Srinagar, August 14
The Internet shutdown in the the state continued for the fourth day today and is likely to be restored after August 15.

Official sources in the Crime and Investigation Department (CID) said in the wake of the high security alert for Independence Day, resumption of the Internet services before August 15 was unlikely.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), CID wing, J&K Police, ND Wani said the restrictions on the Internet had been put in place on the directions by the state Home Department.

“The internet shutdown has been put into force on the directions of the Home Department. The decision of lifting the restrictions is likely to be taken by them,” Wani told The Tribune.

The J&K Government had directed the state-owned and private telecom service providers to suspend the Internet services on Sunday after some people were found to be "propagating hateful messages" online over clashes in Kishtwar.

This is the third time this year when the Internet services have been rendered paralysed in the state. Previously, Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging and killing of two Baramulla youths allegedly in the Army firing had led to snapping of the services in the state.

Meanwhile, due to the suspended services, work in banks, schools/colleges and offices remained affected today.

The State Information Technology Department and various IT offices in Software Technology Park at Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, were specially affected by the disruption.

“Online marketing is the mainstay of our business. We serve companies and people from all over the world through online marketing. For the past four days, we have not been able to work properly. Even the server speed of the BSNL broadband network is too slow,” said Muazzam Ahmad, a software engineer in an IT firm.

Bank employees said online banking transactions had been hit due to the situation.

“Our coordination, databases and even customer servicing are based on internet services. In the wake of disruption of Internet services, we are facing a lot of problems and so do our customers,” said Adnan Ahmad, an employee of Axis Bank, Jehangir Chowk.

Srinagar, August 14
Criticising the government for the Internet blockade, the Doctors Association Kashmir has said it has effected healthcare facilities in the hospitals.

In a statement issued today, president of the Doctors Association Kashmir Dr Nissar-ul-Haque castigated the government for disrupting the Internet services.

He said the people in the state had been pushed back to the ape age.

"A doctor without the Internet access in modern age is like a boat without an oar. Medicine is changing fast, every day, every minute and a doctor has to stay updated for efficient and quality patient care which is a fundamental right of every person," he said.

"Every day, a doctor needs Internet access to look for new diseases, newer diagnostic tools, newer medicines, newer surgical techniques etc for modern and advanced care.”

“At times, doctors need to discuss problems of patients with doctors across the world for a better or a second opinion and this is done through the Internet," the Doctors Association Kashmir president president said.

Many patients, he said, interacted with their doctors for appointments and consultations on the Internet.

"Moreover, they come to know about their disease, diet, precautions etc through the Internet. However, we have been caged and cocooned in this modern age,” he said.

“This is a human rights violation and slavery at its worst," the Doctors Association Kashmir president president said.

Srinagar, August 14
Meteorological Department officials have forecast light to moderate rainfall at several places across the state in the next 24 hours.

An official of the Meteorological Department said while Srinagar had recorded 43.5 mm rainfall since last night till 5.30 pm today, the border town Kupwara had recorded 83.7 mm rainfall. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded the maximum rainfall in the Valley at 93.8 mm since last night. Tourist resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded 79.7 mm rainfall.

Due to incessant rain, temperatures across the Valley continued to dip further. Srinagar recorded 19.4 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature as compared to yesterday’s 20.5. The city had recorded 31.9 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature on Monday. Qazigund, Kupwara and Pahalgam recorded 18, 19.2 and 15 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperatures, respectively.

Ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir remained the coldest place in the Valley at 14.0 and 7.5 degrees Celsius as the maximum and minimum temperatures. Srinagar, Qazigund, Kupwara and Pahalgam recorded 16.4, 15.2, 16.7 and 13.1 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperatures, respectively.

However, the rain yesterday brought respite from the prolonged hot weather conditions. The day temperatures here had usually been hovering over the 30-degrees Celsius mark during the past few weeks. 

Batote, August 14
A young couple drowned in a nullah at Gool in Ramban district this afternoon.

Police sources said a newly married couple, identified as Suppardin Mir (25) and his wife Perveza (22), was washed away in an inundated Duksar nallah at Bad Kund Sangaldan while they were crossing it. Their bodies were recovered by the police with the help of some locals after three hours of search.

Meanwhile, a house belonging to local panch Geeta collapsed at Bakshi Nagar Mohalla of Metra Ramban this afternoon. Many houses developed cracks due to the heavy downpour in several parts of the district today. The construction work on the Chenani-Nashri tunnel site was also disrupted due to the flooding of the area. — OC

Srinagar, August 14
With most of the roads inundated in the city due to heavy rains since Tuesday morning, the tall claims of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department about facilitating a better road infrastructure have fallen flat.

Rain water gushed into shops and commercial complexes of the city, forcing owners to shut them.

Owing to poor drainage system and road-digging work, waterlogging has become worse as a brief spell of rain was enough to flood streets of the summer capital.

The Urban Housing and Development Corporation's extensive sewerage treatment plant and sewerage pipeline project, which may prove to be effective in controlling waterlogging, are yet to be made functional.

The project includes laying trunk, lateral and raider sewer lines across major residential and commercial areas of the city as well as providing house connections, which the authorities hope would be able to solve the drainage problems.

"The roads and residential areas in Srinagar are usually inundated with rainwater even if it pours for a short period of time. It becomes difficult to walk in the lanes, bylanes of the residential colonies as the roads haven't been repaired for years. The roads get easily choked due to rains posing inconvenience to drivers and pedestrians alike," said Tanveer Ahmad Beigh, a resident of Nawakadal, Srinagar.

Areas such as Safa Kadal, Eidgah, Nowshehra, Soura and Ali Jan Road, Gulshan Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Gogji Bagh, Wazir Bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh and Bemina were flooded with rainwater.

In the commercial areas such as Jehangir Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Budshah Bridge, Amira Kadal Bridge, shopkeepers had a tough time with the rainwater gushing into their shops.

Srinagar, August 14
Even as incessant rainfall during the last two days suspended the Amarnath yatra, the Chhari Mubarak (holy mace) will commence its journey to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva on Friday.

Due to the continuing downpour, the forward movement of Amarnath yatris towards the holy cave was suspended today from both the Baltal and Nunwan base camps, an official said.

While no yatri was able to proceed to the cave shrine today, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Lone said 31 pilgrims had left for the onward journey from Nunwan yesterday. Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez said no yatri was able to leave from Baltal for the onward journey today as well as yesterday.

Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Navin K Choudhary said the yatra had been suspended in the interest of the safety and security of yatris. — TNS

Srinagar, August 14
Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday today reviewed the progress of the survey being conducted on the manual scavengers in statutory towns and cities of the state.

During the meeting, Director General Economics and Statistics, B R Lachotra, who is also the state nodal officer for conducting of survey on manual scavengers, apprised Khandey about the steps taken to ensure the launch of the survey.

The Chief Secretary was informed that all the District Development Commissioners of the state had been approached to furnish information regarding self declaration centres, requirement of manpower, like enumerator, supervisors and data punching operators, besides requirement of funds for carrying out the survey, an official statement said.

Khanday exhorted upon all the officers to ensure coordination for completion of the survey, as desired by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in view of the directions of the Supreme Court, the statement added.

The Chief Secretary also asked the Director, Census Operations, to furnish the district-wise details of enumeration blocks and unsanitary latrines.

He asked the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to personally intervene in the matter to get the requisite information furnished to the state nodal officer.

The meeting also decided that the secretary, Social Welfare Department, will approach the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for release of requisite funds for the conduct of the survey, the statement said. 

Anantnag, August 14
After four days of shut-down following the sectarian clashes, Pulwama and its peripheral areas limped back to normalcy today.

According to the reports, shops and other commercial establishments resumed business in the afternoon. However, the schools and colleges remained closed in the area.

The traffic was also very thin throughout the day.

“The decision to open the shops was taken by the shopkeepers after two days of relative calm in the area,” reports said, adding that the deployment of police and CRPF personnel too had been curtailed considerably.

Clashes erupted in Pulwama on Sunday evening following the communal violence in Jammu’s Kishtwar area.

People of the town were protesting against the escalating violence in Kishtwar, which spilled over to many other parts of the Jammu region.

More than a dozen people were injured in clashes on Sunday evening in Pulwama, following which police conducted raids and arrested over a dozen youth.

The locals, meanwhile, asked for immediate release of the detained youth and observed a complete shut-down on Monday and Tuesday in support of their demand.

The police, however, said that more people were named in the FIR and they were trying to trace them out.

“There are more people who have been named in the FIR. However, they are absconding. We are trying to trace them,” a police source revealed.

Samba, August 14
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader Sunny Sangral has demanded enhancement of compensation to the victims of Kishtwar violence from Rs 2 lakh to 5 lakh.

While chairing a meeting of party activists and leaders, he said the state government should not take people for granted by announcing a meagre sum of Rs 2 lakh, as most of them had lost their entire property in vandalism.

He said people had suffered losses due to the failure of the state government and therefore, it was their responsibility to provide them adequate compensation. "Most of the families have lost their houses and shops and a sum of Rs 2 lakh is a very meagre amount to rebuild houses and open shops afresh," Sangral said.

He expressed concern over the losses suffered by the people from the Scheduled Castes (SC) and other backward families.

He said people hailing from SC and other backward families had established their businesses after a lot of hardships.

The shops and establishments of all such families have been damaged in the violence and they don’t have any other source of sustenance. Besides, government job must be provided to one of the family members. 

Srinagar, August 14
The orientation training programme for the second phase of tehsil Sopore and Rafiabad will be held on August 17 at the Dak Bungalow, Sopore, this was informed here today.

For the selected Haj pilgrims from tehsil Baramulla, Uri and Boniyar, the orientation will be held on August 18 at the Dak Bungalow, Baramulla, while for the intending Haj pilgrims of Pattan and Tangmarg, the programme will be held on August 19, at the Town Hall, Kunzer, the Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Baramulla, informed.

Meanwhile, all the Haj pilgrims from tehsil Kulagam, who have been selected for the annual pilgrimage by the State Haj Committee, have been informed that the orientation training programme for the second phase will be held on August 17. The orientation programme from the intending pilgrims of tehsil Devsar and D H Pora has been scheduled for August 18, at Markazi Jamia Masjid, Kulgam.

Jammu, August 14
As per the approved 12th Plan outlay for the Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), the estimated allocation available for J&K, as per the poverty ratio, is fixed at Rs 110 crore.

Sources said keeping in view the larger coverage and the change in the funding pattern proposed, the additional allocation that would have to be provided to J&K for the current five year period would be approximately Rs 320.80 crore. This will be met out of the approved 12th Plan NRLM outlay.

The Union Ministry has also suggested to all states, including J&K, to set up a national-level society- National Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (NRLPS)-under NRLM in order to effectively implement the programmes of the scheme effectively.

"It is mandatory for states to set up a state-level autonomous organisation to undertake implementation of the programme on a mission mode. They are also required to set up dedicated implementation structures at state, district and block levels," the ministry said. The main objective of the society is to continuously build capacities of the state rural livelihoods missions in planning, implementing and monitoring the programme.

"At the Central level, however, the mission's work is presently being managed by a programme division of the ministry, with the help of a technical unit, the NRLM Mission Management Unit (NMMU). The working group of the Planning Commission has recommended setting up of an autonomous, adequately staffed, professionally managed and empowered agency at the national level to implement the NRLM. It is, therefore agreed to set up a NRLPS under the Societies Registration Act, which will act as the technical support unit of the NRLM programme division," it added.

Sources said as the SGSY scheme is no more in operation from this year, the Union Ministry had asked all state authorities to take stock of any unspent balance available under this scheme. The balance available under the SGSY after taking into account any committed liabilities would be either adjusted against the current year's release under the NRLM or be reverted to the Ministry for utilisation against its other on-going schemes.

Pertinently, the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) also known as Aajeevika, was approved on June 26, 2010. The framework for the implementation of the NRLM was approved by the Union Ministry on December 9, 2010, and the scheme was formally launched on June 3, 2011. 

Srinagar, August 14
Minister for Roads & Buildings and Mechanical Engineering, Abdul Majid Wani, today called for the suspension of the staff members of the R&B sub-division, Qazigund, for dereliction of duty.

Wani, who was on a surprise visit, went around various sections of the sub-division office and took stock of its functioning, an official spokesman said.

He checked the attendance register and found that only two officials - one from the clerical staff and one orderly - was present in the office, the spokesman said, adding that assistant executive engineer, Bilal Ahmad Rishi, junior engineers and other staff members were found absent from duty.

The minister directed the Commissioner Secretary, R&B to put the absentees under suspension with immediate effect for dereliction of duty, he said. 

Srinagar, August 14
Dr Parvez Kaul, Professor and Head of the Department, Medicine, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), has been selected as a core member and an expert in the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

The Centre provides information, tools, and briefings to NITAGIs and the global immunisation community to improve evidence-based decision making on vaccines and immunisation at the national level. Dr Kaul expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for his selection and said that he will make every possible effort to contribute towards the mission undertaken by the group.