J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

5,000 pilgrims a day can take Baltal route
Srinagar, May 17
About 5,000 pilgrims would be allowed to undertake the 13-km-long Baltal route daily along the Srinagar-Sonmarg axis to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath when the annual pilgrimage begins on June 11 simultaneously with the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir.

CEC hopeful of poll reforms
Srinagar, May 17
A two-day conference of State Election Commissioners has sought to check “criminilisation of politics in elections” and hoped that the Central Government would take the desired steps towards several other proposals to ensure smooth, peaceful and fair elections in the country.

Woollens out in Kashmir; cold weather prevails
Srinagar, May 17
Cold weather conditions prevailed in the entire Kashmir valley on the second day today as rain forced people to wear woollens and jackets.

Lightning kills 3 women
Jammu, May 17
Three women were killed and an equal number injured when lightning struck a house in Kathua district, official sources said today.

Andhra CM meets Azad
Srinagar, May 17
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad here yester day.

5,000 pilgrims a day can take Baltal route
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17
About 5,000 pilgrims would be allowed to undertake the 13-km-long Baltal route daily along the Srinagar-Sonmarg axis to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath when the annual pilgrimage begins on June 11 simultaneously with the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir.

This was disclosed during a visit of the Governor, Lt- Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha, who is chairman of Amarnath Shrine Board, to take stock of the track clearance on the treacherous mountainous route yesterday. He was informed that 500 workers were engaged in track clearance on a war footing.

The Governor, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer and Principal Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar, gave directions for raising rest shelters and toilets at every halting point. Special arrangements were being made for lady pilgrims. He also ordered that dustbins be kept in large numbers en route the cave shrine for dumping plastic bottles and empty packs of eatables. Ban has already been imposed on the use of polythene.

Lt.-Gen Sinha stressed on maintaining the ecology of the area and hoped that the supervisory staff of the shrine board would periodically monitor the clearance arrangements. He also discussed the arrangements being made for providing clean drinking water, power supply and other essentials to pilgrims at every point.

At 11500 feet, Brarimarg top, 7 km from Domel and 6 km ahead of the shrine, the Governor discussed related matters in detail with shrine board officials.

Addressing officers of the Army, civil administration and shrine board, the Governor called for coordinated efforts to make the yatra a success. He acknowledged the endeavours of all the departments in ensuring incident-free yatra during the past three years and hoped that with the active support of the local people this year’s yatra too would be a grand success.

At Baltal, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Arun Kumar, briefed the Governor about the placement of shelter sheds and sites allocated for free langers from voluntary organizations from across the country. He said the board had drawn up an ambitious plan to provide suitable lodging facilities on reasonable rental at various points of the yatra. Dr Kumar said that appropriate measures are being taken to ensure sanitation at camps and no compromise would be made on this account.

Informing the Governor about the development plan of this years yatra, Development Commissioner, SASB, Mr I.C. Jandial said that 600 eco-friendly prefabricated potable toilets with leach pits are being set up at Baltal forward base camp to meet the requirements of at least 5000 pilgrims a day.

For the first time, hot water facilities would be provided to pilgrims at base camp while similar arrangements are being worked out for other places like the holy cave, Panjtarni, Sheshnag, Chandanwari and Nunwan camps. Mr Jandial said the prefabricated insulated cabins of high standard were being put up with attached toilets and heating facilities to yatris at all the camps.

CEC hopeful of poll reforms
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17
A two-day conference of State Election Commissioners has sought to check “criminilisation of politics in elections” and hoped that the Central Government would take the desired steps towards several other proposals to ensure smooth, peaceful and fair elections in the country.

“The matter of concern is that there is growing criminalisation of politics in elections”, observed Mr B B Tandon, Chief Election Commissioner of India here yesterday. He said 22 proposals, including one related to checking growing criminalisation, had been submitted to the Centre in March last year and expressed the hope that these “find a concrete shape” for amendments to the election process.

Mr Tandon was talking to media-persons at the end of a two-day fifth All-India State Election Commissioners’ conference attended by 20 states here this afternoon. Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt Gen (Rtd) S K Sinha , inaugurated the conference at the SKICC here.

Woollens out in Kashmir; cold weather prevails

Srinagar, May 17
Cold weather conditions prevailed in the entire Kashmir valley on the second day today as rain forced people to wear woollens and jackets.

According to weather office here, 11.4 mm rainfall was recorded since early this morning resulting in drop in temperatures, bringing the much-needed relief to the people.

The maximum temperature today dropped to 18.9° C and the minimum 13.9° C.

Reports of heavy rain have been received from almost all district headquarters and towns of the Valley.

The cold weather conditions forced the people to take out woollen garments and jackets to keep themselves warm. Till yesterday, the Kashmir valley had been experiencing hot weather condition. — UNI 

Lightning kills 3 women

Jammu, May 17
Three women were killed and an equal number injured when lightning struck a house in Kathua district, official sources said today.

Lightning struck the house of Mohammad Habeeb in village Surg in Malhar belt of Kathua district late last night killing three women and injuring three others, they said.

The house was damaged, the sources said adding the deceased have been identified as Fatima Bibi, Shamshad Begum and Khanoon Begum.

The injured have been identified as Bano, Ahktar Hussain and Foja. — PTI

Andhra CM meets Azad
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad here yester day.

Mr Reddy, who is currently on a three-day visit of the State, and Mr Azad discussed several matters pertaining to the socio-economic development of both the states.