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57 pc excess rain this season so far
JAKFED scam: Probe panel finds key documents missing
Horticulture mission, krishi yojna a non-starter
Five local, four Pak ultras leading militancy in Valley |
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Governor reviews facilities at Amarnath yatra camps
10 more villages come under jurisdiction of Pahalgam Development Authority
The Lidder flows through Pahalgam in south Kashmir. Tribune photo: Yawar Kabli
State politicians going the e-way for higher
visibility
High demand for imported dates in Valley during Ramadan
A shopkeeper sells dates in Srinagar. A Tribune file photo
PDP does not believe in political exploitation: Mehbooba
Arms, ammunition seized in Valley
Open schooling Director meets Governor Two held with grenades in Kupwara Ladakh council poll on August 22
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57 pc excess rain this season so far
Jammu, July 17 The heavy monsoon has had a negative impact on vegetable crops so far. From June 1 to July 10, the state received 175.6 mm of rain. The total rain for this period last year was 111.5 mm. The overall rainfall across the country was 19 per cent more than this period last year, Dr Sonam Lotus, Director, IMD, J&K, said. Despite the fear of a drought-like situation last year, the monsoon remained normal. While the Jammu region received 14 per cent extra rain, Kashmir had a shortfall of 19 per cent. A senior official with the Agriculture Department said the frequent rain were beneficial for irrigation, groundwater table and the paddy crop, but would affect other crops, particularly vegetables. Dev Raj, president of the RS Pura Basmati Growers Association, said the good monsoon had reduced the ordeal of farmers as they had almost completed paddy sowing. Monsoon showers reduced the dependence of farmers on water from canals and tube wells. He said they sometimes faced problems in lifting water from tube wells because of erratic power supply. In the Bishnah and RS Pura areas along the border with Pakistan, farmers cultivated paddy, including the famous 'basmati' variety, on about 40,000 hectares, he said. Unlike last year, the frequent rain had revived hopes of farmers for a good paddy yield this year. According to an estimate, nearly 2.5 lakh families were cultivating 'basmati' in the RS Pura, Bishnah, Ramgarh and Marh areas. Tejinder Singh, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Council, said barring the hilly districts, including Ramban, Doda and parts of Udhampur, the monsoon had remained normal so far. If the prevailing conditions continued, those would have an impact on overall rice production. He said there was an adverse impact on vegetable crops across the region following heavy rain. Unlike other states, where weather-related information was disseminated among farmers well in advance, there was no such provision in Jammu and Kashmir. The government had decided to set up 23 agrometeorology units in the state to disseminate information among farmers, but the proposal was gathering dust in the corridors of power, he said. |
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JAKFED scam: Probe panel finds key documents missing
Jammu, July 17 The House Committee of the Legislative Council, which was constituted to look into charges of embezzlement and misappropriation in JAKFED, today summoned senior officers of the organisation in connection with the ongoing probe. Sources said the officers who were summoned by the committee to submit property statements made startling disclosures and told the panel that most of the financial statements were missing but no FIR had been lodged to report the missing documents. “It seems that those who were at the helm of the affairs have deliberately misplaced such important documents to hide the misdeeds and embezzlement,” a source said, adding that the House Committee had decided to go through all available documents to expose those who were responsible for this Rs 300-crore scam. As names of some influential persons have surfaced in the scam during the initial investigation, the House Committee has decided to intensify the probe to expose the “big sharks”. The House Committee was constituted on April 16 this year and today was the fifth sitting of the House Committee, which was presided over by Congress leader and Member of the Legislative Council Ravinder Sharma. The next meeting of the committee has been fixed on July 29. “We are digging out more and more documents and records to reach a conclusion. We have decided to investigate from the procedure of procurement to the system of distribution,” Ravinder Sharma said while admitting that many important financial documents were untraceable. Meanwhile, according to an official handout issued here today, the House Committee directed officers of JAKFED to submit property statements in the next meeting. The officers were directed to submit the report of the inquiry committee which was earlier constituted by the
government to inquire into the bungling in the organisation. The committee also directed the authorities concerned to disclose how much subsidy was received from the Centre and to whom was it disbursed. It sought a detailed report of the destroyed records of JAKFED and details of
Rs 50 crore which was drawn on June 30, 1992. Rs 300-crore scam
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Horticulture mission, krishi yojna a non-starter
Jammu, July 17 Farmers visiting district agriculture offices to avail themselves of the benefits of Centrally sponsored schemes return empty handed as they get the reply from officials concerned that they were yet to receive funds from the Finance Department. The state of affairs negates the state government’s much-touted claim that the agricultural sector is on its priority list and is the backbone of the economy of the state with over 65 per cent of its population depending on agriculture and allied sectors. Official sources said the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India, released Rs 3.1 crore on June 4 as the first instalment to Jammu and Kashmir under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna for this fiscal. “The released amount was 50 per cent of total funds to be provided to Jammu and Kashmir under the scheme. The assistance was in the form of 100 per cent grant,” the sources said. The Central department released Rs 7.95 crore on June 3 under the Horticulture Mission for North-East and Himalayan States to Jammu and Kashmir for implementing different components of the scheme as the first instalment for 2013-14. “Even after a month-and-a-half of the release of funds by the Union ministry, the state Finance Department is yet to release the funds to district-level officers,” the sources said. “Farmers could have used the funds for digging bore wells and purchasing agriculture tools, but are still deprived of the amount despite completing the sowing of paddy in the state,” the sources said. Tajinder Singh, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Council, said there was no proper planning vis-à-vis the release of funds under Centrally sponsored schemes meant for marginal farmers. “Jawaharlal Nehru had remarked that everything else could wait, but not agriculture. The government seems to have forgotten this as funds meant for farming are never released on time,” he said. “Last year, 46 per cent of the funds under Centrally sponsored schemes remained unspent. It puts a question mark on the sincerity of the state government,” he added. Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Agriculture, claimed that the Finance Department released the funds under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana yesterday and district offices would get the funds soon. Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Minister of State for Horticulture, said funds provided under the Horticulture Mission for North-East and Himalayan States were yet to be released. “The funds will be provided to farmers immediately after the department released those,” he said.
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Five local, four Pak ultras leading militancy in Valley
Srinagar, July 17 No other militant outfit, whose numbers once ranged in dozens, is active in the region, according to police records. In recent years, militancy had receded to record levels in Kashmir as most of the commanders and cadres of militant outfits were killed in gunfights, diminishing their capacity to carry out large-scale attacks. However, since March this year, militants have carried out deadly attacks and ambushes in the region, killing more than 30 soldiers, paramilitary personnel and policemen, including 16 fatalities in Srinagar. The five local militants, categorised as ‘the most wanted’, include Qayoom Najar who operates in the Sopore area and Talib Lali who operates in the Bandipora area. Qayoom is Hizbul Mujahideen commander for Sopore and Talib is the group’s commander for Bandipora in north Kashmir, according to a confidential police document. Sajad Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Srinagar’s Zewan area, is Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, who had recently featured along with two others in a ‘wanted’ poster pasted by the police in several parts of Srinagar. Sajad became a militant five to six year ago and has since been operating in south Kashmir, with his occasional sightings being reported in the city, a police officer said. Mohammad Muzaffar Naikoo is Lashkar-e-Toiba’s district commander in the Sopore region. A police officer, however, said the militant from Sopore is operating as a “freelancer” since the arrest of the group’s divisional commander, Fawad, alias Fahadullah, in April, which wiped out the group from the area. Bilal Ahmad Bhat, who operates in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and is associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba, is the last of the five local commanders who have been categorised as ‘A plus plus’ or as most wanted by the police. He is a resident of Pulwama district. Among the four Pakistani nationals leading militancy in Kashmir is Qasim, reported to have been in the Valley for the last nearly three years and operates from south Kashmir. Qasim and Sajad, along with another local militant, Irshad Ahmad Gania, a resident of nearby Awantipora, who became a militant nearly two years ago, are suspected to have carried out the ambush on the Army on the city outskirts last month, in which eight soldiers were killed and 16 injured. Another foreign militant leading the region’s militancy is Qari Yasir. In police records, Qari is the divisional commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad and operates from the dense forest of the Lolab region of frontier Kupwara district. Another Jaish-e-Mohammad commander operating from north Kashmir is Hamza Kocha, a Pakistani national, according to police records. In central Kashmir, Pakistani militant, Huraira, operates in the Kangan-Theed forest belt which touches the outskirts of Srinagar city and a large swathe of Ganderbal district. Huraira is among the ‘most wanted’ militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba in the region. The number of militants operating in the Kashmir valley is estimated to be around 130 to 150.
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Governor reviews facilities at Amarnath yatra camps Srinagar, July 17 The Governor, accompanied by Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, inspected arrangements at Sheshnag and Chandanwari and held meetings with camp directors and other officials. He inspected the functioning of the access control gate at Chandanwari and CCTV cameras and held discussions with the camp director, the Deputy Commissioner, the Senior Superintendent of Police and other officers about the difficulties faced by the pilgrims. The Governor called upon the camp director and the district authorities to ensure that duly registered pilgrims did not face any inconvenience. At Chandanwari, the Governor inaugurated a free medical camp set up by the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a Kolkata-based NGO. He appreciated the organisation’s gesture and enquired about the medicare facilities and other support made available by it to the pilgrims. He also interacted with the pilgrims and ponywallas and listened to their suggestions about the yatra arrangements. Later, the Governor did an intensive inspection of the Nunwan base camp and took stock of various arrangements and logistics to facilitate the pilgrims. During an inspection of the Base Hospital at the camp, he interacted with doctors, enquired about the difficulties faced in the functioning of the hospital, spoke to some of the pilgrims admitted to the hospital and advised the doctors to ensure against any ill person being allowed to undertake the pilgrimage. He also advised the doctors to refer all seriously ill pilgrims to hospitals at Srinagar. He told langar organisations to maintain hygienic conditions and cleanliness in and around their langars and serve food to the pilgrims strictly as per the prescribed menu. The Governor undertook a detailed review of the functioning of the sewage treatment plant, water and power supply and sanitation measures. He reiterated earlier directions to camp officers to ensure cleanliness in and around the camp. Later, the Governor chaired a high-level review meeting at the Nunwan base camp. Choudhary said all arrangements at base camps and camps en route were satisfactory as per the action plan. Vijay Kumar, DIG, Anantnag; Farooq Ahmad Lone, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; and RK Jalla, SSP, Anantnag; were present.
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10 more villages come under jurisdiction of Pahalgam Development Authority
Srinagar, July 17 The matter was listed before a division bench of the high court, comprising Justices Virender Singh and Muzaffar Hussain Attar, which is hearing a PIL about the Pahalgam Master Plan violations filed by the Pahalgam Peoples’ Welfare Organisation. On May 10, the high court had granted the state government authorities two more months to complete the revision of the Pahalgam Master Plan. However, in the compliance report submitted by the Chief Town Planner through the advocate general, the court had been requested to grant them three more months to complete the exercise on many grounds. In the compliance report by the Chief Town Planner, it has been submitted that the ‘base map’ of the local areas has been completed and digitised and boundaries of the PDA have been extended by including 10 villages under its jurisdiction. “Boundaries of the PDA were extended by including these villages under its jurisdiction vide SRO-258 dated May 16, 2013, which has increased the survey work. Hence, additional time is needed for completion of the works,” the Chief Town Planner submitted in his report while seeking more time to complete the revision of Pahalgam Master Plan. The report further stated that information on demarcation of forest and wildlife boundaries were still awaited from the wildlife authorities of J&K. It said that information regarding the latest registration of hotels and guest house and figures related to tourist inflow to Pahalgam for the last five years was still awaited. The bench granted the authorities, including Chief Town Planner, three months to complete the revision of the master plan. It directed the authorities to complete the survey of the 10 villages included in the boundaries of the PDA. WHAT THE PIL SAID
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HC bans construction along Lidder river
Srinagar, July 17 The directions were issued by a division Bench comprising Justice Verinder Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar today while observing that no water stream would be left in the Kashmir Valley if steps for their protection and conservation were not taken immediately. The snow-fed 73-km Lidder flows through the Pahalgam tourist resort. Apart from being one of the main tourist attractions of the region, the river is the main source of fresh drinking water in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir and its adjoining areas. The High Court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Pahalgam Peoples Welfare Organisation about Pahalgam Master Plan violations. As the matter came up for hearing today, the Bench expressed concern over reports about unabated construction along the banks of the Lidder in south Kashmir. The Bench observed that the water of the Lidder had become a carrier of many life-threatening diseases like hepatitis due to pollution. It further observed that the Lidder would be reduced to a nullah after some time going by the manner in which construction was going on along its banks. On this, Advocate-General M Ishaq Qadri submitted that the government was not averse to protecting fresh water streams and water bodies. "Protect whatever you can protect for your progeny," Justice Attar observed. After this observation, the Bench ordered a ban on new construction up to 200 metres on both sides of the banks of the Lidder. It directed the Chief Engineer of the I&FC to ensure that no construction took place along the banks of the river. The Bench directed him to file a report within two months about illegal construction along the banks.
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State politicians going the e-way for higher
visibility
Jammu, July 17 The Chief Minister is mostly followed by youth from outside the state, critics, journalists and his friends. His tweets on various issues keeps his page filled with comments from across the country. The trend of keeping in touch with net-savvy
people is a strategy adopted by politicians of various countries in the West. Many politicians from the state are following suit and have come up with pages and accounts on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly Mehbooba
Mufti has a page on Facebook which is liked by 2,677 people. Apart from Omar, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz has an account on Twitter, but is followed by only 20 people. Separatist leaders, too, are visible on these social networking sites. Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has an account on Twitter in which he is followed by 5,765 people. Apart from these high-profile leaders, second-rung leaders, including ministers, are active on Facebook and share their pictures related to various events. Legislative Assembly Speaker Mubarak
Gul, Minister for PHE Sham Lal Sharma and Housing and Horticulture Minister Raman Bhalla are active members on Facebook who share their pictures and views from time to time. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo’s page on
Facebook is liked by 7,118 people.
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High demand for imported dates in Valley during Ramadan
Srinagar, July 17 According to figures with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Kashmir Fruits Mandi Association, the daily sale of dates in the Valley varies from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 14 lakh. Dates constitute one of the most recommended diets for the month of fasting and are providing huge benefits to traders here. Abdul Hamid Punjabi, KCCI Chairman, said imports from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries increased around Ramadan due to the huge demand in the Valley. “Fresh dates in particular are in high demand for Ramadan. These are usually grown in the desert areas of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These dates are imported in large quantities, mainly in the Delhi and Mumbai markets. Our traders get these dates from there,” he said. He added that imported dates were generating good profit for traders based in Kashmir over the last few years due to high demand and increase in prices. “Date imports were between Rs 5 crore and Rs 6 crore last year. Dates are proving good business for shopkeepers.” The Srinagar Municipal Corporation had recently launched an inspection drive wherein it seized substandard dates from markets. Date-sellers maintained that the quality of dates was not under their control and prices usually varied with packaging and contents. “The cost depends on packaging and the place from where the dates are brought. One kg of dates is available even for Rs 80, but the shell will be hard and the sugar content low. Dates available in airtight boxes are priced high. The dates brought from West Asia are of the best quality,” said Ghulam Hassan, date-dealer based in Srinagar. Festive fare
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PDP does not believe in political exploitation: Mehbooba
Srinagar, July 17 Addressing a workers’ meeting at Noorabad in south Kashmir, Mehbooba said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had made the most significant contribution to the state without ever resorting to a political rhetoric. She said he had been able during his Chief Ministership to facilitate a national consensus on the resolution of the Kashmir issue. “Even though Mufti Mohammad Sayeed headed a government supported by its major partner, Congress, he was able to rope in NDA Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in conceding to the main elements of the resolution,” Mehbooba said. “The coalition government in 2003 could provide the confidence to Vajpayee to acknowledge the two main features of the resolution, addressing the Kashmir issue within the ambit of humanity (insaniyat) and extending a hand of friendship to Pakistan, acknowledging in the process the country’s role as a stakeholder in peace and resolution,” she said. “This historic development, Mehbooba said, took place when the National Conference (NC) was enjoying power at the Centre as an NDA coalition partner. Instead of using its huge and unprecedented mandate received from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the NC entered into an alliance with the BJP just to secure small favours such as Omar Abdullah's appointment as a junior minister in the Vajpayee government,” she
said.
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Arms, ammunition seized in Valley
Srinagar, July 17 “A cordon and search operation was launched by the Budgam police and security forces at Checki Karpora, Pakherpora. During the search, one AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of AK ammunition, six hand grenades and five UBGL grenades were seized,” a police spokesman said. A case has been registered. In another operation, the Anantnag police along with 40 Battalion and 90 Battalion of the CRPF busted a militant hideout at Larmoo village in Tral, Awantipora, and seized a large quantity of explosive material. The recoveries included 75 kg of Neo Gel 901, eight detonator plates, 500 gm of RDX, three bottles of potassium permanganate, a bottle of aluminium fine powder and 16 fuse conductors. The police has registered a case and investigations have been started.
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Srinagar, July 17
Sanyam Bhardwaj, Director, National Institute of Open Schooling, New Delhi, called on the Governor, NN
Vohra, here today. Bhardwaj briefed the Governor about initiatives being taken by the National Institute of Open Schooling for the promotion and strengthening of the open schooling system across the country with a view to popularising this mode of
learning. Bhardwaj also briefed the Governor about the implementation in the state of various components of this system of education and the measures under way to strengthen these.
The Governor stressed the need for all required measures being taken so that the maximum number of children from the state could benefit from this system.
— TNS
