The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

ban on polythene
Govt plans to install scanners at entry points
Constitutes committee to study feasibilty of electronic equipment at toll posts
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
To check the entry of the banned polythene into the state, the government is contemplating to install electronic equipment and scanners at the entry points, including the Lakhanpur toll plaza.

For the purpose, the government has already formed a committee to study the feasibility of installing these scanners at the toll plaza, which witnesses daily entry and exit of hundreds of goods trucks.

This has been revealed by the government in its compliance report to the High Court, which has already ordered a slew of directions aimed at curbing the use of polythene and polythene carry bags into the state, which is emerging as a dangerous and potential environmental hazard in the tourist state.

The government, in its compliance report, informed the court that it had constituted a committee on October 25, 2013, “to explore the feasibility of installing technical/electronic equipment, scanners and creation of electronic infrastructure” at the Lakhanpur toll plaza, the only road entry into the state.

Once installed, the equipment and the scanners are expected to help in checking and detecting illegal entry of the banned polythene into the state.

The scanners are expected to check and frisk the vehicles passing through the toll post at Lakhanpur and help in detecting illegal movement of the banned polythene at the entry points into the state, the government further stated in the compliance report.

However, the court did not felt satisfied by mere constitution of the committee and now directed the government to include experts into the committees.

“ZA Shah (amicus curies to HC) has pointed out that two members (representative from police headquarters and senior law officer from the Finance department) have unnecessarily been included as members of the committee”, the High Court said in its orders passed on Monday this week.

“The committee has to be of technical experts, therefore, we direct that these two members be removed from the committee and in their place two technical experts shall be included or in alternative, chairman of the committee shall be a technical expert of the field of scanners within shortest possible time so as to enable the committee to submit meaningful Action Taken Report on next date”, High Court further said in its orders.

KU starts vocational training courses in Gurez valley
Technical courses need of the hour, says minister Gurezi
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
In a bid to reach out to the border areas of the Kashmir valley, the Directorate of Lifelong Learning, University of Kashmir, has commissioned its first outreach programme in the frontier area with the launch of skill development programmes including basic computer, electrician and advanced cutting and tailoring - a move appreciated by the people here.

The courses were launched by the Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi and varsity’s Vice-Chancellor, Talat Ahmad at a function held at Dawar area of the Gurez valley.

The function was organised by the DLL in connection with ‘Vocational Training and Skill Development outreach programme, entitled ‘One day state-level event on community development and skill enhancement at frontier area of the Gurez valley”.

Three courses, including basic computers, electrician and advanced cutting and tailoring were started while other advanced courses would be started next year.

“It is difficult for the government to give government jobs to everyone so there is a need to impart technical and professional education to everyone,” Gurezi told participants at the jampacked auditorium here.

“A number of new schools and colleges have been opened with the aim to improve the education scenario across the state,” the minister said.

The minister said higher educational institutions of the state should emphasise on quality education and Human Resource Development to strengthen the society.

“In community development, good and skilled human resources is always important and role of KU’s DLL is highest in that,” Gurezi added.

In his address, Vice- Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Talat Ahmad highlighted the importance of vocational trainings and skill development among the students.

“It is important for us to encourage youth for self- employment generation and it is possible only when there is skill among them. The university is focusing on such initiative and we are expanding our jurisdiction to every part of the state to help communities,” he said. “It would be an achievement if we could reach out to this beautiful frontier area.”

The KU VC announced that separate examinations for both regular and private students will be conducted in case of Gurez students because of climatic conditions.

On the occasion, the VC handed over the authority letter to the Director, Bandipora College of Information Technology (BCIT) Fayaz Ahmad Fayaz for running the skill development courses in the area. The Dean Academic Affairs, KU, AM Shah said, “It was the responsibility of the university towards the community which brought us to Gurez. We are working in a way so that these trained students not only become job-seekers also become job creators and ensure involvement of the youth en masse.”

The Director DLL, GH Mir, highlighted the role of the directorate in community mobilisation and awareness.

“The directorate has been working for the professional uplift of youth and development of society as a whole. Outreach programmes have so far been started in far-flung areas of Shopian, Pulwama, Bandipora Baramulla and other far-flung areas,” he said.

Mir asked for support from the people to make outreach programmes a success. “Any development programme is impossible without the support of the locals and stakeholders,” he said.

The programme was coordinated by the Project Officer, DLL, University of Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Ganaie. A detailed discussion was also held on collection of forms for both regular and private degree course classes of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year at Gurez.

The KU authorities decided that the examination forms will now be collected in Degree College Gurez.

Later, the minister and VC distributed woollen sweaters, donated by Arnimaal, an NGO, among the students and poor people of the area under community development initiative.

Met predicts more snow, rain in coming days
Govt says advanced measures already in place to tackle any weather changes
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
While higher reaches in Kashmir received a fresh snowfall, the plain areas received a light rainfall, leading to drop in temperature. The higher reaches of Ladakh received fresh snowfall today leading to drop in overall temperature. The weather department had predicted that there would be snowfall in the higher reaches.

“Western disturbances are likely to hit the Valley due to which there is a prediction of rainfall and thunderstorm in lower reaches and snowfall in upper reaches of the state,” a Met official said.

The official on Tuesday had said there would be snow in higher reaches in the coming two days with a high indication of increased precipitation in the lower areas of the Valley, including Srinagar city and other major towns.

The minimum temperature in Kashmir valley remained above normal today due to cloudy sky.

Keeping in view the weather predictions, the state administration claims to have already geared up for any contingency. The Mechanical Department, Kashmir, said advanced measures and efforts had already been in place to tackle any weather changes.

“We usually start our control rooms and emergency measures from November 15 every year, but in view of predictions, we will advance our preparations this time,” said Shafat Ahmad Chisti, Chief Engineer, Mechanical department, Kashmir.

Shafat said the department, in the wake of low temperature and cloudy sky since past days, had already dispatched machines to higher places like Gulmarg, Shopain, Kulgam, Gurez valley and Pahalgam, four or five days ago.

“We have already done necessary arrangements and our department is ready and prepared for any weather changes,” Shafat added.

Indicating a sooner return of cold and chilly winter, the Valley has witnessed an early decrease in temperature, this year. With cloudy weather, the night temperature has increased in the Valley and while the days have become colder with drop in maximum temperature.

Mild hailstorm hits parts of south Kashmir
Our Correspondent

Anantnag, November 7
Some areas of south Kashmir witnessed mild hailstorm late last night. As per reports, some parts of Anantnag district, including areas of Anantnag town, witnessed a mild hailstorm. However, no reports of damage caused were received from any parts of the region.

“Thankfully, the harvesting season in Kashmir is over, so no damage has been done,” said Mohammad Amin, a farmer from Anantnag district.

Meanwhile, many regions in south Kashmir received heavy rainfall.

Rural areas remained the worst affected in the wake of the rainfall as dilapidated roads get waterlogged.

People in rural areas of the four districts of south Kashmir complained about curtailment of pedestrian movement in their areas after the rain.

“We cannot move outside our houses after roads are flooded with rainwater,” said Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Heff-Shirmal area in Shopian district.

Fire damages four houses in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
Four houses were damaged in a fire in the Maharaja Bazar locality of the old city today. The fire first broke out in the house of Mohammad Ashraf at 2.30 pm and spread to neighbouring houses. The fire and emergency service rushed many fire tenders to douse the flames.

"The fire was brought under control after an hour," said an official of the Fire Service Department. "Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot. A massive firefighting operation was launched as the fire had broken out in a congested area," he added.

Initially, the Fire Service Department estimated a damage of Rs 25 lakh.

It was the second such incident in the city in the past three days. On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the Valley's only maternity hospital, Lal Ded.

Forum celebrates CV Raman’s 125th birth anniversary
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
Young scientists and innovators under the banner of the J&K Innovators Forum (JKIF) today celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of Sir CV Raman, a Nobel laureate.

While paying tributes to Sir Raman, JKIF president Mirza Idrees ul Haq said, “The motive behind celebrating the birth anniversary of Sir CV Raman is inform the masses why and how science is relevant to their daily lives.”

“Every year, various government departments, non-governmental organisations, scientific research institutions, professional associations, universities, municipalities, media, science teachers, schools and others are encouraged to organise such programmes,” he said.

He said laboratories in various institutions should be strengthened.

“The state government should encourage the universities and colleges on research works and allocate funds accordingly,” he said.

Sir CV Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu).

After obtaining masters degree in physics from the Presidency College, Madras, in 1907, Raman joined the government as an accountant in 1917 and became a professor of physics at the University of Calcutta.

In 1928, he discovered the phenomenon called Raman’s Scattering, also known as Raman’s Effect.

Raman won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1930.

Mirwaiz flays ban on religious processions
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
Chairman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the ban imposed on religious processions in the state, especially Milad and Aashoora processions.

Mirwaiz said apart from curbing political rights, the government had also curbed religious rights of the local populace here.

Mirwaiz was speaking during a function in the Rajouri Kadal area of the city to observe the martyrdom day of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

“In a Muslim majority state like Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities imposed arbitrary restrictions on religious processions like Aashoora and Eid-e-Milad and by this way, apart from curbing political rights, its has also curbed the religious rights of the local populace,” he said in a statement.

Condemning the restrictions and curbs on religious rights, Mirwaiz said under a well thought-out strategy, the so-called governments trying to erase the Muslim character of the region.

“The government is providing security to certain religious activities like Amarnath Yatra, but on the other hand, by bringing the religious activities of Kashmiri Muslims under the ambit of restrictions, it is actually hearting the religious sentiments of the people”, Mirwaiz said.

Govt urged to repeal AFSPA
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
Amnesty International India has called for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and urged the Union Government to grant full reparation to victims of human rights violations committed by security forces.

In a statement issued today, Amnesty India said a recent spate of domestic and international criticism of the AFSPA and continuing human rights violations enabled by the controversial law must lead to its immediate repeal.

“From the Justice Verma Committee to the Justice Hegde Commission to several UN special rapporteurs, several expert bodies have now pointed out that the AFSPA enables serious human rights abuses wherever it is in force,” said Shashikumar Velath, programmes director, Amnesty International India, in the statement.

“As these bodies have noted, the AFSPA has not made these areas safer, but has instead led to gross abuse of fundamental human rights of ordinary people. Authorities cannot simply continue to trot out arguments about national security any longer to defend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA),” he said.

However, the AFSPA has been ineffective in meeting these goals, and has instead contributed to the creation of a ‘culture of impunity’ for gross human rights violations in areas where it is operational, Amnesty India said.

“Amnesty International India has also found evidence of continuing violations of international law under the AFSPA,” said Velath.

“These include continuing use of lethal force in northeastern states and in Jammu and Kashmir, lack of accountability in cases of alleged human rights violations and denial of justice to victims”, he added.

“The law provides virtual immunity from prosecution, by requiring prior permission from the Central Government for security personnel to be prosecuted, which is almost never granted,” the statement said.

Stating that “Armed Forces Special Powers Act violates India’s international legal obligations and several fundamental rights” Amnesty International has urged the Government of India to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and grant "full reparation to victims of human rights violations" allegedly committed by security forces.

Man succumbs to injuries after 5 days
Our Correspondent

Anantnag, November 7
A man succumbed to his injuries after five days in a hospital today, the police said. The victim met with an accident in Pampore town of Pulwama district on November 2.

The police said Ghulam Mohammad Sofi, a resident of the Drangbal area of Pampore, was injured in a road accident at Drangbal.

He was under treatment in SHMHS Hospital in Srinagar where he succumbed to his injuries. His body was handed over to his relatives for the last rites.

Meanwhile, two other people were injured in different road accidents.

A Tata Sumo bearing registration number JK03C-2142 hit and injured Zareena, a resident of Razkang near Sagam under Kokernag police station in Anantnag.

In another accident, an unknown vehicle hit and injured Saqib Showkat, a resident of Bijbehara in Anantnag.

Release arrears of pensioners: PDP
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 7
The Peoples’ Democratic Party has demanded an immediate release of the current year’s instalment of the sixth pay commission arrears of those pensioners who have not received it so far.

This demand was made by the party chief spokesperson after a group of pensioners called upon him at the party headquarters here today.

“The delegation comprising pensioners, mostly from the low paid and non-gazette categories said they and many more had not received the latest instalment of the pay commission arrears even though more than half of the financial year had passed,” said a PDP spokesperson.

Akhtar said the government must understand the problems faced by this vulnerable and aging group of citizens for whom it has become difficult to make the two ends meet.

“On the one hand, the prices of all commodities have sky rocketed, inflation has increased and on the other hand, the state government is displaying a total callousness in denying the pensioners their dues. The delegation also informed that even the routine monthly pension in most cases was not released on time which has put the pensioners to avoidable hardships,” said the spokesperson.

Two join Peoples Democratic Party

Srinagar, November 7
Numan Farooq Wani, a practicing doctor, joined the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) here today. Numan after joining the party said his inspiration for joining was to strengthen the PDP as it had the right mix of a professional agenda, commitment to the people of the state and a leadership that had provided the best government model in the state.

“I along with few like-minded young people look at the politics as a means for changing the system which has always been used against the people in the state,” he said. Wani hails from Amirakadal in Srinagar and has been associated with social works in his area, said a PDP spokesperson. Another young entrepreneur from the Nubra constituency in Ladakh, Mehdi Ali joined the party fold. He has been a sympathiser of the party in Nubra and came all the way from there to join the party at its headquarters. — TNS

NIT, Srinagar, to hold science camp from Nov 21

Srinagar, November 7
The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi is organising a science camp under the Inspire Internship Programme from November 21 to 25 for the students of Kashmir province who have passed class X examination with a minimum of 87.2 per cent from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education or 93 per cent from the Central Board of School Education CBSE.

The programme is aimed to provide the students an opportunity to interact with eminent scientists, academicians of the country and an exposure to the leading science laboratories.

“No fee whatsoever shall be charged from any student for attending this programme. Free boarding and lodging and other facilities will be provided to the participants by the Institute," said GA Harmain, event coordinator. — TNS