Srinagar, October 14
Every time Eid draws near, the authorities come forward with an ‘elaborate plan’ to deal with the traffic problems that arise due to rush of shoppers.

While the areas in and around Lal Chowk remain the main shopping spots during festivals, this year also a traffic plan, which was termed ‘elaborate’ after being announced by the government, had been put in place. However, the plan has only worsened the traffic situation and commuters now want the Traffic Police to look ‘beyond Lal Chowk’.

“The traffic situation in the city, especially in the last two days, has been horrible. To ease traffic at Lal Chowk, the rest of the city has been taken to ransom,” said Dr Imran Nabi, a resident.

“The authorities need to look beyond Lal Chowk. It seems the authorities want the traffic movement smooth only there. Buses that are supposed to pass through Lal Chowk choke other streets,” he said. However, an official said the plan had been put in place to streamline traffic ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. He said as per the plan, no passenger vehicle was allowed to ply on Residency Road from Radio Kashmir up to Hari Singh High Street on one side and along Maulana Azad Road from the SRTC crossing to Jahangir Chowk on the other.

While restrictions were put in place from October 13, the official said people had been asked to strictly utilise parking places. However, locals say action against wrongly parked vehicles is being taken only at the city centre.

“While it is common to see wrongly parked vehicles being towed away in and around Lal Chowk, one rarely sees the same happening in the other markets. The authorities need to understand that traffic needs to be streamlined in the entire city and not just at Lal Chowk," said a local.

Srinagar, October 14
On the eve of Eid, when the queries and complaints from the people on the supply of essential supplies run high, the toll free grievance and complaints number of the Consumer Affairs and Price Distribution (CAPD) is out of order.

The CAPD, like many other public departments in the state, had started the service of helpline numbers for a quick disposal of queries of consumers. However, the number is not working and it is causing a lot of inconvenience to the people.

The CAPD had listed only one number (9205040479) as its toll free helpline number.

To add to the furor of the people, the complaints and queries have also increased following the non-availability of the essential supplies at various CAPD depots and their closure at various places in the city.

“The CAPD leaves no stone unturned in publicising its helpline services when the requirement of essential supplies increases manifold. To add to the problem, these numbers do not work. It has become a regular feature now. Last Eid also, a cross-section of people had appealed to the authorities of put their helpline services in order,” Amir Khan, a local shopkeeper, said.

In last few days, the queries related to food and essential commodities have only increased, but the authorities have not intensified their measures to solve the problems.

Despite holding many review meetings, shortage of essential commodities and price hike are still persistent in the Valley.

Srinagar, October 14
The separatists in Kashmir have urged the people to celebrate Eid with austerity and simplicity.

Eid will be celebrated on Wednesday and the shopping spree in Srinagar and other major towns is on the peak.

“Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has felicitated the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the auspicious occasion and has laid stress on simplicity,” Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said in a statement here.

“It is my sincere appeal that while celebrating Eid, take into account the guidelines and principles laid by Islam,” Geelani said in his Eid message, adding that “people should avoid such practices as these are against the dignity and symbols of Islam”.

“Islam teaches its followers to live a life of simplicity. The prevailing grim situation also demands that we follow this principle in letter and spirit in order to avoid the evil practise of extravagance,” Geelani said in the statement on the festival of Eid.

In his Eid message, moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz also appealed to the people to celebrate the festival with simplicity.

Srinagar, October 14
City malls have been visiting a rush of people as the festival of Eid-ul-Zuha nears.

Despite the sky-rocketing prices of the branded garment, footwear, accessories and house ware items, residents are indulging in some luxury shopping, thus giving this Eid a high-end appeal.

“Although the concept of mall shopping in Kashmir is relatively new, people here have become more brand-conscious over the years, which is the reason why the malls are regularly frequented by the people,” Asgar Ali, an economist at Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, said.

He said buying of branded items was particularly catching up among the youth.

Advertisers think that marketing and promotional strategies have played a prominent role in turning the attention of the shoppers towards high-end items and the businesses being done by the store owners was good.

“The advertising and public relations technique of the shop owners play an important role. Hoardings and billboards of newly opened and established jewellery shops, garment stores and other brands in the Valley were placed well in advance at various points in the city to attract the attention of buyers,” Hamza Bhat, a PR executive said.

Various shopping malls of Srinagar like Sarah City Centre, MS Shopping Mall and Sangarmaal have been given a facelift. These malls have been decorated with lighting and firework arrangements to add to the Eid buzz. “People shop a lot for Eid and our sales have improved tremendously over the past few days. Youngsters definitely form the largest consumer base,” Muntaha Ahmad, an owner of a US-based store.

Srinagar, October 14
State Health Minister Shabir Ahmad Khan today said the government had extended the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RSBK), a child health screening and early intervention services programme, to the entire state.

“Now the programme has been approved across the state. It is a big thing for all the children of our state,” Khan said while addressing mediapersons here.

The state Health Minister was accompanied by Director Health, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman and other senior officials of the state health department.

The programme had earlier been approved as a pilot project in three districts - Leh, Ganderbal and Rajouri - of the state, the minister said.

RBSK is a programme under the National Rural Health Mission.

The objective of the programme is to improve the overall quality of life of children up to 18 years of age through detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, development delays and disabilities.

The services aim to cover children resideing in both the rural and urban slums of the state and children enrolled in classes I to XII in government and government-aided schools.

An official of the state health department said Rs 1,754.63 lakh had been approved for the programme in the state for the next six months and 773 posts had been sanctioned.

Srinagar, October 14
Minister of State (MoS) for Irrigation and Flood Control Nazir Ahmad Gurezi laid the foundation stone of a hospital at Mastan in the remote Gurez region of north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

The hospital will be constructed on modern lines at an estimated cost of Rs 8.5 crore and will be equipped with latest technology, an official spokesman said.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated a heating system at the Sub-District Hospital, Dawar, costing Rs 1 crore and also handed over six ambulances to the health department for the Gurez area, the spokesman said. The ambulances will be provided to Kanzalwon, Chaurwon, Bagtore, Sheikhpora, Badugam and Baduab Primary Health Centres of the Gurez and Tulail region.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the state government was committed to providing better health care facilities to the people of the state.

He said several initiatives had been taken to upgrade the basic infrastructure of all the health institutions of the state and sufficient funds had been earmarked under the health sector this year with the aim to ensure that the health facilities are extended to people.

The minister said the establishment of a hospital at Mastan was a long-pending demand, which had now been fulfilled.

Srinagar, October 14
An Army unit in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district today flagged off a group of farmers on a tour to Chandigarh and Lucknow.

The tour has been organised by 13 RR (Kumaon).

The participants from Ganderbal will tour Chandigarh and Lucknow to learn new cultivation practises prevalent in other states, a statement issued by the unit read.

"This tour will not only enhance the knowledge base of farmers, it will also aid them in understanding various other developmental, cultural and traditional aspects of other states," the Commanding Officer of 13 RR (Kumaon) said.

During the ten-day tour, the farmers will also be taken to various tourist places in Chandigarh such as Rock Garden, Zakir Husain Rose Garden and Open Hand Monument, the statement said.

At Lucknow, the participants will be able to see a maze known as Bhulbhuliya in Bara Imambara and Moti Mahal.

The flag-off event was attended by sarpanch and panches of the area, the statement said.

Kupwara, October 14
The wild animal scare continues to haunt residents of various villages in Kupwara even as the wildlife authorities have set up cages in the affected areas to trap the animals.

Locals said wild animals, mostly leopards and bears, were on the prowl and livestock was increasingly falling prey to their attacks.

The most affected villages include Dolipora, Kalaroose, Sudal, Maidanpora, Khurhama, Gund Villgam, Dardpora, Bakiakar, Wadipora and Moori. Residents said leopards and bears had devoured dozens of livestock.

“The wild animals are on the prowl in villages for the past few weeks. They have devoured our cattle and are posing increasing threat to humans. We fear to venture out even during the day. Apart from setting up cages, the wildlife authorities should take other necessary measures to scare away the animals to their habitations in forests,” said a delegation led by Abdul Jabar Khan from Kalaroose.

Four children have been mauled by leopards in the past three weeks in different villages of Kupwara. “The authorities should take stern measures to deal with the increasing threat. We are living under constant fear,” said Shabir Ahmad from Maidanpora.

Residents of Dolipora, 2 km from Trehgam, said, “Around 7 pm, a leopard appears in a nearby fruit orchard and starts roaring. We have spotted the animal a few times during the day as well. Despite informing the department, a trap has not been set for the animal,” said Farid Ahmad, a local resident.

“We have set up cages in the affected villages and are constantly monitoring the situation. The locals should refrain from moving out during the evening hours,” said a wildlife official.

Srinagar, October 14
One killed and five others injured in several road accidents in the Valley, police said today.

A truck turned turtle and fell into a deep gorge near Captain Mode at Zojilla in Ganderbal district resulting in on the spot death of its driver, Mohammad Yousuf Mir, a resident of the Bonibagh area in Kangan, a police spokesperson said.

The body of the driver has been retrieved and handed over to his family.

In Anantnag district, a tipper collided with a passenger cab near the Akoora crossing resulting in injuries to two persons travelling in the cab, the spokesperson said. Both the injured were shifted to a hospital.

A tipper collided with a cab at Tarigam in Kulgam district, resulting in injuries to the cab driver, the spokesperson said.

In another accident, a cab hit and injured 22-year-old Bilal Ahmad Mir, a resident of Hatmullah, at Bumhama in Kupwara district.

The injured was shifted to SKIMS Hospital in the city, the spokesperson added.