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DCs file reports on steps taken to check agri land conversion
Kashmir University hostel facility in for a revamp
State suspends five officials after ReTs promoted as Masters
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Students deliberate upon disaster preparedness
Kashmiri separatists express ‘grief’ over Sarabjit’s death
Mutton sellers’ strike enters eighth day
PDP politically bankrupt: NC
Footpath encroachments removed in Baramulla town
Week-long sporting event concludes in Srinagar
‘Assess damages due to quake, hailstorm’
Three injured in road accident in Sopore
Four butchers booked for overcharging
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DCs file reports on steps taken to check agri land conversion
Srinagar, May 2 As per the J&K Economic Survey 2011-12, the area under agriculture in the state has shrunk from 9.26 lakh hectares in 2000-01 to 9.23 lakh hectares in 2010-11, thus registering a decrease of 0.041 per cent. As pointed out in the survey, one of the prime reasons for decrease in agricultural land-holdings is its conversion for construction and other purposes. The respective authorities in Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian, Bandipora, Kargil, Anantnag and Ganderbal districts have already filed their status reports to the High Court, which is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO calling for a ban on conversion of agrarian land into residential land this week. On April 15, the High Court had directed the state government to come up with a detailed report within one week on the steps taken by it for stopping conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes in Kashmir valley. Besides, the authorities had been directed to inform the court about its plans to accommodate the increasing population in their respective districts on modern lines by planning innovative integrated housing projects. As the PIL came up for hearing before a division bench of the High Court on May 1, the deputy advocate general NH Shah filed the compliance report of the Deputy Commissioners of Kupwara, Pulwama, Shopian, Bandipora, Kargil, Anantnag and Ganderbal, as was directed earlier. “It is stated at Bar by him that he has obtained the latest status report from the Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Kulgam and sought time to produce the same. He is permitted to file the same before the registry,” the Bench said in its orders dated May 1, 2013, which were made public today. The court had earlier directed the Deputy Commissioners concerned in Kashmir to stop conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies in their districts and asked them to explore possibility of accommodating the increasing population on modern lines. Earlier, in December 2012, keeping in view the population explosion and exploitation of prime agricultural lands for construction purposes, particularly in Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed the state government to bring out some plans to accommodate the increasing demand for residential places in the city. In its fresh direction, the HC Bench has also directed Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) to file a detailed status report as to how Batamaloo general Bus Stand in Srinagar has been turned into a shopping complex. “In the status report, the Vice Chairman of the SDA is also directed to disclose the mode and method adopted by them for such allotment (of shops) and to produce the entire record on next date of hearing,” the Bench observed in its orders while posting the matter for further consideration on May 15. These directions followed after the petitioner lawyer stated that Batamaloo Bus stand has reportedly been converted into a shopping complex by the SDA.
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Kashmir University hostel facility in for a revamp
Srinagar, April 2 Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Kashmir University, told Kashmir Tribune that the accommodation concern of the students has been taken up with the Chief Minister and he has agreed to provide funds for the same. “It is true that boys suffer from accommodation problems within the campus as compared to girls. Therefore, a mega boys hostel with 400-bedded capacity will be constructed in Zakura campus, the grants for which will partly be provided by University Grants Commission (UGC) and partly by the state government,” said Prof Talat. He added that the Ministry of Human Resources Development and Ministry of Minority Affairs have also given consent for building of residential coaching centres for Kashmir University. Furthermore, a Research scholar Hostel construction on Zakura campus of KU is also on the cards for providing accommodation to hundreds of research scholars who, uptil now, had no accommodation. “The accommodation problems of both boys and girls students are gradually being addressed. Ten years back, there was not a single hostel on the campus. But now, we have as many as five in campus hostels,” said the Vice Chancellor. Kashmir University currently has two hostels for boys on the campus and three for its girl students. As a result of restricted accommodation, hundreds of students look out for private guest accommodation outside the campus which often becomes unaffordable for them.
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State suspends five officials after ReTs promoted as Masters
Srinagar, May 2 Last month, over 1,500 teachers were promoted to Master’s grade in the Valley on a fast-track basis on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand who is also the Minister for Education. “Promoting ReT teachers who have had only a few years of service, to Master’s grade is
grave negligence on the part of officials. The education department has suspended five
officers and officials of the department with immediate effect,” said a senior official of Education department. Those suspended include Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Gurez (who was posted as ZEO Narbal, Budgam), ZEO Hardapanzoo Budgam, Headmaster Boys High School Sail Beerwah, Senior Assistant Boys High School Magam Budgam and Incharge office High School
Sail Beerwah. “Because of negligence and wrong information submitted by these officers and officials, three confirmed Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers had been wrongly promoted as
Masters,” an order issued by the Director of School Education Kashmir said today. While the government has suspended five
officials, sources said there was a well-knit nexus between certain officials in the Directorate and officials in Chief
Education Office Budgam who had ensured that the ReTs were promoted as Masters. “If these discrepancies had not come to the fore, these ReTs would have been working as Masters,” said a teacher in Budgam. “We want that an in-depth probe should be held to fix the responsibility so that the guilty officials are taken to task,” he added. The Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers are appointed on a temporary basis for five years and the scheme was introduced by the J&K government in 2000. In ReT, the teachers are paid a consolidated pay of
Rs 1,500 for five years without the benefits enjoyed by government employees. And after serving for five years, they are made permanent and their salary brought on a par with that of regular teachers. |
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Students deliberate upon disaster preparedness
Srinagar, May 2 The participating
students were judged by a panel of experts comprising of Aamir Ali and
Mauzam Bakshi, Deputy Chief Wardens, CD Srinagar. The programme was
facilitated by Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, Chairman, Scholar’s Group of
Schools. A class III student Ahaan from Scholar’s School bagged the
1st prize. Gulnaz Tabassum, class VIII student of scholars won the 2nd
prize and Murtaza Muzaffar, a class X student of the school won the 3rd
prize. Consolation prizes were given to Adil Hassan Khan, class X,
Iqra Public School, Sehreen, class X, Crescent School and Muskaan
Mushtaq Mir, class VII of Rehmania Education Institute. The other
students who participated included Mehreen Imtiaz, Shiekh Amir, Alia
Khatoon, Anees Rafiq, Abdul Majid, Faizan Mushtaq, Mohammed Faizaan,
Falak and Raja Sameer. Speaking on the occasion, Aamir Ali and Mauzam
Bakshi urged the students to learn life-saving skills so that they could
be useful resources in the event of any disaster. The students were
informed about the vulnerability to natural and human-induced disasters.
They were taught safety measures by which vulnerability and damages
could be reduced so that in the event of any catastrophe the children
can protect themselves. |
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Kashmiri separatists express ‘grief’ over Sarabjit’s death
Srinagar, May 2 Sarabjit, who was attacked in a Pakistani jail six days ago, breathed his last today in Pakistan’s Jinnah hospital, where he was battling for life. “Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has expressed his grief over the death of Sarabjit Singh and Pakistan government should impartially probe why there was a security lapse that led to assault on
Sarabjit,” it was stated. It was added that authorities in Pakistan should “ensure the safety of all detainees in prison”. “We may differ when a person is alive but as soon the person is declared dead, no law allows us to spread hate or hostility about his person anymore. Besides, Islam lays stress on respecting the rights for prisoners,” Geelani said. Senior Hurriyat leader and Chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Shah, while “condemning” the brutal attack and condoling Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh’s demise in a Pakistan hospital, today said the attackers should be punished to prevent such incidents in future. “Such an attack should not have happened inside the jail. The authorities in Pakistan should take action against the attackers so that such incidents are not repeated,” Shah said when asked about his reaction over the incident. |
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Mutton sellers’ strike enters eighth day
Srinagar, May 2 Most of the butchers have been observing a strike for the last eight days. All Kashmir Butchers Union president Khizr Mohammad said their strike was “genuine” and that they were being forced to sell mutton at cheaper rates. “We called for a strike as shops were being sealed for overcharging. We
are being told to sell mutton at Rs 280 per kilogram. However, the same is not possible as the wholesalers supply us mutton at higher rates. If
the authorities ensure that wholesalers supply us mutton at Rs 250 per kilogram, we would
be able to sell it at fixed government rates,” he said. An official said the authorities will be holding another meeting with the mutton dealers and
wholesalers tomorrow to work out a solution. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendara Kumar, had earlier chaired a meeting of senior officers on Tuesday wherein dealers and wholesalers of mutton too were
present. The Divisional Commissioner had directed the officers to give inputs regarding
fixing and regulating of mutton rates in the Valley. As per an official, the mutton dealers had informed the meeting
that 26,000 sheep were being imported to the Valley from outside the state every week. |
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PDP politically bankrupt: NC
Srinagar, May 2 Addressing a meeting of party workers in Shangus in south Kashmir, Wani said NC represented the voice of people of Jammu and Kashmir and rendering public service equitably and holistically was the political agenda of the party. “Do not go by PDP’s promises. They are dream merchants and sell dreams to people to deceive them for grabbing power,” he
said. Wani termed PDP as a creation of people with vested interests to divide people of Kashmir. "We will not allow these people to either divide Kashmir nor will we let them fulfill their desire to alter the special status of the state. Let them conspire with BJP or any other party, but I assure you that our party, under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, will never let you alter or abolish Article 370," Wani said. |
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Footpath encroachments removed in Baramulla town
Baramulla, May 2 “The shopkeepers had extended articles beyond the limits of their shops. It was hampering the movement of pedestrians and vehicles,” said Abdul Majid, a local resident. Senior officers monitored the drive. Locals said removal of encroachments from pavements will ease traffic movement and prevent frequent traffic jams. “Footpath encroachments contributed a great deal in causing frequent traffic jams. Removal of the encroachments will ease traffic movement and also smoothen movement of pedestrians,” said a local resident. The drive lasted for about four hours till 2 pm and almost all encroachments were removed. Many shopkeepers were imposed fine for violation of norms. Students expressed satisfaction and said this will save their precious time.
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Week-long sporting event concludes in Srinagar
Srinagar, May 2 An official said students of various government and private institutions participated in the event with great enthusiasm and spirit. “The participants showed their talent at various levels which is an encouraging gesture for the future,” the official said. The week-long event was organised by Department of Youth Services and Sports, Srinagar, at SP Higher Secondary School, Girls Higher Secondary School, Nawa Kadal and Youth Hostel, Srinagar.
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‘Assess damages due to quake, hailstorm’
Srinagar, May 2 Five residences were damaged including that of Mohammad Ismail Tass, son of Mohammad Akbar, Farooq Ahmad Geegi, son of Abdul Kareem, Mohammad Hussain, son of Ghulam Qadir Tass, Bashir Ahmad Kuli, son of Lal-ud-Din and Bashir Ahmad Shah, son of Ghulam Nabi, residents of Ahlan Bala and Govt Middle School Ahlan, Kokernag.
— TNS
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Three injured in road accident in Sopore
Srinagar, May 2 “Those injured were admitted in hospital for treatment. They were later discharged,” said sources. A case has been registered in this connection, said a spokesman.
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Four butchers booked for overcharging
Srinagar, May 2 “The butchers, namely Ifran Rafiq, Mohammad Ayoub Ganie, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Mohammad Yousuf Ganie, residents of New Theed, Harwan, were arrested under the Provisions of Essential Commodities Act,” a police spokesman said. The mutton dealers had started an indefinite strike from Tuesday, after a crackdown initiated by the authorities over the overcharging by
butchers. — TNS |
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Kashmir University’s hostel woes will come to an end as a 400-bedded boys hostel will be constructed on the Zakura campus to meet the demands of out-of-station students. The accommodation facility on the campus will see upliftment in the form of residential coaching centres.
