Udhampur, July 9
More than 2,000 pilgrims held up at Udhampur after the suspension of the yatra on Sunday afternoon following the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, this morning resumed their pilgrimage amidst heavy security.

Meanwhile, the district administration today reviewed arrangements to accommodate as many as pilgrims in case in an emergency. The district administration also constituted special teams to provide shelter and medical care to the pilgrims at Udhampur. Some teams of doctors and paramedics have also been constituted in the district.

Assistant commissioner Udhampur Varinder Slathia told The Tribune that the district administration was prepared to face situation, yet arrangements were reviewed keeping in view the monsoon season. He said shelter and security to the yatris were the main concerns of the district administration. The district administration has also set up langars (free kitchens) for pilgrims at Aparna and Kargil temples to provide free meals to the pilgrims in case of an emergency.

To accommodate as many as yatris in case of any emergency, the district administration has got vacated buildings of many schools and hostels. Some social organisations have also announced to provide free meals to the pilgrims.

The district administration has established a control room comprising representatives of all departments at the tourist reception centre to provide every facilities to the yatris in case of suspension or halting of the yatra due to any reason.

Srinagar, July 9
The Centre has expressed concern over the delay in the release of the first instalment of Central assistance to various Jammu and Kashmir districts under rural development schemes due to delayed submission of proposals and procedural formalities by the district administrations.

This had been conveyed to the state Chief Minister by union minister for rural development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, said an official spokesman. The Chief Minister has been requested to "to ensure that necessary formalities are complied with by the districts concerned so that funds meant for these districts are released without delay".

The Rural Development Ministry is awaiting clarifications from Anantnag, Baramula, Jammu, Kargil, Leh, Poonch and Pulwama districts and due to this reason, the first instalment for the current year under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) has not been released. Similarly, under Swarnjayanti Gram Swairozgar Yojana (SGSY) no proposal has been received from the districts of Kargil, Ladakh and Pulwama. The DRDA administration of Anantnag, Kargil, Leh, Pulwama, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur has not submitted any proposal under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY).

The union minister has observed that "it appears that the officials concerned are not acting in a responsible manner". Urging for appropriate action, he has cautioned "the delay in the release of the first instalment will lead to delay in the release of the second instalment, resulting in poor performance".

The minister has clarified the Central share for all centrally sponsored programmes like the SGSY, the IAY and the SGRY is released by the ministry in two instalments. The release of the first instalment is automatic and the second instalment is released on the receipt of a proposal for the release from the district administration.

Udhampur, July 9
Residents of Bhaderwah and adjoining localities have warned to get back the land acquired by the University of Jammu for the construction of the north campus.

Residents have been demanding compensation at the market rate of land, but the Revenue authorities are wanting to give them compensation at rates fixed by them.

As residents have threatened to get back the land and not allow any work on the acquired land, construction of the north campus has been halted.

Jammu University acquired 866 kanals on the outskirts of Bhaderwah for the construction of north campus, a long-pending demand of residents of Bhaderwah which was fulfilled after Ghulam Nabi Azad became Chief Minister of the state.

The residents said compensation fixed by the authorities was meagre compared to the market price. The authorities on the other hand said people wanted “unreasonable” price of the land.

Revenue officers said the compensation had been fixed as per market price when it was acquired. They pointed out that when construction of the campus had been started people demanding the “desired” price which was not possible. The authorities had been already giving 6.25 per cent hike in the compensation with every passing year keeping in view the prices of the land. Residents held a demonstration on May 28 in support of their demands. At that time, the authorities had promised to redress their grievances, but nothing has been done so far. The file of compensation has been lying before the financial commissioner (Revenue) who will take a decision. 

Srinagar, July 9
National Conference president and MP Omar Abdullah escaped unhurt when suspected militants fired a grenade after his public meeting in the Langate area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir this afternoon. At least nine persons were injured in the incident.

Three CRPF personnel and a policeman were injured in the grenade explosion outside the house of a National Conference worker at Kralgund near Langate on the Baramula-Kupwara road at 3-45 p.m. Five civilians were also injured in the explosion, reports reaching here said. Omar was inside the house when the explosion took place, 15 minutes after the public meeting was over. The rifle grenade fell more than 300 metres from the house the National Conference president had gone to visit.

Those injured have been shifted to a hospital, the police said. The area was cordoned off and searches launched by the police and security forces to nab those behind the incident. Omar, who later returned here as scheduled, however, told The Tribune that it was not a security lapse.

Jammu, July 9
The tomorrow’s visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here has been postponed because of national mourning of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar’s death.

Dr Manmohan Singh was to come here to receive the degree of Doctor of Letters from the University of Jammu.

All arrangements for his visit had been made and the security personnel had sanitised General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, venue of the function, when the message postponing the PM’s visit came. No fresh date has been fixed for the function.

Udhampur, July 9
A function to celebrate Greening India Day was organised at Udhampur Garrison of the Army at Garhi.

Sheila Menon, coordinator of the AWWA HQ Northern Command, planted a sapling. Senior military officials, other ranks and their family members also planted saplings.

The events were also organised at the unit level where approximately 15,000 saplings were planted by Army men and their families. The event exhibited commitment of the Army towards the cause.