Srinagar, January 22
For over four decades, art lovers of the Kashmir valley were looking for a place that would serve as a hub for cultural activities. And finally today, a step towards realising this dream was taken when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the foundation stone of ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’.

Soon after the foundation stone of the building was laid near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) here, J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKAACL) secretary Khalid Bashir said the artists of the Valley had now got an ‘address’.

He said the art lovers had first conceived the idea of setting up a ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ in 1970 at Lal Mandi but it had failed. Later in 1982, an attempt was made to set up this ‘mahal’ at Hari Niwas on the foothills of Zabarwan range. Bashir said this attempt too failed even after laying the foundation stone at Hari Niwas.

The cultural activities in the Valley then took a hit for more than two decades due to the eruption of militancy in 1990s and the dream of setting up a ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ could not be realised. Now, Bashir feels that the art lovers were on path to realising this dream as the ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ was likely to be completed in three years and four months from now.

“I want to thank the Chief Minister as he approved the project in June, 2011,” he added.

He said the three-storeyed building premises would be spread over 76,000 square feet and Rs 64.89 crore would be spent on its construction.

The ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ would have an auditorium with a capacity of 600 seats, a conference hall and an open air theatre to host cultural activities. Bashir said the building will be a mix of modern and traditional architecture and would also showcase the artefacts, sculptures and manuscripts of Kashmir's history.

Tourism and Culture commisioner/secretary Atal Duloo said the laying of foundation stone of the building was a historic occasion for boosting cultural activities in Kashmir. He said the ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ will throw open the 'cultural treasures' and also serve as a tourist attraction.

Welcoming the development, noted poet Rehman Rahi, who is the recipient of national honours like Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri, said with the laying of foundation stone of the ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’, an 'old dream' of the art lovers of Kashmir had been realised.

Hub for cultural activities The ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ would have an auditorium with a capacity of 600 seats, a conference hall and an open air theatre It would be spread over an area of 76,000 square feet The project is likely to be completed in three years and four months The building will be a mix of modern and traditional architecture and showcase the artefacts, sculptures and manuscripts of Kashmir's history

Srinagar, January 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today underscored the need of holding cultural events for the tourists to keep them entertained during the evening hours.

“I have asked the Tourism Department to formulate a calendar with the cultural academy for holding various cultural programmes utilising the already completed amphitheatres across the Valley. This would provide an added attraction to visitors visiting the state during the tourist season,” Omar said after laying the foundation stone of ‘Tehzeeb Mahal’ near the Tourist Reception Centre here.

He said the tourists on a visit here had pointed to the lack of entertainment avenues in the evening hours.

Omar also urged the authorities concerned to print brochures, leaflets and posters in this regard and keep the same available at airports, railway stations, tourist information centres and other places frequented by tourists.

He said over 13 lakh visitors visited the state last year which is expected to grow further.

“In order to make them aware of the state’s rich cultural heritage and make their stay more eventful, the Tourism Department and Cultural Academy should formulate such programmes jointly,” Omar added.

He said the government would extend all possible support to the Cultural Academy to expand and strengthen its activities for the development, preservation and showcasing of the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Referring to the newly constructed museum at Lal Mandi, Omar said he had asked the agency concerned to complete its internal requirements pertaining to display of historic valuables in a befitting manner and making the security foolproof.

He said the Tourism Department had already taken measures in this direction and expressed hope that the museum would be thrown open in near future.

Srinagar, January 22
As many as 13 persons were injured in a road accident after a bus turned turtle on the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway in north Kashmir.

The police said the accident took place around 10.25 am when the driver of a bus bearing registration number JK03A/4011 lost the control and turned turtle near Chura village.

“Thirteen passengers who were travelling in the bus coming from Sopore to Srinagar were injured in the accident,” said a local resident.

“Soon after the accident, the police and the Army men rushed to the spot and rescued the passengers who were trapped inside.”

The injured were shifted to a Sopore hospital where most of them were discharged after getting first aid.

“However, five of the injured were shifted to a Srinagar hospital,” said a police officer, adding that most of the injured had received head injuries.

The Sopore police has registered a case.

Meanwhile, an Army Vehicle hit and injured a pedestrian Fayaz Ahmad Mir, son of Ghulam Rasool, resident of Monghal, Anantnag, at Janglat Mandi Chowk.

The injured was shifted to District Hospital Anantnag.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested by the Anantnag police besides seizing the vehicle.

A case has been registered in this regard.

Srinagar, January 22
With a view to strengthen national integration, the Army in Kashmir today sent 13 families and 10 children drawn from the remote parts of the Valley on a tour to different parts of the country.

The tour is being conducted by the Territorial Army (TA) as part of the national integration programme, an army spokesman said here. The ‘Sair-e-Watan’ was flagged off in the presence of a number of dignitaries from the Army amid much enthusiasm.

“Sair-e-Watan tour is being organised for families and children of remote villages of Kupwara district as part of national integration efforts. The tour will be conducted from January 22-30,” the Army spokesman said.

“The tour is being undertaken for 13 families and 10 children under the aegis of Vajr Division of the Territorial Army in Kupwara,” he added.

Giving further details, the spokesman said as part of the Sair-e-Watan programme, the families and children will visit Jammu, Delhi, Agra and Ajmer and see places of interest like Raghunath Bazar, Bagh-e-Bhau, India Gate, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Taj Mahal among others.

“This initiative will provide an opportunity to the families and children to witness the growth, development and uniqueness of this country. It will give them an insight into the historical grandeur and cultural vastness of India,” the spokesman claimed.

Srinagar, January 22
The Non-Gazetted Employees Union Information Department (NGEUID) from the Kashmir Division has hailed the appointment of MLA Viqar Rasool as the Minister of State for Information.

“The union met here under the chairmanship of its president Showkat Ahmad Khan and resolved to support the endeavour of the government in letter and in spirit”, a spokesman of the union said.

Congratulating Rasool for assuming the new ministerial berth, the statement said the “Information Department is the only department engaged in projecting and publicising the government programmes and policies among the masses”.

“But at the same time, the officials who work round the clock and on holidays and Sundays don’t get any incentive like two and half days extra salary, refreshment or any other appreciation”, the president said while felicitating Rasool during a function organised here.

“The minister was requested to look into the problems confronting officials, particularly promotion prospects, besides infrastructure development and filling of vacant posts in the department”, the spokesman said.

He added it was also demanded to activate the district and tehsil offices by posting required manpower and other facilities so that the development activities at the grass-roots level are highlighted.

Srinagar, January 22
The Minister of State for Forests, Cooperative, Printing and Stationery, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, has exhorted the officers to work with added zeal, enthusiasm and make use of the talent and skills for the welfare and prosperity of the state.

The minister made this statement while addressing a series of meetings to take stock of the functioning of the Department of Forest, State Road Transport Corporation and Regional Transport Office of Kashmir division here today, a spokesman said.

“It was informed in the meeting that during the current year about Rs 27 crore have been generated against the sale of 14 lakh cft timber by the end of December last year by the Forest Department”, the spokesman said.

While taking stock of functioning of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) and Regional Transport Office in another meeting, the minister was informed by the Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir, Anees Ahmad, that a revenue of Rs 40 crore had been generated in the form of taxes and fine during the current financial year, the spokesman added.

“He also informed that the RTO office, Srinagar, and all the district offices of Kashmir division have been computerised and equipped with latest technology”, he said.

The minister urged the RTO Kashmir to maintain transparency while issuing licences and other necessary documents to ensure safety of human lives, the spokesman added.

Emphasising upon the SRTC to improve the functioning of the corporation, the minister stressed for bringing vibrant changes so that the corporation could ensure its sustenance for the welfare of the state, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, January 22
To take stock of arrangements made for the Republic Day celebrations in the Valley, the Additional Director General of Police (Armed Law and Order), K Rajendra Kumar, along with a team of officers, inspected the Bakshi Stadium here today.

He also convened a meeting of the police officers at the venue and took stock of the progress with regard to facelift of the stadium and other arrangements.

“It was told that necessary efforts have been made in coordination with the civil administration to make the Bakshi Stadium convenient for the function by clearing snow and levelling whereever required,” said an official spokesman.

The meeting also took stock of the other functions being held in the province, deployment of personnel and maintenance of law and order. The meeting was told that sufficient manpower had been earmarked for deployment of security at the venues and maintenance of law and order during the celebrations. In addition, armed contingents and other components of the JKP would participate in the celebrations for which the exercise had already been started at Bakshi Stadium and district and tehsil headquarters.

Srinagar, January 22
When an alert of heavy snowfall was sounded last week, the Kashmir’s Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) was up for a test. It had geared up its men and machinery to keep nearly 6,000 km of roads clear. When heavy snowfall started on January 17 afternoon, the department’s 12 control rooms spread across the Valley were keeping a close watch. The entire Valley experienced heavy snowfall in varying range from one to four feet.

“After monitoring the situation, the snow-clearance operation started on October 18 at 3 am and the MED pressed about 101 snow-clearing machines into service throughout the Valley,” Shafat Chisti, chief engineer, MED, said.

“Within hours all the major roads connecting cities and towns and internal roads in all the districts, especially roads leading to hospitals and other important installations of Public Health Engineering and Power Development Department, were cleared of snow and thrown open for regular traffic movement.”

The government had framed an action plan, according to which about 5,600 km of roads were to be cleared of snow by mechanical means whereas about 4,800 km had to be cleared by the Roads and Building Department.

The chief engineer said the roads which were to be cleared mechanically included all the major roads, inter-district, inter-towns and internal roads of Srinagar city and other towns.

“By the evening of January 18, 100 per cent of first priority and 80 per cent of second priority roads were cleared of snow,” he added.

Chisti said now that all roads had been cleared of the snow, the widening process of roads in the higher reaches, which had experienced heavy snowfall, was going on.

Srinagar, January 22
Thirty-seven passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Jammu in a special flight called Kargil Courier today.

The return flight from Jammu to Kargil was cancelled as it had got delayed due to fog at Chandigarh, said Amir Ali, coordinator, Divisional Disaster Management Cell.

The flight from Jammu to Kargil and back, he said, has been scheduled for January 23, subject to fair weather. Meanwhile, stranded passengers were airlifted from Bandipora to Dawar and back today in an Mi-17 helicopter. “A serious patient along with an attendant was also airlifted from Kanzalwan (Gurez) to Bandipora,” Ali added.