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Now, think twice before misusing water
Jammu's taekwondo player TFI’s youngest executive
NC keeps alliance option open
Cong group hails ‘decision’ to go it alone in 2014 elections
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BJP gears up to finalise Lok Sabha candidates for Jammu, Udhampur
Governor, CM extend New Year greetings
Northern Command chief extends greetings
Snowfall brings life to halt, Valley cut off
Heavy snowfall cripples life in Doda
Flights cancelled, highway closed
Timely snowfall brings respite to fruit growers
Passengers stuck in Kupwara
Fresh snowfall brings life to a standstill
Respite from intense cold wave
Omar misses snowfall
Police focusing on restoring lasting peace, says DGP
Training for enumerators concludes
Rising fuel prices force people to look for firewood
Omar: J&K youth need opportunities, not favours
Army organises ‘walk for fun’ in Udhampur
Residents rue poor preparations
Politicians express anguish over Hazratbal fire
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Now, think twice before misusing water
Jammu, December 31 Sources said that no one has been imprisoned for using water illegally so far, but this clearly points out towards the unregistered connections in Jammu and Srinagar, the two capital cities having sizeable number of users using piped-water connection. Few weeks ago, the Centre had made it clear that the state needs to curb illegal connections and wastage of water, before additional funds were sanctioned for streamlining the supply system in urban centres and towns of the state. In a state-wide campaign, PHE had given reference to Section 159 of the Water Resources Regulation Act which makes it is an offence to illegally withdraw water from underground and under-water pipes of the department laid for drinking water supply to population centres, commercial areas and industries. “Tampering with distribution pipes is an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 5,000 or both,” says the notice issued by Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU). Further, the offence committed under Section 159 of the Water Act under Section-3 of the J&K Public Property (Prevention and Damage) Act-1985 will also entail imprisonment to six to five years. Any defaulter violating any act with respect to any public property say a building, installation or other property used in connection with the production, distribution or supply of water, light, power or energy shall be punished with rigorous six months to five years, the notice reads. “Our campaign against illegal connection will continue till people don’t follow rules. They need to understand that this practice should end. Directions have been passed to complete the registration process by the end of this fiscal,” Minister for PHE and Irrigation Sham Lal Sharma said. Sources said that unregistered connections were major reason for revenue loss, a fact detected by an audit conducted by the government following directions from the central government to streamline drinking-water supply under the provision of Water Regularity Authority Act. Last year, an internal audit had found irregularities in the PHE department for its failure in taking action against illegal water connections and regularisation of 9,526 illegal connections without imposing any penalty from 2007 to 12. |
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Jammu's taekwondo player TFI’s youngest executive
Jammu, December 31 Presently, working as a Physical Education Teacher (PET) at the Department of Youth Services and Sports, 29-year-old Atul did his diploma in Taekwondo from National Institute of Sports (NIS),
Patiala, and is perhaps the only sportsman from state to have passed from the prestigious sports institute. He is also a qualified referee and a coach. So far, Atul has represented India in seven official international championships, which includes three world championships, three Asian championships and a Commonwealth taekwondo championship. He also has the distinction of winning a medal in the Commonwealth taekwondo championship. As a referee and coach also, he has represented the country four times. He has also done a course on international coaches from South Korea along with an advanced course after getting scholarships from World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Recognising his contribution in promotion of the game in state, the government has also nominated him for the coveted Sher-e-Kashmir Sports Award for 2013, the highest sports award of the state. Talking to The Tribune over phone, Atul said he was continuously working to improve the standard of the game in state. “My joy knew no bounds when I was elected as the executive member of TFI, but at the same time, I will have to act more responsibly in contributing towards strengthening the game further at grassroots level in state.” J&K Taekwondo Association chairman Anil Gupta (Anu), president PC Sharma, vice presidents Ranjeet Kalra, Shahnawaz Choudhary and Nissar Hussain besides other coaches, officials and players of the state congratulated Atul on his feat. |
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NC keeps alliance option open
Jammu, December 31 The party, however, insisted that the final decision in this regard lies with its president and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “The party has kept the alliance option open. The NC working committee has authorised president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take a final call on this important issue (formation of alliance) and whatever their decision is, that will be final for us,” National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana said while interacting with a group of journalism students from Delhi. Rana, though, admitted that the party workers and functionaries have all along been pitching for going to polls independently. “You must understand that the National Conference is the only party which can claim of having its existence in all the three regions of the state and this position cannot be compromised,” Rana said. He further said the NC workers at the grass-roots level are of the opinion that entering into any sort of alliance will “jeopardise” larger interests of the party. With the Congress leaders hinting that the party would be contesting forthcoming polls in the state independently, there remains a question whether the partners in the current coalition government will form any sort of alliance ahead of the elections. However, with the Congress receiving a drubbing in four out of five states recently it remains to be seen whether the party will contest elections along with the National Conference. Rana, meanwhile, said there was a “perfect synergy” between the Congress and NC for the last five years of governance. “The relations have been perfect,” Rana replied to a query regarding the functioning of the coalition government. “The government has functioned very smoothly and the Centre, especially Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, have been receptive to the state’s special requirements in view of the circumstances it has undergone during the past over two decades,” the NC leader said. “In fact, the Congress high command has reposed immense faith in Omar Abdullah’s capable leadership,” Rana said. |
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Cong group hails ‘decision’ to go it alone in 2014 elections
Jammu, December 31 A majority of leaders who issued the 'statement' on New Year eve owed their allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The leaders not only hailed the high command for not entering into an alliance with the National Conference, but also seized the opportunity to assail the coalition partner for betraying the Congress during the last five years. Sources in the Congress said today’s statement, which was likely to strain relations between the two coalition partners, was issued as a part of the strategy to exert pressure on the high command against entering into an alliance with the National Conference in the upcoming Assembly elections. Former minister and staunch Azad loyalist Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, who is also a signatory of the statement, told The Tribune that it was the demand of every Congress worker that party should contest the 2014 elections on its own. “During the last five years, our coalition partner, the National Conference, has humiliated the Congress in every field and so, there was no reason to continue alliance with this party,” he claimed. The National Conference and the Congress has been running a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir from January 5, 2009. A strong group within the Congress had been demanding that the party should contest the upcoming elections on its own. This strongly worded statement of Congress workers came three days after Azad had assured them that the sentiments of party workers would be taken into consideration while taking a decision on a pre-poll alliance. Hinting that the party was against a pre-poll alliance, Azad said on December 28 that the Congress had contested the elections in alliance with other political parties in Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, but the party was being wiped out from the states where the Congress had been in coalition for long. Buoyed at Azad’s indication, Congress leaders today issued the hard-hitting statement against its coalition partner, the National Conference. Signatories to the statement included veteran leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma. “Congress cadres and the people in general are not happy with the government and they welcome the decision of Azad and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz that the Congress will go it alone in the elections, scheduled in 2014,” the Congress leaders added. The leaders said the Congress would go it alone in the 2014 elections and win all seats on its own credentials because the people were aware about their rights and they could not be fooled any more. |
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BJP gears up to finalise Lok Sabha candidates for Jammu, Udhampur
Jammu, December 31 During his four-day visit Ram Lal is scheduled to travel to different areas of Jammu and Udhampur and hold interactions with block, tehsil and district-level workers to prepare a detailed report, which will be submitted to the parliamentary board of the party for a final decision, sources said. “National general secretary of the party will hold interactions with party workers at Jammu on January 2 and Udhampur on January 3,” a source said, adding that he would also meet senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its other affiliate organisations to get their suggestions on the selection of candidates. A large number of BJP leaders have been staking claims for the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province and the party high command has decided to move cautiously by taking grass root level workers and the Sangh into the confidence in finalising the candidates, the source said. The party has decided to field its candidates on all six parliamentary seats in the state. However, its focus will remain on the two Lok Sabha segments of the Jammu region and the constituency of Ladakh. The BJP is hoping to snatch the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province from Congress. The party had in 1998 and 99 won both parliamentary seats but failed to replicate its performance thereafter. In Ladakh, the BJP in all likelihood is going to support the nomination of former Member of Parliament Thupstan Chewang. During BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi’s visit to the city earlier this month, Chewang had discussed the issues concerning Ladakh and submitted a memorandum of demands to Modi. Chewang is a Buddhist leader and the party has started serious efforts to woo the Shias in Kargil. Modi, during his rally here on December 1, had strategically tried to highlight the “discrimination” faced by Shias and woo them as the community plays a vital role in the polls.
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Governor, CM extend New Year greetings
Jammu, December 31 The Governor complimented the people living along the Line of Control for their determination and fortitude in facing ceasefire violations from across the border and thanked the security forces for containing terrorist activities despite targeted attacks on security personnel, many of whom laid down their lives in the service of the nation in the past months. He prayed for sustained peace, normalcy, rapid growth and prosperity of the state. The Chief Minister also extended his greetings to the people wishing them joyful, prosperous and a happy 2014. He expressed the hope that 2014 would herald peace, development and progress for the state and country. |
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Northern Command chief extends greetings
Jammu, December 31 In his message of greetings to all troops posted in J&K, their families, veterans, Veer Naris and the people, the GOC-in-C hoped that 2014 would be a harbinger of peace and prosperity and usher in sustained peace, progress and prosperity in the state. — TNS |
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Snowfall brings life to halt, Valley cut off
Jammu, December 31 Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch districts also remained cut off from other parts of the state following the closure of the Ramban-Kishtwar and the Jammu-Poonch highways due to heavy snowfall. The alternate road connectivity to the Kashmir valley via the 84-km Mughal Road was snapped due to heavy snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and several places en route. Inclement weather disrupted the rail and air traffic, subjecting passengers to inconvenience. No flight operated between Jammu and Srinagar due to the accumulation of snow at the Srinagar airport and poor visibility. Trains were also delayed. The School Education Department has extended the winter vacation. “In the wake of the prevailing climatic conditions across the province, we have extended the winter break upto January 4. All government and private schools will now reopen on January 5,” said Tushar Kanti Sharma, Director, School Education, Jammu. Earlier, the schools were to reopen on January 1. The traffic police said vehicles were stranded at various places on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to heavy snowfall at Patnitop and Jawahar Tunnel last night. “There is no traffic movement on the highway after heavy snowfall started at 11 pm yesterday. Vehicles were not allowed to move from Nagrota near Jammu city and Jakhani Chowk near Udhampur on the highway towards Srinagar and Doda and Kishtwar districts. At least 1,000 vehicles, trucks, passengers and light motor vehicles, were stranded at various places on the highway,” a senior official of the traffic department said. Sources said the Jawahar Tunnel area had experienced around 4 feet of snow since last night. “There was about 2.6 feet of snow in Batote town. Ramban town witnessed a thin layer of snow (about 2 inches) since early morning today. The administration has pressed its men and machinery into service to clear snow from the highway,” the official said. In Poonch town, heavy snowfall was witnessed after many years. Traffic was suspended on the Jammu-Poonch highway. Several villages, including Loran, Battal Kot, Dunnu Gam, Aarahi and Chandi Marh, were cut off from the district headquarters. The Trikuta hills in Katra also received fresh snowfall, however, the Vaishno Devi pilgrims continued to offer prayers on the last day of the year. Official sources said the police and the paramilitary forces had beefed up security in Katra town and en route the shrine. “This time, we are expecting around 50,000 pilgrims on New Year eve,” said Vivak Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi. Superintendent of Police (SP) (anti-hijacking), Jammu Airport, Ashok Sharma said the air connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar remained affected throughout the day as no flight operated between the capital cities. However, there was no disruption in flights between Jammu and Delhi, the SP said. Meanwhile, power supply was disrupted giving the people a hard time in freezing conditions. While Poonch and other hilly areas plunged into darkness after the power department infrastructure suffered extensive loss due to heavy snowfall, the people in Jammu witnessed unscheduled and long power cuts, adding to their miseries. — With inputs from Ranjit Thakur in Doda, Darshan Bharti in Poonch, RK Kichlu in Ramban, Devinder Thakur in Reasi and Deepanker Gupta in Udhampur |
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Heavy snowfall cripples life in Doda
Doda, December 31 Government offices reported less attendance and a few vehicles were seen plying on the roads. In Doda and Kishtwar districts, power and water supply was snapped. Continuous rain and snowfall forced the people to remain indoors while the traffic on the national highway, connecting the districts with other parts of the Jammu region, got disrupted this morning. Since 7 am today, hilly areas such as Dessa, Malan, Shenkly, Gai, including many other regions of Doda district, witnessed the season’s second heavy snowfall. Similarly, Doda city and Bhaderwah town also received heavy snowfall which continued till the reports last came in. Senior Superintendent of Police, National Highways, Haseeb Mughal said the roads in Doda were not officially closed, but due to heavy snowfall less vehicles were seen on the roads. Sarpanch Ram Singh of Shenkly village said, “Due to heavy snowfall since last night, all types of connectivity was snapped. The Dessa area witnessed the highest snowfall of around five feet till today afternoon.” “The administration needs to provide water supply to people in the region as people are facing a water crisis, also affecting their livestock,” he said. |
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Flights cancelled, highway closed
Srinagar, December 31 Snowfall started in the wee hours and it kept snowing till the evening, throwing life out of gear. Electricity supply to most parts remained affected. Incessant snow hampered snow-clearance work on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. Snow clearance work was affected in many areas due to no let-up in snowfall. An airport official said all flights to and from the Srinagar airport were cancelled. He said air traffic would resume only after the improvement in weather. However, snowfall was likely to continue tomorrow. "Snowfall is likely to continue till the afternoon of January 1 and the weather is expected to improve thereafter. However, light snow is likely at isolated places on January 2 and the weather will remain mainly dry thereafter," said Sonam Lotus, Director of the Meteorological Department. Srinagar received more than one foot of snow till this evening as per an official of the Meteorological Department. Other areas too received heavy snowfall. Rail service from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Banihal in the Jammu region was halted. The Kashmir University called for postponement of examinations till January 5. Following heavy snowfall, the authorities advised the people living in the higher reaches not to venture out. Lotus said heavy to very heavy snowfall was likely in the upper reaches and people there should not venture outside in view of the avalanche threat. Meanwhile, the police rescued three youths who were buried under an avalanche in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district. The three youths, who had gone in the forest area to collect firewood, were hit by an avalanche. While the police, along with the help of local residents, rescued two, one of them was completely buried under the snow. After three hours of a gruelling rescue operation, the third youth, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Bijad, was finally rescued and later shifted to a hospital, where his condition was reported to be critical. |
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Timely snowfall brings respite to fruit growers
Pulwama, December 31 “The snowfall is a good sign as far as horticulture activities are concerned as it helps in irrigation,” Chief Horticulture Officer Farooq Ahmad said “If the climate remains feasible during the summer, it (snowfall) will help fruit growers to harvest a bumper crop,” he added. Shopian and Pulwama have considerable land under apple orchards and it forms an important part of the economy of the two districts. The fruit growers, meanwhile, welcomed the snowfall during the ‘chillai kalan’. “When snow falls in chillai kalan it freezes due to the intense cold. And when it melts during the summer, it fills the brooks and nullahs and helps in irrigation,” Abdul Rashid, a fruit grower, said. The Chief Horticulture Officer, however, asked fruit growers to remain vigilant to the continuous snowfall as it might damage the trees. “Fruit growers need to remain cautious and should clear snow from the trees immediately so that it does not harm the fruit bearing branches,” the official said. Farooq also advised the fruit growers to remove excessive water around the tree as it can damage them. |
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Passengers stuck in Kupwara
Kupwara, December 31 Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Itrat Hussian Rafique said about 14 inches of snow had accumulated on the 80-km road and the Beacon authorities had pressed snow-cutters into service. “Beacon has pressed into service three snow-cutters to clear snow from the only surface link connecting Karnah with Kupwara. The road will be thrown open to traffic if the weather improves. About 16 inches of snow has been recorded on the Sadhna top along the road,” said the official. The roads leading to the bordering Keran and Machil areas in the district were also blocked due to snowfall. “Snow has been cleared from all major roads in the district and traffic movement restored. Snow-cutters were pressed into service in Kupwara and Handwara towns early morning,” he said. Karnah-bound passengers stranded in Kupwara complained that hoteliers were overcharging them. “Taking undue advantage of the road blockade, the hoteliers are overcharging us for food and stay. We appeal to the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, to intervene and take action against the erring hoteliers,” said Abdul Hamid Khatana, resident of Baghbila in Karnah. The snowfall continued throughout the day leading to slippery road conditions in Kupwara. Traffic jams were witnessed in Kupwara and Handwara towns as vehicles moved at snail’s pace to avoid accidents. |
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Fresh snowfall brings life to a standstill
Anantnag, December 31 According to reports, power supply remained snapped in most parts of the region while there was no effort from the administration to clear roads, blocked by snow. Residents alleged that no attempt was made to clear the roads of snow. Locals in Anantnag and Kulgam districts of South Kashmir alleged that barring the national highway and some of the main roads, no other road was cleared by the administration, restricting the people indoors. “Only the national highway was cleared of snow. The rest of the roads in our town are blocked,” said Yasir Ahmad, a resident of Bijbehara town of
Anantnag, adding that, “If this is what we are witnessing, the condition of rural areas is unimaginable.” People from far-flung areas of the two districts, including Kokernag and Damhal Hanjipora areas, alleged, that there has been no clearance of snow whatsoever in their areas. “We have been cut off from the rest of Kashmir. The tall claims of the authorities lay exposed once more,” said a resident of the Kapran area in Anantnag district. Moreover, the power supply has been snapped in almost the whole South Kashmir region. People rue that the already pathetic power supply has been altogether snapped. “We were not receiving more than two hours of power supply for the past one month and now even that has been snapped,” said a resident of Srigufwara area of
Anantnag. Meanwhile, more than a dozen road accidents were reported from different parts of South Kashmir region, due to slippery road conditions. No report of any casualty or injury was however received from anywhere.
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Respite from intense cold wave
Srinagar, December 31 A day after recording the season’s coldest night at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature in Srinagar as per an official of the Meteorological Department rose to minus 1.4 degrees last night. However, around 18 inches of snowfall threw normal life out of gear as the authorities faced a tough time clearing snow from the roads. An official of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) said more than 2,700 sanitary workers, 72 dewatering pumps, 20 loaders, four
JCBs, two robots and several hoppers were pressed into service to speed up snow clearance. “The SMC rushed its men and machinery early in the morning to clear the key roads in the city in the wake of nightlong snowfall and ensured smooth traffic towards important destinations like hospitals, ration depots, banks and religious places with special focus on areas like Jamia Masjid and
Hazratbal,” the official added. Commissioner, SMC, GN Qasba along with other senior officers of the corporation personally toured uptown and downtown areas to review snow clearance works. |
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Omar misses snowfall
Srinagar, December 31 “Was looking forward to being in the Valley to see in the New Year, but man proposes & God disposes, looks like the snow will ground me :-( ” Omar, who was in Jammu, wrote on Twitter. However, the CM’s tweet received a sarcastic comment from one of his over followers. “Sir, good for you. No electricity over here...,” a follower wrote in response while indirectly drawing attention to snapping of electricity. — TNS
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Police focusing on restoring lasting peace, says DGP
Jammu, December 31 The DGP said the state police, with the cooperation of all sections of society, was successful in meeting bigger challenges. He said a sense of security had prevailed in the state as reflected by the arrival of more then 11 lakh tourists and 5.54 lakh Amarnath pilgrims, besides over 92 lakh Vaishno Devi pilgrims this year, which boosted the economy of the state. Elaborating upon the achievements of the force, the DGP said after emerging as one of the best forces, acknowledged across the country, the Jammu and Kashmir Police had been focusing on restoring lasting peace. “We have intensified our drive against crimes for which professional skills have to be sharpened. Our training institutions have been upgraded and latest techniques of investigation and crime detection introduced in the syllabus of training courses,” he said. He said greater emphasis has been laid on upgrade of six police training institutions and one police academy to train the police personnel with latest technology and advanced weaponry. He also said during 2013 more than Rs 25 crore was sanctioned for the welfare of the serving and retired personnel, including the special police officers and their families. This included special welfare relief, ex gratia, retirement gifts, medical reimbursements, welfare loans and scholarships to the wards of serving and deceased personnel. Prasad said, “Besides, more than 80,000 verifications were carried out by the CID during the year. This has helped the aspirants, including the Haj pilgrims and the students intending to travel abroad, to get their passports and other service matters cleared within a shorter time.” “Improvements have been made in the procedures to ensure quick disposal of verifications and avoid unwarranted trouble to the people,” said the
DGP. |
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Training for enumerators concludes
Jammu, December 31 The training progamme was organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, J&K, and District Administration, Jammu. During the programme, enumerators and supervisors were briefed on updating of layout maps, abridged house lists, filling up of National Population Register household schedules, know your resident forms etc... by VK Moza and Nimrat Kour, District In charge, Jammu (Directorate of Census Operations, J&K). The trainers emphasised that the NPR would help in creating a comprehensive database in the country with full identification and other details by registering all the citizens in the country. They added that the exercise will also help in improving planning and prevent identity frauds. It was also emphasised that NPR smart card was a must.
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Rising fuel prices force people to look for firewood
Jammu, December 31 There has been a massive nationwide programme to connect rural and urban habitations with the power grid and there is provision for LPG and kerosene supply, but power scarcity, poor distribution management and rising fuel prices have left hundreds of people with no choice but to cut the green cover around most prosperous urban centres in Jammu and Kashmir to meet their basic need of warmth and fuel. Prabha Devi, who lives in a poor colony near the Bahu Fort area, goes to cut and collect wood every day in the surrounding forest area. "Power and kerosene have become costly and scarce. We had stopped using firewood in the past. But now, there is no choice. We planned to get an LPG connection last year, but could not afford it," she said, carrying dry wood. Like Prabha, hundreds of women from many poor households collect dry bushes from wooded areas around the winter capital daily. "We have a kerosene stove, but the fuel supply is erratic and at times, I have to wait for hours to get it from a distribution tanker. We do not cut trees, but only branches and bushes to cook food daily," said Kamal Din, who resides near Sidhra. As per the 2011 Census, 59 per cent families use firewood and other "There are power cuts in the summer zone during April to September and Kashmir in winter. Households remain without electricity. In the absence of godowns in rural areas, the supply of household fuel remains affected, forcing people to remain dependent on firewood," said Nadeem Qadri, an environmentalist, who runs an NGO in Kashmir. Across the Himalayan state even today, hundreds of villages in Doda, Bhaderwah, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Reasi and the Kashmir valley are totally dependent on firewood collected from the surrounding forests as successive governments have failed to create a mechanism for proper distribution and stocking of domestic fuel. As roads remain cut off due to snow, thousands of people depend on supply stocked during the summer months and the occasional visit of tankers from Jammu when the roads remain open. The winter stocking of fuel is done only in the Ladakh region. |
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Omar: J&K youth need opportunities, not favours
Jammu, December 31 "The talent and capacity of the youth of this state are second to none. They are in search of opportunities and a platform to show their leadership qualities and zeal to work with commitment and the highest degree of calibre. Frankly speaking, they do not need any favour or obligation from anyone if they are provided with ample opportunities to prove their mettle," Omar said here. The Chief Minister was addressing an impressive gathering after handing over training-cum-placement letters to 300 youth of Jammu and Kashmir selected under the Udaan scheme by the Canara Bank at Zorawar Singh auditorium, University of Jammu. "Jammu and Kashmir has undergone a difficult and dark phase of militancy which has largely impacted the career and opportunities of the youth. The lack of opportunities to prove their qualities have put the Jammu and Kashmir youth in a disadvantageous position. They are full of enthusiasm and determination," Omar said. He said youth affairs have remained under his focus and enhancing the job orbit for them received his government's highest attention during the last five years. "While 1 lakh educated youth of the state have been provided government jobs during this period, the process of enhancing the job market both in government and private sectors for the Jammu and Kashmir youth is in full swing," Omar said. "While my endeavour to provide government jobs to the youth will go on, my efforts to enhance their opportunities in the private sector will also continue," he said. He referred to the Udaan and Himayat schemes introduced for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of Canara Bank, RK Dubey, said the Canara Bank would provide three-month training to the 300 youth selected and place them in various capacities of officer and clerk in the bank after completion of their training. He said officers would receive Rs 5.79 lakh per annum while the salary of the clerk would be arounf Rs 2.67 lakh a year. Dubey said the Canara Bank proposed to set up 38 bank branches in the state next year, which would be managed by the managers from newly recruited personnel after they got promotion to the status of manager within two or three years. Jahangir Hashmi, Mission Director, J&K, Udaan, said in his opening remarks that as many as 59,000 youth of Jammu and Kashmir were being trained and placed in as many as 42 private organisations during the next five years, for which memoranda of understanding required had been signed by the parties concerned. He said as many as 2,385 youth were undergoing training with 30 private partners in the country. Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary for Planning and Development BR Sharma, Union Joint Secretary R Srivatsava and senior officers of the Canara Bank were present on the occasion. |
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Army organises ‘walk for fun’ in Udhampur
Jammu, December 31 The walk was inaugurated by General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, along with his wife Anshul Chachra, president of the Family Welfare Organisation. Nearly 200 officers, 1,500 Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks, besides schoolchildren and their families joined the Northern Command chief and his wife in the 2.4-km walk despite inclement weather. A lecture on the advantages of walking was also organised. Various stalls displayed a variety of healthy foods and educated all personnel about the advantages of staying fit. Command Hospital (Northern Command) was raised as 48 Indian General Hospital at Lucknow in July 1948 and moved to Udhampur in December 1948. It was re-designed as Command Hospital (Northern Command) on April 12, 1989. The hospital was awarded the coveted Raksha Mantri trophy for being the best Command Hospital of the armed forces in 2001 and 2006. In January 2007, the hospital was awarded Unit Appreciation by the GOC-in-C, Northern Command, for its exceptional performance in Jammu and Kashmir. The GOC-in-C of the Northern Command complimented all ranks of Command Hospital for rendering yeoman service towards the healthcare of troops, their families, dependants, veterans and the people. |
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Residents rue poor preparations
Srinagar, December 31 “We haven’t seen electricity since the snowfall started. The government should have made proper preparations so that people face less difficulty,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Civil Lines in Srinagar. Admitting that there was power crisis in some parts of the city due to snowfall, the officials of the Power Development Department (PDD) said they were trying to restore maximum supply till evening. “There is problem in some areas of the city as snow has gathered on distributing lines. We are trying to restore it till evening,” said chief engineer, PDD, Bashir Ahmed. Public transport was also thin due to slippery roads. People preferred to remain indoors and many shops were closed at Lal Chowk. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah said they were trying to clear the main roads first and they have directed their men to work during night hours. |
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Politicians express anguish over Hazratbal fire
Srinagar, December 31 Expressing his sympathy with the affected families, senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has urged people to help victims generously, while as Pradesh Congress Chief Saifuddin Soz has asked the administration to take immediate measures for rehabilitation of affected families. A major fire broke out in the residential area of Hazratbal locality here, which damaged 14 houses, five sheds and two shikara boats. The fire led to a loss of Rs 60 lakh, an official of the fire and emergency service had said. “Geelani has appealed to the people to come forward and help the victims in overcoming this tragedy by donating generously,” a Hurriyat spokesman said. The spokesman added that on the instructions of Hurriyat chairman, a four-member Hurriyat delegation visited the affected families at Dhobi Ghat in Hazratbal to take stock of the situation and to expresses their sympathies and solidarity with them in this hour of grief. Soz said, “The unfortunate incident has rendered dozens of families homeless in these hard days of winter.” He asked the administration to take immediate measures for rehabilitation of the affected families,” a statement quoting him said. Soz also urged for taking immediate steps to provide relief to them on war footing, it said. |
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After winning several medals for state in various international events, taekwondo player Atul Pangotra from Jammu has added another feather to his cap by becoming the youngest member in the executive committee of Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), the elections to which were held in Gurgaon recently.
Heavy snowfall in the reaches coupled with incessant rain and intense cold wave today brought normal life to a standstill across the region. The Valley was cut off from rest of the country following the closure of the
Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
Srinagar, December 31
Srinagar, December 31
Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad today greeted all ranks of the police, their families and the people of the state on New Year eve and said after creating a conducive atmosphere, the force were constantly maintaining pressure on anti-national elements and focusing on public service and professional policing.
When you travel in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir, it is common to see women and girls carrying firewood back to their homes. Hundreds of families in Jammu and Srinagar now gather wood from surrounding forests for cooking and heating purposes.
Exuding confidence about the 'unexplored' talent of the youth in the conflict-ridden zone, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the 'enthusiastic' youth of Jammu and Kashmir did not require any favour or obligation if they were provided with ample opportunities and openings to prove their mettle at the national level.
As part of the 250th anniversary of the Army Medical Corps, Northern Command Hospital today organised a ‘walk for fun’ at Bikram Park in Udhampur.
