J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq for more powers to states
JAMMU, Dec 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has pleaded for greater powers for the states saying true federalism is the key to make India more strong. “If the Centre tries to strangulate the states, a time will come when they may be forced to revolt”, the Chief Minister said while inaugurating the 83rd Conference of Indian Economic Association here yesterday. 

Cop, 4 ultras among 7 killed in J&K
SRINAGAR, Dec 31 — Three persons, including a policeman, were killed and five injured in militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, an official spokesman said today. Constable Lal Hussain was shot dead by ultras at his in-laws’ house at Uchar in the frontier district of Kupwara last night, he said.

Old town cries for attention
KATHUA: Ward No 5, located in the middle of Kathua, is also called the old town. It is a densely populated ward which covers the old Super Bazar, the District Hospital, the main Chowk, Ram Lila Ground. Vijay Market, Arya Samaj School, etc. Insanitation, broken lanes and drains and the apathy of the Town Area Committee and Local Bodies Authority have been the bane of this locality.

Hizbul asks Hurriyat to clarify stand
SRINAGAR, Dec 31 — Pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen has opposed the holding of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the Hurriyat Conference to make public its stand on the issue. In a statement issued here, yesterday, the Hizbul said the holding of the polls was a “drama” which was bound to create chaos and confusion.

Farooq for more powers to states
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 31 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has pleaded for greater powers for the states saying true federalism is the key to make India more strong.

“If the Centre tries to strangulate the states, a time will come when they may be forced to revolt”, the Chief Minister said while inaugurating the 83rd Conference of Indian Economic Association here yesterday. He asked the Centre to feel the pulses of the states and appreciate their urges and aspirations.

Making a mention of the multifarious problems facing Jammu and Kashmir, he said the Pakistan aggression had destroyed the basic infrastructure which needed liberal assistance from the Centre for its reconstruction. He said the state government had put forth its case before the Planning Commission, but without any success. The state lacked resources and “we heavily depend on Central assistance,” he added.

The Chief Minister urged the Centre to take care of poor states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the North-East in view of their peculiar climatic and topographic disadvantages.

Lashing out at the critics of his government, he said despite sincere efforts on various fronts like the collection of dues, liquidating bank overdrafts, undertaking development within given resources and enforcing accountability, allegations of non-governance and unproductive spendings were being levelled. In 1996, his government inherited a whooping Rs 700 crore bank loans, Rs 400 crore power arrears while the revenue realisation on account of electricity fee was just Rs 47 crore. Now the electricity tariff had been fixed at Rs 300 crore, he said, adding that the bank overdraft had been brought down to Rs 100 crore.

Dr Abdullah asked for the appointment of a commission to look into the fiscal discipline during his over-four-year tenure and the seven-year Central rule in the state.

He regretted that the vested interests were raising the bogey of discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh while pandering to religious and regional sentiments of the people. This was deterimental to the interest of the nation.

He said militancy had caused a lot of death and destruction in the state and a big chunk of people had to migrate and their houses were torched by militants. “We are not Pakistanis but there are some elements present who will perish with their ideologies one day”, Dr Abdullah said while pointing out that youth had been misled by Pakistan to take to arms against their own people. He said men like Syed Ali Shah Geelani were for Pakistan from the beginning. But others like Abdul Gani Lone had seen the real Pakistan and aptly stated that except the religious freedom there was nothing else in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

In his key note address, the Chairman of the 11th Finance Commission, Prof A.M. Khusroo, said he found nothing wrong in holding sovereign guarantee for foreign investments as far as Jammu and Kashmir was concerned. “I have spoken to the Prime Minister on the issue”, he added.

Referring to the commissions recommendations, he said more weight age had been given to poverty alleviation.

Mr G.S. Bhalla, in his presidential address, suggested that in view of the growth rate in agriculture during the 1990s, there existed a strong case for increasing investment in rural infrastructure. It was essential to accord high priority to the public sector investment in agriculture. Being a founder member of the WTO, Mr Bhalla said the nation should undertake further economic reforms in agriculture that would include the removal of barriers on internal trade in agricultural commodities, and abolition of zonal restrictions.

Cop, 4 ultras among 7 killed in J&K

SRINAGAR, Dec 31 (PTI) — Three persons, including a policeman, were killed and five injured in militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since yesterday, an official spokesman said today.

The body of Mohammad Irshad, who was killed following inter-group rivalry, was recovered from the Gool area.

Old town cries for attention
From B.R. Bhagat

KATHUA: Ward No 5, located in the middle of Kathua, is also called the old town. It is a densely populated ward which covers the old Super Bazar, the District Hospital, the main Chowk, Ram Lila Ground. Vijay Market, Arya Samaj School, etc. Insanitation, broken lanes and drains and the apathy of the Town Area Committee and Local Bodies Authority have been the bane of this locality.

The residents of the Arya Samaj Gali mostly complain about the insanitation and callous behaviour of the TAC authorities. They said safai karamcharis generally do not clean lanes and drains. And whenever, they do so, the sullage is dumped along the sides, which again finds its way back into the drains.

These dilapidated lanes add to the misery of old town residents. The roads from PNB Chowk to the District Hospital road have developed cracks and potholes resulting in hardship to residents and shopkeepers. The continuous overflow of the underground and filthy drain water into the road and lanes has worsened conditions.

This ward does not have a PD ration depot kerosene depot, marriage hall, community hall, not even street lights.

Mr Satish Sharma, president of the area’s Lions Club, while expressing concern over the presence of garbage on their land and unclean drains, appealed to the Local Bodies Authority to prepare a master plan for the old town, so that better civic amenities may be provided to residents.

Mr S. Rashpaul Singh, a pensioner, and Mr Ravinder Sharma, owner of a studio, highlighted the scarcity of drinking water in the Arya Samaj Street. They had to draw water from self-installed underground water pumps for over five years. They appealed to the TAC to restore the drinking water supply to Arya Samaj Gali on priority.

Mr Ashok Gupta and Mr Madan Goyal Sharma, both traders, said the government machinery went into action only when a mishap occurred or people came out on the streets. They were of view that TAC should improve matters before these went out of hand.

Mr Kirpal Singh, a photographer, said it is annoying why the TAC and Local Bodies Authority always were deaf to the problems of others. No concrete steps have been taken in spite of several requests made to them from time to time.

Mr Ravi Gupta, owner of a printing press, drew the attention of TAC and Director of Local Bodies towards the bad condition of roads. The matter was brought to the notice of the department concerned by various social and political organisation but no action had so far been taken.

Lala Karm Chand Mahajan, a businessman, condemned the unscheduled power cuts. He demanded laying of new pipes for drinking water and construction of underground sewers from the PNB chowk, and Sher Chowk to the Kathua nullah.

The residents of old town are demanding regular upkeep of lanes and drains construction of sewers, and opening of ration and kerosene depots in the ward on priority.

When contacted, the TAC Administrator, blamed the Telecommunication Department, PWD and PHE Department for the dilapidated condition of roads and lanes. He said the departments dug up roads without the TAC’s permission. On completion of work, they neither levelled the roads nor paid any compensation to the TAC for repair. He expressed his helplessness in repairing roads and construction of sewers due to the TAC’s meagre income. As soon as funds were available, problems would be redressed, he assured. 

Hizbul asks Hurriyat to clarify stand

SRINAGAR, Dec 31 (PTI) — Pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen has opposed the holding of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the Hurriyat Conference to make public its stand on the issue.

In a statement issued here, yesterday, the Hizbul said the holding of the polls was a “drama” which was bound to create chaos and confusion.

Conducting panchayat elections during the biting winter had no logic, the statement in Urdu released to the press by Hizbul spokesman Mujahid Masood said.

Seeking an explanation from Hurriyat regarding the polls, the Hizbul said “Hurriyat should explain its stand on the issue forthwith.”

As a matter of policy, the Hizbul had decided not to doubt or criticise activities of Hurriyat Conference in the prevailing circumstances to keep the people united, he said.

On the proposed visit of a Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan, the statement hoped its members would exhibit “sincerity and seriousness” in resolving the Kashmir problem through peaceful means.