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Encroachments stifle Sidhra
Sports take a backseat at Parade stadium
Landslide-hit families get relief of Rs 5,000 each
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JMC seeks shopkeepers’ help to curb
Budget tourism-friendly, says hotels association
Six children among 8 hurt as school bus rolls down a gorge
ETT colleges’ strike enters fourth day
Rain wreaks havoc on NH
Varsity restricts entry of outsiders on campus
School Games Fund: Educational institutions resent relaxation to erring schools
VAT on tobacco: Health body hails govt’s decision
Literary festival inaugurated at SMVDU
Culture academy organises multi-lingual mushaira
Welfare board celebrates Women’s Day
PDC (B), Sher-e-Punjab enter quarterfinals
Fish farmers to get scientific training
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Encroachments stifle Sidhra
Jammu, March 7 The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) had recently demolished several structures which were illegally raised on the state land in Sidhra. The area had also witnessed violent protests during the anti-encroachment drive with occupants clashing with the police and the JDA officials. The Sidhra area falls within the city municipal limits. “In the Sidhra area, the title of encroached land is not clear and it needs to be ascertained after Nishandhi (demarcation). Accordingly, the matter has been taken up by the Forest Department with the revenue authorities. The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu has constituted a committee in this regard, which is yet to give its report,” Minister for Forest Mian Altaf Ahmad said in response to a question raised by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool on behalf of Vijay Bakaya in the Legislative Council here today. The minister said 623 kanals and 10 marlas of forest land was ordered to be transferred to the JDA for the construction of New Jammu Township but the possession of the land was yet to be given to the JDA. “Out of the total area, 517 kanals and 10 marlas stand handed over to the JDA on record and the remaining 100 kanals were ordered to be left for Social Forest Nursery and Rest House, while six kanals for the construction of Public Service Commission’s office,” Altaf added. He said the JDA had paid an amount of Rs 11.34 crore against a total amount of Rs 16.21 crore on account of cost of land, compensatory afforestation and social forestry plantation. Altaf also said the government had agreed to pay compensation to the five families whose houses were demolished during the recent anti-encroachment drive launched by the JDA. “There were five families who had been staying there since the past 7-8 years. We have assured them that they would be compensated,” he said, adding the people from Doda and Kishtwar districts occupied the state land illegally in the Sidhra area following rumours that the land was available to them in the
area Illegal structures The Jammu Development Authority had recently demolished several structures which were illegally raised on the state land in Sidhra The area had also witnessed protests during the anti-encroachment drive with occupants clashing with the police and the JDA officials 623 kanals and 10 marlas of the forest land was ordered to be transferred to the JDA for the construction of New Jammu Township but it has not been transferred as yet |
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Sports take a backseat at Parade stadium
Jammu, March 7
As hundreds of security personnel are guarding and providing escort to bureaucrats, MLAs and ministers working in the Civil Secretariat because of the ongoing Legislative Assembly proceedings, there are huge number of vehicles which need parking space. As the area around secretariat is devoid of any open space, the security agencies have almost laid a siege on the stadium. “Since the Legislative Assembly session has started, hundreds of police vehicles, mainly escort Gypsies, have occupied the stadium, leaving a little space for the youth to use the space for playing”, said Sham Lal Gupta, a local resident. It has been ages since the successive governments in the state had been using sports stadia as the main venues for the Republic Day parades or Independence Day celebrations, making the sports facilities out of bounds for players. “We have not been able to produce players of international repute and these are some of the reasons for that. Our playing fields are treated as dumping sites. Many a times the stadia and other sports arenas are also handed over to spiritual leaders, which also hampers sports activities in the state”, said another resident, Anil Sharma. Even the condition of public parks is not good as most of them remain occupied by security forces for guarding high-profile individuals. Most of the parks have been taken over by the men in khaki, who guard the politicians, bureaucrats and senior officials of different departments residing in different areas of the city and its outskirts. By taking a tour of various localities, one can see encroachment on public places and parks. Despite many complaints from the people, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears and no efforts have been made to clear the encroached parks.
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Landslide-hit families get relief of Rs 5,000 each
Batote, March 7 Meanwhile, another vacant house of Mohammad Ayub, which had developed cracks, crumbled today. The people of the area are still in panic as villagers apprehend a threat to their properties if there is rain in the coming days. “Besides giving the relief to the five families, including to those whose house collapsed today, we
have started processing their cases for due compensation under the National Calamity Relief Fund (NCRF) in addition to providing a tent to each of these families soon,” said Bhat. As many as 26 houses had developed cracks due to the landslide. Eighteen of these houses were badly damaged, rendering 18 families comprising 124 members shelterless. |
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JMC seeks shopkeepers’ help to curb
Jammu, March 7 A deputation of the Association led by its president Baldev Khullar called on the Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, KL Khajuria, and discussed matters relating to beautification project of the Raghunath Bazaar and other works to be undertaken by the JMC. The corporation also announced that a battery car would be deployed in the market on a trial basis to facilitate movement of elderly shoppers, particularly tourists, from one end of the bazaar to another. Raghunath market and surrounding bazaars are about 150 years old and were established around the famous Raghunath temple constructed by erstwhile Dogra rulers. Till the partition of the country, it was a major commercial hub of the state, with traders from as far as Lahore, Sialkot and Muzaraffrabad coming to the place. Baldev Khullar was accompanied by all office-bearers, executive members and some senior members of the association, while the JMC Health Officer Vinod Sharma, chief khalaf warzi officer Satish Khajuria and executive engineer of the JMC were also present in the meeting. Discussions were also held for upgrading historical Raghunath market viz Ashoka Market, Janta Market and New Market. “The commissioner also agreed to provide dustbins of approved design to be placed outside every shop in the bazaar for dumping garbage by the shopkeepers, which will be collected by safai karamcharis of the JMC”, Khullar said. Apart from this, two safai karamcharis will be deployed on a permanent basis for collecting garbage and upgrading toilet complex at Pratap Chowk.
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Budget tourism-friendly, says hotels association
Jammu, March 7 A meeting of the Jammu hoteliers association, under the chairmanship of its president Indeerjeet Khajuria, welcomed the reduction in VAT on food and snacks served in hotels, restaurants, dhabas and other eateries. Khajuria observed that since J&K is a tourist state, with all the three regions of the state having vast tourism potential and over 1.5 crore tourists and pilgrims visiting the state annually, the incentives provided to the hospitality sector would go a long way in further promoting tourism and pilgrimage in the state. The association thanked the Finance Minister for announcing steps to make Jammu as independent tourist destination. This has been a long-pending demand of the association, which has been demanding early execution of tourism-related projects in and around Jammu city to offset the likely loss of business in the city after a direct train service starts operating to Katra. The AJHLA also appreciated the announcements of Rather for early completion of projects in and around Jammu, such as lake in the Tawi, facelift of Tawi banks, upgrade and beautification of Raghunath Bazaar, promotion of border tourism at Suchet Garh and Chamlyal and development of tourist spots in Akhnoor and cable car from Mubarak Mandi to Bahu Fort.
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Six children among 8 hurt as school bus rolls down a gorge
Rajouri, March 7 Reports said the ill-fated bus bearing registration number JK11-2617 of Dream Land Public School, Rajouri, was on its way from Muradpur to Rajouri when it rolled down into a deep gorge around 4 pm. Reports said the accident happened when the driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle, injuring eight persons. Soon after the accident, local residents and the police rushed to the spot and shifted all the injured to the district hospital at Rajouri. Those who received injuries were identified as Shiwali Sharma, daughter of Om Prakash, Joshi, Rakesh, Danish, Rashi, Pradeep Singh, Harmeet Kaur. One of the injured, Kanta Devi, received serious injuries and her condition is stated to be critical. Reports said after the accident the driver escaped from the spot. The police has lodged an FIR under relevant sections in the police station concerned and started investigation.
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ETT colleges’ strike enters fourth day
Jammu, March 7 They also carried placards with slogans like “School Education Board ki khasta haali par ryasti hukmranun aur syasatdaanun ki khamoshi afsosnaak” and “Sanctity and reputation of state Board is under threat - Will the state government come out of its slumber” and “Chairman hatao, Board bachao” etc. Kuljeet Singh Jamwal, a local PDP leader, alleged that only corrupt officials had been posted at key posts of the administration, neglecting the miseries of innocent people. He alleged that the BOSE chairman was least bothered for the academic career of ETT students of neighbouring states. Dr Hari Dutt Shishu, one of the JAC members, accused the BOSE chairman for disturbing the peaceful agitation. Other JAC members, including Deep Singh and Rakesh Pant, also spoke on the occasion. However, the JAC had warned that if their demands were not conceded by the authorities within four days, they would march towards the state Assembly.
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Rain wreaks havoc on NH
Batote, March 7 At several places between Udhampur and Ramban, the soil under the NH-44 has caved in, thereby, sinking the road portions and creating either the cracks, sliding its portions below, or making the roadside tall pine trees fall on it. This has not only made the drive difficult but also made the road stretches accident prone. “The prolonged wetting of road surface either because of the incessant rainfall or due to the stagnation of water is always harmful to the road surface. Unlike previous year, because of the too many spells of rain , albeit, irregularly after short periods this winter not only the road surface got damaged but also the soil under the road caved in, thereby, leading to wide cracks on its surface,” said SK Meena, Commanding Officer, 52-RCC, GREF.
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Varsity restricts entry of outsiders on campus
Jammu, March 7 The official spokesperson said the driver would be asked to deposit the registration certificate or driver’s licence at the main gate of the university at the time of entry on the campus which would be returned to him on the exit of the vehicle. The staff members, research scholars and students, however, are authorised for entry along with their vehicles on production of the identity cards, the spokesperson said. The vehicle stickers would be issued to the staff members, research scholars and students to be used the same on vehicle. Students and scholars had recently protested the two incidents of assault on varsity scholars by outsiders and had demanded strict action against the culprits. They had also demanded that entry of outsiders should be restricted on the campus.
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School Games Fund: Educational institutions resent relaxation to erring schools
Jammu, March 7 Sources said the educational institutions have decided to apprise the DYSS authorities not to provide any relaxation to the erring institutions in the upcoming competitions, scheduled to start shortly. The Tribune had earlier reported that before the commencement of competitions in different disciplines, the Sports Department had issued circular wherein it was mentioned that students of the institutions, who had failed to deposit games fund, would not be allowed to compete. Sources said those educational institutions (especially private) which were regularly depositing games fund in the district pool had objected to the move of the department but they did not opposed it openly. “What is the logic to convene a meeting of the Zonal Physical Education Officers of all the zones by the DYSS, Jammu, to collect the School Games Fund from the institutions when the department has already allowed their students to participate in the events”, said one of the representatives of a private educational institution. “The officer had also instructed the officers to visit institutions personally to ask the managements for depositing the games fund. He had also asked them to make it clear to the erring institutions that their students would not be entertained at any cost but unfortunately that did not happen”, he claimed. “The department should take some concrete steps to ensure that all the educational institutions come forward to deposit their share of the games fund to pave a way for their students to participate in competitions at all levels. These institutions are earning so much but are hesitant to deposit their share of the games fund in the district pool. This can’t be accepted,” the sources said. Educational institutions of every district have to deposit 50 per cent of the School Games Fund in the district pool of their respective District Youth Services Offices for the purchase of sports material and uniforms for the students competing in the district and inter-district level competitions. As per available data for 2012-13, out of a total 2,511 institutions of Jammu district, including 1,528 government and 983 private, only 222 institutions have deposited the School Games Fund (SGF). Out of these 222 institutions, 150 are government while 72 are private.
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VAT on tobacco: Health body hails govt’s decision
Jammu, March 7 JKVHA executive director AM Mir, while briefing the mediapersons today, said the collective efforts of the civil society, NGOs and the general public had paid dividends. He said the JKVHA had been working for implementation for ban on gutka and implementation of the Tobacco Control Act for the past five years and had undertaken various awareness programmes for the masses about the hazards and ill-effects of tobacco products, including various rallies, seminars and workshops, in urban and rural areas. Mir said the organisation had earlier filed a PIL in the High Court seeking implementation of Section 4 and Section 6 (a) and (b) banning smoking in public places and sale of tobacco products to minors and around 100 yards of education institutions. He said the JKVHA had been working in close collaboration with the state government for reducing the consumption of tobacco, especially amongst the youth. |
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Literary festival inaugurated at SMVDU
Katra, March 7 The festival has been conceptualised with a vision to make it grow as the Jaipur Literary Festival. School director Dr Vandana Sharma said bibliophiles would interact with the students and talk about literature. Prominent Dogri writers from Jammu were invited to interact with the students. In the keynote address, writer OP Sharma Vidyarthi shared his journey with the students and dwelt upon various dogri writers and the richness of dogri literature. Prof VK Bhat, Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences inaugurated the festival and hoped that the festival would flourish and foster love of literature and writing among students. Registrar of the University Roop Avtar Kaur was also present on the occasion. Other events of the day were Prism: writer in scholar, read the excerpt and literary quiz. Students from the University of Jammu, Central University of Jammu and Degree College, Udhampur, participated in the event.
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Culture academy organises multi-lingual mushaira
Rajouri, March 7 Sarpanch of Palsi Hill village, Master Zuber Ahmed, was the chief guest on the occasion. He appreciated the cultural academy for organising such mushairas in the district. Among the others, who participated in the mushaira, were Yaseen Naz, Tariq Fahim, Shahbaz Wasim, Basarat Aizazi, Sadiqe Bejran, Sarvar Khayali, Irshad Ahamed, Zaffar Tanaha.
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Welfare board celebrates Women’s Day
Jammu, March 7 Chairperson Khem Lata Wakhloo was the chief guest, while around 1,200 women hailing from urban and rural areas of Jammu division attended the function. Prof Rita Jitendra anchored the programme while a group of students presented a scintillating cultural programme highlighting the issues of women folk and educating them about their rights and duties. Wakhloo stressed upon to respect and maintain the status of women at all costs and put in every effort to create a secure and safe atmosphere for her to play a pivotal role in transformation of society and eradication of social evils. — TNS |
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PDC (B), Sher-e-Punjab enter quarterfinals
Jammu, March 7 In the first match, PDC (B) overcame the challenge of the Churchill Brothers by a comfortable margin of 5-0. Amanjot Singh of PDC (B) opened the account in the 40th minute to give his team a decisive lead at the end of the first half. Churchill Brothers played with a different game plan in a bid to equalise the lead but PDC (B) forwards toyed with their tactics. Rahul Kumar of PDC (B) scored another goal in the 47th minute to make it 2-0. In the 55th minute, Davin struck to stretch the lead further while Sahil Dar scored another goal to push their rivals to their limits. In the second match, Sher-e-Punjab registered 7-0 win over Vijay Club with utmost ease. The first goal of the match was scored by Dilvar Singh in the 7th minute while Rakesh Kumar scored the second goal in the 9th minute to make it 2-0. Dilvar Singh again struck in the 25th minute to score his second and team’s third goal. Rakesh Kumar then scored three consecutive goals in the 47th, 54th and 57th minutes, respectively. Varinder Singh scored the seventh goal of the match to complete a facile win.
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Fish farmers to get scientific training
Katra, March 7 The tour was flagged off by Nabab Din, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR), Reasi. About 16 progressive fish farmers of Reasi district were selected under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme, ATMA. Farmers would be provided practical demonstration about scientific aspects of fish farming, including pond management, different methods involved to control diseases, besides water quality management, fish marketing and other aspects of fish culture at the Regional Fish Farmers Development Agency (RFFDA), Ghoumanhasan, Jammu. Fish farmers would also visit various places, including Fish Farm Doomi, Aquarium- cum-Awareness Centre Bag-e-Bahu, Fish Farm Nawabad, Marh, Vijaypur and Samba to learn more about composite fish culture. The ACR advised the farmers to avail maximum benefit from the visit which would prove noteworthy for boosting the fish production in the district as well as transformation of their socio-economic status.
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Sports activities have taken a backseat as the mini stadium at Parade has become out of bounds for sports lovers as the ground is being used for parking of government and escort vehicles of ministers and MLAs.
Rajouri, March 7
The extended season of rains and snow this winter has proved to be detrimental to the 300-km-long
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway—the lifeline of Kashmir— that has been its only link with the rest of the country so far, making it an accident-prone area, besides causing long traffic snarls on it.
To restrict the entry of outsiders on the campus, the University of Jammu yesterday said that no outside vehicle would be allowed to enter the University Campus without proper checking at the main gate on the premises.
The JK Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) and VHAI, New Delhi, have hailed the
decision of the state government to raise VAT on tobacco products from 30 per cent to 40 percent, besides banning gutka and pan
masala.
School of Languages and Literature, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, organised the Literature Festival in Jammu for the first time on the university campus.
PDC (B) and Sher-e-Punjab today defeated their respective opponents to cruise into the quarterfinals round of the ongoing 3rd Rajiv Gandhi Gold Cup Football Tournament being organised by the All J&K Indira Gandhi People’s Association in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association
(JKFA) and the J&K Sports Council at GGM Science College Football ground here.
