances in the first half to equalise the lead but their forwards just could not deliver the knock out punch.

In the second half, JU added two more goals. After scoring the first goal, Rahul slammed two more goals in the 45th and 60th minute respectively to make it 3-0. Engineers XI got a golden chance in the 48th minuet to reduce the margin but could not cash on it. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Singh scored his first and team’s fourth goal in the 47th minute to seal the fate of the match. A yellow card was also shown to Vijay Kumar of JU in the 55th minute.

Earlier, the competition was declared open by Minister for Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib.

He also interacted with the teams playing in the opening match.

A total of 24 teams are participating in this knock out tournament.