Jammu, May 3
Retired employees of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) are facing hardship due to delay in disbursement of retirement emoluments to them.

As per official documents, the reason for pending disbursements was depletion of the Pension Fund due to revision of monthly pension and other retirement benefits as per 6th Pay Commission and disbursement of all pension dues to the pensioners who retired between July 2009 and March 2011 without making due provisions for timely replenishment of Pension Fund.

The authorities admitted in the document that 26 pensioners who retired after March 2011 have not been paid the pension benefits but monthly pension was being released in their favour as per 6th Pay Commission recommendation.

“The retired employees of JDA are being paid their monthly pension and pension benefits out of the Pension Fund of JDA created in 1996 vide SRO 470 dated 19-12-1996,” the authorities stated and added that the Pension Fund was raised by the JDA out of employer’s share of CPF with interest thereon and transferred to the Fund and contribution made by the JDA to the Pension Fund from December 1996 at the rates prescribed as per Employees Pension Fund Scheme 1961 as amended from time to time.

Giving reasons for delay in disbursement of retirement emoluments, the authorities said that from the inception of Pension Fund in 1996, there was only one pensioner, but now, the number of pensioners has steadily increased over a period of 17 years. At present, 93 pensioners are drawing monthly pension which was being released from Pension Fund.

Prior to the implementation of 6th Pay Commission, the monthly pension of JDA retirees amounted to Rs 2.72 lakh and after the implementation of 6th Pay Commission, the pension has risen sharply to approximately Rs 10 lakh whereas the monthly contribution to Pension Fund on account of employer’s share amounts to Rs 4.80 lakh as on date, leading to the deficit in Pension Fund. The Pension Fund has further depleted due to increase in pension and pecuniary benefits due to implementation of 6th Pay Commission report. The amount available in Pension Fund as on date is Rs 14.45 lakh which is now not sufficient to pay even the monthly pension.

Jammu, May 3
As the wheat harvesting season has started, the fire department has sounded fire alert in the region. Despite manpower and equipment shortage, about 10 mobile fire stations have been established to deal with any emergency.

Due to intense heat and dry weather conditions, fire incidents considerably increase during April and June, involving farmland and forest areas and the fire department is stated to be receiving hundreds of emergency calls at this time of the year.

Officials said keeping in view the lack of equipment and proper devices, firemen have been asked to relay on local sources to deal with any emergency.

The 10 mobile tenders have been placed on 24-hour duty, mostly in areas where the wheat harvesting is in full swing.

“Most of the cases are reported from Jammu, Samba, Kathua, RS Pura and Kandi areas, which, at times, become a headache, keeping in view the remoteness. We have also to deal with the forest fires,” said RS Sodhi, Director, Fire Service.

At times, hundreds of kanals of crop land is engulfed by fire, leading to losses of lakhs of rupees. While controlling the situation, firemen at times had to face the wrath of people, who blame them for reaching the place late or not doing enough.

“Our work is like treading on twin-edged sword. We have to keep focus on our work but at the same time, ensure that local population does not attack us,” said a firefighter on condition of anonymity.

Further, after the 5.8 Richter scale earthquake struck the state, having epicentre in Bhaderwah region, the department is already on alert and personnel of fire control department are said to be monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.

The government had, in 2005, formulated a detailed plan to build new fire stations in all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, but the plan has been shelved due to lack of funds.

Doda, May 3
The people of Chenab valley have shown strong resentment against the attitude of both central and state governments, having been left alone at a difficult time when an earthquake hit the twin districts of Doda-Kishtwar.

People feel that though only one man died in the earthquake and around 70 got injured, more than six lakh people living in the region have been affected by the earthquake as around 90 per cent structures have developed cracks.

“We have been crying for long that Chenab valley needs attention from government at this point of time when the entire region is suffering. People sitting at the helm of affairs in Jammu, Srinagar and New Delhi haven’t turned towards us,” said Muhammad Hanief Hashmi, a senior advocate of Doda.

People are agitated over the fact that when flash flood hit Leh in 2010, all government machinery from New Delhi to Srinagar visited the area and announced packages for rehabilitation of people and the area. But at a time when the entire Chenab valley is suffering due to earthquake, people have been left alone.

“People here are very poor and need attention of government. Earlier, we had been demanding treatment to Chenab valley at par with Ladakh as far as climatic conditions are concerned but now, the region is becoming vulnerable to earthquakes as well. Thus, the government should pay attention towards it,” said Hashmi.

Jammu, May 3
Jammu and Kashmir has utilised only 49 per cent of the funds made available by the Centre under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) during the 11th five-year plan 2007-12 for revamp of power infrastructure in the state.

The under-utilisation is mostly due to unplanned project formulation, execution of projects on ad hoc basis and initiation of work without availability of essential pre-planning mechanism, which has negated the purpose of the reconstruction plan.

According to audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of Power Development Department (PDD), for the development of transmission infrastructure facilities in the state, the funds were allocated by Union Government to curb T&D loses under state plan and non-plan heads of account.

Funds to extent of Rs 2,297 crore were available during 2007-08 to 2011-12, out of which, only Rs 1,243 crore could be utilised. “Out of this, only 49 per cent, Rs 1,003 crore, could be utilised by the department from available funds. (Rs 896.68 crore under PMRP, state plan Rs 106.94 crore),” says the finding of audit.

It cites delays in approval of projects from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), late submission of drawings, price variation and revision of projects due to changes in drawing. Even the audit by CAG has revealed that funds were under-utilised.

CAG finding further says that the department has failed to achieve the planned targets during the 11th plan and almost all the grid sub-stations and transmission line projects started under PMRP had witnessed a time overrun. “Some of the completed projects could not be operational due to incompletion of other related works, with the result that the infrastructure created was lying idle,” CAG maintains.

Grid management is missing, due to which, the state has to face penalty in the form of unscheduled interchange (UI) charges. Power Factor (PF) corrections and capacitor banks should be installed to avoid payment in form of reactive energy charges, it has been stated.

The PDD has also failed to properly train manpower. The power utility was required to devise different modules of training for their staff to update their knowledge base in the latest development in the respective fields. The department was also required to have a well-defined Human Resources Development (HRD) policy and systems based on requisitions and inputs from various transmission utility divisions.

Rajouri, May 3
Need-based workers of Rajouri Development Authority (RDA) whose services were terminated today staged a dharna outside the office of the District Development Commissioner and demanded revocation of the order.

All the 85 workers who have been terminated from their services held a protest rally and later staged a dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party also joined the protest.

Amid sloganeering during the dharna, these workers alleged the state government is spoiling their future with its directionless policies, adding that the government has also given a major jolt to their families. Workers addressing the protest said the order for terminating these employees is unfortunate and is seeped in political interests, but has spoiled many lives.

Bharatiya Janata Party state vice-president Vibodh Gupta and former district president Yogesh Sharma who were assisting this dharna of need-based workers castigated the government for its anti-people policies and said the decision to terminate these need-based workers has spoiled many careers.

They also said at the time of their placement, many of these workers were under the employment age limit but are now overage and cannot even apply for any government post.

Later, they called off the dharna and announced that their agitation will continue.

Srinagar, April 3
Six youth from Kashmir valley have cracked the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) examinations-2012, the result of which was declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today.

The six youth include Showkat Ahmad Parray (40th rank), Khursheed Ali Quadri (95th rank), Adnan Asmi (189th rank), Naveed Tramboo (386th rank), Abid Sadiq (501th rank) and Ruveda Salam (820th rank).

Showkat Parray, Khursheed Ali Quadri and Abid Sadiq had already qualified the IAS examinations earlier and appeared in 2012 to improve their rankings whereas Naveed Tramboo and Ruveda qualified the examinations in their first attempt.

Adnan Asmi (26), who is from the old Srinagar city area, said, "I come from Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar which is basically a bastion of violence. But that has never derailed me from pursuing my dream job of working as a civil services officer. It is purely a misconception that old city boys know only how to pelt stones.".

Naveed Tramboo, a resident of Hyderpora, said, "I camped in Delhi for a year after studies and worked so that I could save money for taking IAS coaching and by the grace of the almighty, I have done it."

Showkat Ahmad Parry, who was serving in the Department of Posts, J&K, says that qualifying IAS in 2012 motivated him to go ahead and give another try to improve the rankings. "I was selected as IAS allied officer, but I wanted to get into first 180 ranks slot and I have done that," said Showkat who hails from remote Wizer Wagura village in Baramulla district.

Khurshid Ali Quadri (29), who is serving as Assistant Director, Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Department, J&K, said, "My eyes were set on IAS examinations." Dr Ruveda Salam after qualifying many state-level competitive examinations qualified the IAS examination in the first go.

Jammu, May 3
The 132 KV D/C Rajouri-Draba Transmission line was restored and charged by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (POWERGRID) yesterday.

The task is stated to have been accomplished due to the technical expertise, dedication and in-depth planning of a project by the POWERGRID.

It is pertinent to mention here that the electricity supply to Poonch was snapped after heavy damages occurred to the high tension/low tension network on February 17 and 18 due to snow and hailstorm. The restoration of the 132 Kilo Volt Rajouri Draba Chandak line was assigned to the POWERGRID and the restoration work of HT/LT at Poonch to the M&RE wing of the Power Development Department by the state government.

The POWERGRID is also targeting to complete the restoration of 132 KV S/C Draba Chandak Transmission Line.

Coordination for this restoration work from the JKPDD was being done by Ajay Gupta, Chief Engineer (S&O), and Sudhir Gupta, Superintending Engineer, Power Development Department.

The restoration work was carried out under the guidance and supervision of KR Suri, General Manager (O&M).

JP Singh, Executive Director, POWERGRID Northern Region-II, has congratulated the team for the gigantic task in restoring the transmission line. 

Jammu, May 3
Following alleged attack on Pakistani ultra Sanaullah Haq in the “high-security” Kot Bhalwal prison on the outskirts of the temple city here, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) turned into a police cantonment with the deployment of a heavy posse of policemen in combat fatigues.

After the Pakistani prisoner was shifted here this morning, the hospital was soon inundated by policemen, said a doctor at the emergency block where Sanaullah was first taken by the prison staff.

The news spread like wildfire and mediapersons also started visiting the hospital to know about the incident.

“We have been asked to keep a constant vigil because of the gravity of the issue,” said a cop.

“Though nothing is clear as of now, in the wake of killings of two Indian prisoners in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Lahore followed by an attack on a Pakistani prisoner in Kot Bhalwal Jail, we have been asked to keep a watch on the situation,” he added.

SSP Jammu, Rajeshwar Singh and SP city (north) JS Johar had reached 
the hospital with a posse of policemen in combat fatigues. Around 4.50 pm, Sanaullah was rushed to Jammu airport in a critical care ambulance having a ventilator.

Poonch, May 3
Protesting against Chinese incursions in Ladakh region and brutal killing of Sarabjit in a Pakistani jail, Poonch unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday held a protest demonstration against Pakistan and

China at Parade Poonch and burnt UPA government’s effigy for its failure to take appropriate action. Angry BJP activists shouted slogans against the Chinese and Pakistani governments.

Addressing the protesters, Sunil Gupta, district president, BJP Poonch, lashed out at UPA government for its non-serious approach on the issues. He said intrusion of Chinese troops in Ladakh is very serious and termed it as “an attack on the country’s sovereignty”. He also condemned Pakistan’s approach in this context.

He said Chinese troops have intruded deep inside Ladakh region and are continuously posing a threat to the internal security of India and no firm measures have been taken by the government against the aggressive posturing of Chinese forces till date. He sought speedy intervention at diplomatic, military and international levels to deal with China’s incursion.

Senior BJP leader Pardeep Sharma said, “Indian government must take very stern action against China for the said incident.” He also demanded a safe and secure boundary. He said, “Due to lackadaisical attitude of the Indian government, India’s image has been tarnished at the international level.” Later, a protest rally was also organised which started from parade and after passing through the main market, culminated at Poonch bus-stand.

Rajouri, May 3
After the attack on a Pakistani prisoner in the Kotbawal jail, the district jail authorities of Rajouri have tightened security to avert any backlash.

Talking to The Tribune, Dangri jail Superintendent Rafiq Chowdhary said, “We have taken all security measures to avert any untoward incident inside the jail. We had already separated Pakistani prisoners from the local prisoner s by lodging in separate bricks.”

He said they had police cops deployed inside as well as outside the jail. “The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is also assisting us in making strict vigil on activities of the prisons day and night.

Superintendent of the Dangri jail said, “A special dog squad of the CRFP is also there to monitor activities and is helping us in regular inspection inside the bricks. Besides this, we are doing surprise visits in the bricks.”

Reports said there were over 100 prisoners in the jail.

Srinagar, may 3
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the mass communication and journalism departments of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) and Kashmir University organised two interactive workshops here today.

The department of convergent journalism (DCJ), the CUK today organsied an interactive session for its students with two noted journalists of the Valley, Masood Hussain, Assistant Editor, Economic Times, and Athar Parvaiz, Correspondent Inter Press Service, Italy.

Interacting with the students, Hussain said a journalist needed to or could exercise his freedom of expression only after his understanding of the existing socio-political structures had grown beyond the daily journalistic routines. He, however, cautioned the students that any such exercise of one’s rights entailed a cost, especially in a conflict zone.

Parvaiz talked about the need to make a conscious decision about what kind of reporting one should do, keeping in view the pressures one faced at a place like Kashmir. He also advised the students to share sensitive stories with some colleague, close associate or friend while working on them.

At Kashmir University, a day-long seminar on ‘Safe to speak: Securing freedom of expression in all media’ was organised by the Media Education Research Centre University of Kashmir.

The Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, Prof Talat Ahmad, presided over the inaugural session of the seminar at the Media House Auditorium, which will be attended by senior journalists, academicians and media professionals, some of whom will present their papers and share their experiences with the students.

Head of the centre and seminar coordinator Farooq Masudi talked about the importance of the seminar and said this year they had a significant theme for the World Press Freedom Day.

He hoped that the seminar would highlight new issues confronting the freedom of press. He said noted academicians and senior journalists would deliberate on the theme and share their experiences with the students.

Srinagar, may 3
A high-level delegation from the Learning Links Foundation (LLF), an NGO dedicated to ‘Empowering Lives’, visited Kashmir University today to offer training and employment opportunities to youth of the state.

The delegation as headed by Associate Director of the LLF Vinay Mehra.

The company intends to train education graduates and based on their performance, trained graduates and post graduates will be considered for placement in leading schools.

Mehra said their organisation had made a significant impact in the education sector and was working closely with the Education Departments of various states.

He further said the LLF was keen on collaborating with the KU for upgrading the school education in Kashmir.

While interacting with the team, Prof Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, KU, said organisations like the LLF were greatly contributing to the cause of education in the country and the KU intended to work closely with them to update the curriculum and enhance the skill sets of teachers of various schools in the Valley.

Earlier, Prof Shabir A Bhat, Director, Career Counselling Placement cell, CCPC, said the collaboration with the LLF was a serious effort to prepare capable and competent teachers.

“Our centre is working productively to channelise the potential of the youth and has initiated various measures to attract the leading national and multinational companies to recruit from Kashmir. As a result of these efforts, leading companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, HCL Info systems, ONGC etc are visiting for training and recruitment of youth,” said Prof Bhat.

The LLF has successfully supported the CSR activities of Intel Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Gates Foundation, Texas Instruments, HP Education Programs, Adobe, Education Programs over a period of 10 years.

It has also trained 1.75 million teachers from 18 states and 40,000 schools. Besides these, over 35,000 teacher educators have been trained by the LLF as master trainers from 65 universities.

Srinagar, May 3
Philips Electronics has decided to train engineers of the Mechanical Engineering Department (MED), Kashmir, for the operation and maintenance of various machines in the Kashmir hospitals.

“The company agreed to develop a service back-up unit in addition to the already present sales centre in the valley for their product range.

They have also agreed to train some of the engineers of the MED, Kashmir, working in hospitals for the operation and maintenance of various products,” said Shafat Ahmed Chishti, Chief Engineer, MED, Kashmir.

The MED is entrusted with the job of supervision, operation and maintenance of the mechanical system of the hospitals.

A team of Philips Electronics India Ltd, New Delhi, gave a presentation at the MED, Shalteng.

Senior engineers of the MED, Medical Superintendents of various hospitals, consultants and other reputed doctors from the associated hospitals were present on the occasion. 

Srinagar, May 3
The District president of Peoples’ Conference (PC), Srinagar, Syed Owais Qadri, today said the Idgah and Zadibal constituencies in Srinagar were glaring examples of the malice and contempt that the National Conference had for the people of Shaher-e-Khaas (old city).

A PC statement said Qadri today conducted tours of the Zadibal and Idgah constituencies, along with PC functionaries.

“Srinagar has suffered serious economic and infrastructural setbacks in the past two decades and the National Conference will not be allowed to realise its devious dream of converting this historic and beautiful city into a slum. MLAs of the National Conference have plundered and misappropriated the money meant for basic development works in Shaher-e-Khaas and there is a deep-rooted nexus of corruption between NC MLAs, their relatives and various proxy-contractors,” he said.

“The PC would expose such nexuses soon,” he added.

Kupwara, May 3
The Chief Medical Officer, Kupwara, Dr Aleem Ahmad, assisted by two drug inspectors, naib tehsildars and Kupwara SHO conducted a surprise check of medical stores here and destroyed expired drugs.

The CMO warned the chemists to refrain from selling spurious and expired medicines or face stern action under the law. The team of officials checked all medical shops in the town.

The officer said medical stores would be checked everywhere in the district in a phased manner. “We are planning to carry out such checks in major towns of the district next week. We want to ensure that no chemist indulges in selling or purchase of expiry or spurious drugs,” said the CMO. The team also visited the Regipora market of the town and checked medical stores for spurious or expired drugs.

They destroyed some expired drugs. “We found some drugs expired and destroyed them on the spot. I have warned the chemists of stern action if they were found selling or possessing expired drugs in their medical stores,” said the CMO.

People have hailed the move and hoped that such checks would be conducted at regular intervals. — OC