Jammu, February 22
With several urban development projects in Jammu and Srinagar far from the finishing line and the state facing the wrath of the Planning Commission of India (PCI), the government has decided to hire private consultants to achieve targets.

Sources said lack of coordination among departments and the executing agencies was the main reason behind the slow pace of work. Delay in projects had also added to the cost of the projects under the centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) programme for the state.

The Centre has sanctioned 108 projects with total sanction of Rs 1,312 crore but only Rs 548 crore have been used by the state. These schemes were extended in 2007-08 for upgrade and improvement of Jammu and Srinagar and 22 towns of the state besides other urban development programmes.

Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora, who recently reviewed the work of different projects, said the officers must be accountable.

“No excuses will be accepted in taking forward the projects and monitoring process and private consultants will be hired for better coordination between agencies,” Jora said.

Despite crores of rupees released by the Centre, the agencies have not taken up many projects because the old ones are far from completion and the grants meant for them have not been used.

“Centre and the PCI is unhappy with the state for slow process to initiate urban reforms, which has led to blockage of nearly 600 crore,” said an official.

Further the release of Rs 600 crore grant has been stopped by the Centre as the state has failed to introduce reforms which include taking major initiative on the Rent Control Reforms, rationalisation of stamp duty to less than five per cent, property title certification and computerised process of registration of land and property.

Katra, February 22
A Vaishno Devi pilgrim died of a heart attack on way to the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine in Reasi district.

Jai Suresh of Hyderabad was on his way to the cave shrine situated in the Trikuta hills when he suffered a cardiac arrest at Bhawan and was taken to the hospital today, police official said. He died today.

The body was handed over to the family. —OC

Jammu, February 22
Unregistered tractor trolleys have become a major threat in city. Most of them ply without any registration number plates and do not follow safety norms. In the absence of checks the menace continues.

According to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, tractors can be used for agriculture purposes only; but a number of them are used for commercial purposes instead.

These vehicles not only flout the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act but also pose serious threat to human lives. Sources said tractors don't have good brakes and these cannot be stopped at once and a number of persons have lost their lives in accidents caused involving tractor-trolleys.

Nearly 3,000 persons lost their lives in accidents in the state over past three years with Jammu and Srinagar leading the list.

On an average, traffic police has fined 31,000 vehicles per month in Jammu and Kashmir for violation of traffic rules. As per data, till October last year, 3,09,139 vehicles were challaned in the state and a fine of Rs 88 lakh was imposed on the violators.

Jammu, February 22
A young Urdu poet from Poonch, Dr Liaqat Jafri, Assistant Professor at MAM College, Jammu, has written the lyrics for the theme song of Ram Gopal Varma’s Hindi film ‘The Attacks of 26/11’, based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks to be released on March 1. The song ‘Abhi tak taaj pe baithey kabootar sochtey hongay.

"I had uploaded my poem 'Taaj' on the Youtube with audio-visual clippings of the 26/11 attacks, which Varma and music director Vishal Khosla saw and emailed me to contribute my lyrics for their film -'The Attacks of 26/11- and I agreed,” Jafri said. —OC

Katra, February 22
High alert has been sounded across Trikuta hills today, especially at the base camp Katra, in the wake of Hyderabad blasts. Security across the Trikuta hills has been intensified and additional deployment of the police and the paramilitary personnel has been made, especially in the crowded and sensitive areas, immediately after the Hyderabad blasts.

“A high alert has been sounded as a precautionary measure," a senior police official said. "All police stations have been alerted and security has been beefed up across the region. We don't want to take any chance following the powerful blasts in Hyderabad," he said. Sources said all the Sub Divisional Police officers have been asked to supervise the security apparatus and ensure that the night patrolling is intensified in their jurisdictions.

The officers have been directed to intensify checking at important public places, including the railway station, bus stand and prominent markets. "Special directive has been issued to beef up security at religious places near Katra. We have made all possible efforts to ensure security arrangements. Police officers have been asked to check all vehicles during patrolling on the highway," he added. —OC

Batote, February 22
Ramban MLA Ashok Kumar today commissioned 25 KVA transformers under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGY), at four remote and backward villages of Ramban in Doda.

In the first leg of his three-day tour of six panchayats in the area, Ashok was accompanied by the in-charge Block President, Congress of Dessa and Kastigarh Blocks, Abdul Gani Bhat, Sarpanch, Upper Munddhar. He commissioned a 25 KVA transformer each at Draman, Julhant, Seena and Gurmul of Kastigarh, Lower Munddhar, Upper Muddhar and Dhandal panchayats, respectively. Residents of Julhant, Seena and Gurmul villages had their houses illuminated with electricity for the first time in their lives. These villages have been provided electricity supply under the Centre’s RGGY programme at the cost of Rs 10 lakh each, including the cost of transformers, poles, wires etc. Ashok thanked former CM and Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad for getting the project sanctioned.

Jammu, February 22
Following reports of yellow rust appearing on the wheat crop in several villages in Jammu, scientists of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences (SKUAST), Jammu, have begun a field survey to identify the damage. The team found no threat of yellow rust in the areas surveyed today. A team of scientists led by Dr Rajinder Peshin visited Kotli Bhagwan Singh village in the Bishnah block under the fortnightly village visit programme to take stock of the situation and to help the farmers.

Prof JS Soodan, Head Veterinary Clinics, conducted off campus animal diagnostic camp in the village. Dr Lekh Chand, Dr Sachin Gupta and Dr Kuldeep Srivastava told farmers about plant diseases, insect pests and physiological disorders.

The farmers said the problem of yellow rust had damaged wheat crops in 2011 and 2012.

After crop diagnosis the scientist told the farmers about the difference between symptoms of yellow rust and foliar blight.

The scientists said no symptoms of yellow rust were observed in the area. Other members of the team were Dr Manoj Kumar, Arti Sharma, Hemant Dadich and AP Rai.

Agriculture Department officers Darmesh Vaid and Om Singh interacted with the farmers of the area. The village visit is an initiative of the SKUAST to guide the farmers at their doorstep.

Yellow rust is a fungal disease that attacks leaves of the wheat crop by forming yellow stripes and affects their photosynthesis activity, causing shrivelling of grain size (small size of the grain).

Agricultural experts said the disease usually occurs early in the growth season, when the temperature ranges between two degrees to 15 degree Celsius. Few days back the disease was detected in Kathua and Samba areas sending alarm bells among officials of the Agriculture Department.

Tourists at snow-covered locales of Patnitop. A Tribune photograph

Future perfect

Despite infrastructural shortcomings, picturesque Patnitop and its surrounding area is fast becoming a major attraction for visitors from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country

Jammu, February 22
The Tourism Department would organise International Rafting Championship at Pul Doda from February 24. This was stated by Minister for Tourism, GA Mir during the valedictory function of Winter Carnival, organised by the State Tourism Department in collaboration with Patnitop Development Authority (PDA), at Patnitop.

“The adventure pilgrims and sports tourism are the focus area of the government and have tremendous scope in the state”, Mir said. He added that the government was committed to develop tourist potential areas in Jammu region by creating necessary infrastructure, so that tourists visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine could be diverted to these natural spots to boost tourism in the region.

“Sudhmahadev and other famous pilgrim destinations of Jammu division are being popularised to boost pilgrim tourism”, Mir said. He also released a book titled ‘Map, My India, Jammu and Kashmir’ containing the detailed information about pilgrim destinations, heritage sites, monuments, state road networks, hotels and restaurants, monasteries, detailed maps of Jammu and Kashmir’s most popular trips, treks and tourists circuits.

A cultural programme, in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages depicting the rich cultural ethos of the state, was also presented on the occasion.

MLA Chenani, Krishan Bhagat, District Development Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Director Tourism, Robin Singh Mehta, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramban, Anil Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Surat Singh, Additional SP, Udhampur, Benam Tosh, officers of various departments, local people and tourists were present on the occasion.

Jammu, February 22
The newly elected team of office-bearers was formally handed over the charge of the Bar Association of Jammu in a ‘Handing over-taking over’ ceremony, organised in the conference hall of the District Courts Complex, Jammu.

This was for the first time in the history of the association that the ceremony was attended by General House, comprising of majority of the members of the association, in a jam-packed conference hall.

The function began with a thanks giving to the members of the election-committee, comprising advocates Jaspinder Singh, Minu Koul, SK Shukla, JP Gandhi, CS Gupta, Ravinder Sharma and CM Sharma. The committee members were presented mementoes in recognition of their efforts in successfully conducting the elections.

Jammu, February 22
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today said there was a dire need to improve the working of Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the state as they had a pivotal role in promoting the latest agricultural techniques in the farming sector. Mir said this at a meeting convened to review the progress of land acquisition for KVK Samba and Ramban.

Minister of State for Revenue and Rehabilitation, Aijaz Ahmed Khan was also present in the meeting.

The Ministers stressed upon better coordination between farmers and scientists so that the objective of setting up KVKs at district levels across the state could bear fruits.

They called for dividing agriculture areas into zones to help the scientists conduct area-specific research, a step imperative for the promotion of profitable agriculture activities in particular areas.

Jammu, February 22
Addressing a function to mark the World Sisterhood Day, also celebrated as thinkers’ day, Minister for Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, said the scout movement had played a pioneering role in inculcating values of discipline, patriotism and nationalism among students in general and scouts and girl guides in particular.

He highlighted the role of scout movement in shaping the younger generation to face challenges of life.

Taj also asked students to join the scouts movement and polish their innate capabilities.

He said the strict regime of the movement breeds in self confidence and discipline among students from a young age.

Earlier, in his address, President, J&K Chapter of Bharat Scouts & Guides and former Minister, RS Chib, gave an overview of the activities of the organisation.

Rajouri, February 22
District units of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists yesterday burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Rajouri, after the detention of VHP leader Praveen Togadia was detained by the police at the Jammu airport and sent back by the authorities, fearing law and order disturbance.

Bajrang Dal district president Karan Thakur slammed the coalition government led by Abdullah, for taking the decision of detaining Togadia, not allowing him to attend an annual function and sending him back.

Bajrang Dal and VHP leaders also raised slogans against the government and their policies.

Jammu, February 22
The members of law-knowing community constituted Law-Knowing People's Association here today.

An effort by some young advocates, the community convinced more than 200 advocates and 40 non-advocates to enrol as volunteers. All the volunteers and the attending community members unanimously elected advocate Arjun Singh Pathania as the convener.

The association did not select a president, chairman or a general secretary. Only a convener and four executive members were appointed.

Amit Manhas, Aman Mahajan, Aditya Badyal, GS Thakur, Sumit Kotwal, Ronik Sharma, Gagandeep Sharma, Sahil Kumar and Pawan Sharma were chosen as the executive members of the association.

The organisation would play a key role in the future and would fight against each and every injustice in the society. It would secure justice to all and fight for those who had no access to expensive legal facilities. Those who addressed the gathering include Advocate Tanzeel, Amit Rasotra, Anil Sharma, Sarfaraz, Arvind Jalmeria, Bamun Singh, Gagandeep Sharma, Jagjyot Singh, Bindusar Abrol, Tarun Sharma, Sukhvinder Singh, GS Tara, Sunil Sharma, Varun Dev Singh, Ajit Kumar, Ramkrishan Thakur and Jyotsana Badyal.

Jammu, February 22
Hosts University of Jammu (JU) toppled SG Baba Amravati University by 10-3 goals with utmost ease to seal a berth in the semifinals of the ongoing All-India Inter-University Korfball Championship, being played on the university campus here.

Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritstar and Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh also advanced into the last stage of the tournament. In the second quarterfinal, MDU had the last laugh against Punjabi University, Patiala by 4-2 goals.

GNDU edged out Osmania University by 11-2 goals with consummate ease while PU defeated Delhi University (DU) by 14-7 goals. All the matches were officiated by Tarandeep Singh, Deepak Dutta, Amit, Ashok, Gagandeep Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Amandeep Singh, VP Sharma and Irfan Chowdhary.

Jai Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary to Vice-Chancellor, was the chief guest during the match played between MDU and Punjabi University, Patiala.

Prof Dhian S Bhau, Director of Sports and Physical Education, Manjeet Singh, General Secretary, Korfball Federation of India, Ram Kumar, Treasurer, J&K Korfball Association, Dr Brij Baloria, Romesh Sharma, Romesh Magotra, Jai Bharat, Sanjeev Jamwal, Nisha Kumar and Raj Kumar Bakshi were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, February 22
Parvez Rasool’s all-round efforts went in vain as Jammu and Kashmir suffered a defeat against Haryana by 40 runs, in their final North-Zone league in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium.

Rasool managed to grab three wickets by conceding 48 runs in his 12 overs and then struck a defiant 62-ball 47 while chasing a target of 231 runs.

Apart from Rasool, opener Ahmed Bandy also batted well by contributing 70-ball 53 but the team was bowled out for 190 runs in 45.3 overs. Rasool’s knock contained four hits to the fence while Bandy pierced seven boundaries and a six. Paras Sharma also chipped in with 43-ball 29 runs with three delectable boundaries.

For Haryana, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sonu Rathee shared three wickets apiece while Amit Mishra and Ashish Hooda chipped in with two strikes each. Earlier, electing to bat, Haryana team was tottering at 102 for the loss of seven wickets but Rahul Dalal (56) and Harshal Patel (69 not out) rescued the team. Apart from Rasool, Manik Gupta snared two wickets by giving away 33 runs.