The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Pollution by cement units
Pollution committee term extended
Sumit Hakhoo

Jammu, January 15
The term of the committee constituted by the government on the pollution caused by cement industries has been extended by two months. The committee was entrusted with the task to come up with a policy on how to deal with such units. The panel was to submit a report in December last year.

The committee was to give suggestions for ways to curb air pollution in the state due to cement and stone crusher units, close to the human population.

Sources said the government and the committee were not unanimous on the steps to deal with the polluting units.

As per the General Administration Department (GAD) notification, the committee constituted to examine the issue of heavy contamination contributed by the factories will be two more months.

It was for the first time that the state had constituted an official body to study the impact of cement factories on the environment and to formulate a policy to give approval for new factories.

“What measures will be to end the pollution. Any suggestions made by the committee are not the solution, as past attempts to rein on polluting industries have failed,” said an official.

There are 37 cement manufacturing factories in the state which came up before 2006. The state government had issued a notification making environmental impact assessment mandatory and the Environment Pollution Assessment Committee which a carried study across the state and was to submit a report on how to manage it.

Many environmentalists and NGOs have blamed dust and soot generated by cement factories in Khrew, near famous Saffron production area in Kashmir, for the declining production and fungal attack on saffron flowers.

In blatant violation of the rules governing environmental protection in Jammu and Kashmir, over 688 stone crusher units in the state are not undertaking measures to minimise the pollution levels.

“While these polluting units have been flouting the norms with impunity for past many years, the environmental watchdog, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), has been reduced to a mute spectator,” said an official.

Sources say the authorities, including educational, animal and sheep husbandry, PCB, PHE, agriculture, horticulture, forest, private schools and respective Block Development Officer (BDOs) have not issued NoCs to these units.

JKBOSE website not updated: ETT institutes
Aspirants face hardships due to incomplete information on the official website
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The woes of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) colleges have come to the fore as they have expressed displeasure over the incomplete information of the colleges on the official website of the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

Some of the institutes have claimed that students hailing from outside the state, who had taken admissions in the colleges, had complained the management about the hardships being faced while locating the information on the website.

Sources said the JKBOSE had recently witnessed a high drama outside its office premises wherein one of the owners of an ETT College had given an alleged threat of self immolation, claiming that despite completion of all the necessary formalities, he had not found his college on the official website of the BOSE.

Sources said the police was deployed on the office premises as a preventive measure but the BOSE managed to pacify the ETT college owner with the assurance that the matter would be taken up with the authorities concerned.

Sources said representatives of various ETT colleges had met the officials of the school education board and urged them to put the list of the ETT colleges of both the divisions on its official website and update it on the regular basis for the benefit of students, who are coming from outside the state.

“In spite of sending various reminders to the BOSE authorities to update the latest information regarding all the colleges, they did not take it seriously,” said Deep Singh, an ETT College owner. “Majority of the colleges are found on the website but the important thing is to update it regularly for giving important information regarding the full address of the college, fee structure, seats availability, courses to be offered by the institute and availability of hostel facility,” he said.

“Few days back, I found that the BOSE had not even updated its own website wherein it showed the same Public Information Officer (PIO), who was retired since long. It was only after I apprised the school education board authorities and they rectified it,” Deep said.

A senior BOSE official said, “We are taking utmost care to update our website. Students can get the latest information at any time on our official website and if they face any problem, they have the option to inform this to the colleges concerned, he said.

Hockey coach suspended on sexual harassment charge by Punjab players
Vikas Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The J&K Hockey Association (JKHA) has suspended under-20 women hockey team coach Angad Singh from its membership. The move comes after allegations of sexual harassment charges levelled against him. Andhra Pradesh police had arrested Angad Singh from the Delhi-bound Andhra Pradesh Express at Ramagundam in Karimnagar district after members of Punjab team accused him of harassment and molestation while travelling with them in the train.

The JKHA is in contact with the authorities in Hyderabad to get information about the case of alleged molestation case.

JKHA president Balwinder Singh said unless the charges are proved against Angad Singh, the association cannot remove him permanently. “We are trying our best to contact the police in Hyderabad to know the status of the case. We held a meeting at 11.30 am today. The meeting was attended by the office- bearers of the association. It was decided unanimously that Angad Singh will be suspended temporarrily,” JKHA president said. “I also talked to the general secretary of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), Ashok Mathur, to discuss the legal aspects relating to the termination of Angad Singh from the membership of the association. As the charges are yet to be verified by the JKHA and Angad is also an elected office-bearer of the association, it is not possible to remove him," Balwinder Singh said.

"If the charges are proved against Angad Singh, the JKHA will first send him a notice and then initiate the process of termination. The association is also trying to contact the DGP of Andhra Pradesh to know the present scenario and to discuss the future course of action in the matter,” JKHA president said. “JKHA is functioning in a professional manner and it is trying to uplift the standard of the game in the state. Although, the charges against Angad Singh are yet to be confirmed by us but the association will never tolerate such shameful acts by any office-bearer," Balwinder said.

Change in Cabinet unlikely to make any difference, say political parties
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
On the day when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah effected first-ever reshuffle in his four-year-old government, The Tribune spoke to various political people and civil society members to know their expectations from new Council of ministers.

BJP chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh remarked: “The biggest failure of ruling coalition government has been that it has systematically eroded the credibility and sanctity of all institutions of democracy whether it was state accountability commission, state vigilance organisation or panchayat institutions.”

Harsh Dev Singh, chairman, Panthers Party and MLA said: “It is just like old wine in new bottle. We can’t expect much from the second-rung leadership of two parties when their so-called competent top leadership had failed to make any tangible impact on ground.”

Senior PDP leader Ved Mahajan said, “We have no expectation whatsoever from this government. During the last four years, the system has been totally collapsed because the government has eroded all institutions in the state. The ruling National Conference has always encouraged anarchy in the state because turmoil and confusion suits this party.”

All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) general secretary Anil Sharma said, “The state government seems to have lost its conscience. It was not the suitable time for such cosmetic exercises. Our members are being targeted and brutally killed. Instead of seriously looking into the security of panches and sarpanches, they went for cabinet reshuffle. Besides, out of four elected members from the panchayat quota, no one was inducted in the Council of ministers. How could we expect much from this government?”

Tense border spells sleepless nights for LoC residents
Ranjit Thakur

Rajouri, January 15
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, thousands of families living close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Jangher area of the border district Rajouri live under constant fear of danger to their lives and belongings.

The barbaric killing of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan army at Mendhar has made residents fear for their lives. The worst affected are those living along the Line of Control (LoC).

Ram Prasad, a former-Sarpanch of Sarya village said, “Sarya is the last village in Jhanger area of Nowshera in Rajouri. The village has 700 families out of which 225 families live inside the fenced border area. Residents here fear a repeat of the situation in the early 2000 when shelling on the border was a routine affair.”

He said after the Mendhar incident, tension has escalated manifold making lives of the villagers very difficult. Parents are not ready to send their children to schools owing to the tension on the border, which has adversely affected their studies. He said the situation has become so serious that the villagers not allowing their children to leave homes after 7 pm.

“The situation was similar in 2001, when villagers were forced to migrate owing to heavy shelling from the Pakistan side and all schools were closed. The same situation has returned,” Ram Prasad said.

Mangat Ram, a teacher at middle school, Sarya village, Jangher, said the situation had become very tense.

Mangat Ram said, “Attendance of schoolchildren is going down every day owing to panic among parents. One of out students lost an eye in shelling by Pakistan in 2001.” He said during the Kargil war, this area was the worst affected. Education of four-to-five generations was affected due to the tension on the border. We want peace in the area, so both governments need to find peaceful ways to resolve the issue. If the situation remains tense , people may be forced to migrate for safer zones once again.

Sarya is the last village in Jhanger area of Nowshera in Rajouri. The village has 700 families out of which 225 families live inside the fenced border area. Residents here fear a repeat of the situation in the early 2000 when shelling on the border was a routine affair. Parents are not ready to send their children to schools owing to the tension on the border, which has adversely affected their studies. The situation has become so serious that the villagers not allowing their children to leave homes after 7 pm.

— Ram Prasad, former sarpanch, Sarya village

The situation in this area has become serious after the ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Mendhar killing our soldiers. Attendance of schoolchildren is going down every day owing to panic among parents. One of our students lost an eye in shelling by Pakistan in 2001. Education of four to five generations was affected adversely due to the tension on the border. We want peace in this area, so both governments need to find peaceful ways to resolve this issue. If the situation remains tense along the LoC, people may be forced to migrate for safer zones once again

— Mangat Ram, a teacher at middle school, Sarya village, Jangher

To build confidence, police officers meet panchayat members
Our Correspondent

Rajouri, January 15
To reach out to the representatives of the people at the grassroots level, Rajouri Police today began the series of meetings with sarpanches and panches at Thanamandi.

The police sought their cooperation in maintaining the law and order situation and to control crime against women. They were also requested to intervene in small issues in their villages and mohallas to maintain peace.

The sapranches and panches of Panchayat Mangota Panghai, Khanyalkote, Shahdra Shareif, Behrote, Khablan, Plangrah, Dodasan Bala, Kote, Pathian, Saj, Baryoon, Nerojal impressed upon the police to provide a secure environment for the panches and sarpanches to act as an organ of the government and represent the aspirations of the people.

SDPO, Thanamandi, assured the representatives of the people that all efforts would be made to maintain peace in the area and the police would go to the doorstep of the residents to provide effective and efficient service.

Naib Tehsildar Thanamandi, CDPO Thanamandi and BDO Thanamadi were also present.

The police officers appreciated the role of these public representatives in highlighting various issues being faced by the people.

SP, Rajouri, Mubassir Latifi, said the police will continue to hold meetings with sarpanches and panches of the district at the sub division and police station level to seek their assistance in maintaining law and order.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the BJP district unit also met the DIG Rajouri-Poonch range over the issue of security be provided to those panches and sarpanches living in the far-flung areas of the district. State secretary, BJP, Vibodh Gupta said the DIG, had assured that he would take action on any written complaint.

SRTC staff demand Pay Panel benefits
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
Employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) held a protest today to demand implementation of the 6th Pay Commission report. They said they would strike work if their demands were not met.

Protesters also tried to march towards the Civil Secretariat but were prevented to do so by the police.

Employees also alleged that the management had always backtracked from its promises to the employees. Senior leader of the J&K SRTC Employees Union, Ashok Mehra, said the decision was taken as the management did not accept their demands by implementing the pay commission report.

"We are being discriminated against and our rights are being trampled by the policy makers," Mehra alleged.

The corporation has 1,200 vehicles including 700 buses and 400 trucks. From a frontline service provider in Jammu and Kashmir a few decades ago, the SRTC is struggling for survival with its share in transport sector falling to less than three per cent. Not only has the once booming Corporation lost ground but "flawed planning" is driving it to ruin.

Established in June, 1948, as Government Transport Undertaking with a 50-truck fleet, it was converted into the JKSRTC in September 1976. The aim was to provide cheap transport service, said an official.

Protesters alleged that the SRTC management had wrongly represented their case before the Finance Department, for which they have been struggling for last many years.

“Most of the government employees have received benefits under the 6th Pay Commission, but we have been denied our right. How can officers expect us to work, when we are unable to feed our families,” said Gurdeep Singh, one of the protester. The Union has alleged that even the Finance Department was not clearing the liabilities whereas the state government had given the package to the VRS employees to clear benefits.

JKP, Food and Supplies, J&K Forest log wins
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, Food and Supplies and J&K Forest teams scripted wins today to move into the next round of the ongoing 7th Gold Cup Football Tournament being organised by the All J&K Christian Welfare Association at Mini Stadium, Parade Ground here.

In the first match, the JKP got the better of J&K Power Development Corporation (PDC) by 7-6 via tie-breaker in a thrilling contest. Both teams scored two goals apiece in the stipulated time and the match was decided through tie-breaker. Yaseen Ahmed, Fayaz Ahmed, Manmohan Singh, Sandeep Sharma and Ajay Kumar were the goal scorers for the JKP while for J&K PDC, Rahul Sharma, Sahil Nehal, Tahir and Liyaqat scored goals.

In another match, Food and Supplies thrashed NGR by 6-1 with the utmost ease. Yasin scored the first goal for the Food and Supplies in the 20th minute but Hussain from NGR scored an equaliser in the 29th minute. Later, Altaf and Irfan scored two goals each to help Food and Supplies register a comfortable win. Vijay of the NGR was shown yellow card in the 10th minute for foul play.

In the last match of the day, the J&K Forest overcame the challenge of Vijay Club by 5-3 goals via tie-breaker. Ashiq Hussain, Rizwan, Omar, Nazir and Zameer were the goal scorers for the J&K Forest while Mohit Verma, Vikas Sodhi and Vishal Dogra succeeded in scoring goals for the Vijay Club.

Dogri play ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ to be staged on January 23
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
Samooh Theatre is going to perform Kalidas’s ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ in Dogri on January 23. Its Dogri adaptation is done by Dr Sudhir Mahajan and the play would be directed by Ravinder Sharma.

The play is choreographed by Rohit Bains, while music is composed by Brij Mohan and Surinder Manhas.

‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ (of Shakuntala recognised by a Token) tells the story of King Dushyanta, who on a hunting trip meets Shakuntala, the adopted daughter of a sage, and marries her.

A mishap befalls them when he was summoned back to the court. Shakuntala, pregnant with their child, inadvertently offends a visiting sage and incurs a curse, by which Dushyanta would forget her completely until he sees the ring he had left with her.

On her trip to Dushyanta's court in an advanced state of pregnancy, she loses the ring, and has to come away unrecognised. The ring is found by a fisherman, who recognises the royal seal and returns it to Dushyanta, who regains his memory of Shakuntala and sets out to find her. After more travails, they are finally reunited.

The cast of the play includes Mridul Raj Anand as Dushyant, Neha Bhogal as Shakuntala, Sunnedhi Sharma as Ansuya, Poonam as Priyamvada, Vikram Khatri as Madhavya, Kanika Sharma as Gautami, Ajay Tamangh as Mashwara, Kartik Saini as Sarathi, Abhishek as Kotwal and Rajat Gupta as Sanik.

Leakage in water pipes threatens roads in Batote
RK Kichlu

Batote, January 15
A leaking water pipe of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), passing underground across the national highway, has not only caused the water scarcity for Ward No 6 in Batote but also posed a threat to roads and nearby structures.

At 4pm everyday, when the water is supplied to the town, the passers-by and the PHED officials watch the gushing water oozing out of the ground on both sides of the road in front of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, as a mute spectator.

The insiders said the damaged pipe was several decades old and was about three-feet-deep under the hard layers of the road.

“Due to the damaged pipe we havn’t received the water supply for last three weeks and the officials have not initiated any action yet,” said S Manjit Singh, a resident.

When contacted the Assistant Executive Engineer, PHED, Ramban, Satish Kumar Sharma said as the matter has come to the notice through The Tribune he would visit the spot tomorrow and then decide.

“Only after the visit of the AEE, we would be able to decide. If there was any need to dig the road, we would seek the permission from the GREF (Beacon). Water supply would be restored there tomorrow as there was no need to seek anybody’s permission nor there was a busy traffic,” said KC Sharma, Junior Engineer, PHED.

PG Dept script win in cricket tournament
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The PG Law and Science Department today produced a flawless performance to topple Government Degree College (GDC), Rajouri, by six wickets in the ongoing Inter-Collegiate (Men) Cricket Tournament being played at the University of Jammu grounds here.

GDC Rajouri won the toss and chose to bat first. The team posted 149 runs for the loss of three wickets in their allotted quota of overs. Nadeem Ahmed played a brilliant knock of 71 runs with the help of four boundaries and two hits for the maximum.

He was ably supported by fellow batsmen Tahir Mehmood (29), Imran Shah (26) and Ajay Kumar (23). For the PG Law and Science Department, Himanshu Sharma, Gokul Baru and Ajay Kumar grabbed a wicket apiece. It was a torrid day for all bowlers, who struggled to find their rhythm on a batsmen friendly wicket.

Chasing 150 runs to win, the PG Law and Science Department did the needful in 18.5 overs losing four wickets in the process. Gokul Baru was the outstanding batsman, who played a match winning knock of 70 runs, studded with seven delectable hits to the fence.

Shehroz Malik and Ajay Kumar contributed 26 and 23 runs, respectively. For GDC Rajouri, Imran Shah, Waseem and Sachin shared a wicket apiece. The match was officiated by Amit Gupta, Vijay Dogra and Manu Khajuria.

‘Army Chief’s remarks show govt-military rift’

Srinagar, January 15
The Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz, while talking of the Army Chief's statement on AFSPA said it reflected the contradictions over revocation of special laws from J&K between the civil and military establishments in India.

While addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh had said he did not favour the dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, as it was ‘an enabler’ for soldiers to fight militancy in an asymmetric environment.

“The statement of the Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh on notorious laws like AFSPA is like rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris,” a Hurriyat spokesman said. “It is because of these special powers given to the forces that the people of Kashmir have suffered over the years. These laws are also aimed at suppressing the aspirations of people”, the spokesman added.

Gen Singh had said soldiers in the state worked in an environment where it was difficult to differentiate between a friend and a foe as militants mingled with the civilian population. He had also opposed demilitarisation of Siachen Glacier area, against the backdrop of the ‘trust deficit’ existing with Pakistan. — TNS

Sagar lifts Panthal Kesari title
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
Wrestler Sagar of Sat Paul Akhara, Delhi, defeated Ranjeet of Ludhiana in a tough bout to lift the 113th Annual Panthal Kesari 2013 title at Panthal in Reasi district. Sagar was also adjudged best wrestler in the Vishal Dangal organised by Swami Nitya Nand Dangal Committee under the aegis of the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association.

Sagar was awarded a cash prize of Rs 8,000 in addition to traditional silver gurj (Gadda) and Patta by SP Katra Mohan Lal and J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association president Shiv Kumar Sharma. The runner-up wrestler pocketed a sum of Rs 7,000.

Total 56 bouts were played. The second main bout was played between Jodha of Attari Border, Amritsar, and Sat Paul of Sonipat in Haryana wherein Jodha emerged victorious. Third main bout was played between Parveen of Sonipat and Murad Ali of Domana (Jammu). Parveen won the bout in 27 minutes.

NSF protests against discrimination
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The National Secular Forum (NSF) today staged a protest against the State Service Recruitment Board (SSRB) allegedly for discriminating Jammu region over the number of posts created in various government departments as compared to Srinagar, Kupwara and Baramulla districts in Kashmir.

Scores of the NSF activists, led by Ravi Choudhary, NSF state general secretary assembled on the Jammu University campus and alleged that a deep-rooted conspiracy had been hatched to discriminate Jammu region while districts in the Kashmir valley were favoured at the cost of future of educated youth of Jammu.

Choudhary said district cadre posts for Jammu were 133, for Poonch were 53 and for Udhampur were 62. “If we talk about the Kashmir region, there are 324 district cadre posts advertised for the Srinagar district while for Baramulla and Kupwara, 130 and 93 posts have been created, respectively,” the NSF leader said.

Blankets distributed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The management of Guru Nanak College of Education distributed 60 blankets among the inmates of Leprosy Home at Bhagwati Nagar here. Chairman of the college, Prof Harbans Singh, Principal Gurtaj Singh and Administrator Charanjeet Kaur besides staff and students were also present on the occasion.

Besides blankets, biscuits and snacks were also distributed among the inmates who expressed their gratitude towards the management for the noble gesture. Later, the students of the educational institution also interacted with the inmates.

The management of the college promised to conduct more such activities to help the needy.

Jammu Terriers celebrate 10th Raising Day
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The "Jammu Terriers" celebrated their 10th raising day with zeal and enthusiasm in the unit here yesterday. The celebrations started with a Special Sainik Sammelan addressed by Col Ajai Sharma, Commanding Officer, 157 Infantry Battalion (TA) (Home and Hearth) Sikh.

Col Sharma commended all ranks of the unit for their dedication to duty. He commended the way soldiers worked with determination in keeping with the high traditions of their battalion.

He also expressed confidence that they would continue to strive hard, to achieve higher levels of excellence in all spheres be they in the operational or administrative sphere.

The Sainik Sammelan culminated with national song 'Vande Mataram'.

A colourful and entertaining programme was organised to mark the occasion in which officers, JCOs and other ranks of the unit took part along with their families.

NCP accuses JMC of allowing illegal constructions

Jammu, January 15
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today alleged that the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) was allowing illegal construction in the city and had failed to act against such violations.

The party has alleged that some people are taking advantage of their contacts with ministers at several places in the city, and were violating norms for construction of buildings, including shopping complexes. “The corporation is responsible for passing the building maps to be constructed in the area but they are being violated, while the civic body is watching like a mute spectator,” said Sudershan Choudhary, NCP spokesman.

He said the party had documentary evidence that many of the buildings being constructed in the city were violating government rules. “The authorities meant for checking of the illegal constructions have either connived with such elements or have adopted foul means to encourage them,” he said. — TNS

Day-old baby girl found abandoned
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
A newborn baby girl was found abandoned in Kathua today. Amid the chill the baby was wrapped in a jute bag near the railway bridge towards Govindsar railway station near Kharot Morh under Hatli police post here.

The police said a passerby heard cries of an infant and found the baby wrapped in a jute bag. He then informed the police.

The policemen rushed to the spot and took the infant to the District Hospital, Kathua. The doctors at the hospital said the condition of the baby is stable and she was responding to treatment, the police said. “The baby is only 24-hour-old and her skin got wrinkled due to the cold," a doctor said.

Drug peddler arrested
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
The Kathua police today nabbed one person and recovered 300 capsules from his possession. The accused has been identified as Baljit Singh, a resident of Barwal tehsil.

Sources said the police, during patrolling near the Gujjar hostel, intercepted one motorcycle (PB-06D 4575) and nabbed the accused.

A case under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) has been registered at the Kathua police station.

Road safety programme held
Our Correspondent

Batote, January15
To educate ways to prevent road accidents, the Rashtriya Rifles (Army) today organised a road safety programme for drivers at Domail in Bhadarwah today. The drivers were distributed free CDs containing road safety literature and a video explaining causes of accidents and its preventive measures.