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Shopkeepers begin online campaign
Selection of teachers on fake certificates: Govt orders probe
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Coaching centres in rural areas continue to violate guidelines
8 sarpanches of Ganderbal threaten to quit
CM launches National Rural Livelihood Mission in Ganderbal
Stick to Jhelum brand of cement only, govt departments told
Government committed to development, asserts PHE Minister
JKLF calls for shutdown on Feb 11
Repair transformers on priority, officials told
Now, SKIMS director to attend OPD
Six injured in road accidents
Stolen goods recovered
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Shopkeepers begin online campaign
Srinagar, January 30 After their pleas seeking rehabilitation in an open market area failed to find favour with the authorities, the affected shopkeepers had started an online campaign though e-mails to the ADB that is funding the flyover project. Traders Federation Exhibition Road Magarmal Crossing (TFERMC) general secretary Abdul Rauf said the federation had received a letter from the ADB, according to which, experts of the bank would come here in the second week of February to look into the concerns of the affected shopkeepers. The affected shopkeepers have already threatened to commit suicide if their demands were not met. As per the letter, a copy of which is with Kashmir Tribune, the ADB will fly its experts to the summer capital who will ‘contact’ the aggrieved shopkeepers of Magarmal Bagh and Hari Singh High Street areas. The shopkeepers have objected to their proposed rehabilitation at a shopping complex near the Exhibition Ground. “As we are small-time shopkeepers who survive on walking customers at the crowded Magarmal Bagh and Hari Singh High Street markets, a complex is like a cage for us and it will hit our businesses hard,” Rauf said. This is the second time when the ADB would be sending its team to listen to the grievances of the shopkeepers. Last year in November, ADB’s senior urban development specialist Atsushi Kaneko had held a meeting with the TFERMC wherein they were assured that they would be suitably rehabilitated. “We are not against the flyover construction but around 100 shopkeepers and their families should not become victims of development. We have now pinned hopes on the ADB team as they have promised to ensure our proper rehabilitation,” added TFERMC president Manzoor Mattoo. Khalid Muzaffar, Director (Central), Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), which is executing the Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh flyover project, assured that the shopkeepers would be rehabilitated as per the ADB policy. The project was announced by the government in 2009 saying it would ease traffic snarls to a great extent. However, the beginning of its construction has missed several deadlines amid the cries of shopkeepers demanding proper rehabilitation besides an online petition to the ADB. Director (Central) ERA said the work on the flyover would now start by March-April this year. Flyover project
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Selection of teachers on fake certificates: Govt orders probe
Srinagar, January 30 “I have constituted a committee comprising Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam and an IAS probationer to hold an inquiry and submit a detailed report,” Shah said. "Let us wait for the inquiry to complete." The three teachers, sources said, had been working in the department despite the fact that the crime branch and the Budgam police had established that Fayaz Ahmed Malik, Altaf Hussain Bhat and Bashir Ahmed Bhat were appointed as ReT teachers on the basis of fake Class XII certificates. The crime branch had established that the degrees were fake after
the verification by the Board of School Education (BOSE). “The shocking part is rather than disengaging the trio and initiating action against them, the three were regularised as teachers," sources said. The sources added there was a well-knit nexus between these teachers, the Education Department officials at Budgam and certain officials at the directorate level. Director of School Education Mohammad Shafi Rather, however, said he has taken due cognisance of the crime branch report which had proved beyond doubt that the teachers were appointed on fake certificates. “I have issued directions to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam to initiate action against the three teachers as per the law,” Rather said. |
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Coaching centres in rural areas continue to violate guidelines
Anantnag, January 30 Reports said while the authorities have tightened noose around these private tuition centres in Srinagar city and many other district headquarters, directing them to get registered and improve the infrastructure, tuition centres in the peripheries of the headquarters don’t seem to be bothered. “In our district Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) summoned the owners of private tuition centres and they were given a deadline of 15 days to mend their ways or face legal action. However, the scenario remains grim in the villages of the district,” said Muhammad Adil, a student from the Kokernag area of Anantang district. He said the coaching centres in his area have made no efforts to upgrade the infrastructure. “Students continue to study in the filthiest conditions, with no seating and heating arrangement,” said Adil. Moreover, the government teachers continue to work in these centres despite a high court order barring them from doing so. Reports from other districts of south Kashmir suggest that same is the case with tuition centres in these districts. “You don’t have to go to villages to check the condition of these centres. You can have a look at the centres at the district headquarters,” said Zahid, a student from Kulgam town. He said seating and heating arrangement was a far-fetched idea at the tuition centres operating in Kulgam town. “They don’t even have washroom facilities despite the fact that a large chunk of their strength comprises female students.” Students at the tuition centres in Pulwama and Shopian district have similar tales to tell. “The coaching centres are just minting money. We pay huge sums of money and they treat us like cattle. They don’t even bother to arrange chairs for the students,” said Rauf Ahmad, a student from Shopian district. The authorities, however, maintain situation will improve in a phased manner. “Once we are done with the centres in major towns, then only can we focus on the centres in the peripheries,” said a senior official in the Anantnag district administration. |
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Encroachments along Sindh river: Registrar submits inspection report
Srinagar, January 30 These directions were issued by a division Bench of the high court today, which is hearing a PIL seeking judicial intervention in checking pollution and illegal constructions along the banks of the Sindh in the area. Following reports of illegal constructions along the banks of the Sindh, the Bench had on November 15, 2012, directed the Registrar of the court to carry out an on-the-spot inspection and submit the report within two weeks. “As directed, the Registrar concerned has carried out the spot inspection and submitted his report. The Bench today directed that the petitioners should also be provided a copy of that report to see if they have any objections”, said a lawyer connected with the case. During the previous hearing on November 15, the counsel representing the litigant in the PIL had submitted to the court that there were reports that illegal construction was still going on in the area, which had prompted the Bench to direct Ajaz Ahmad, one of
the Registrars of the high court, to carry out an on-the-spot investigation and submit his report. The Sindh, which is a rivulet, originates from Gumri Glacier ahead of Baltal, Sonamarg, in north-east Kashmir. Before merging with the Jhelum in Ganderbal, several fresh water streams join it downstream, including the Amarnath nullah, Sonamarg nullah and Shutkuri nullah, giving it a shape of a big river. In June 2011, the high court had directed the authorities to remove all illegal encroachments and structures along the Sindh that had come up in violation of the Kashmir Valley Embankment Act, 1992. Later in September 2011, Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner in his compliance report to the court had submitted that “all illegal encroachments and illegal constructions along the banks of the Sindh” in the Sonamarg and Kangan areas of Ganderbal district had been “demolished.” Timeline
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8 sarpanches of Ganderbal threaten to quit
Srinagar, January 30 “The government is saying that powers have been given to sarpanches and panches but on the ground we have no powers,” Shafiq Ahmad, panch for ward number six of Haran village, said. The protesting panchayat members, which included seven panches and one sarpanch, said they have failed to fulfil basic demands of the people who elected them. “There is a potholed road and we have met every officer concerned but nothing has been done. We have electricity woes, which we fail to rectify,” Ahmad said. He said the panchayat members had met Kashmir Divisional Commissioner and he has assured to look into their grievances. “We have given 15 days to the government to fulfil our demands otherwise we will resign,” he said. The protesting panchayat members also demanded they be paid a proper honorarium for their services. The panchayat members were elected in a landmark election in 2011. Many elected village representatives have since expressed growing frustration over lack of powers with them. |
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dastageer shrine
Srinagar,
January 30 The Chief Minister chaired the 17th meeting of the Waqf Board, which looks after the shrines of the Valley and reiterated that the shrine should be restored as a heritage replica. The meeting also discussed expansion of the shrine area to cater to the present and futuristic needs,” an official spokesman said. The meeting was attended by Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Muslim Waqf Board vice-chairman MY Qadri, officials from the J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and representatives of the J&K Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). The revered shrine of Sufi saint Shaikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani got damaged in a fire incident in June last year that had led to tension across the Valley. Even though the 11th century saint, whose shrine is located at Baghdad in Iraq, never visited the Valley, he is highly revered and his holy relic (hair strand) was brought here by an Afghan traveller in 1806. While the fire had caused massive damage to the wooden structure of the shrine, the holy relics that included holy hair strand of Dastgeer Sahib, a document of Hazrat Ali on which the stamp of the Prophet Mohammad is affixed and pages of the holy Quran handwritten by Hazrat Abu-Bakar Sidiq, were rescued safely. The state government had set a deadline of 30 months for the completion of reconstruction works from the time of the fire incident. |
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CAPD minister visits remote areas of Gurez valley
Srinagar, January 30 Minister for Planning, Labour and Employment, Ajay Sadhotra, Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Nazir Ahmed Khan (Gurezi), besides Gurez SDM Mohammad Ashraf Hakak and other sectoral officers accompanied the minister. The people of the area accorded a rousing reception to the visiting team of ministers on their arrival at these places, an official spokesman here said. During the tour, the ministers inspected ration godowns and inquired about the stocks available. They directed the CA&PD functionaries to ensure uniform distribution of foodgrain to the consumers as per their ration card. The ministers directed the local administration to ensure early restoration of internal road communication network and round-the-clock healthcare facilities to the people, besides adequate water and power. The ministers were told that adequate ration, kerosene, cooking gas and other essentials were stocked for the people of Gurez and consumers were getting the essential commodities on monthly basis as per their ration card. It was informed that 27,840 quintals of rice, 17,400 quintals of atta, 2,436 quintals of sugar, 1.20 lakh litres of kerosene and 5,800 LPG cylinders were stocked in different godowns of Gurez to meet the supply of essentials round the year while in the inaccessible areas of Tulial, advance ration, kerosene and cooking gas has already been given to ration card holders for six months so that they don’t face any problem during the winters. It was further informed that 18 DG sets were presently operational in the tehsil supplying six-hour power supply to 90 per cent population of the area. The ministers said a DG set had been procured for Baduab and the same would be installed soon to provide electricity to the area. During the tour, local deputations met the ministers and put forth their demands, including provision for more air sorties between Gurez and Bandipora. The ministers assured the people that all their demands would be redressed in a phased manner. Regarding the air sorties, the ministers assured them that the matter would be taken with the authority concerned for early
redressal. |
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CM launches National Rural Livelihood Mission in Ganderbal
Srinagar, January 30 “My report card is before the people of the state and they have to give me a certificate,” the CM said while addressing a public gathering organised to witness the launch of the scheme. Ganderbal, where the scheme was launched, is the constituency of the Chief Minister. He said people of the state would judge his performance as the Chief Minister, while those from the Ganderbal Assembly Constituency, would judge his performance as an MLA in the 2014 state assembly elections. The roll out of prestigious National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) under the local name ‘Umeed’ is targeted at alleviating rural poverty and bringing economic welfare in rural households. The Chief Minister said poverty alleviation through a befitting mechanism has been a focused area during the past four years of his government and the NRLM was yet another initiative in this regard. The Chief Minister said the Centrally-sponsored NRLM was sanctioned for four blocks but by his persuasion at the Central Government, one block in each district, was being sanctioned to be covered under the first phase of the programme. Omar Abdullah said during his visit to certain villages in Uttar Pradesh, he had witnessed positive impact of the NRLM for upliftment of the poor. He said the success of the scheme was largely dependent on the unified efforts of the department and the people. |
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Stick to Jhelum brand of cement only, govt departments told
Srinagar, January 30 The minister said this while addressing a function organised at JK cements plant at Khrew in Pulwama district. He said it has been made mandatory for all departments of Kashmir division to procure cement from JK cements. However, the minister said the government would take several measures to market the brand outside the state and other parts of the country. Regarding starting additional unit of the JK cements on the land available with the company, the minister directed the MD to immediately move a proposal for examination. "Since, we have land availability, we will take up another unit so that production is further increased," the minister said. The minister, while emphasising on maintaining the quality of the cement produced, said adequate raw material supplies should be ensured. He said modernisation of the existing plant is the need of the hour. "The plant is old and its maintenance is of vital importance. We will prioritise the same for maintaining our present production levels," he said.
— TNS |
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Government committed to development, asserts PHE Minister
Srinagar, January 30 The minister, on his maiden visit to the constituency after being inducted into the Council of Ministers, visited various hilly, remote and inaccessible areas, including Bagtoor, Kanzalwan, Taribal and Chorwan villages of Gurez and took stock of essential commodities, availability of fuel and firewood, besides snow clearance works in these areas. The minister addressed series of public gatherings at various places and said the government was committed to equitable development of all the three regions of the state. He said the present government believes on sustained action rather than false promises and in this pursuit, several welfare flagship programmes have been launched in the state with emphasis on creating a visible impact on the ground. Khan said the development and peace process initiated by the present regime was an eye-opener for everyone, adding that it would continue to work with same spirit during the remaining two years of tenure. Several deputations met the minister and apprised him about their individual and collective problems, an official spokesman said. This is for the first time that an MLA from Gurez has been inducted into the Council of Ministers. Nazir Ahmad Khan (NC), who represents the home constituency for the second consecutive term, was elected first in 2002 and re-elected in 2008. Earlier, the Gurez constituency, carved out of Bandipore constituency on April 27, 1995, was first represented by an independent, Faqir Mohammad Khan, who later joined the National
Conference and then the Congress. |
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Lepers stage protest, seek early completion of residential quarters
Srinagar, January 30 They protested at the Press Enclave and appealed to the government to expedite the construction works of residential quarters for them in the Behrar area. “The construction works of the quarters was started in February 2009 but we are still waiting for the completion of the same. Despite making rounds at the offices of authorities concerned, our pleas are falling on deaf ears,” LPA spokesman said. “We had also met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who assured us that our issues will be addressed. Neither did he pay a visit to see our plight nor did the construction works start,” he added. The LPA spokesman said the lepers were facing several problems due to lack of proper accommodation facilities, especially in the harsh winters. |
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JKLF calls for shutdown on Feb 11
Srinagar, January 30 The JKLF also convened a meeting here after which it announced a 10-day long protest programme to be observed across the Valley in connection with the martyrdom anniversary of Maqbool Bhat. Maqbool Bhat was hanged on February 11, 1984 at New Delhi’s
Tihar Jail on charges of murder. |
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Repair transformers on priority, officials told
Srinagar, January 30 The minister was interacting with the officers during his extensive inspection of electric central stores workshop at Pampore. He was accompanied by senior officers of the PDD. He exhorted the officers to ensure that damaged transformers were repaired, besides maintaining an inventory of the available stock in the state. “Adequate and uninterrupted power supply has to be ensured to facilitate people, especially in the winters and in this connection, a complete coordination should be maintained within various wings of the Power Department,” the minister said.
— TNS |
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Now, SKIMS director to attend OPD
Srinagar, January 30 This will be for the first since June 2011 when Dr Zargar took over as Director of SKIMS that he will be available for consultation to general patients who visit the hospital on a daily basis. “Despite his hectic schedule, Dr Zargar will dedicate one whole day in a week (Wednesday) for the patients who seek treatment for problems relating to gastroenterolog,” SKIMS spokesman said.
— TNS |
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Six injured in road accidents
Srinagar, January 30 All the injured have been shifted to a hospital for treatment. In another accident, a car driver was injured on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Parimpora on outskirts of the city. The man, identified as Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, has been seriously injured, the police said, adding that he was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police has registered cases in this regard. |
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Stolen goods recovered
Srinagar, January 30 A case FIR No 10/2013 under Section 457, 380 of the RPC was registered at the Police Station, Pattan. "With the help of the FSL team of the Baramulla police, the investigation of the case led to a suspect Naseer Ahmad Bhat alias Nus, a resident of Kastori Kocha Gojree Mohalla, Pattan. |
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