Plan to expand trout hatcheries
JAMMU, Nov 29 — The state Fisheries Department had formulated a plan for expanding trout hatcheries so as to ensure an annual increase of production from 100 tonnes to 500 tonnes. The expansion programme is being assisted by the European Economic Committee through financial and technical aid.

Power generation at Salal decreases

NC leader, four militants killed

SRINAGAR, Nov 29 (PTI) — A National Conference leader has been shot dead by militants in Rajouri district even as the security forces killed four ultras in separate encounters in the Kashmir valley since last evening.

A group of militants gunned down National Conference leader Mohammad Sharief at his residence at Pallni village of Budhal tehsil yesterday, reports from Jammu said.

Meanwhile, six persons, including four militants, were killed in the Kashmir valley, an official spokesman said in Srinagar.

Two foreign mercenaries were killed in exchange of fire with security personnel in the Handwara area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir today, he said. Militants shot dead a forest official, Mr Ghulam Nab Sheikh, at Wantpora-Handwara today, he said adding the motive behind the killing was not known.

The security forces also gunned down two militants of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen when they opened fire on search parties at Dogarpora in Kupwara last night.

The body of an unidentified person was recovered from Chak-e-Isher Dass in the Mattan area of Anantnag district today. The body bore bullet wounds and was taken away by the police for identification.

He said a militant attack on a police picket was repulsed and the security forces foiled a bid by militants to set off a blast in the valley.

The security forces raided an abandoned militant hideout in Baramula district of north Kashmir last night and recovered four AK assault rifles, six magazines with 80 cartridges and six mortar bombs, the spokesman said.

He said militants lobbed a grenade at a higher secondary school at Banihal in the district. No damage was caused to the building.

The security forces also detected a grenade near the Iqbal Park girls’ school in Srinagar last evening. The bomb disposal squad neutralised it, he added.

Plan to expand trout hatcheries
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 29 — The state Fisheries Department had formulated a plan for expanding trout hatcheries so as to ensure an annual increase of production from 100 tonnes to 500 tonnes. The expansion programme is being assisted by the European Economic Committee through financial and technical aid.

According to Dr Nissar Jan, Director, Department of Fisheries, of the five species of trout and salmon introduced in Kashmir, the brown and the rainbow trout have got acclimatised both in the river system and on farms. He said there were 18 state-owned trout hatcheries in Doda, Rajouri, Kargil, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramula and Budgam where trout culture was being promoted. Emphasis was being laid on the production and development of trout as it commanded an assured market within and outside the state.

Dr Jan said in addition to the trout development programme, stress was also being laid on the expansion of mahaseer production. The golden mahaseer had remained a major commercial fish in the state, accounting for 27 per cent of the fish landings.

He admitted that the construction of the Salal Dam had bisected the traditional migratory route of the mahaseer. The problem was being examined by scientists and engineers so as to allow the unhindered migration of fish.

The hi-tech mahaseer hatchery at Anji in Rajouri district was expected to give a fillip to fish production and the area would serve as a model for other states. Trout culture, which had been confined to Kashmir, was being extended to the Jammu region. The experiment in Rajouri and Doda had started yielding good results.

The government had realised the importance of fish development and hence the annual outlays for the development of fish hatcheries had registered a hike. During 1977-1987 the department spent about Rs 4.75 crore but in the 1987-1997 period the expenditure touched Rs 19.93 crore. The outlay for the Ninth Plan had been fixed at Rs 25 crore against Rs 11.35 crore for the Eighth Plan period.

BSF jawan killed in Pak firing

SRINAGAR, Nov 29 (PTI) — A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in Pakistani shelling in Nowgam sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, the police claimed today.

Pakistani troops shelled forward security positions and villages in Nowgam sector last night killing constable A Velmargan of the 65th battalion.

Indian forces retaliated, but casualties on the Pakistani side was not known.

Power generation at Salal decreases
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Nov 29 — Power generation at the Salal hydroelectric project has tremendously decreased to 200 MW because of low water level in the Chenab and accumulation of silt in the Salal reservoir.

The present water level in the reservoir 10 feet only. As a result only two turbines are in operation.

The project was commissioned in 1985 and since then no desilting has been undertaken.