Jammu, July 19
Ration card holders in rural parts of Jammu district are facing the worst food crisis these days as the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department has cut down the allocation of ration including rice, wheat etc by more than 50 per cent.

Official sources say, the rural areas of Jammu West (as per the CAPD department records), including Bhour Camp, Chatta, Gaddi Garh, Old Satwari, Raipur Satwari and parts of Marh block were the worst hit due to "reduction" in the allocation of foodgrains and ration to fair price shops, also called as ration depots, for the current month.

"At present, there are 38,000 Above Poverty Line (APL) and more than 4,000 Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card holders in Jammu West (Rural). As per the scale, the CAPD department is supposed to provide 15 kg rice per ration card per month and 20 kg wheat flour per ration card per month to the consumers but the fair price shops are unable to provide the ration as per scale these days," sources said.

Sources claimed that there was a requirement of 5,800 quintals rice and 7,600 quintals wheat flour to feed the ration card holders in the area. "As against the existing requirement, the CAPD department has allocated 1,100 quintals rice and 3,300 quintals wheat flour for the current month leading to chaotic situation in these areas," sources said.

A senior official of the department, who wished not to be named, said, "We had been facing numerous problems in distribution of allocated ration and sometimes it leads to heated exchange of words with ration card holders who are not ready to understand our compulsions."

Had the CAPD department allocated at least 4,200 quintals of wheat flour and 2,000 to 2,200 quintals of rice for this month, we would have been able to manage the things in that case too, the official added.

Director, CAPD, Jammu, GS Chib, said there was no question of allocating less share to any region or specific area. “We treat all areas equally and there is no question of allocating less quantity of ration in any specific rural area in Jammu. I will enquire from my subordinates and will find out the exact position,” he said.

The director, however, said people were being allocated ration as per the Census 2001. “Since 2001, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of ration card holders across the region. As and when the Central government adopts the figures of Census 2011 and subsequently releases the additional food grains, the left out families will be covered accordingly,” Chib said. The proposed Food Security Act would resolve the issue to a great extent, he said.

Jammu, July 19
After a gap of more than 18 years, the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has planned to develop two residential colonies in the outskirts of Jammu city. JDA has identified 850 Kanal of land at Kot Bhalwal and Birpur, in which more than 700 persons will get residential plots of different sizes.

In last 18 years, the population of Jammu has increased manifold due to migration because of militancy, particularly from Kashmir, from where both Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims had settled in Jammu. In addition, there has been a huge influx of people from the hilly districts of the Jammu region to Jammu city.

The population of Jammu is more than 15 lakh but the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has developed only seven colonies till date. Interestingly, the most well-planned Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar colonies were developed by the government in the early '60s and '70s. After these, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat, Roop Nagar and two more colonies were built till 1995. Thereafter it has been a complete full stop, which has resulted in the mushrooming of unauthorised colonies in Jammu.

“Population has increased and people need somewhere to live because of which so many unauthorised colonies have come up,” said Vice Chairman, JDA, Satish Nehru.

“We are developing two colonies, one in Birpur over 650 kanals, where more than 500 plots of different sizes will be available, and another at Kot Bhalwal over 200 kanals where about 200 persons will get plots of different sizes," he added.

On why the long gap of 18 years, Nehru said, "Whenever we identified land, someone came up with a stay notice from the court, or some technical problem came up, but hopefully these plots will be available for common people very soon."

JDA has assured that these plots will be available by January, 2014, the distribution of the plots will be on the basis of a lucky draw.

Madan Singh, a retired Government employee, who waited to several years for a new government colony to come up, said, "Finally, I had to buy a private land at Plaoura to build a house. Though I have a house but there are no basic amenities. There is acute shortage of water and erratic electric supply, no drainage with filth and garbage around." “It sounds good. If the JDA is developing some colonies, they should develop it in a faster way and some more colonies should be developed in and around Jammu in a planned way," he added.

Jammu, July 19
Sale of gutka and tobacco products continues despite a ban by the state government. The trade continues in Jammu city due to the ineffective measures taken by authorities concerned.

Gutka sachets being openly sold in Jammu. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh

Different brands of gutka are sold that too at a very high price. A pouch of Rs 2 is sold at Rs 5 and with the MRP of Rs 10 is sold at Rs 20. The only difference after the ban is that shopkeepers have stopped putting gutka sachets on display but their sale goes on.

A shopkeeper said, "The demand exists despite the ban. We had obtained huge stocks of gutka before the budget session expecting that the price of tobacco will increase but instead the government banned it. Those addicted are ready to pay more price for it as well. We sell it to earn money."

The ban on tobacco in the state was imposed on March 6 last, immediately after the government announced in the Assembly during the Budget Session that the Department of Finance had agreed to impose a ban on these products in the interest of residents. Satish Gupta, Drug Controller, Drugs and Control Organisation said, "We check the sale of tobacco. But the ban is only on the tobacco products with nicotine.”

Vinod Sharma, Health Officer, Jammu, said, “We send our teams regularly to the market to check the sale of gutka. Wherever gutka or tobacco is sold undercover, we keep a tab with the help of the police."

Jammu, July 19
Protests were held in a few pockets of the city soon after the Friday prayers, against the firing incident in Ramban in which four persons were killed on Thursday.

Hundreds came out on the National Highway at Narwal soon after the Friday prayer to protest against the firing incident at Ramban. This protest lasted about an hour, where they condemned the killings and shouted slogans against BSF and State Government.

Protestors blocked the National highway for about half an hour, which was later resumed by the police. Protests were held at some more places in Jammu, including Kachi Chawani, Janipur and Talab Khatikan.

No untoward incident occurred during the protests and the protests were held peacefully. Hundreds of people also came out of the Jamia Masjid at Talab Khatikan, Jammu after the Friday prayer and stared protesting against BSF and the state government. The protestors alleged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had failed to safeguard the lives of innocent persons of the state. The protestors later marched from Jamia Masjid to Shaheedi Chowk then back to Talab Khatikan. The entire market area was closed for hours during the protest. Special police teams were deployed to maintain law and order.

Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, AK Sahu, also appealed to the people to maintain peace and communal harmony, in the face of all provocations by some miscreants. “Do not believe in any kind of rumours and do not fall to any kind provocations miscreants who might try to capitalise on the situation," he warned.

Rajouri, July 19
A protest was triggered after Friday prayers in Rajouri district over yesterday’s killings at Gool area of Ramban district of Jammu division, in which four persons were killed in firing.

Hundreds of people gathered at Mandi Chowk, Rajouri, after the Friday prayers. They marched towards District Development Commissioner’s (DDC) office, passing through different routes of the city, shouting slogans against the state and Central Government.

The protesters passed through all city routes under strict deployment of police personnels and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), which was deployed here after the incident took place at Ramban. Lashing out at the state government, protesters demanded a strict legal action against those involved in the killing of civilians.

They ended their protest after the DDC, Faqir Chand Bhagat, assured them that proper action would be taken in the matter. Later, the Imam of Jamia Masjid, Rajouri, called for a one-day complete shutdown tomorrow to protest against the killings.

Katra

Demanding action against the BSF men involved in killing of civilians in Ramban, people held a protest demonstration here against the firing incident in the Gool area of Ramban. The protesters, who comprised Hindus and Muslims, raised slogans against the BSF and Ramban administration. Later, the people also called on Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, DDC, Reasi. The protesters staged peaceful demonstrations.

Jammu, July 19
The state is seeking central funding to cover the remaining districts for scanning population with lifestyle related diseases. The aim is to create a data bank of such patients as part of a project launched by the Union Health Ministry about two years ago.

So far the countrywide programme has covered only six districts of the state to detect and compile a profile of people affected by diseases like diabetes, cardio-vascular disorders and hypertension, to plan a new health policy for the country in the 21st Century.

In the first phase, the ministry had rolled out a screening programme in 21 states with the target to check 150 million persons in 100 districts of the country.

Officials said the government Health Department will soon submit a plan before the Centre for inclusion of the remaining 16 districts in the nationwide study. The state has 22 districts and a population of 1.25 crore as per the 2011 Census.

A year back, a survey conducted in six districts revealed an alarming data, 8.9 per cent of the state's population is affected with diabetes and high blood pressure, much higher than many other states. Reasons include high salt intake, stress and less physical activity.

Studies had further revealed that most of the patients are affected by Diabetes Mellitus Type-2, which is slowly making its inroads in small towns and rural areas and possibly linked with the changing dietary pattern among the major chunk of population in past two decades. “The centrally sponsored project had so far covered six districts of the state, three from Kashmir and three from Jammu region. We want to cover all the district now, so that the data could be used to formulate new health policies and plans," said Shabir Khan, Minister of State for Health.

Health experts say that the entire country is slowly going under the grip of diseases closely related to diet and lack of physical activity. People are now having better food, fast food has become common now while people seldom walk, which has contributed to an increase in the number of diabetic and hypertension patients and cardio-vascular problems.”

Jammu, July 19
The Annual Inter-College Competitions of University of Jammu (JU), organised by Directorate of Sports and Physical Education, will begin with the conduct of cross-country event on August 28.

The decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of the Physical Training Instructors(PTIs) and sports representatives of the participating colleges, held under the chairmanship of Director Prof DS Bhau on the university campus.

The meeting was attended by 31 representatives from affiliated colleges of the JU. The schedule for holding the sports events in 33 disciplines was finalised in the meeting.

All the events will take place on the university campus.

However, the Directorate has decided not to allot any of the events to the affiliated colleges this time and will hold the entire competition on its own. In the previous edition, the competitions were conducted by various affiliated colleges but there were reports of alleged non-professionalism.

The college representatives raised certain points with regard to the comfortable stay of participants from outside and put forth a demand for improved facilities.

The Director assured them that their suggestions would be looked into.

Instead of the JU campus, the cross country event will be held at a new identified route between Bhag-e-Bhau and Environment Park this time.

Sources said the Directorate of Sports had issued a strict directive to the participating colleges not to field any outsider players in the teams for the upcoming competitions, in violation of the norms. 

Jammu, July 19
Shubam Khajuria, the Under-19 cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir who has been selected in the Indian team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, today left for Chennai to join the team. Team India will fly to the Sri Lanka on July 21 to play three One Day Internationals matches and two four-day games.

Pardeep Khajuria, Shubam’s father, while talking to The Tribune, said his son was accompanied by his friends. “Our prime concern is that he should play better and bring more laurels to the state," he said.

Cricket Club honours Shubham

Patel Cricket Club honoured Shubham Khajuria, who has been selected for U-19 Indian Cricket team. He is the second cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to earn a place in Indian squad.

He was accorded a warm welcome by citizens of Nanak Nagar at Ram Mandir. The chief guest on the occasion was Pappu Choudhary. Club members Sachin Singh, Madan Singh, Sunny Choudhary, Vijay Choudhary, Neeraj Sethi, Ankush Choudhary, Ravi Abrol and Pritam were also present on the occasion.

The speakers praised Shubham for bringing laurels to the state. They also appealed to the young generation to learn a lesson from Shubham.— TNS

Jammu, July 19
Vishu Club secured a berth in the semifinals of the ongoing Friendship Cup (night) Cricket Tournament, being played at DBN Ground, Mubarak Mandi. In the first quarterfinal, Vishu Club got the better of Senior Club, Mandi, in an exciting contest.

Batting first, Vishu Club accumulated 57 runs with Parshotam scoring 26 runs while Vishal contributed 15 runs. For Senior Club, Rahul took three wickets.

In reply, Senior Club managed 57 runs to make it a tie. Piyush and Rohit were the main scorers with 25 and 18 runs, respectively. For Vishu Club, Shubham took three wickets while Parshotam chipped in with one wicket.

To decide the winner, five chances were given to each team to strike at the wicket. Vishu Club managed to hit the wicket and was thus declared the winner. For his all-round performance, Parshotam was declared the man of the match.

Jammu, July 19
Surat Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, who is also the Adjudicating Officer under the Food Safety and Standard Act, today imposed a fine totalling Rs 15,000 on three defaulters.

The defaulters were identified as Shakti Kumar of Basantgarh and Vishaw Kishore and Rakesh Gupta of Udhampur.

All defaulters were found selling substandard food items in a raid by Zulafkar Ali, Food Safety Officer, Udhampur and Sanjeev Kumar, Food Safety Officer, Ramnagar Block.

All the three offenders confessed their offence and were asked to desist from carrying out such activities in the future.

The Adjudicating Officer asked the Food Safety Officer and the designated officer under the Act to launch public awareness programmes by organising camps at various locations across the district.

Srinagar, July 19
As many as 19,000 youth will be trained under the Himayat programme during the current financial year. This was stated by an official after Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday chaired a meeting here on Wednesday to review the progress of Himayat scheme in the state.

Under the programme, one lakh school drop-outs and under graduate youth from all over the state are expected to be provided placement-linked skill training.

“In addition to four existing Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) which act as training partners and identify jobs available and conduct training as per the job requirements, five new PIAs have been selected to work under Himayat and sanctioned projects for starting their training from this year,” the official added.

Srinagar, July 19
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) carried out a demolition drive today in uptown Srinagar residential localities of Hyderpora, Natipora and Chanpora.

At least 15 illegal structures were razed in the Humhama area by a team of enforcement officers. The demolition was carried out in Almadar Colony, Gogo Land, Hill View Colony and Shiekhpora Colony of Humhama.

Eighteen illegal constructions were demolished, under the supervision of Chief Enforcement Officer Hakeem Aijaz, of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation at an initial stage in various areas, including Chanpora, Natipora, Iram Lane, Iqbal Lane, Methan, Mehboob Colony and Shah Hamdaan colony.