J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

30 crore for irrigation development sector
JAMMU, July 30 — The state government has earmarked Rs 29.30 crore for the development of irrigation sector in the Jammu region during the current financial year. Out of this Rs 16.30 crore is being spent on major and medium irrigation schemes.

Fellowship for Prof Rehman Rahi
SRINAGAR, July 30 — Prof Rehman Rahi, a recipient of Padma Shri in 1999, is being awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi fellowship at a function here on August 7 next. The fellowship presentation is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

Jammu morcha reiterates demand
JAMMU, July 30 — Perturbed over the reports that the National Conference party may adopt a Bill in the state legislature implementing of the recommendations of the Regional Autonomy Committee, the Jammu Mukti Morcha and four other political groups have reiterated their demand for trifurcation of the state.

1 killed, 5 hurt in taxi blast

SRINAGAR, July 30 (PTI) — A tourist was killed and five others were wounded when an explosive device ripped through their taxi at the Gulmarg health resort in north Kashmir, a senior police officer said. A Tata Sumo, hired by a group of tourists from Rajasthan, was shattered by the bomb explosion at around 3.20 pm, killing Satish Agarwal of Alwar district on the spot and wounding four other tourists and the driver, IGP, Kashmir, A.K. Bhan told PTI here.

The injured — Santosh Saraf, Pawan Agarwal, Harish Gupta, Deepak Gupta (all residents of Rajasthan) and driver Krishan Ram Chand of Jammu — were hospitalised and their condition was stated to be “stable”, he said.

It was not known immediately whether the blast was caused by a grenade attack or a bomb planted in the vehicle, Mr Bhan said.

Official sources said the blast, which occurred during heavy rush of tourists, caused panic among the picnickers who ran helter-skelter.

State’s Commerce and Industry Minister Mustafa Kamal visited Gulmarg soon after hearing about the incident.

The sources said the blast took place when the tourists were about to leave the picnic spot.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the explosion so far.

Barring this incident, the Kashmir valley witnessed a trouble-free day today following the unilateral ceasefire announced by pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit and subsequent suspension of operations against the outfit by the security forces, officials said. 

30 crore for irrigation development sector
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 30 — The state government has earmarked Rs 29.30 crore for the development of irrigation sector in the Jammu region during the current financial year. Out of this Rs 16.30 crore is being spent on major and medium irrigation schemes.

The state government will receive Rs 13.30 crore for these schemes under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and the state share is expected to be Rs 3 crore. Similarly out of Rs 13 crore sanctioned for the development of minor irrigation facilities NABARD will provide Rs 11 crore and the state share will be Rs 2 crore.

According to a state government spokesman, the government had formulated 15 schemes in the flood control sector and these schemes are estimated to cost Rs 78 crore. He said NABARD had approved a Rs 2.32 crore scheme for the protection of the left bank of Chenab river in the Pargwal area of Jammu district.

He said paucity of funds has slowed the pace of flood control and development irrigation facilities in the Jammu region. He said NABARD had been providing all possible financial assistance for the implementation of several flood control and irrigation development schemes. He said NABARD released over Rs 5.80 crore out of Rs 20 crore sanctioned for 10 schemes, during the first six months of the current year.

The Public Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohd Sagar, has suggested to the engineers concerned to prepare more schemes for flood protection and irrigation development so that the state government could seek funds from NABARD and other financial institutions.

Mr Sagar has directed the engineers to complete the work on 100 tubewells within two years and asked them to replace 27 worn out tubewells in the next five months so that people are able to get better water supply.

Fellowship for Prof Rehman Rahi
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, July 30 — Prof Rehman Rahi, a recipient of Padma Shri in 1999, is being awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi fellowship at a function here on August 7 next. The fellowship presentation is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

He was born on March 6, 1925, in Srinagar and did his masters in English as well as Persian with distinction. Starting his career as a clerk, he worked as sub-editor of the Urdu daily, The Khidmat. He served as a lecturer in the Department of Education and then taught Persian in Jammu and Kashmir University. He retired as Head of the Department of Kashmiri in the University of Kashmir. Professor Rahi served as the first fellow Emeritus of the University of Kashmir.

Jammu morcha reiterates demand
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 30 — Perturbed over the reports that the National Conference party may adopt a Bill in the state legislature implementing of the recommendations of the Regional Autonomy Committee, the Jammu Mukti Morcha and four other political groups have reiterated their demand for trifurcation of the state.

The President of Jammu Mukti Morcha, Prof Virender Gupta, today released a brochure listing series of factors in support of his demand. He said to carve out separate states of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh would be the only viable solution to promote better relations between Kashmir and the Centre.

He said under the existing political arrangement, people of Jammu and Ladakh regions felt that the only way to end “discrimination against us was to trifurcate the state”.

Professor Gupta said in case the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, failed to secure restoration of the pre-1953 constitutional status, the Regional Autonomy Committee report would be implemented, which was bound to cause division of the state on communal lines.

The morcha chief said for proper development of Jammu and Ladakh it was necessary to give the two regions separate statehood. He alleged that for the past 50 years political power had remained in the hands of valley-based politicians and both Jammu and Ladakh regions had been given a raw deal in the allocation of funds. This was the main reason for these two regions remaining backward as compared to the valley.

Professor Gupta said the trifurcation of the state would suit people of the Kashmir. A separate state for the valley people would be a better proposition than restoring greater autonomy to the state. He appealed to the Central Government to give serious though to the morcha’s demand after reviewing political and economic situation in all the three regions.