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Jammu losing its green cover
Tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar
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Varsity scholars upbeat over hike in monthly stipend
NMC urges centre, state govt to release DA
Mountaineering Assn to conduct practice camp
Contractual coaches, instructors await regularisation
Natrang presents ‘Miss World Undeclared’
PYC intensifies campaign against milk adulteration
Sewa Bharati distributes books among students
Four killed, two injured in accident
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Jammu losing its green cover
Jammu, April 14 Despite claims of effective measures taken by the government, destruction of forests continues on the outskirts of the city for the past two decades. The city has become a refuge for thousands of people escaping terrorism threat in their districts. Till 1990, most the present Sunjawan, Bhatindi, Sidhra, Roop Nagar, Bantalab, upper Janipur, Udeywala, Muthi, Patoli-Paloura areas touching Gandhi Nagar and Trikuta Nagar was a forested area and home to species of sparrows, parrots, rabbits and vultures. But now these species have almost disappeared from these areas. Several species of snakes that used to roam in the forests have either been killed or their habitat encroached by humans. Most of the residential colonies have come up in utter disregard to provisions of the Big Laned Estates (Abolition) Act/Agrarian Reforms Act in violation of the law that restricts the use of forest land for human settlement. The district is spread over an area of 3,097 sq km and forest area is 767 sq km. Out of this, only 1,063 hectares (1 per cent) forest land has been demarcated so far. “Jammu used to be a unique city as it was situated within forests and surrounded by several rakhs. It would make the environs cool during the summer months. Now, everything has changed as green patches have been destroyed”, said Bushan Parimoo, an environmentalist. Parimoo said a number of animal and bird species were visible around three decades ago but now they all have vanished. “Earlier, one could see neelgais and jackals roaming in Bahu Rakh, Ramnagar forests and Kot Bhalwal. They have all vanished now”, he said. As per government data, 9,469 hectares of forest land is under illegal possession of land mafia and some influential persons but no effort has been made to evict the encroachers. “Forest areas are very essential for cleaning and absorbing pollutants and if the forest cover is destroyed, it will affect the ecology. Already, some of the animal species are facing threat of extinction”, said Dr MK Khushu, senior weather scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Science and Technology
(SKUAST)-Jammu. Concrete jungle
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Tributes paid to Dr Ambedkar
Jammu, April 14 Members of the All J&K Shri Sad Guru Kabir Sabha paid tributes to the great leader and said Ambedkar was a great social reformer and leader of the depressed classes who worked to uplift them. The main function was organised at Kabir Temple, Janipur, where FC Bhagat, president of the sabha, Dr Gurdas Ram, chairman, Litigation Committee, Madan Lal, vice-president and Pardeep Bhagat, district president, Jammu, spoke on the occasion and paid tributes to Dr Ambedkar. The BJP also paid tributes to the great soul. A function was organised at the party headquarters. BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma remembered the contribution of the great leader. National Executive Member and Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria said Dr Ambedkar worked for the dalits and downtrodden as he was pained by their plight. He raised the same with strong will and succeeded in getting political reservation for them to improve their social and economic position. Katra: Dr BR Ambedkar’s birth anniversary was celebrated here on Sunday under the aegis of Ambedkar Memorial Trust at Mari village in Reasi. Tributes were paid at Ambedkar Bhawan by political leaders, prominent citizens and the people from all walks of life. The function was presided over by former minister and chairman of Ambedkar Memorial Trust, Mari. All speakers emphasised that Dr Ambedkar’s dreams should be translated into reality by working for socio-economic justice. Students of various schools also highlighted the achievements and teachings of Baba
Saheb Ambedkar during the function. |
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Varsity scholars upbeat over hike in monthly stipend
Jammu, April 14 The Governor is the Chancellor of Jammu University while Omar is the Pro-Chancellor of the university. Talking to mediapersons here, Rakesh Chib, president, JURSEA, hailed the Chief Minister for the decision and said the research scholars had been demanding for increase in monthly stipend since long. To date, the research scholars were getting a stipend of Rs 3,250, including Rs 750 from common pool of university fund. The University Council, in its recent meeting, has increased the stipend to Rs 5,000 (an increase of Rs 1,750 per month). Chib also thanked the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Vice-Chancellor for showing keen interest in solving the problems of students and scholars of the state. He demanded that instead of providing scholarships to a few selected scholars, they should grant scholarships to all research scholars, irrespective of their merit. He also demanded the creation of more posts for off site campuses of university and said preference should be given to the scholars of Jammu University. |
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Stray cattle dot city roads, JMC yet to wake up
Jammu, April 14 Commuters say many a times they have narrowly missed hitting these animals, which have become a major threat to moving cars, buses and trucks. There have been many incidents when animals as well as the people have received grievous injuries after hitting these stray animals. Despite becoming a major menace in the city, there are only two functional cattle ponds in the city and the proposal to set up a modern facility for the purpose in the Dili area on the outskirts of Jammu was shelved after local residents objected to the JMC’s move and non-availability of sufficient land at the site. The city has grown from an area of 30 km in 1980 to 112 km at present but it’s still surrounded by villages where rearing of animals for milk is still prevalent. Even parks dedicated to national leaders and heroes have become a resting place for stray animals in the absence of any long-term policy for their rehabilitation. Cattle take over parks
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Gujjars, Bakerwals begin seasonal migration
Jammu, April 14 In a press statement issued by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), an organisation working for the Gujjars, has impressed upon various organisations working for tribals in the state to mobilise resources for providing necessary logistics to migratory tribes. Javaid Rahi, secretary of the foundation, said the main migration routes, including Jamiya Gali, Gora Batta, Nanansar, Ropadi Dharhal Pass, Mughal Road and others, were badly damaged due to heavy snowfall last winter and were in need of urgent repairs. While interacting with migratory nomads, Rahi said the matter regarding restoration of all restricted pasture and dhoks located near the Indo-Pak border and in Ladakh areas of the state to Gujjar and Bakerwals was taken up with the Defence Ministry. “We have written a letter to Defence Minister AK Antony through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation and pleaded to revoke all orders restricting nomads to migrate seasonally in the state,” he said and added that they urged for free movement of all migratory communities to the areas “belonging to them since centuries”. “In view of firing on the Indo-Pak border and militancy, the armed forces in J&K had restricted the entry of Gujjars and Bakerwals in few dhoks and pastures located near border in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Kargil and Leh districts. All such orders need immediate revocation as the Gujjars and Bakerwals suffered a great loss to their lifestyle, economy and tribal culture,” he said quoting the TRCF’s letter. The letter further reads, “Since November 25, 2003, when ceasefire came into force between India and Pakistan, tension has reduced and now this is the right time to allow tribals to move freely in their
traditional areas located in Ladakh and on the international border.” “We have also sent a list of dhoks, pasture and areas restricted for nomads to the Defence Minister with a copy to Northern Command,” Rahi said. “Due to restrictions in tribal movement in several areas, the Gujjars and Bakerwals are facing adversities and lack economic freedom owing to deficiency of resources. They deserve special attention of the Central government,” the letter reads. |
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NMC urges centre, state govt to release DA
Jammu, April 14 NMC president Subash Shastri said the salaried class and pensioners were facing a lot of economic hardships due to the high inflation and price hike of the essential commodities. He added that early release of 8 per cent DA due from January last and merger of 50 per cent DA into basic pay and pension would be a genuine measure to provide financial relief to the salaried class and pensioners. Addressing a workers’ rally, Shastri urged the Central government to take decision in this regard during the next meeting of the Union Cabinet so that confusion and uncertainty among the employees and pensioners were removed. Referring to the genuine demands of daily wagers, casual labours and seasonal labours working in the various government departments, Shastri said wages should be increased up to Rs 10,000 per month, besides their regularisation in view of the cost of living index. He also demanded constitution of the 7th Pay Commission, granting 20 per cent interim relief, enhancement in medical allowance to one thousand per month, amendment in SRO 64, release of salary of motivators, issuance of regularisation orders of 180
daily wagers working in RDD and removal of all anomalies of SRO 93, particularly clerical cadre, besides declaring May Day as a gazetted holiday. Others who spoke on the occasion included Rajan Babu, Lal Sharma, Sunil Kochhar, Anil Singh Ram, Subash Sharma, Dalip Bhagat, Vijay Bhagat, Rakesh Padha, Sukhdev Singh, Karan Singh, Kamaljit, Kamal Kumar and Vijay Sharma. |
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Mountaineering Assn to conduct practice camp
Jammu, April 14 The participants were selected on the basis of their performance during coaching-cum-competitions conducted by the association for various schools to spot the talent at the grass-root level in the month of November and December, 2012. In order to promote sport climbing among girls and to strengthen the J&K state women’s team, the association has decided to include girls and women category (born in 1999 and earlier) also in the camp from today. Coaching to the women climbers will be imparted by Shivani Raj Kaith, a former national champion and a renowned sport climber of the state. Since the coaching camp is a promotional activity, participation fee would be charged. The climbers who had excelled during the previous camps will also be deputed for further coaching at International standard climbing walls at Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, the apex body for adventure sports in India. For free registration, interested persons may contact the office of Mountaineering Association of J&K at 75-76, Sarwal Colony, Jammu, on April 13 and 14, between 11 am to 3 pm. They can also contact the General Secretary of the association, Ram Khajuria on mobile number 94191-96378 for further details.
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Ill-equipped fire station fails to douse fire
Batote, April 14 But, had it been in a congested locality and the wind blowing fast, there would have been a colossal loss of lives and property, as yet again the firemen did not attend the 101 phone, their only 20-year-old fire tender (FT) took too long to start and on reaching the spot, it did not function immediately, had to go 5 km away at Chakwa to refill water after 15 minutes, consequently resulting in another big loss of property here. The Fire and Emergency Service Station (F&ESS), Batote, established in 1981, is situated in a ruinous and partially demolished building that housed a police station about a century ago. With only a single fire tender of 600 litre capacity and seven member staff, it caters to an area from the most vulnerable and famous tourist resorts, Patnitop and Sanasar (15 & 33 km) to Dhalwas (17 km) on the NH 44 and up to 10 km (Thor) on the Batote-Doda road from Batote respectively. “Since, there is no fire hydrant point (water refilling point) anywhere here, so after 15 minutes this fire tender had to go away at Chakwa. By that time a fire tender had reached here from Ramban (30km away) on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Shyam Vinod Meena on the recommendation of the MLA, Ramban, Ashok Kumar, whom I had informed after failing to get any response from firemen here,” said Harmeet’s brother and neighbour Pritam Singh. The experts said there should be at least eight fire hydrants within the populated and vulnerable area of 16 km, at Baggu Nallah, JKSRTC booking counter, Batote bazaar, hospital, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Tourist Bungalow, Tringla and Patnitop. Sources said whenever an in charge or a driver had to go on leave, his substitute has to be arranged from Ramban or Banihal. “After visiting the gutted building site and inspecting the F&ESS, I was more appalled to see its crumbling building and shanty accommodation of the staff, which reflected the apathetic and callous attitude of the authorities towards this area,” said Ramban MLA Kumar. “Home Minister Sajad Ahmed Kitchlu acceded to my request and has recommended a new fire tender and a new F&ESS building here,” he added. |
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Contractual coaches, instructors await regularisation
Jammu, April 14 Sources said after the clearance by the standing committee of the J&K State Sports Council in a meeting held last year, the contractual coaches and instructors were informed by the authorities that their regularisation orders will be issued soon but that did not happen. “When the authorities were preparing the agenda for the General Council Meeting, it was imperative that the issue of regularisation of contractual coaches and instructors should also be included in it so that Chief Minister, who is also the president of the Sports Council, takes a decision in this regard”, sources in the Sports Council said. “A number of important decisions were taken in the meeting, including formation of the proposed sports policy and categorisation of sports, but what about those coaches who are toiling hard to prepare the sportspersons but are still being deprive of getting their genuine right”, one of the contractual coaches said on the condition of anonymity. “Stadias have already been constructed by the government in different districts of the state but there is an acute shortage of staff because no fresh appointments have been made. When there is scope for recruitment of coaches to fill the vacant posts then why the concerned authorities are delaying the whole process”, he added. Sources added that 11 persons, including nine coaches and two instructors, were engaged on contractual basis in different disciplines in order to overcome the dire shortage in the State Sports Council. Sources said former Minister for Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib, during a press conference had stated that out of 38 contractual employees of the Sports Council, orders of regularisation had been issued in favour of 28 employees while the cases of the remaining employees had been sent to the department for creation of posts. Later, the aggrieved contractual coaches had claimed that the orders of regularisation were issued for the casual labours and not in their favour. When contacted, a senior Sports Council officer said “we are also waiting for the completion of process because the department needs adequate strength of coaches at its disposal to impart training to the budding sportspersons”. |
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Natrang presents ‘Miss World Undeclared’
Jammu, April 14 This was shown from the point of view of a schoolgirl Noorie who was regularly bullied by her classmates who had fair complexion. But her mother makes her realise that the criteria for being beautiful is
not fairness or external beauty. The real beauty is internal and anyone with a good heart and a calm mind is much more beautiful than those
who are just externally good looking. Motivated by her mother, she goes to the school and comes back very happy, as the result of the Miss World pageant is declared that day and the winner is an Indian
girl. The play ends with a positive and inspirational note that it does not matter how we look but it really matters what weare and that is the
key to real and eternal happiness.Natrang’s young artists who presented a remarkable performance included Vineet Sharma as Noorie, Subha Rajput as her mother, Sanjana Singh and Sakshi Prakash. Lights were designed and operated by Neeraj Kant. Sumeet Sharma coordinated the show and also did the presentations. |
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PYC intensifies campaign against milk adulteration
Jammu, April 14 About 80 per cent of the vehicles were found carrying adulterated milk. The JMC team verified that the milk was adulterated with considerable quantity of water. Addressing the milk sellers on the spot, Rajveer said milk adulteration was an issue of serious concern and was directly affecting the health of residents. He appealed to the offenders to refrain from the act and also motivate their counterparts for the same. Rajveer said, “It should be an area of prime concern which unfortunately is being ignored. It is a matter of serious apprehension as our future generations would be the victim if we fail to curb the menace right now. You must realise the ramifications of such act. Being a major dietary component, milk is consumed by people of all age groups. Milk adulteration is not only a crime but also a sin and you must avoid doing so,” he stressed. Rajveer said they would continue their campaign until the next month and try to cover maximum area of the city and outskirts. |
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‘Rangla Jammu’ mesmerises again
Katra, April 14 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra and Natrang, Jammu, is organising the performances of Rangla Jammu, which showcases the cultural diversity of Jammu through the participation of over sixty artists and technicians. The jam-packed audiences were transported to a dramatic journey of rare singing traditions, rituals and festivities of Dogras. The show was conceived, scripted, designed and directed by internationally acclaimed theatre director Balwant Thakur, who is a recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Direction in Theatre. He has also been conferred the Padamshree for the year 2013. The show opened with Late Dinu Bhai Pant’s poem ‘Mere Dese Daa Shelepa Meri Akhi Kane Dikh’ (See the chic great thing about my land through my eyes). It started with the instrumental music of Jammu and was brightened up with folk instruments like narsingha, flute, sarangi and dogra dhol. This was followed by the singing traditions of Dogras like Karkan, Bhakhan, Geetru and Shinjan. |
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Sewa Bharati distributes books among students
Jammu, April 14 More than 60 students, who have been enrolled in the Sanskar Kendra, were given books, note books and other study materials for new classes. Speaking on the occasion, Surat Singh, president of the Kendra, said they have been providing free tuitions to more than 60 students. He said over 12 students of the Kendra had secured first three positions in their respective classes. Meritorious students were also felicitated by the Sanskar Kendra. Amit Magotra announced to adopt one female student of the Sanskar
Kendra. — TNS |
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Four killed, two injured in accident
Batote, April 14 According to police sources, the deceased were identified as Raj Wali, 58, his wife Safia Begum, 51, of Ladsa Sarthal, Naib Chand, 52, of Kahan Chand and Noor Deen, 65, of Angra Sarthal.
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