Jammu August 11
The Syndicate met in the University of Jammu (JU) under the chairmanship of Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice Chancellor, and took a number of important academic decisions.

BB Vyas, Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, and Financial Adviser, JU, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Secretary to Government, Higher Education, also attended the meeting.

Prof Ishar informed the Syndicate that the university is holding its 14th convocation on September 1, wherein President of India Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest.

Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar also informed the Syndicate that the university has taken several new initiatives for the benefit of students.

He said the university has successfully implemented the semester system at the undergraduate level and admissions in various colleges have been made on this basis. The university has introduced the choice-based credit system at the postgraduate level on the main campus.

Besides this, the university has also completed admission process to various postgraduate programmes offered by main and off-site campuses. He also said many new research projects have also been initiated in the university.

In the 104th meeting of the Syndicate, 34 agenda items were presented by Prof MK Dhar, Registrar, University of Jammu.

The Syndicate approved the statutes of MTech in computer sciences. The university has decided to adopt University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines regarding granting of autonomous status to colleges and institutions.

In order to give boost to the international collaboration, the university Syndicate granted recognition to Fermilab, United States of America (USA), as a centre for research. This step will go a long way in fostering academic collaborations and exchange of students and faculty members for undertaking research in frontier areas of physics.

The University of Jammu Syndicate also confirmed the actions taken by the Vice Chancellor regarding introduction of new subjects and programmes in various colleges of the Jammu province.

Jammu, August 11
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has held a meeting with officials about the progress of ongoing projects in the city, there have been differences within the business community about interest shown by the government in the projects just a few months before the Assembly elections.

Most of the projects, which include laying of sewerage, Tawi lake, Manda zoo and ropeway, are running behind schedule, despite the fact that the work commenced on them several years ago.

Members of the Jammu Tourism Action Committee (JTAC), body of traders associated with the tourism sector, has expressed dismay over the failure of the authorities in declaring completion dates of any ongoing projects.

In a statement, convener of the Jammu Tourism Action Committee Inderjeet Khajuria said it was expected that the government would announce deadlines for the completion of the ongoing projects, but no such commitment has been made.

Khajuria said most of the projects, which include multi-storeyed General Bus Stand with Inter State Bus Terminal for all routes as assured several times by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, are nowhere in sight.

The Jammu Tourism Action Committee claims that due to train reaching Katra, Jammu traders are facing financial crisis. The sustenance of the 5 lakh people is at stake, who require immediate relief, but the government could not deliver, which is most unfortunate on its part.

Meanwhile, the Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal (JPVM) has hailed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for personally taking stock of mega projects being undertaken in Jammu and giving instructions to the authorities concerned to expedite the work on the same and complete these within time.

A statement issued by Kuldeep Wahi, president of Jammu Hotels, Restaurants and Bars Associations, who is also the president of the Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal, particularly hailed Omar for stressing on completing the tourism-related projects in the Jammu region.

Jammu, August 11
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced party ticket to Sunny Sangral from the Samba Assembly constituency.

The announcement has been welcomed by the people of the area, were he has been working for the last several years.

Sunny Sangral has risen from a very humble background. Sunny Sangral has been working to highlight the problems faced by the poor and downtrodden in Samba district, one of the backward areas of the state. Samba district has been neglected by the successive state governments and is deprived of clean drinking water, electricity and basic amenities of life.

Sunny Sangral was born at Jalochak village in the Samba constituency. His father Bishan Das Sangral had a small business and lived in Srinagar till 1990, where Sunny got his primary education. After the militancy erupted in the state, the family shifted 
to Jalochak.

Jammu, August 11
The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) in its Perspective Academic Plan 2014-15 has stressed for different strategies/approaches for developing English communication skills in the students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in the state.

Sources said the samiti admitted that developing English communication skills in the students of JNV has always been a challenge. It added that the new entrants to class VI generally have very low language competence.

“To make the situation worse, the learners have different levels of competence depending on the schooling background and the individual capacity. On the first day, the teacher faces a group of predominantly low competence language learners and language teaching begins with a note of despair,” a NVS statement claimed.

The sources said the samiti has asked the heads of JNVs to make conscious effort for teaching higher levels of written and oral communication skills to the students.

It suggested that in order that students get the facility to listen to a standard English speech (including word stress and intonation), the English teacher, in particular, and teachers, in general, have to cultivate good spoken English.

“Teaching in classrooms and particularly in the language classroom must be interactive. If the teaching is lecture-based (as it generally is) one-way traffic, the learners will get least chance of speaking and the language competence acquired through listening, speaking and writing will remain dormant at the competence level and will not surface at the performance level,” a Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti statement maintained.

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has advised all the teachers to make a conscious effort to cautiously bring themselves down to the level of the child. “He/she should consciously use a warm and inviting body language; should be playful and indulgent with the children (without compromising with discipline, of course) in order to help them overcome inhibitions, hesitation and poor level of language competence and open up and communicate (listen and speak) in English,” the statement said.

The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti opined that communication skills of the learners, who had an English-medium background before joining the vidyalaya, may be cleverly utilised for leading peer group communication and conducting language games so that being in a group of lower level of language competence they do not get demotivated.

Srinagar, August 11
Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, Dr Tej Partap and Vice Chancellor, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, Dr Pradeep Kumar Sharma, called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan, here yesterday.

Partap and Sharma briefed the Governor, who is also the chancellor of the universities, about the status of admissions to various undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the universities till date. They also discussed academic and administrative issues related to their respective institutions and difficulties faced due to inadequate financial resources.

The Governor also discussed initiatives taken by the VCs to boost research, extension activities and outcomes achieved in improving the production and productivity levels. He urged the VCs to ensure efficient functioning of all the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the three regions of the state. — TNS

Jammu, August 11
The Ministry for Urban Development in its recent report claimed that there is no proper coordination between the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Jammu Development Authority (JDA), District Development Board (DDB) and Town Planning Organisation in preparation of plans and implementation of the same in Jammu city.

Further, the report said there is no clarity on the urban planning function, implementation of Jammu Master Plan-2021 and framing the various building bylaws.

“The master plans lack the essence of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for the city. This is leading to planning becoming an independent function and affecting the overall growth of the city. The JMC should be assigned the function of planning, including town planning for the urban area, as it merely performs the role of a building permission agency,” the report said.

“The data about urban agglomeration in Jammu is not available. The JDA has not been meticulous in even gathering current demographic data about the city, leave alone data on urban services,” it added.

As per the Central ministry report, urban planning in Jammu was an afterthought, which came into reality with the establishment of the JDA in 1970. The JDA prepared the first master plan for Jammu for a 20-year perspective. The master plan envisaged strict zoning norms.

“However, not having absolute control over the land, a large chunk of the land transferred to the JDA got encroached. In the absence of a land pool, actual development could not take place as conceived in the master plan,” the report claimed.

Further, during subsequent decades, Jammu faced an unprecedented growth in population due to migration from the Valley and rapid growth of commercial and industrial activities, which resulted in a mismatch between the demand for serviced land and availability of the same.

With this gap, a large-scale development emerged on private land without following any planning norms. Following the experience of implementing the previous development plan, the JDA prepared another master plan in 1994 for Jammu envisioning Jammu 2021. The Jammu Master Plan-2021 is an effort to achieve an appropriate balance between the spatial allocation for various activities, adequate arrangements, and reservations to accommodate different kinds of physical infrastructure and public utility systems.

Srinagar, August 11
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced Rs 70 crore financial grant to the state’s panchayat institutions, which saw several phases of crisis following a series of militant attacks on its members in recent years.

The financial grant will be given to the institutions for undertaking various development works in their respective areas, Omar said while addressing a function in the Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Omar addressed a public meeting at Kijpora village of Kangan after online inauguration of 200 ‘panchayat ghars’, constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore. As many as 29 panchayat ghars were inaugurated in Anantnag district, 19 in Bandipora, 35 in Baramulla, 20 in Budgam, 16 in Ganderbal, 12 in Kargil, 10 in Kulgam, 22 in Kupwara, 20 in Leh, 10 in Pulwama, six in Shopian and one in Srinagar, an official spokesman said.

Panchayat members, who were elected in the landmark election in 2011, have faced a rough time after a series of militant attacks and threats. Besides accusing the state government of doing little to empower them, many panchayat members have resigned in protest over threat to their safety.

The financial grant, which is part of Omar’s populist measures taken after his party’s rout in the parliamentary elections, will provide a major boost to the beleaguered panchayat members.

While addressing the rally, Omar said panchayats were the “best tool to curb corruption and ensure transparency”.

The Chief Minister accused the opposition PDP of piloting and passing a Bill in the legislature which was aimed at prematurely dissolving the panchayats in the state.

Omar said the “detractors” were trying to “defame his government and diminish the huge achievements” registered during his tenure so far.

“The thousands (of) macro, medium and micro schemes founded and completed by the present government within the last five and a half years itself speak loud and clear for the work done and performance of the government,” the Chief Minister said.

Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, who also addressed the rally, said that another lot of 200 panchayat ghars would soon be inaugurated in the Jammu division.

State Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad also addressed the rally and listed the “vast development works launched, completed and commissioned” by the present government, the official spokesman said.

Jammu, August 11
A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the Ladakh region tomorrow, the mood was quite upbeat in Leh district of the region with people pinning high hopes on the visit.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate two hydel projects — Nimoo Bazgo project in Leh and Chutak project in Kargil. He will address a public rally at the Polo Ground in Leh and lay the foundation stone of the much-awaited Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission system.

State spokesperson and in charge Ladakh Affairs of the BJP youth wing Jamyang Tsering Namgyal told The Tribune that the people were excited about having the PM in their midst.

“Nearly 60 youths attired in traditional Ladakhi clothes will welcome the Prime Minister at the Leh airport and he will be brought to the Polo Ground amid folk dance and music,” he said.

He said nearly 10,000 people from various parts of Leh district were expected to take part in the rally.

“People have great expectations from the Prime Minister with regard to Union Territory status to Ladakh, inclusion of Bhotti language in the 8th Schedule, announcement of major development projects, including opening of a Central university with medical and engineering colleges in Ladakh,” he said.

Rigzin Spalbar, Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), which is politically governing Leh district, said they had prepared a charter of demand and it would be submitted to the Prime Minister during his visit.

Tsering Dorjey, a taxi driver at Leh airport, said, “The people in Ladakh are eager to see the Prime Minister who is the inspiration behind the landslide victory of the BJP in the country in general and first time in the Ladakh region. Leh town is wearing a festive look and we are expecting that he will make major announcements during his rally at the Polo Ground.” 

Kargil, August 11
Once a war-hit town, this Muslim-dominated town bordering Pakistan is all decked up to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP buntings and flags have been erected in the major markets of the town where Modi would dedicate the 44-MW Chutak Hydroelectric Project to the nation tomorrow and later address a gathering which is likely to be attended by around 5,000 people.

Senior BJP leader Mukthar Abbas Naqvi has been camping in the town for the past many days and canvassing in the area to ensure an impressive gathering during Modi’s first public rally at Kargil.

“There is an enthusiasm among locals as we expect that Kargil will get a financial package,” said Ali Waziri, 27, a local resident. “The youngsters are keen to hear Modi and we hope he will ensure better connectivity with the rest of the world,” he added.

Modi’s rally would be held at Khee Sultan Choo stadium, 1.5 km from the town centre and officials are busy in the preparations. Thousands of chairs have been arranged in the ground for the public. The security has also been beefed up in the town and venue has been sanitised by the security officials.

“All necessary arrangements are in place for the function,” said a security official.

Though the visit is being portrayed purely as official, sources said the BJP is eyeing to win all four constituencies in Ladakh division, though it has an edge in two constituencies in the regions.

In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Thupstan Chewang had managed to win the seat and it has encouraged party to gather support in the region.

J&K Finance Minister and in charge Ladakh affairs Abdul Rahim Rather and local MLAs Qamar Ali Akhoon and Feroz Ahmed Khan are also in Kargil and will attend the function.

Kupwara, August 11
At least 300 people, including children and women, have fallen ill due to gastroenteritis in remote Zurhama village of Kupwara district.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Muneer Ahmad Khawaja said 10 teams of doctors were camping in the village and working round the clock to treat the patients. “Over 100 patients have been admitted to the nearby Awoora and Trehgam health centres and around 200 are being treated at their homes. Teams of doctors have been camping in the village since last evening and monitoring the situation,” said the CMO.

“We have taken the water samples from the village and report is awaited. Gastroenteritis is always a water-borne disease, but to what extent water is contaminated will be proved only after we receive the report from the forensic laboratory,” he added.

Locals said the water reservoir built in 1986 has never been cleaned and on many occasions they spotted dead rats and other animals in the reservoir. Executive Engineer, PHE division, Kupwara, Ghulam Qadir Bhat said, “Water samples from the reservoir were tested today and water was found not contaminated.”

Srinagar, August 11
Welcoming the proposed foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said the success of talks between the two countries would be connected to the solution of Kashmir issue.

Speaking during a seminar here to pay tributes to slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz on his death anniversary, Mirwaiz said the leadership of both nations instead of dealing with secondary issues should focus their energies on the solution of the Kashmir issue, which he termed as the main source of confrontation and tension between the two countries.

Mirwaiz stated that both countries should take steps to ensure a composite dialogue, which should include a discussion on the Kashmir issue by all stakeholders so that stability and peace was established in the South Asian region, read a statement from the Hurriyat.

Mirwaiz said that the Kashmir issue could not be solved by the use of force, coercion, bullying, or by taking cosmetic measures like giving people financial concessions.

He said the Kashmir issue could be solved only through political means.

Hurriyat for Return of KPs (BOX)

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stated the Hurriyat Conference had always advocated the return of Kashmiri Pandits back to their native homes and places.

“However, some elements with a communal mindset under the garb of return of Kashmiri Pandits were pursuing their own ulterior political agenda,” he said.

Under the garb of rehabilitation, Mirwaiz alleged, such elements were exploiting the emotions of Kashmiri Pandits and were on the path of dividing Kashmiris on communal lines.

“It was the duty of Kashmiri Pundits that instead of becoming part of any dirty politics, they should become part of the promotion of Kashmir’s inclusive culture and do their utmost to maintain the communal bonhomie existing in the region since hundreds of years,” Mirwaiz said.

He stated that Kashmiri Pandits were an inalienable part of the Kashmiri society and their return should become a source of cohesion rather than a cause of disruption in the Kashmiri society.

Paddar (Kishtwar), August 11
The dirty lanes of Lusseni and Dangail villages, the land-locked Buddhist habitations located on the banks of the Chenab in the remote Paddar area of Kishtwar district, usually wear a deserted look round the year, except when their children return home during school or college vacations.

Both villages are situated a few kilometres en route the world famous Paddar sapphire mines and the people there are still living in the medieval era with no provision of electricity, communication and road connectivity and are even without primary medicare facilities. Paddar is also known as the ‘Sapphire Valley’ of Jammu and Kashmir.

They trek a distance of almost 40-km (one-side) on the tough and hilly terrains to reach Gulabgarh, some 65-km from Kishtwar district headquarters, to buy essential commodities and carry goods on their shoulders back to their native places. A single side passage from Dangail to Gulabgarh takes almost 10 hours for them.

They are dependent on local produce only and have no source of income except farming. They remain confined to the four walls constructed with mud, stones and wooden logs for six to seven months during the harsh winters as the area remains covered with 5 to 10-ft snow.

Furthermore, villagers suffer the ‘pain of separation’ from their wards every day as they have sent children outside the village for pursuing education as there are no higher secondary school in the area. The only mode of communication for Lusseni village is the satellite STD phone in the village which remains non-functional most of the time, but Dangail village doesn’t even have any such facility.

The most shocking part of their day-to-day life is that they carry patient on their shoulders to reach Machail village before he or she will be airlifted through a government chopper, service of which is requisitioned only in case of an emergency. The definition of ‘emergency’ is not clear to the villagers and they make frantic calls to the district administration from the lone satellite phone when they feel that their family member is ‘really serious’.

“All the children of the village, having 36 families, remain outside most of the year and they come to us only when they have school or college vacations. Our sole dream is that they get quality education and become successful in their life so that they don’t face hardships and miseries, to which we have come across in our lives,” Tsering Dorjey, a resident of Lusseni village, said.

Tenzin Namgyal of Dangail village, who is pursuing BTech from an engineering college in Dehradun, said, “Our parents have limited resources, but still they want that I should go for higher education. I have come to the village after a gap of almost a year and it’s a feeling of great pain for everyone who is pursuing education outside. The government has done nothing for us and the people here are living in a different world where roads, communication, good schools and hospitals are not more than a dream.”

He regretted the fact that though the administration had been excavating sapphire from the area through unbridled mining and auctioning it in the international market, it never thought to spend a part of the income, generated through auction of sapphire, on the development of the area.

“A single bag of cement costs us between Rs 900 and Rs 1,000 because of high carriage charges. There is not even a single cemented house in the village. The block development authorities have provided solar light equipment, which is the only source of power for one to two hours,” he said, adding that the successive regimes in the state and the Centre had dashed the hopes of the people here.

Jammu, August 11
After facing flak for its unpreparedness to deal with the dengue fever last year, the Health Department has equipped district hospitals with diagnostic kits and has trained technical staff to deal with any emergency.

Though so far no case of dengue fever has been detected in the state, monitoring cell has been established by the state government to coordinate with civic agencies in vulnerable areas like Kathua, Samba, Vijaypur, Hiranagar, RS Pura and Jammu to respond quickly in case of an emergency.

Last year there was panic and confusion across the Jammu region as the only Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) had required facilities to identify dengue cases. More than 1,000 cases were detected last year and four persons had died, mostly in private hospitals and nursing homes as government hospitals were ill equipped to deal with dengue cases.

Places worst affected were Samba, Vijaypur, Parmandal, Gura Slathia, Bari Brahmana, Ramgarh, Kathua, Jammu, RS Pura, Satwari, Gajansoo, Gomansa and parts of Rajouri district. The vulnerable areas in the city include Gandhi Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Talab Tillo, Qasim Nagar and Bhagwati Nagar.

“This year we are better prepared to deal with any outbreak as the medical staff at district hospitals has been trained during the last one year. Required equipments and diagnostic kits have been provided to all hospitals. We are now not dependent on the GMCH for conducting tests,” said Dr GS Pathania, director health, Jammu.

Last year there was panic among the people due to shortage of testing kits. Private clinics had created a syndicate with the help of private doctors forcing people to go for costly tests. Later, the government had banned NS1, a rapid serology test for diagnosing dengue, conducted by the clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and clinical establishments. The government had recommended National Institute of Virology Kit commonly known as ELISA test for the detection of 1gM to confirm fever.

“Practicing private doctors and clinics had made huge money as they forced people to take tests at private testing labs even for any normal fever. It had led to panic among the masses,” said a senior doctor at the GMCH.

Dengue is an acute fever caused by a virus. It has two forms — dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Owning to weather fluctations, Jammu region has greater number of malaria patients.

Primary cause of deadly fever is aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow-fever mosquito. Aegypti is recognised by white stripes on its legs. It spreads dengue because it feeds on humans and is active during the day. This kind of mosquito is found mostly in urban areas as it breeds in any container holding water like planters or waste tires.

Srinagar, August 11
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued show cause notice to Chief Secretary and Secretary, Social Welfare Department, for “deliberately and intentionally” violating court orders and asked them why contempt proceedings should not begin against them. Earlier on June 17, the court had asked the state government to identify the poor girls who were getting married, and start disbursing Rs 25,000 and five grams of gold among them.

The government has already identified 3,73,086 poor girls in the state. The court had last year asked it to formulate an exclusive scheme for them.

As the matter came up for hearing this week, the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Muzaffar H Attar and Justice Hasnain Massodi expressed its displeasure over the fresh status report filed by the government authorities, in which it had been submitted that it was introducing the ‘State Marriage Assistance Scheme’ for the poor girls of the state.

The Bench observed that the status report and the scheme proposed to be introduced is not being done in the light of the court directions. “In view of our prima facie opinion, these authorities are intentionally and deliberately violating the orders”, the Bench observed in its orders passed in a public interest litigation — Mohammad Amin Beigh versus State ---- which were made available today.

“We are left with no option but to direct the Chief secretary and Secretary, Social Welfare Department, to show cause as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them,” the Bench observed in its orders while issuing the show cause notices.

Last year, the High Court had directed the government to give poor girls a minimum of Rs 25,000 each and five grams of gold at the time of their marriage to enable them to live a dignified life. In this regard, the court had been directed to constitute a separate fund for which donations could be sought from “philanthropists”. It also asked the government to formulate an exclusive scheme for the poor and destitute girls and had laid down broad parameters for it. However, the government had challenged the order before the Supreme Court, which in its orders on May 5 this year found no illegality in the directions by the High Court and directed the government to give effect to the directions for a comprehensive scheme for the betterment of the poor girls.

Rajouri, August 11
Family members of a cancer patient “physically assaulted” a Medical Superintendent and ransacked his office today alleging that the hospital authorities didn’t provide ambulance to carry the patient.

Dr Mehmood, Medical Superintendent, alleged that his furniture, computer, Fax machine, glasses, etc, were damaged by the patient’s family members.He said he had approached the police.

Meanwhile, according to hospital sources, doctors and other employees have decided to go on a strike on Tuesday alleging that recently the SSP had withdrawn a police post from the district hospital. Dr Mehmood claimed that in the absence of a police post, anti-social elements were moving freely and creating trouble for the staff as well as the patients.

“The matter was taken up with the SSP yesterday, but we have not received any response yet,” said Dr Mehmood. He said the cancer patient, who was declared at terminal stage by doctors at the AIMS and a Chandigarh hospital a few days ago, was admitted to the district hospital and was provided every possible care. “Being a terminal stage patient, he was given special attention since he was admitted on August 7,” Dr Mehmood said.

“As the patient’s condition deteriorated in the morning, family members requested us to discharge him. Special arrangements were made to discharge him,” he said.

However, the family members claimed that the hospital authorities demanded money for filling petrol in the ambulance which infuriated them and in rage they entered the office of the Medical Superintendent and ransacked it. “Had the hospital authorities not demanded money for fuel, there would have been no dispute. To defuse the situation, the police provided a vehicle to carry the patient,” said Shiv Kumar, ASP. However, Yash Pal Singh, SHO, said the police had not received any application from the Medical Superintendent.

“Action will be taken only after it will be received,” he said, adding that the patient died at his residence late evening.

Katra, August 11
In an important and first of its kind move to regulate pilgrim movement on the 13 km-long Katra-Vaishno Devi Cave shrine route, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Katra is going to install public address systems to advise pilgrims and calm them in situations of panic. Officials sources said after every 200 metres a public address system would be installed to facilitate the devotees. It would advise the pilgrims and be helpful in panic situation.

A fully computerised system would be controlled from Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra. Devotees would also be able to listen to live ‘Aarti’ from the cave shrine with bhajans over the public address system, added the sources. The ‘Aarti’ of the Goddess is performed twice a day first before the sunrise and second in the evening, immediately after the sunset. — OC

Poonch, August 11
Over 1 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine during the pious month of Sharawan. Hundreds of pilgrims today gave a rousing reception to the holy mace of Lord Shiva on its return to the Dashnami Akhara, Poonch, from the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine.

The holy mace of Lord Shiva, which left for the shrine in Mandi on August 8, returned here at the Dashnami Akhara today. Led by Shri 1008 Rajguru Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati Maharaj, a large number of devotees and sadhus participated in the “Charri Mubarak” yatra. Various political leaders and district officials welcomed the yatra on its return to the Dashnami Akhara.

Every year the holy mace is kept at the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine for three days from the day of the “Charri yatra” to the next morning of Raksha Bandhan. Thereafter, it returns to the Dashnami Akhara.

“Thousands of devotees performed darshan at the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine on Raksha Bandhan here on Sunday. With the celebration of Raksha Bandhan at the Shri 
Buddha Amarnath shrine, the annual yatra to the shrine concluded. Over 1 lakh devotees have performed darshan at the shrine till the last night,” said Swami Vishvatmanand, Mahant, Dashnami Akhara, Poonch.

On the return of the “Charri yatra”, a valedictory function was organised at the Dashnami Akhara, where various social and religious leaders spoke on the history of the yatra.

Those who were present on the occasion included Poonch SSP Shamsheer Hussain, ADDC Arvind Sharma, ADC Mumtaz Choudhary, Commander, Poonch Brigade, and the locals. Swami Vishvatmanand felicitated all the people who cooperated with the Dashnami Akhara Committee for making the yatra successful.

Doda, August 11
Flash floods have reportedly damaged a number of houses on the outskirts of Doda district. However, there are no reports of any loss of life.

A victim, Rajesh Kumar, said the incident took place on Saturday at 4 am, when flash flood damaged houses, including the victim’s house in Beoli village, just 5 km from the district headquarters in Doda.

“Debris entered my house and caused massive damage to the five rooms and belongings. Fortunately, my family, including three children, wife and ailing mother were timely rescued from the house,” said Rajesh.

Blaming construction work on Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojna for flash floods, Anuradha, wife of Rajesh Kumar, said, “It’s not the first time we faced such kind of situation in village. These floods started since the construction work began on the road here.”

The real concern for affected families was resettlement as their houses were not safe for habitation in the region, she added.

Rajesh said, “I have approached Deputy Commissioner, Doda and other senior officials. Except assurances nothing has done so far for giving compensation”

“We want compensation from the government because we are too poor to repair our houses. Alternatively the government should provide us any other suitable place to live,” he added.

Anantnag, August 11
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was blocked today by locals near Qazigund area of south Kashmir district for more than three hours. The protesters were demanding stern action against a police official, who allegedly thrashed a local youth in Kud town of Ramban district, on Friday.

The locals assembled in Qazigund market in the afternoon and blocked the road bringing the busy National Highway to a grinding halt. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded for over three hours. According to the locals and police sources a local youth, Tariq Ahamd Teeli, was ruthlessly beaten by his employer, who is a police inspector, in Kud.

Teeli and his friend Muhammad Ashraf had been working as salesmen at a sweet shop, owned by inspector Arif Khan, for some time.

The protesters said when the victim went to the shop on Friday, Khan beat him up for joining late after Eid. The family of the youth and the locals said Teeli was grievously injured in the assault.

“Ashraf was also beaten, but he sustained minor injuries. He was able to rush Teeli to a hospital,” added the locals. Ashraf had managed to take Teeli to a Qazigund hospital from where he was shifted to the SMHS hospital in Srinagar. Doctors at the Srinagar hospital said his condition was critical.

Meanwhile senior police officials from Kulgam and Anantnag districts

rushed to Qazigund to pacify the angry locals. “They were assured that due action will be taken against the culprit,” a senior police official said, adding that the erring police inspector had already been arrested on charges of attempt to murder.

Rajouri, August 11
Almost all areas in the Rajouri district are facing acute shortage of safe drinking water. The mismanagement of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and its faulty schemes has made the situation worse.

Residents have been holding protests against officials of the PHE and the district administration as safe drinking water is not available. They were forced to drink contaminated water collected either from natural sources or from rivers.

Rajouri city, which is also a district headquarter, has also been facing acute shortage of potable water. Most of the schemes in the city were started around 50 years ago.

The residents of ITI Complex Mohalla, Ward No. 2 and Malik Market held a protest against the PHE Department. They alleged that for the past few days drinking water had not been supplied in these areas, which is just 500 metres away from the PHE executive engineer’s office-cum-residential complex.

“Most of the pipes laid in these areas were either blocked or damaged resulting in huge loss of water. Despite several representations to officials concerned no one ever visits the spots,” said Manoj and Tahir Lone.

They warned of more protests in future if officials concerned failed to provide safe drinking water within next few days.

Similar protest was also organised by the residents of Darhalo, Nadiayan and its adjoining areas in Darhal tehsil.

Mohd Akbar, Ziaul Haq and many other residents have warned the PHE officials that they would soon hold a mass protest demonstration before the office of the Deputy Commissioner if the water supply was not restored soon.

They alleged that during the monsoon season most of the natural sources had muddy and contaminated water. People were forced to drink it and many among them were down with water-borne diseases. When contacted, the AEE concerned said at most of the places water-lifting motors were lying defunct. It would take some more days to repair these motors, he added.

Doda, August 11
As many as 100 students from different schools of Doda district participated in the painting competition organised by the Army’s 10 Rashtriya Rifles.According to Army statement competition was held for as many as 100 children selected from the preliminary phase in the age group of 8 to 12 and 13 to 16 years at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Doda.

Sunil Mishra, Commanding Officer, Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, Doda, awarded cash prizes, certificates and medals to students, who secured first, second and third positions. In the age group of 8 to 12 years, Nasreen Firdous, who belongs to Gujjar and studies in Bakkarwal School, Doda, got first position. Second position was bagged by Faiza Tabassum of Green Land Public School and third position went to Muskan Rani of Arnora Public School, Ghat. In 13 to 16 years age group, Momin Nisar of Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Doda, Rohit Thakur of Green Model Public school, Doda and Ashif Ali Sheikh of Shaheen Public School, secured first, second and third positions respectively.

Atayyur Rehman, retired Additional District Commissioner, Doda, Izaz Mughal, CEO, Doda, Tanveer, Principal of the Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Doda and other dignitaries were present at the function. 

Srinagar, August 11
Saying that the industrial sector is one of the major employment providers within the state, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on Monday said the government was committed to tap all possible avenues to create more employment opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

He called upon the youth of the state to take part in industrial activities and ensure that the paradigm shift from the service sector to the industrial sector was maintained.

The minister was addressing a meeting of officers organised here to review the functioning and progress of the industries sector in the state.

The participants were informed that revival plans worth over Rs 50 crore had been formulated to carry out the modernisation and upgrade of industrial units across Jammu and Kashmir, which would help extend industrial sector to new heights of development.

Of this, Rs 50 crore plan, Rs 22.48 crore would be spent for development of the Government Silk Factory at Rajbagh and a cost of Rs 18 crore would be incurred on the Government Woollen Mills at Bemina to enable these factories to produce a variety of silk and woollen fabrics on a higher commercial scale.

The participants were informed that the joinery mills in Jammu and Srinagar were being upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 10.3 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said Jammu and Kashmir Industries was the most prestigious public sector enterprise of the state, which had a huge asset base in form of infrastructure, machinery and land.

Srinagar, August 11
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference on Monday formed an election coordination committee to finalise the list of party candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

In a press note, a Peoples Conference spokesperson said the committee was formed after a meeting was organised at the party headquarters here, which was presided over by party chief Sajjad Lone.

The five-member Peoples Conference committee consists of general secretaries Abdul Rashid Lone and Rashid Mehmood, vice chairman Mohammad Kamal Malik and executive members Salam-ud-din Bujad and Mohammad Yaqoob Ganie.

The committee was authorised by the party chief and other members to finalise the list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, the spokesperson said, adding that the committee would announce the first list of candidates soon.

Speaking on the occasion, Sajjad Lone said, “Kashmiris have been deprived of the right to dream of a better future by our traditional political parties.”

He alleged, “The dreams of the common man, those of dignity, prosperity and progress, were detrimental to the manipulative political system these parties represent.”

He added, “It is time for a Kashmiri to dream beyond the political and economic limits designed and enforced by the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party.”

“Both the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are two sides of the same coin. They believe in the same political culture of corruption, misrule and selective governance,” Lone said.

“While the National Conference is a political entity that believes in oppressing Kashmiris for its self-seeking political interests, the Peoples Democratic Party is no different,” he claimed.

Srinagar, August 11
Former National Conference minority cell member and Chanpora gurdwara parbandhak committee president Jaspal Singh joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday along with his supporters.

A PDP spokesman said the new entrants were welcomed by Syed Altaf Bukhari, the party candidate for the Amirakadal constituency, at his office chambers in Shiekhbagh. trade union leader Mohammad Amin Khan and young businessman

Bukhari said Jaspal Singh’s joining the PDP would instil a sense of confidence among the minority community in Amirakadal, which had so far been ‘neglected to the hilt’ by the ruling National Conference.

Bukhari said the Sikh community had a vital role in the building of peace, prosperity and socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said both the communities had been living in harmony for centuries and had always maintained cordial relations, amity and brotherhood.

Addressing the function, Jaspal Singh said it was ‘political obscurity and sheer discrimination’ in National Conference that motivated him and his supporters to join the PDP.

“Not only this, I was fed up with the traditional political gimmicks of the National Conference. The PDP has impressed me and my supporters through it inclusive agenda, which addresses socio-economic and political issues facing Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Claiming that not only Chanpora, but the entire Amirakadal area was waiting for a holistic change, Jaspal Singh said, “I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially members of my community, to teach the National Conference a lesson in the upcoming Assembly elections.”

In another development, trade union leader Mohammad Amin Khan and young businessman Omar Vakil joined the PDP as well. A party spokesman said they were welcomed into the party fold by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

“Khan started his career as a student activist in the late 1960s and later joined the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in 1979,” the spokesman further said.

“Vakil hails from a well-known business family of Srinagar. His joining the PDP represents a growing aspiration among young entrepreneurs to be a part of change,” the PDP spokesman added.

Srinagar, August 11
A resident of the Humhama locality was among four persons who were killed in separate road accidents in the Kashmir valley, the police said on Monday.

Ghulam Qadir Bhar, a resident of the Baginder area of the Humhama locality, was hit by a vehicle near his home on outskirts of the city, resulting in his death on the spot, a police spokesman said.

In another accident, a tipper hit Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Peer, a resident of Syedpora Karnah, at Sonwar in the city. The injured was taken to the SMHS hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the spokesman said.

A passenger cab hit a pedestrian, identified as Bashir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Ringmando Kapran, at Halsidar, near Dooru, resulting in his death on the spot, the spokesman said.

In yet another accident, a load carrier hit a motorcyclist, identified as Ghulam Hyder Tantray, a resident of Awara Kanelwon, at Darkhan Darigund, near Srigufwara, resulting in his death on the spot, the spokesman said. — TNS

Srinagar, August 11
In a major respite to coaching centre owners in the Valley, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday told a delegation of coaching centre owners that service tax would not be charged on them.

Coaching centre owners had met various senior ministers earlier, demanding that the service they provided should be exempt from service tax.

Coaching centre owners claimed that despite the non-applicability of the Service Taxes Act to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government charged service tax on them due to a High Court directive, which was later challenged by coaching centre owners based in Jammu.

“The government has imposed 10.5 per cent service tax on the coaching industry, but the irony is that the government is not imposing it in Jammu as the centres there have got a stay,” said GN Var, chairman of the Coaching Centres Association.

“Coaching centre owners in Kashmir were getting notices to pay service tax for the last three months,” Var said. “The Chief Minister patiently listened to our demand and assured us that the same law would be followed throughout the state,” he added.

“The Chief Minister told us that if service tax collection had been stopped in Jammu, it would not be initiated in Kashmir,” said the Coaching Centres Association chairman.

Srinagar, August 11
A 10-day workshop on mathematics training and talent search organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Mathematical Sciences concluded on Monday.

The workshop was inaugurated by the Minister for Higher Education on the campus of Amar Singh College here on August 2.

The programme was funded by the National Board for Higher Mathematics, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.

During the workshop, resource persons for the programme were from various reputed national institutions, who worked under the leadership of Prof G Santhanam of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur.

The other members of the team were Prof D Rishi from Panjab University, Prof S Reddy from Shiv Nadar University and Dr Vikram T Aithal from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

As many as 43 students from various colleges of Jammu and Kashmir, besides some research scholars, participated in the workshop.

Prof G Santhanam, in charge of the programme, lauded the state government, especially the Minister for Higher Education and the Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Mathematical Sciences, for keen interest and tireless efforts to conduct such programmes in the state.

Srinagar, August 11
Four shops have been damaged after fire broke out in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar city, the police stated on Monday.

Fire broke out at the general bus stand in Batamaloo on Sunday evening, resulting in damage to the four shops, a police spokesman said.

The shops that were damaged were owned by Zahoor Ahmad Machloo, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Qayoom Dar and Irshad Hussain.

The fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and police personnel, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, August 11
The Shardha Mata Trust (SMT) in collaboration with the All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) organised the second annual Maha Daneshwar Cave (Chhota Amarnath) pilgrimage in north Kashmir’s Bandipore district today.

The pilgrimage to the historic 125 ft-long Maha Daneshwar holy cave, known as Chhota Amarnath in Bandipore, was jointly revived by the SMT and the APMCC last year after 24 years.

An APMCC statement said the pilgrims arrived at Shardha Mata Temple, Kaloosa, Bandipore, on Saturday, proceeded towards Daneshwar Cave on Sunday and returned to Srinagar today after paying obeisance at the holy cave.— TNS

Jammu, August 11
The Air India will operate an additional flight for Leh on Tuesday morning. According to the station manager, Jammu, Mohammad Arif, due to cancellation of Air India Flight AI-450 today from Jammu to Leh, the Air India would operate additional flight for Leh AI-14450 tomorrow. The departure of the additional flight for Jammu to Leh will be at 9.20 am. All the stranded passengers of the cancelled flight were advised to report at the airport at 7:20 am.