Campaigning in J&K yet to pick up
JAMMU, Aug 14 — Electioneering is yet to pick up in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Flights sought for Haj pilgrims
JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reiterated its demand to operate flights for Haj pilgrims between Srinagar and Jeddah. The Haj and Auqaf Minister, Peerzada Ahmed Shah, has urged the Ministry of External Affairs and the Haj Committee of India to take up the matter with the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Flying squad to keep a tab on erring drivers
JAMMU, Aug 14 — In order to minimise the chances of accidents on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and rural areas of Kathua district, a flying squad, comprising the district police, traffic police and Motor Vehicles Department, has been constituted to check overloading and overspeeding of vehicles. This was decided at a meeting of the departments concerned in Kathua, recently.

BSI documents fauna of 8 states
JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, has prepared manuscripts of eight states’ flora, including that of Jammu and Kashmir. The other states whose fauna have been documented include Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala. The list also includes the Andaman and Nicobar, islands.

Farooq calls for greater vigil
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 14 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has called for greater vigil against enemies of the nation saying the unity and determination to preserve the hard-won Independence was the real strength of the largest democracy in the world.

"The high degree of unity and patriotism demonstrated by the countrymen during the Kargil incursion has fortified our resolve to withstand all odds and sacrifice everything for the sovereignty and integrity of the country", Farooq Abdullah said in his message on the eve of Independence Day. "This day has a special significance for us as every Indian feels proud of martyrs who laid down their lives for our dignity and honour. We salute their valour and pay our respectful homage on the 52nd Independence Day", he said.

The Chief Minister said India always stood for friendly relations with Islamabad and even took a big stride to normalise relations with Lahore. "Friendship and insincerity cannot go together any longer", he said, hoping that Pakistan would realise its folly, stop meddling in Jammu and Kashmir and allow us to live in peace.

Campaigning in J&K yet to pick up
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Aug 14 — Electioneering is yet to pick up in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference is yet to start its campaign formally as it is waiting for the leadership to announce the names of the candidates. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mufti Mohd Sayeed launched the campaign at a rally at R.S. Pora where he introduced the party candidate, Mr Trilok Singh Bajwa. The party has announced its candidates for the Anantnag, Baramula, Jammu and Udhampur constituencies.

The Congress, which is in bad shape after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed resigned from the party started its campaign in Srinagar where AICC general secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad addressed a meeting.

Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, BJP candidate for the Udhampur constituency has already started his campaign in villages.

The campaign in the valley is likely to pick up next week after the National Conference announces its candidates. It has not yet announced the party candidates for the Jammu and Udhampur seats because it may enter into an alliance with the BSP.

Insiders say the National Conference leadership has realised that the going may not be easy for it and hence it has favoured a tie-up with the BSP to get the support of a majority of the 80,000 Scheduled Castes' votes.

The party would have announced its tie-up with the BSP, but it is facing a problem. Since the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah has announced that he will remain with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), his joining hands with the BSP may generate a controversy.

It seems certain that the spurt in militancy-related violence in different parts of the state may prevent a hectic poll activity.

The parties are facing a new problem as the election authorities have refused to provide them with voters' list free of cost. When leaders of different parties approached the election office, they were told that they would not get the copies of voters' lists free because these had been circulated in the 1998 poll. Since there has been no revision of the electoral rolls since 1998, there was no provision for giving copies of the poll rolls free of cost to the candidates or parties registered by the Election Commission.

NC nominees for 4 seats
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Aug 14 — The ruling National Conference today announced the names of three more candidates for the Baramula, Anantnag and Ladakh Parliamentary constituencies for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Umar Abdullah has already filed his nomination papers from Srinagar.

The party candidates are A.R. Shaheen for Baramula constituency, Ali Mohammad Naik for Anantnag and Ghulam Hassan Khan for Ladakh. These names were announced by the party general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad at the National Conference party headquarters here this afternoon.

Candidates for by-elections to the two Assembly constituencies of Langate in Baramula and Beijbehara in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies were also announced by the National Conference general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad here this afternoon.

These include Bashir Ahmad Kar, son of the former MLA from Langate and a Mohammad Rafi Mir, an ex-MLA from Pahalgam for Beijbehara constituency. Langate constituency fell vacant after Abdul Ahad Kar, the former MLA was killed by suspected militants near his house on May 15 last. Beijbehara constituency fell vacant due to the resignation of Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Congress Legislature Party leader from the primary membership of the party and the Assembly last month. Elections to these Assembly segments will be held along with the Lok Sabha elections next month.

The party is yet to announce candidates for Jammu and Udhampur constituencies in Jammu region. Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, general secretary of the ruling National Conference said that efforts were on to finalise candidates and the stress would be on due representation to the downtrodden.

He did not rule out a pact with the BSP to find a common candidate. However, he ruled out a pact with any other party for the Jammu constituency. Elections to Jammu and Udhampur constituencies are going to be held in the third phase of elections on September 27.

Replying to questions, Sheikh Nazir, while addressing a crowded press conference at the party headquarters. "Nawai-Subh" Complex near Zero Bridge, expressed concern over the harassment and threats to National Conference workers. He, however, did not identify the "agencies" harassing and threatening National Conference leaders and activists in Kashmir valley. He held that it was the job of the government and its investigating agencies to find out who was responsible for the killing of party workers and innocent people. Sheikh Nazir added that the EC and Government of India were bound to provide safety to voters.

The party general secretary also announced that the National Conference would release its manifesto on Wednesday next, the day when scrutiny of candidates for the first phase of elections will be undertaken. He questioned the role of some national level parties in the "erosion of Article 370". He also hinted at a role of former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the adverse situation in Kashmir. It was during his tenure that the Centre imposed Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir early in 1990. "What befell the people of Kashmir after that is quite obvious", Sheikh Nazir pointed out.

So far only two candidates, Umar Abdullah of the NC and an Independent, Ms Hafiza Begum have filed their nominations from Srinagar. The Congress candidate, Agha Syed Mehdi is yet to file his nominations. The newly constituted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also not announced the names of its candidates for Srinagar and Ladakh constituencies, while it has already announced names for the other four constituencies.

Rs 1.36 cr earmarked for Hemis park
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department has formulated an ambitious Rs 1.36-crore project for the further development and management of the famous Hemis High-Altitude National Park in Ladakh.

The project, to be implemented in three years and proposed to be funded by the Centre, envisages creation of congenial conditions for the existing rare wild animals and rehabilitation of degraded habitat. It will seek to minimise biotic pressure on the protected area and undertake construction of a nature interpretation centre at Leh.

The park which derives its name from "Hemis Gompa", is situated 40 km south-east of Leh and occupies the left bank of the Indus. It spreads over an area of 3,350 sq km.

It is famous for harbouring many rare and endangered mammalian species. The park is consider to be the abode of blue sheep or Bharral. It also provides sanctuary to the majestic snow leopard besides the Himalayan mouse, hare, Himalayan Marmot and the Indian hare. It also harbours a large number of birds numbering around 30 species, both resident and migratory.

The wildlife management plan envisages maintenance of the ecological balance of the park. It also provides for identifying the flora and fauna of the sanctuary and averting hazards responsible for the loss of vegetative cover.

The project aims at participation of people in wildlife conservation programmes and creating consciousness among the masses and the school children about the importance of the flora and the fauna. Some NGOs are also being involved for the successful implementation of the management programmes.

To meet the water requirements of animals and birds within the park, the existing eight springs are proposed to be converted into water holes The construction of roads will facilitate the field staff in taking care of the protected area.

As the area is a sanctuary for a large number of predators, especially the snow leopards and the wolves, who attack the herds of nomads and villagers causing damage to their livestock, the management plan proposes to develop six pen houses and animal enclosures in different villages near the buffer zone for the protection of the livestock. The project will cost Rs 18 lakh.

A nature interpretation centre, for which land has already been provided by the Revenue Department is also proposed to be constructed in Leh for Rs 12 lakh. The centre will be equipped with the latest facilities to enable tourists to get acquainted with the wildlife in the park. It will be equipped with audio-visual aids and provide books and pamphlets and other aids depicting the flora and fauna of the park.

To minimise the biotic pressure on the protected area, an integrated programme would be taken up under which 10,000 plants will be raised and 60 smokeless chullahs provided every year to the villagers inhabiting these areas.

Flights sought for Haj pilgrims
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reiterated its demand to operate flights for Haj pilgrims between Srinagar and Jeddah. The Haj and Auqaf Minister, Peerzada Ahmed Shah, has urged the Ministry of External Affairs and the Haj Committee of India to take up the matter with the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Dwelling upon the persistent complaints during the past several years regarding accommodation, he said a majority of the pilgrims complained that they were not being allotted accommodation in Mecca according to the category they opted for. This, he said, created a lot of inconvenience to them and suggested that other category of accommodation should under no circumstances be allotted to any pilgrim in place of the one he had paid for.

He said some Haj pilgrims from the state were still reportedly missing and no reply had been received from the Haj Committee of India or the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard.

Flying squad to keep a tab
on erring drivers
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 14 — In order to minimise the chances of accidents on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and rural areas of Kathua district, a flying squad, comprising the district police, traffic police and Motor Vehicles Department, has been constituted to check overloading and overspeeding of vehicles. This was decided at a meeting of the departments concerned in Kathua, recently.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Chaman Lal, issued instructions that strict penal action be taken against those driving without licences. Strictness should be observed with regard to overloading and playing of tape recorders in vehicles.

The Deputy Commissioner issued orders under Section 144 CrP.C., banning playing of tape recorders in buses and other vehicles in the district. He also issued instructions to the traffic police to arrange speedometers for checking the speed of vehicles.

BSI documents fauna of 8 states
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Calcutta, has prepared manuscripts of eight states’ flora, including that of Jammu and Kashmir. The other states whose fauna have been documented include Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala. The list also includes the Andaman and Nicobar, islands.

The work on preparing nine volumes of flora of different states is under various stages of development. The BSI studied about 730 species of plants during the past financial year. During 1998-1999, information on distribution, flowering and fruition period of about 100 species were provided to institutions and individuals.

The BSI was established in 1890 to explore the plant wealth of the country. It provides services not only to various scientific and academic institutions but also to individuals. It has also imparted training to about 250 students and teachers on phyto-diversity methodology at its various centres in the country.