Srinagar Udhampur

Output of wheat, milk increases
SRINAGAR, May 24 — Implementation of various schemes under the World Bank-aided Integrated Watershed Development Project in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in a two-fold increase in the production of wheat, milk, wool and mutton.

Pilgrim slips, dies

Shah re-elected DFP chief
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 24 — Separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was re-elected President of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) at its convention coinciding with its completion of one year here today.

Later, talking to newsmen at the party headquarters at Rajbagh, Mr Shabir Shah said he and his colleagues were not allowed to visit Kargil and Leh districts. The divisional administration had informed him that the helicopter services for Kargil had been suspended. His plea to visit Kargil by road was also turned down by the administration as the road was still closed to traffic. "We will be going to Ladakh soon after the road is opened or when the helicopter services restart," he said.

The separatist leader has been visiting different areas of the state to mobilise support.

Mr Shabir Shah said at least 20 Working Committee members attended today's meeting. They included two members each from 10 districts of the state, with the district president and a senior member. The districts of Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region and Udhampur and Kathua districts in the Jammu region were yet to be represented in the DFP, he said.

The DFP chief and Working Committee members who addressed the mediapersons also alleged that innocent persons were being harassed by security personnel in the valley and different parts of Jammu division. These areas included Rajouri, Poonch and Doda districts, where the security forces had unleashed a "reign of terror on innocent people". Mr Shabir Shah claimed that even leaders of mainstream political parties, most of them from Opposition groups, had also expressed similar views during his recent visit to Rajouri and Poonch districts.

The 45-year-old separatist leader last year declared assets worth Rs 1 crore and had announced to constitute a trust after he dissociated himself from the People's League.

Pandits visit Martand

SRINAGAR, May 24 (PTI) — For the first time in nearly 10 years, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits visited the Martand temple in Anantnag to observe a religious ceremony for departed souls.

"Malmas" is being observed in Kashmir for the first time after 1989 as the minority community got displaced from the valley due to militancy in the early nineties.

Over 400 families of migrated Kashmiri Pandits have so far visited the temple, Mr Srinath Tikoo, chief organiser of the temple, said.

Mr Tikoo, who lives in the temple township of Mattan, said temple authorities are looking after the migrants and they are being encouraged to visit the valley.

He said Malmas, which commenced on May 13, will continue till June 16.

The pilgrims visit Mattan, especially on Sundays, to take a dip in the holy spring and pay homage to the departed souls.

Output of wheat, milk increases

SRINAGAR, May 24 (PTI) — Implementation of various schemes under the World Bank-aided Integrated Watershed Development Project in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in a two-fold increase in the production of wheat, milk, wool and mutton.

The project, launched in Ramkote and Devak in Jammu and Doodganga in Kashmir in 1990, has led to an improvement in the livestock, forest cover and agricultural production, official sources said.

Wheat production had gone up to 27 quintals per hectare in Kashmir against the base level of 8-14 quintals per hectare, and to over nine quintals in the Kanei belt of Jammu against the base level of 14-20 quintals per hectare.

Similarly, mutton production in Doodganga, Devak and Ramkote had shown a remarkable increase.

With the improvement of genetic livestock, milk production in Doodganga had gone up to 8-10 litres per cow, 6-8 litres per cow in Devak and above five litres per cow in Ramkote, against the base levels of 2.75 litres, 1.67 litres and 1.50 litres per cow, respectively, the sources said.

Wool production of crossbreed sheep, introduced in the watershed areas, had also gone up from a mere 1 kg per animal to 2 to 3 kg, they added

Records seized in vigilance raid
From Our Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, May 24 — Sleuths of the Vigilance Department raided the Public Health and Engineering Department, civil division, (PHE), here following complaints of large-scale irregularities and misappropriation of funds. They seized records including cash books. Sixty cases of irregularities in the PHE division were reported and a special audit was also being conducted for the past four days.

Pilgrim slips, dies

UDHAMPUR, May 24 (UNI) — An unidentified Vaishnodevi pilgrim died on way to the shrine early this morning.

Official sources said a pilgrim slipped near Ardhkawari, half way to the temple, and died.

The body of the 45-year-old devotee has been shifted to the Katra base camp for identification.