Jammu, February 14
Monkey menace in the state has grown to such an extent that residents of some villages have even migrated to other areas and have even left farming. Monkeys not only enter urban areas but are also destroying crops in several villages.

Despite a ban by the Department of Wildlife not to feed wild monkeys, people continue to feed them thus attracting them towards urban areas.

Wildlife experts hold people who feed monkeys responsible for their movement towards urban areas of Jammu.

Two years back, the Forest Department had decided to create awareness and detain travellers, who are found feeding monkeys along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (1-A) and other areas.

“We have installed boards at several places, asking people not to feed monkeys, but to no avail,” a wildlife official said.

“Monkeys are slowly occupying Bag-e-Bahu garden forcing visitors to skip their visit to the garden. Encroachment of natural habitat by people and building of the national highway close to the area is responsible for the simians entering residential areas,” he said.

Situated on the banks of the Tawi, the garden has a beautiful landscape. The terraced garden developed around the ancient Bahu Fort attracts large number of tourists every day.

Monkeys attack visitors carrying eatables at the garden. The monkeys have taken over the play area meant for children and can even be seen enjoying slides.

In the absence of any watch and ward staff, some people dump leftover snacks at the garden instead of throwing them in refuse collectors.

Jammu, February 14
On the recommendation of an inquiry committee constituted to assess the reasons for failure of the 132-KV transmission towers in Poonch and Rajouri, the government today placed the in-charge Chief Engineer P&MM, Mohammad Qasim and several other officials under suspension.

The suspended officials include DPS Bali, AEE, PDC, Executive Engineer, RGGVY, Rajouri Poonch, Nisar Hussain, AEE, Commercial Division, Jammu (C&S Wing), Rajiv Chopra, JE Store, AE, EM&RE, Division 2, Jammu, Summit Puri JE, Electric Central Stores, Jammu, Barkat Hussain JE, TLCD-1 Jammu and Murir Hussain AEE, EM&RE Division Batote sub-division Jammu.

It may be mentioned here that the committee was constituted in view of the recent power crisis in Rajouri and Poonch due to failure of the 132 transmission towers. Minister of State for Power Vikar Rassol had also assessed the damage on the directions of the Chief Minister.

Jammu, February 14
Terming polythene bags as a threat to the environment, Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora today appealed to the people not to use polythene as an essential commodity for shopping and daily convenience.

“Massive and blind usage of plastic bags and their casual disposal, both by consumers and through waste management activities, not only create environmental problems but also reinforce the perception of a wasteful society,” he said.

Jora said, “All the grocery stores use plastic bags in huge quantity everyday as a tool to keep things easy to carry, but after convenience, the bags are thrown away and they just add to the existing huge stockpile of plastic garbage.”

He sought operation from the locals, especially shopkeepers to refrain to sell and use plastic bags in the city.

Jora said since plastic bags were non-biodegradable, the heavy reliance on disposable plastic bags in today’s world raised questions of resource consumption and resource efficiency.

He said if the people of Jammu want to keep their city neat and clean then they should stick to the prohibition of using polythene bags as they were not only a threat to the environment but also a cause of water-logging chocking of drains and sewerage pipes creating unhygienic conditions due to overflowing of dirty water. Jora said no person, including shopkeepers, venders, whole-sellers, retailers would be allowed to sell or store plastic bags for supply to any group. 

Jammu, February 14
The state government has released Rs 10 lakh for civic works in Sanjay Nagar area of city. The money will be spent on renovation of lanes and drains, which have been damaged.

Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla today asked the officers of the Public Health Engineering, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Power Development Department, Roads and Buildings to assess the development-related issues of the people and project the same for early redressal.

He said the state government had taken several innovative measures for raising the living standard of the people, including those residing in peripheral areas of the urban centres. He said fulfilling of people’s aspirations and developmental needs was the top agenda of the government. He assured the people that all their genuine demands and development needs would be fulfilled in a stipulated time frame.

The minister asked the executing agency to complete the work within stipulated time frame by fixing paver tiles and grating facilities over surface drain. He asked the accompanied JMC officers to prepare the estimates for left out lanes and drains of the locality and submit the same for funding.

Later, the minister visited Mathwar in Nagrota constituency and conducted public grievances camp to assess people’s hardships.

Jammu, February 14
Deadlock between the Jammu University administration and the striking non-gazetted employees continued on the 11th day today. The striking university employees have threatened to suspend work during the upcoming examinations if the varsity failed to fulfil their demands.

Over 700 striking employees have also warned they would go on an indefinite strike and would lock kitchens in all hostels if the university authorities continue with their “dilly dallying” approach on their demands.

Professor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Jammu University, said the varsity authorities cannot regularise all employees in one go. He accused his predecessors for “playing havoc with causal workers” in the varsity.

“We have constituted a committee to hold dialogue with the employees. So far, no breakthrough has been achieved. The employees want that all casual workers should be regularised. It is not possible because we do not have financial autonomy,” the V-C said.

He said though the committee had conveyed the striking employees that their issues had already been discussed in the University Council, yet the employees did not end their strike.

“We have only 70 to 80 posts against 705 such employees and most of them were absorbed without completing legal formalities. Their future was thus jeopardised. It is a big issue and it is to be resolved in due course of time,” Prof Ishar said.

The employees had been demanding removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of casual workers.

Krishan Chander, president, Non-gazetted Employees Association, said they would continue their agitation till the university administration does not concede to their demands. “We have already given enough time to the varsity administration but it lacks sincerity in fulfilling our demands,” Chander said.

He said 85 Class IV posts were laying vacant in the varsity and there would be no additional financial implication to fill them.

“The university should consider all those casual workers who have completed seven years of service for regularisation. “So far, the employees are on a token strike and return to their work after 1pm. We are planning to go on complete and indefinite strike if the varsity does not fulfil our demands in next couple of days,” he said.

He also threatened to suspend their services during the upcoming examinations for various courses.

Meanwhile, the employees continued their strike on the 11th consecutive day. They also took out a protest march on the campus and raised slogans against the authorities.

Jammu, February 14
The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages has announced the state photography awards.

The awards instituted in 2008 are conferred in three categories carrying a cash prize of Rs 15,000, 10,000, and 7,000 for Ist, IInd and IIIrd position, respectively. Apart from the three awards, four consolation prizes of Rs 1,000 each are also given annually to the winners.

While making the announcement, Academy secretary Khalid Bashir Ahmad said as many as 89 entries were received by the Academy for the competition. Of these, he informed, the adjudicating committee selected 67 entries for the competition.

Disclosing the winners, Khalid said the first, second and third prize had been bagged respectively by Puja for her photo titled Purity, Channi Anand for his picture ‘In an Animal Conflict’ and Abrar Ali Wani for his image ‘Devotion’.

The names of the consolation prize winners were also disclosed. The winners include Maqsood Bhat, Mir Sarwar, Mushtaq Assad and Parveen Kumar. All the four would get an equal amount of Rs 1,000 as the prize money.

The secretary academy said photo entries for the fourth edition of the competition were placed before an adjudicating committee which selected the eligible photos for the competition and on final evaluation the winners were chosen. He said the award winners would be given the prizes at a function to be held shortly.

Jammu, February 14
Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani, today reviewed work on the reconstruction and expansion of the historic Jamia Masjid at Talab Khatikan. He also reviewed the rehabilitation plan for the shopkeepers affected due to the project.

During the site inspection, the minister reviewed the construction plan for the mosque with the district administration officials in the presence of the management committee members and discussed issues of rehabilitation of the affected shopkeepers. Laying emphasis on early and suitable rehabilitation of the shopkeepers, the minister stressed on speeding up work on the road-widening project especially from Rajendra Bazar to the mosque. —TNS

Jammu, February 14
Reports of yet another hike in prices of petrol by the Central Government has gone almost unnoticed among the people as price revision has now become order of the day. People say they are not surprised or concerned now by these announcements, as for politicians welfare of masses is of least concern.

There have been news in air that the Union government may raise the prices of petrol by about Re 1 a litre and of diesel by 50 paise a litre by this weekend after the oil companies were given freedom to adjust rates as per the international level.

Sources said the oil firms might decide not to pass on the entire loss on petrol in one go and the likely increase could range anywhere between 50 paise to Re 1. Diesel rates in all probability were likely to be hiked by 40 to 50 paise a litre.

Earlier, the announcements over fuel hike did not go well with city residents but now they seem least bothered by all these things, saying that it has become a part of their lives.

“It is direct attack on the pocket of a common man. It has become difficult to meet both ends and the government is literally insensitive towards the miseries of poor and middle class families. So we are also insensitive now. In all this, the common man can’t do anything and they feel that they have become mere spectators to corruption and wastage of public money by the government at central and state level,” said Bharat Bambroo, an employee.

“Already, everything is so expensive. Hike in petrol prices has only added to our sorrows. My household budget is going to go completely awry now. The decision of state government to hike the passenger fare by 14.4 per cent had evoked strong reaction from students, women and private as well as government employees, who accused the administration of succumbing to pressure tactics of private transporters, but there could be further hike in transport charges as oil companies have been allowed to review prices,” said Raghunath Singh, retired government employee.

“Whenever the government hikes the prices of petroleum products, the private transporters start making hue and cry. The rates of petrol and diesel were slashed by the government recently but have the transporters reduced their fare?”, said Sham Sood, a trader.

It is direct attack on the pocket of a common man. It has become difficult to meet both ends and the government is literally insensitive towards the miseries of poor and middle class families. So we are also insensitive now. In all this, the common man can’t do anything and they feel that they have become mere spectators to corruption and wastage of public money by the government at central and state level ~

— Bharat Bambroo, an employee

Hike in petrol prices has only added to our sorrows. My household budget is going to go completely awry now. The decision of government to hike the passenger fare by 14.4 per cent had evoked strong reaction from students, women and private as well as government employees, who accused the administration of succumbing to pressure tactics of private transporters, but there could be further hike in transport charges as oil companies have been allowed to review prices~

— Raghunath Singh, retired government employee

Batote, February 14
In a swift swoop, a 17-member joint team of the Forest Protection Force (FPF) and Forest Division, Batote, led by Jarnail Singh Billowria, deputy director, J-9, Gama Unit, FPF, Batote, demolished a mud house illegally constructed inside the forest (Compartment 16) at Dedni village of Humbal panchayat of Marmat block in Doda yesterday.

The team included the FPF, inspectors HK Sharma and SK Anthal, besides forestor Devraj, numberdar Bodhraj Manhas and forest guards.

Ignoring all warnings, Ishtiaq Ahmed had allegedly constructed a house inside the forest during the recent winters. When on the polite request of the FPF officers and numberdar Bodhraj, the inmates came out of the illegally constructed house, the team members safely took out their all belongings and cautiously demolished the house.

Later, the timber used in the construction of the house was seized and handed over to the forester for confiscation. Further action would be taken by BA Shah, DFO, Batote.

“It was an unprecedented move, especially when the militancy had erupted. Nobody could move in this highly militancy and wild animals infested area dotted with lofty perennial snow-clad peaks having dense forests,” said Nazir Ahmed Mir, president, Sarpanches Association of Doda district. “This stringent action would certainly send a warning signal and deterrence for other forest encroachers,” he added. — OC

Jammu, February 14
Minister for Youth Services and Sports Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said he was keen on development of sports infrastructure in the state for which the state government would seek all possible help from the Centre.

Interacting with mediapersons in connection with the upcoming Jammu Marathon event on 
February 17, the minister said a large number of people, including some celebrities were expected to join the race, which would be flagged off from the MA Stadium and pass through BC Road, Amphalla, Kachi Chawni, Parade, Shalimar, Gumat and will finally culminate back at the stadium.

Taj said the race had been dedicated to the dignity and pride of Indian women. He said the aim of the race was to motivate general public on the issue and sensitise them accordingly. He said the first three runners would be awarded prizes of Rs 21,000, 11,000 and Rs 5,100, respectively.

He said soon after he took over as the minister incharge, he had directed that every middle and high school in the state should have playing teams in at least three disciplines of cricket, football and hockey. He said the state had ample human resource in sports but the infrastructure needed to match with it.

He said an astro turf would be laid in Srinagar for which the tendering process had almost been completed while as an indoor sports complex was being developed at Jammu.

Jammu, February 14
A five-day workshop on ‘Broadcasting Skills’ was inaugurated at Government College for Women, Parade Ground, Jammu here today.

The workshop is being organised by the college in collaboration with the Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu, with the objective to reach out to the youth and enhance their employability skills and develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the basic skills, concept and necessary techniques in radio broadcasting.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Poonam Dhawan, director, Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu. Principal of the college Prof Hemla Aggarwal, Prof Shashi Kaul, Head of Department, PG Home Science, who is also the director, Center for Women Studies, GDC Parade, Prof Nidhi Kotwal, Dr KC Dubey, former Director, Radio Kashmir, Jammu and Prof Rita Jitendra, eminent broadcaster were the special guests at the inaugural function.

Dr Kavita Suri, assistant director DLL, Ravi Kant Sharma, Radio Kashmir Jammu, Dr Bharti Prabhakar, Prof Jasmeet Kaur and many others were also present at the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dhawan underlined the need and importance of such activities and stressed to organise such events in near future which would go a long way in the overall personality development of the students. She expressed her thanks to the College principal Prof Aggarwal for organising this innovative event for students.

Rajouri, February 14
The communication and capacity development unit in association with WEMTEP organised one-day camp for free water testing at Dak Banglow, Rajouri.

The programme aimed to inform people about contamination of drinking water and its ill effects on health.

Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Saugat Biswas, inaugurated the workshop.

He said prevention of water pollution and control measures were critical to improve the quality of water. He said such workshops played an important role to educate people about water pollution. Drinking contaminated water leads to several water-borne diseases, he said. He highlighted the need to keep water bodies neat and clean and also take measures to conserve them for the future generations.

Earlier, Dr Zulifiqar Andrabi, coordinator and Suhail Rehman, project coordinator, said such workshops were organised every year to provide information to people about safe drinking water.— OC

Jammu, February 14
Hotel Asia, Jammu, is organising ‘Kebab Food Festival’ from February 15, that will be showcasing the best cuisines of middle East and central Asia.

Kebab is wide variety of skewered meals originating in many parts of Asia.

General Manager of Asia Hotel, DN Chauhan said the ten-day food festival offers welcome drink, various types of vegetarian, non-vegetarian kebabs and other cuisines.

Jammu, February 14
Participating in the first-ever T-20 tournament, Shahid Cricket Club (SCC), Ghat, today lifted the decades-old Champions Trophy, being played at the Bidden cricket ground at Ghat, five kilometers from district headquarters, Doda.

SCC beat Friends Cricket Club, Ghat, by 69 runs and lifted the Champions Trophy. Tahir Ashraf and Sajid Tanray played important role to secure the 69 runs win over FCC, whereas Amir Tantray and Zahid Wani played supporting role.

Batting first after winning toss, SCC openers Amir Tantray and Junaid Wani gave firm start to SCC and first wicket fell on the score of 50 when Amir Tantray departed on the individual score of 31.

On number three, Tahir Ashraf joined Junaid Wani and took the charge straight away. When Junaid Wani departed, SCC lost another wicket in the shape of Waseem Raja but Majid Wani then joined Tahir and took the score to 180 and departed. Tahir Ashraf scored 102 runs and remained not out and took the total score of SCC to 206.

When FCC started their innings, they were never comfortable on the pitch and lost wickets on regular intervals in which Zahid Wani gave them early dents followed by Sajid Tantray, who took five wickets and sealed the win for SCC.

Throughout the tournament, Waseem Raja and Tahir Ashraf remained best batsman and Mushtaq Wani and Sajid Tantray were two best bowlers of the Champions Trophy.

During the presentation ceremony, Tahir Ashraf was declared man of the match and series whereas Waseem was declared best batsman. Sajid and Mushtaq were adjudged best two bowlers of the Champions Trophy.

District development commissioner, Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan distributed prizes among the winning team and runners-up.

SCC manager Majid Shinali and treasurer Suhail Wani congratulated the team for the win.

Speaking on the occasion, DDC, Doda, applauded the play of SCC and even provided a cash prize for the winning team. Khan said he would try his best to promote the sports in the district and has asked the Minister for Planning Ajay Sadhotra to provide financial support for uplifting sports activities in the district.