Jammu, November 8
Failure to fully implement Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters (VIUC) scheme in Jammu and Srinagar is becoming a major reason for rise in prices of vegetables in the urban centres of J&K.

The project was launched across the country in 2010 and was aimed at meeting demand for vegetables in all state capitals and cities with population greater than 10 lakh.

Sources from the Agriculture department claimed that though most of the demand is met by the local production, insufficient supply of hybrid seeds, seedlings, training, processing and lack of cold storage facilities is leading to a decrease in production and dependence on imports from other parts of the state.

The centrally sponsored scheme was to cover several fronts including production and logistics covering post-harvest handling, storage, transportation, marketing, distribution and policy reform, which is the main reason for the price hike.

“Increase in prices of major vegetables like onions, tomatoes and potatoes is a nationwide phenomenon, but the state could prevent such increase if proper consideration is given to use of scientific techniques to boost production. Local farmers around the major towns and capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar are meeting 70 per cent of the demand locally,” an official source revealed.

The state government has not been able to utilise the money properly and farmers who supply farm produce to the urban centre did not get expected help.

When contacted, Director Agriculture Ajay Khajuria said that the first phase of the scheme has been implemented in the state and is showing results. “Nearly 3,000 farmers have been brought under the purview of the scheme and in the coming months, more cultivators will be covered. But prices are not under our control," said Khajuria.

Meanwhile, after onions, tomatoes are selling at Rs 80 per kg in Jammu while the prices of all other green vegetables are increasing routinely. “First, onions vanished from our menu; now it is tomatoes. The government should take steps to ensure the prices are controlled so that the common man is able to survive," said Mansi Gupta, a housewife.

Jammu, November 8
Call it official apathy or wilful ignorance on the part of the authorities, commuters continue to have a bumpy travel when it comes to the treacherous Jammu-Udhampur highway, as the road has not been repaired for the past few years.

The highway authorities, who are required to fill potholes and patchwork routinely, have turned a blind eye to the danger posed to commuters due to dilapidated condition of the road.

Poor maintenance of the road has not only lowered the speeds of vehicles but also the pothole-ridden stretches get especially bumpy when it rains and the craters are filled with water.

At certain places, even slight negligence could lead to a fatal mishap and instances of two-wheeler riders skidding off the road were often encountered.

“The officers' management of maintenance of the Jammu-Udhampur highway has left the road unrepaired, which is causing great inconvenience to the commuters. The authorities might have been waiting for completion of the new four-lane highway, but that doesn’t mean the people are forced to risk their lives till then,” Ram Krishan, a 50-year-old commuter, said.

Ajay Sharma, a government employee, said, “Accidents have become a norm on this stretch as no repair work has been done on the existing highway. The potholes on the highway get more dangerous when these are filled with water during rains as the motorists couldn’t judge the depth of potholes. Besides, the dust on the highway due to the ongoing four-laning work has made situation worse for the people.”

"Nobody should be spared for risking the lives of the people in the name of development. There is an immediate need to start repair work so that the people can undertake a safe travel till the start of the new four-laning work," said Sharma.

A senior official of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) claimed they would make new four-lane Jammu-Udhampur highway operational by June 2014 but he remained tightlipped over the dilapidated condition of the existing highway.

“We have fixed June 2014 as the deadline for the completion of four-laning between Udhampur and Jammu. It is likely to be completed in time,” the official said.

To a query about the poor maintenance of the existing highway, the officer said they would do necessary patchwork to fill the potholes so that the commuters don’t face problems.

The four-laning of existing highway was started in 2011. The four-laning would not only shorten the distance but also reduce the travel time between two capital cities to near half of the present time. At least 54 small and major bridges are being constructed on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

The major structures of the project include two long tunnels, namely the country’s longest road tunnel between Chenani and Nashri having a length of 9.2 km and 8.5-km-long Quazigund-Banihal tunnel, besides 12 short tunnels having a total length of 6.2 km.

Jammu, November 8
Three months on, not even the debris of the wall that collapsed at Bahu Fort has been removed. JDA estimated Rs 122.75 lakh to be the cost of restoration of the wall.

The 110-feet wall of ancient Bahu Fort, which collapsed on August 18, is being ignored by the authorities concerned. Three months have elapsed, and the authorities have not even removed the debris of the collapsed wall.

Bahu Fort, constructed on 30 kanal area, is under threat after collapse of the 110-feet wall from the right side, as the remaining wall from the same side has got major cracks in it, but the authorities seem to be busy doing paper work and other formalities.

The Jammu Development Authority was given the task of preparing the project report for the work towards sanction of the funds. But even after three months of the incident, the department has not submitted the report.

Earlier too, the JDA was given the task of repair and maintenance of the Bahu Fort by the state's archaeological department in 2005, with the total budget allocation of Rs 69.5 lakh, out of which, the department had spent more than Rs 47 lakh thus far, but nothing was visible on ground. JDA officials claim they have completed more than 80 per cent of the renovation work, but neither have they touched the wall which had collapsed nor have they done anything "extraordinary" to renovate Rani Mehal, which is situated on the rear side of the fort.

SKA Qadri, Consultant Tourism and Culture, when contacted, said, "We are very keen on the wall's restoration. Even the funds are not a problem as the minister has already assured us that whatever be the cost, he will sanction the funds."

"JDA has been given the task of restoring it. Whenever they submit their report, we will start the restoration. We wanted to start it from zero level, so that such an incident does not take place again in future," he added.

Official sources in JDA said the total estimate for the restoration is Rs 122.75 lakh, but the form of DPR is not prepared as yet, which is why the report is being delayed.

Bahu Fort is a cultural symbol of the city of temples. The fort also has an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the presiding deity of the city revered by people across the region.

It is one of the most ancient structures in the state and is said to have been originally built by Raja Jambu Lochan 3,000 years ago. Records say the Raja decided to build the fort when he witnessed a curious scene of a tiger and a goat drinking water side by side at the same location in the river Tawi. It was refurbished by the erstwhile Dogra rulers in the 19th century.

Jammu, November 8
Fire broke out in a general store at Satwari Chowk on Friday evening, leaving the entire shop gutted.

Firemen douse the flames. tribune photo: anand sharma

According to police, the fire broke out between 4.30 and 4.45 pm, probably due to short-circuit which engulfed the entire shop. “After receipt of the information about the fire, two fire tenders reached the spot and doused the fire, but the entire shop was gutted,” said a police officer.

Satwari Chowk is situated on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, from where a link connects Jammu airport as well. The tiger division of the Indian Army is a few metres away from the spot.

The police said the shop belonged to Gulshan Kumar, a resident of Nai Basti.

“Some electricity repair work was going on inside the shop which led to short circuit and engulfed the entire shop. There was no loss of life in the incident,” the police officer added.

The police has started investigations and if the fire is found to have been deliberately caused, a case will be registered, it was stated. — TNS

Jammu, November 8
Eight persons had a miraculous escape after a car rolled into a deep gorge when it was hit by a rashly driven oil tanker on the treacherous Jammu-Srinagar Highway near Nagrota town, some 18 km from Jammu city today.

The police said a rashly driven oil tanker, which was on way to Srinagar from Jammu, was overtaking a vehicle and it hit a Tavera vehicle coming from the opposite direction. It also collided with another vehicle which rolled into a gorge as there were no parapets along the dangerous stretch.

"The oil tanker driver managed to escape from the spot with the vehicle, while a passenger out of the eight sustained a fracture. All the passengers are safe and we have registered a case," a police spokesman said.

The injured was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and he was stable, the police said.

Batote, November 8
All the 31 and 21 workers who were arrested by the Ramban and Chenani police respectively on November 2 and sent to Udhampur jail on Friday were released from jail last evening.They were bailed out by the Tehsildar, Ramban, Tanveer Ahmed and Executive Magistrate,1st Class, Chenani, Rafiq Ahmed on submission of surety bonds of Rs 30,000 each.

The former group was released only after the submission of the personal bond by each while the latter group was released on the submission of Zamanat and Muchalka in the latter court at Chenani today. The latter group (Chenani) have been asked to appear in the court on November 15.

They were arrested by the Ramban police in an early morning swoop on November 2 following their alleged disruption in the ongoing construction of the 9-km-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel project since October 26.

Reportedly, any of those released are yet to join their duties.

Arshad Ahmed Malik, Mahesh Singh and Jatinder Dev, facing charges under Section 307 of RPC and Gurdev Singh, facing charges under Section 364 of RPC, were yet to be bailed out.

"With the development of fissures in the union of the striking workers, some of them have been on their duties on both the portals of the tunnel at Chenani and Nashri, thereby resuming the tunnel work partially," said one of the top officers of Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt Ltd (LWCPL) on condition of anonymity. "Tomorrow, we will inform the respective district administrations about those who failed to join their duties by this evening - The deadline for the necessary action against them," he added.

Calling his claim as exaggerated, one of the protesting workers said on the condition of anonymity that only a few of the workers under local sub-contractors and the staffers of the LWCPL are on duty.

He also called the news published in some sections of the print media yesterday as absurd and part of a mischievous campaign by some sub-contractors that 700 workers wanted to resume their work.

"The company has been losing a crore a day on account of the routine expenditure and production respectively. Till now, two-thirds of the project including the construction of the main two-lane road tunnel and an escape tunnel has been completed," said a top officer of LWCPL on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Beopar Mandal, Batote (BMB) president Sanjay Gupta has decided not to support the striking workers.

Jammu, November 8
Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul today directed the J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to complete the construction of the new legislature complex on fast track basis.

He asked the executing agency to use standard material and warned them that any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated.

The new complex is being constructed at a cost of Rs 104.44 crore.

The Speaker, meanwhile, called for close coordination between the JKPCC authorities and the Assembly Secretariat.

Secretary, J&K Assembly, M Ramzan, Managing Director, JKPCC, TR Bhagat and other officers and engineers of the organisation and the Assembly Secretariat accompanied Gul to the project site.

Earlier, the Speaker convened a meeting of the officers and engineers of the JKPCC to discuss and review the overall progress and physical status of the project.

He was informed that out of the released amount of Rs 36.94 crore, Rs 19.32 crore were spent on the project so far.

The meeting was also told that protection works on the hill side, facing existing legislature complex building, alternate parking behind the civil secretariat building and all the security related works have been completed.

The JKPCC authorities also informed that the construction work on the project is in full swing and assured that the complex will be completed well in time.

Jammu, November 8
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has underscored the need for developing an accurate tracking mechanism of youth, post their training under the skill development mission.

“The success of the skill development mission can only be realised when placement of these youth and utilisation of their learnt skills is ensured,” Omar said, adding that this aspect is “critical” to the whole programme.

The Chief Minister, while reviewing the J&K Skill Development Mission at a meeting here, said the government, besides engaging private players through initiatives like UDAAN and HIMMAT, has simultaneously focused on enhancing the existing training facilities.

“Our training programmes should be reflective of the requirements in the job market. Steps should be taken to devise an inbuilt mechanism in the course curriculum itself to ensure market oriented skill training to the youth,” he said.

Omar laid special emphasis on imparting soft skills to youth across all training programmes to improve their communication skills and chances of getting absorbed in the job market.

“Although such training modules exist in our training institutes, emphasis needs to be given on presentations, group discussions, report writing and mock interviews,” Omar said.

The Chief Minister added that the government has fixed a target of training 9.1 lakh youth during the 12th five year plan and it was moving forward in that direction.

He, however, said during the course some redesigning or rearranging may be required to suit the job market requirements to ensure higher placement avenues for the youth under the mission.

Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone, Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, BR Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister BB Vyas, Principal Secretary, PDD, AK Mehta, Commissioner Secretaries and other officers were present on the occasion. 

Rajouri, Nov 8
Tehreek Baqa-e-Urdu today held a day-long seminar on ‘Urdu - Symbol of Secularism’ at the Dak Banglow here.

Eminent scholars and poets in the field of Urdu, including the likes of Asif Bralvi and Alam Banarsi, participated in the event.

On the occasion, Bralvi and Banarsi were given the Shaan-i-Urdu award, while Member of Legislative Assembly Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali was conferred the Sipah-i-Urdu Award for raising a strong voice in the state legislature for safeguarding the Urdu language.

Earlier, the Tehreek Baqa-e-Urdu, Pir Panjal regional head, Khursheed Tantry welcomed the guests.

A poetic meet was also held on the occasion, in which Prof Waqar, Krishen Lal Aasi, Dr Alamdar Adam, Alam Banarsi, Asif Bralvi, Rubina Mir, Saleem Qureshi, Umar Farhat and Parvaiz Malik participated.

Tehreek Baqa-e-Urdu, student wing president Aftab Manhas, did the comparing.

General secretary and spokesperson of the body, Zakir Malik Bhallesi presented a detailed report on the activities of the organisation and also put light on the secular character of the Urdu language.

All the speakers highlighted the importance of Urdu and termed it most secular language of India.

They said Urdu is not the language of Muslims, but there is a long list of Hindu and Sikh writers and poets, who nourished this language.

Speaking on the occasion, Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, Alam Banarsi and Asif Bralvi expressed joy over the working of Tehreek Baqa-e-Urdu.

Chief patron Farooq Shah Bukhari presented the vote of thanks.

Liaqet Ali Choudhary, Advocate Ahsan Mirza, Rafiq Mir, Munsi Alam Din, Mohammad Sayeed Jatt, Dr Shamas Kamal Anjum, Dr Liaqet Nair and Maneer Khan were also present on the occasion. 

Jammu, November 8
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu today convened a meeting to review the arrangements for the upcoming Jhiri Mela.

The annual fair, which attracts devotees from all parts of the country, will commence from November 16 and elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the devotees have been made by the district administration and the mela committee.

The DC, meanwhile, directed the functionaries of the Roads and Buildings to ensure the repair and improvement works are completed in time for the convenience of the devotees.

He also asked the Public Health and Engineering department to ensure uninterrupted water supply, with provision for additional water tanks, hand pumps and sprinklers for cleaning of the venue.

Sahu on the occasion instructed the Power Department to ensure proper lighting arrangements in addition to un-interrupted power supply at the venue throughout the mela days.

The Irrigation Department was directed to construct bathing ghats and erection of barricades at the venue.

He also instructed the transport authorities to arrange sufficient number of buses for transportation of devotees and to fix special time table for hassle-free movement of vehicles.

Fire Services would ensure fire tenders at the venue and other vital points to meet any eventuality, Sahu directed. 

Batote, November 8
A two-day workshop on ‘Support to state extension programme’ for reforms in agricultural sector of Jammu and Kashmir, under the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), concluded in Ramban today.

The workshop was organised by the Agriculture Department under Dr KS Risam, Director, Extension Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology — Jammu and Director, State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute — Jammu.

The event was inaugurated by District Development Commissioner, Ramban, MH Malik yesterday and was presided over by Dr Risam.

Malik exhorted the participants to enhance their skill in the workshop for uplifting the standard of agriculture.

He asked the agro-technocrats and allied departments to go in the fields to disseminate the latest know-how and the related government schemes to the farmers to improve their lot.

During the interaction session, the resource persons from agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, sheep husbandry, animal husbandry and floriculture departments apprised the participants about the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oilpalm and Maize, the National Food Security Mission, Seed Village Programme, Extension Reforms and other state and Centre sponsored schemes.

Jammu, November 8
The BSF today donated an ambulance and a wheelchair along with other medical accessories for the convenience of villagers of border areas in Pargwal sector in Akhnoor sub-division in Jammu district.

The Pargwal sector is the same area where at least four members of a family including two children were injured in Pak shelling on October 17 this year in Najwal village.

Under civic action programme of the BSF in Pargwal village, BSF DIG headquarters, JC Singla handed over a wheelchair and keys of eco-ambulance alongwith other medical accessories to the Deputy Director of Health Services Jammu.

The cost of this ambulance is nearly Rs 5 lakh.

During the latest visit of the DIG to the area following Pak shelling, people had requested him to provide them an ambulance.

It was handed over under Border Action Development Programme (BADP), under which various border development programmes are executed.

On this occasion, a cultural programme was organised by the BSF.