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1,300 kanals of state land under illegal occupation outside J-K
On the
frontline
State lacks funds, over 1.5 lakh elderly, widows await pension
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Now, holiday calendar on your phone
NC responsible for Afzal Guru’s hanging, says PDP patron
Weather comes to rescue of traffic violators
Pesticide being sprayed at an apple orchard in Sopore. Tribune photo: Amin War
Recent arrests point to a wipe out of Lashkar from Sopore
Bikers’ gang make youth aware of road safety
norms
Rana flays Soz for Congress poll prospects remark
CPM leader urges Centre to reach out to separatists
Two persons shot at over land dispute
Bhim Singh asks Hurriyat to participate in elections
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1,300 kanals of state land under illegal occupation outside J-K
Jammu, April 21 “The state government has 1,251 kanals and four marlas of land at Sirsa in Haryana as per the revenue records. The land has been surreptitiously transferred in the name of the Mirpur Cooperative Society by the Assistant Collector, Ist Class,” said an official document of the Hospitality and Protocol Department headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The document said the government was in the process of filing a writ petition in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh to retrieve the land from unauthorised occupants. Similarly, the state government had 32 kanals and nine marlas of land at Daim Gunj - Tapai road, Amritsar, which was under the unauthorised occupation of the families of original lessees for many years. “Land measuring 30 kanals has been decreed in favour of the state government and it is perusing to take the actual position of the land. The remaining land is a subject matter of litigation,” the department has said in the document. According to the Hospitality and Protocol Department, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has occupied a commercial building (812 square yards) at Sector 17 A, Chandigarh, comprising four floors and a basement. “The government has taken up the matter with the Ministry of Labour for vacation of the building. It is yet to get a response despite repeated reminders by the J&K Government in the recent past,” the department said. At Raja Ji Marg in New Delhi, 96 kanals out of 114 kanals and 11 marlas of the state government was on lease with the Military Engineering Wing of the Ministry of Defence. “There are some staff quarters of the state government on the portion under its possession. One kanal and 11 marlas is occupied by the Central Public Works Department,” the department said. In Mumbai, 5,802 square yards at Napean Sea Road, Mumbai, was on lease with M/s Sanghvi Construction Company, Mumbai, for 90 years with effect from June 1, 1991. The Hospitality and Protocol Department maintains 20 state guest houses, circuit houses and VIP huts in Kashmir province while the number of guest houses, circuit houses and other buildings being maintained by the department in the Jammu region is 10. |
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On the
frontline
Indeed, the Chinese intrusion this time in the Daulat Beg Oldie area in Ladakh region, close to Aksai Chin, is of much more serious nature than the previous such intrusions, which were brushed aside as the
routine affair by the Government of India and the Army alike.
It is different from the days when the Chinese troops would come, write their claim on rocks or shower pamphlets from choppers, dismantle Indian bunkers, saying that Indian shepherds should stay away from the Chinese pastures, and stop work on the roads. This time, it is much more serious than simple posturing. Now, it seems that during all the previous intrusions and thereafter sending their troops to Gilgit and Baltistan area in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Chinese were testing the waters: to what extent India would respond and how. Since the Indian side depended more on toothless diplomacy and refrained from heeding the needs of the Army, what has emerged is that China has overturned the peace and tranquility pacts signed between the two countries. It is a clear design to escalate tensions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), so that India diverts more of its military power and energy to the eastern borders. That would strategically help the Pakistanis who are on the western borders of the country. Timing is important. This time around the snow starts melting and the intrusion of militants with weapons, rises from across the Line of Control
(LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. The Indian Army has dedicated much of its attention toward the western sector, to stop the intrusion because the intruders replenish the pool of militants in the hinterland and thus cause problems for the security forces and the people alike. It is common knowledge that next year when the NATO troops would be saying good bye to Afghanistan, Pakistan Taliban and its off shoots would divert their men and lethal machinery toward Kashmir. It has been declared in no uncertain times by the de-facto Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Mohammad
Sayeed. In the aftermath of the recent incident of China having set up its tented post on DOB, the Army has viewed it very seriously and the matter is to be taken up with Beijing, but everyone knows that what the results would be. It has happened in the past too, and it would happen again, because the Indian Army is in the most disadvantageous position-it lacks access to the LAC through paved roads, nor it has the necessary equipment. To quote Gen
(Retd) BS Jaswal, when he was the Northern Command chief of the Indian Army, that “India is no match to the logistical and other facilities as compared to China”. The situation has not improved even a bit in the past three years, rather it has worsened, because the state government has denied Indian Army the land to build its operational facilities and dump ammunition, despite the fact that for six months, entire Ladakh region, also known as the cold desert, remains cut off from rest of the world, as all its surface links are shut by
heavy snow that rises upto 25 to 30 feet and the temperatures dip to 30 degree Celsius. On the other side of the LAC, China has sent more than 9,000 Peoples Liberation Army men in Pakistan occupied Kashmir in the garb of engineers and workers, they have also constructed airstrips and world-class roads up to the borderline. The Indian side can only watch it happening helplessly.
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State lacks funds, over 1.5 lakh elderly, widows await pension
Jammu, April 21 “Under the state-sponsored Integrated Social Security Scheme
(ISSS), the state government is considering clearance of total pendency on account of 68,920 cases. As far as the pendency of pension cases under the
Centre-sponsored National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is concerned, the Government of India has been requested to provide funds for clearance of the 86,560 pending cases,” official sources told The Tribune. The sources said the state government had sanctioned over 3.5 lakh pension cases under state-sponsored ISSS plan to date, while the number of pension cases sanctioned under the Centrally sponsored Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS) - which is a component of the NSAP - was 1.29 lakh. “As many as 4,048 pension cases have been sanctioned under Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme
(IGNDPS), while a total of 4,730 pension cases were sanctioned under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme
(IGNWPS) thus far. Both IGNDPS and the IGNWPS are components of the NSAP, funded by the The sources also said the funds under the state and Centrally sponsored schemes for pension of the elderly and widows were released in accordance with the administrative units set up in the state, that is district-wise and not constituency-wise. “Jammu tops the highest number of pending pension cases under the ISSS plan where 9,066 aged and widows are awaiting financial assistance from the government. Anantnag district followed Jammu where around 7,000 pension cases of aged persons and widows are pending with the Social Welfare Department,” a source said. Under the Centrally sponsored IGNOAPS plan, the sources said, Baramulla district in the Kashmir valley had the maximum pending pension cases with 14,197 aged people awaiting clearance of their cases A senior officer of the Social Welfare Department, on condition of anonymity, said the paucity of funds was the sole reason for delay in clearance of pending pension cases of the aged and widows. “We have requested the Government of India for providing adequate funds to provide financial assistance to these people. The state government will be able to clear the pending cases as and when the Union Government
clears the proposal,” the officer said. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo could not be contacted for her comments.
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Now, holiday calendar on your phone
Poonch, April 21 He worked at the National centre for Applied Human Genetics, Jawaharlal Nehru Univeristy, Delhi, and then went to the US in 2008 and to work at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA, as a postdoctoral scientist. He joined SMVDU as assistant professor in the School of Biology and Chemistry in November 2012. Talking to The Tribune, he said, “It all started two to three months back when I needed to do some calculations related to genetics, which I do again and again and wanted those handy. The best option that came to my mind was a smart phone. I started learning to use Eclipse, a tool that exploits Java and Android Application Programming Interface, to develop applications.” “The first application I made was a calendar of holidays in 2013 for SMVDU. I shared it with my friends and there came the idea to make a holiday calendar application for Jammu and Kashmir. I liked the idea and started working on it. This one is far better than my first application (SMVDU Calendar) as I have added a hovering effect which highlights the line we click on,” he said. “I have plans to add pictures of festivals, people and scenes from J&K in the next version of the application.” “I am also working on two major application projects: The genetics calculator for which I learnt programming for Android and weather of J&K which will include live radar feed, weather in each district,” he said. Sharma says, “I had developed several scripts for my analysis work on computer, but developing applications for Android-based devices gives me a satisfaction that my efforts are of use to others too.” “I have to put in extra efforts to learn Java and Eclipse being a biologist. I will keep working on it so that I develop some more productive applications of use to everyone.”
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NC responsible for Afzal Guru’s hanging, says PDP patron
Kupwara, April 21 He said the coalition government in the state had proved to be a failure on all fronts and people of the state were bearing the brunt of bad governance.Mufti was addressing a public gathering at Takipora in Lolab of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. “The NC played its role in Afzal’s hanging. There were many people who were charged with serious criminal offences and were lined up for execution but Afzal’s case was taken on priority, which clearly indicates the willingness of the state government to execute Afzal,” said the PDP patron. “Even Afzal’s family was not allowed to see him before his execution,” Mufti said. The PDP patron said people were facing hardships due to bad governance and security forces had been given a free hand to commit excesses on people. “The PDP during its regime disbanded the task force of the police in the Valley and put an end to the excesses committed by security agencies. People are being subjected to security hassles, including unwarranted detentions, during the incumbent government’s regime,” he said. Mufti said the coalition government in the state had made a mockery of the state Assembly and the government had failed to bring development in the state despite Centre’s huge financial support. On the 2014 Assembly elections in the state, Mufti said, “You can make all politicians and parties accountable only by using your vote effectively and reward those who perform and punish those who run away with your vote in pursuance of their own vested interests,” said Mufti. He said the NC was solely responsible for the power crisis in the state due to mismanagement of the resources and by selling power projects to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). “It remains a mystery as to why Farooq Abdullah had to hand over seven most feasible power projects to the NHPC in 2000 when he enjoyed unprecedented majority in the Assembly with 65 MLAs. It was done to please the then NDA allies and pay a tribute to them for giving junior ministership to his son Omar Abdullah even without entering into a proper agreement with the NHPC.”
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Weather comes to rescue of traffic violators
Srinagar, April 21 He said the department had launched a campaign over traffic awareness over the past two weeks involving University of Kashmir (KU) students. “We want to make people aware about traffic rules before getting tough against violators. Around 200 students were also involved our campaign,” he said. While the Traffic Police in the past has carried out several drives against traffic rules violators, the focus would be to implement rules such as wearing khakhi shirts and trousers by the drivers of passenger vehicles and seat belts. Besides, the emphasis would be on taking action drivers jumping traffic signals and reservation of seats for women in private buses. The Traffic Police is also holding a seminar to get a feedback from the students involved during the traffic awareness campaign on coming Tuesday at the University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, premises. During the Road Safety Week in January, the Traffic Police had distributed chocolates and New Year cards to drivers for following traffic rules. In September last year, the department had launched a drive to counsel drivers instead of penalising them. Senior citizens and police officers also took part in the drive.
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Imports from China, US slowly replacing Kashmiri apple
Srinagar, April 21 Even the domestic markets of the “Kashmiri apple” brand are shrinking due to imports from China, Spain and America. Although 4.5 crore apple boxes were exported from the Valley to other states in 2012, the Kashmir-based fruit growers say a large stock of apples is lying in various cold storages of fruit mandis (markets) of the country as people are preferring Chinese and American varieties to Kashmiri. “Even though Kashmiri apples are considered Asia’s best-quality apples, the same are not available in fruit markets outside the country which affects the economy of the state since 70 per cent population is directly or indirectly engaged in the horticulture sector. To top it all, the imports from other countries are further decreasing the worth of Kashmiri apples,” said Ghulam Rasool Wagay, president of the Kashmir’s Fruit Growers Association. The Valley-based fruit growers say the state government has not taken up their issue with the Union Government of either raising the import duty of imported apples or providing them export licences. “We apprised Horticulture Minister Raman Bhalla of our concerns in March. We told him the apple import from these countries is severely affecting the profitability of the growers in Kashmir. He said after the civil secretariat moves to Srinagar in May, the issue will be addressed. Promises have been made to us even before, but nothing has happened,” Wagay said. There has been a decline in apple production in Kashmir from 15,50,000 metric tonnes in 2011 to 14,40,000 metric tonnes in 2012. The growers blame the decline on inadequate infrastructure such as the absence of enough cold storages, proper checking of the quality of fertilisers, poor irrigation facilities and ineffective scientific research. Fruit growers say all developed countries score over Kashmir in apple production as they have best facilities available in terms of artificial irrigation, grading of apples as per their size, texture and colour, packaging and usage of organic fertilisers. “These factors determine the quality of apples and we suffer due to the lack of facilities more than we suffer due to the weather vagaries,” said Fayaz Ahmad, president of the Sopore, North Kashmir Fruit Growers Association. “It is unfortunate that there is practically no system of artificial irrigation in J&K where over 3 lakh hectares are under fruit cultivation,” said Fayaz.
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Recent arrests point to a wipe out of Lashkar from Sopore
Srinagar, April 21 The police says the seven overground workers were detained since the arrest top commander of the outfit Qari Naveed, alias Fahadullah, of Pakistan in a joint operation by the police and Army in Bahrampora village
near Sopore when he was riding a cycle. “We have almost wiped out the LeT network in Sopore and neighbouring villages. One of those detained included an Imam who was responsible for killing of an 18-year-old youth Suhail Ahmed who was shot dead inside
a mosque in Sopore on March 19,” said a police officer. “We have also recovered the weapon which was used in murder,” he added. Police said another militant who was behind the killing of Special Police Officer Riyaz-ul-Hassan in a village near Sopore was also detained in a separate operation. Police sources said the 23-year-old son of a rich apple merchant who was allegedly providing logistic support to the LeT militants has also been detained. The police recovered seven mobile phones from him which were allegedly used by the LeT Commander Fahadullah. Sources said a driver of a passenger cab was also detained by the J&K police from Jammu and on his information two assault rifles were recovered. Till recently, he was driving the car of an Executive Engineer of Road and Building Department. The car was rented by the officials. Police, however, confirmed that two persons have been arrested after Fahadullah’s arrest. “Shakir Ahmed, a college student, who was also arrested along with Fahadullah from Bahrampora. The two were riding bicycle at the time of their arrest. We have also arrested Rafiq Malik of Marazigund Rafiabad where Fahadullah was staying
for last four months,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar. Sources said after the killing of six LeT militants in Saidpora Sopore on December 18, Fahadullah was confined to Malik’s house in Marazigund. The police said, Fahadullah had told his investigators that the outfit’s command from across the border had become suspicious of him since the Saidpora encounter.
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Bikers’ gang make youth aware of road safety
norms
Jammu, April 21 Alok, too, like youngsters used to undergo bouts of adrenalin rush while riding trendy sports bikes but what he witnessed on the 380-km long journey on December 30, 2005, with his friend changed him forever. Fatal road mishaps involving bikers compelled him to think of restoring some sanity on the roads vis-à-vis bikers and in 2006 he thought of ‘Iron Hawks’, a group of bikers spreading awareness about road safety norms and peace. He decided to visit every nook and corner of the state and involve people particularly the youth in the mission. ‘Iron Hawks’ consists of 28 members from all walks of life with one passion, biking, and who want to create awareness about road safety rules and the message of peace. All the members drive Royal Enfield (Bullet) bikes. “When we reached Jammu from Chandigarh after few days of our first journey, I began my search for fellow riders. I tried social networking sites and later started holding small meetings with those interested to put forth my ideas. The ideas didn’t become popular immediately but I did not feel dejected and carried on the fire,” Kumar said. He said every time when a life was lost on road, it left him and his companions in immense pain. “We finally decided to form a unique club in Jammu and Kashmir to create awareness for road safety rules and peace as the state has also witnessed a lot of turmoil over the past 20 years,” Kumar said.
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Rana flays Soz for Congress poll prospects remark
Jammu, April 21 “The NC has been, is and will continue to remain a major player in the state which it has nurtured by offering innumerable sacrifices,” Rana said. Rana was addressing a day-long convention of the nominated presidents and office-bearers of the 71 wards of the Jammu city today. He said, “The NC alliance with the Congress is not for the sake of power but a relationship of mutual understanding on the high principles of secularism and democracy which dates back to the times of Jawaharlal Nehru-Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Farooq Abdullah and now Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi,” he said. “Carrying forward this legacy of mutual respect and understanding, the NC has never dithered from its belief in the power of the people of the state who are the real fountain of power,” Rana said. He said the NC has always been a force to reckon with, be it in 2002 and 2008. “Despite emerging as single largest party
with 28 members in the Legislative Assembly in 2002, NC had decided to sit in Opposition just because it felt that the people had not mandated the party to power,” he said.
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CPM leader urges Centre to reach out to separatists
Srinagar, April 21 “The need of hour is that the Central government must shun its rigidity and show flexibility in reaching out to the voices of dissent in Kashmir,” Tarigami, who is a legislator from south Kashmir, said.
Tarigami, who addressed a public rally at Kulpora village in south Kashmir, said there was “a dire need to have a broader platform cutting across the ideological differences” to address the sensitivities of the issues pertaining to
the people. “Let me inform all my friends who are still outside the mainstream political spectrum that shirking from their responsibilities towards their
people will not undermine the sensitivities of issues that need a political
resolution. When you raise voice on issues of the people it will never change the perception of other important issues,”
he said. Tarigami also urged the Centre to take some concrete measures to reduce “estrangement and alienation” among people in Kashmir. “There is dire need for course correction and to begin with the Centre must reach out to dissenters,”
the CPM leader said. Centre must improve power supply: CPM The state unit of the CPM today said the Centre should take a sympathetic view on people’s demand for the return of power projects to the state in view of the dismal electricity supply scenario here. “The Centre must sympathetically consider the demand for return of power projects, keeping in view the dismal power scenario of the state,” state secretary of the CPM MY Tarigami said while addressing a rally in south Kashmir. — PTI
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Two persons shot at over land dispute
Katra, April 21 The incident took place after Raman's father Mulkraj built a shed on an ancestral property, which his nephews had objected to, he said. Ramprakash, Mulkraj's nephew, along with his other brothers shot at their cousin Raman, who was staying at the shed along with his employee Sunny, with a .12 bore rifle, he said. The SSP said the police the injured were referred to the Government Medical College, Jammu, where both of them are stated to be out of danger. — OC
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Bhim Singh asks Hurriyat to participate in elections
Jammu, April 21 Addressing a press conference, Bhim Singh said the Hurriyat Conference leadership in the Valley should demonstrate their wisdom and courage by jumping into the election fray so that they may find an opportunity to claim the legal and political right to represent the people of the Valley. He said the Congress and the National Conference shall meet their waterloo as they have been thoroughly exposed because of their corrupt activities.
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Indeed, the Chinese intrusion this time in the Daulat Beg Oldie area in Ladakh region, close to Aksai Chin, is of much more serious nature than the previous such intrusions, which were brushed aside as the
routine affair by the Government of India and the Army alike.
