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Fighting Insurgents Land Dispute Dredge water bodies, says Soz Dry spell spells loss for saffron growers |
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NSUI takes initiative on education in Doda
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Fighting Insurgents Srinagar, October 7 At least 20 militants and seven security personnel, including two Army officers, were killed in encounters last week,as militants made a determined effort to make their presence felt. Many have termed this increase in death toll a proof of increased violence, which senior police and Army officials said was certainly not the case. In not a single occasion, they said militants had been able to hit any intended target, and it was, they, who searched them out and fought them successfully. They said their intelligence on militants' activity was robust, as people had shown an increased inclination to resist violence. However, official sources cautioned there was only a minimal level to which the militancy could be brought down. Infiltration from across the border, a senior intelligence official said, could never be stopped without active support of Pakistan. He said their success had been in insuring the number of youths crossing over from Indian side had come down to a trickle, and the overwhelming majority of infiltrators were from the Pakistani side. Baramula, a border district which has been a hotbed of militancy, SSP Viplav Kumar said ratio of people crossing border from Pakistani side to those crossing from this side was more than four to one. A huge decrease from what it was even five to six years back. The number of local recruits in militants’ rank this year was barely more than 30,officials said. Official sources added it was largely due to their control of things in the valley that militants of different streams had not been able to carry out any spectacular operation. The strength of two main militant organisations the Hizbul Mujahideen and the LeT more or less remained the same as their minders from across the border always managed to send them recruits whenever needed here. |
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Land Dispute Rajouri, October 7 The injured were admitted to the district hospital here for treatment. Sources said soldier Altaf Hussain son of Nazir Hussain of Khanial Kote posted with Darhal- based 43 Rashtriya Rifles along with over six accomplices, allegedly beat up seven of his villagers. They said land dispute is the reason for
the offence. Sources added Altaf along with his accomplices, landed in the village and started abusing the villagers and even warned them if they did not vacate the disputed land.
After villagers took exception to his behaviour, he along with his accomplices and attacked the villagers with sharp-edged weapons, they added. Sources said seven persons, including a woman, were injured in the assault.
Condition of the injured was said to be stable, they added. The injured were identified as Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Arif, Sadeeq, Muhammad Razak, Abdul Hameed, Nasreen Akhter and Razak. The police has registered a case under Section 458,147, 148 of the RPC and arrested the
main accused. |
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Dredge water bodies, says Soz Kathua, October 7 Soz, who arrived in Kathua to assess possibilities of construction of multipurpose Panjthirthi dam on Ujh river in the district, told The Tribune “We never violated Indus water treaty with Pakistan, despite three wars were fought and we will never violate it in future. The World Bank’s decision on Baghlihar power project in our favour speaks volumes about our commitment on the treaty.” On Pakistan government’s objection over the construction of barrage on Wullar he said, “We had made it clear we are not building any barrage on Wullar, we have told them it is just a lock at Tulbul meant for navigational purposes.” Soz also expressed displeasure over the non-existence of separate dredging department in the state for de-silting river beds and other water bodies. “I always wanted Jammu and Kashmir to have separate dredging department to de-silt river beds and other water bodies to help save the water and check flooding of those water bodies.” Soz said adding, “I will take up the issue with the state government; as we have sufficient funds at the Centre and help the state to constitute separate department for dredging.” He hoped de-silting of water bodies in the state would be done very soon. Soz also expressed pleasure over the fact India now stood in the list of rich and self- sufficient countries, “we have proved to the entire world that we are self- sufficient, during various natural calamities, like tsunami and earthquake we refused to accept relief from other countries, that shows India is no longer a poor
country, but we have enough resources of our own’. Soz said the Centre and the state governments were committed to redressing genuine grievances of people of the state and both governments would work in synchronisation to help people. “Projects like Panjthirthi dam would directly help the peasants of this area. It would also generate 280MW of electricity.” Soz said he would make sure Rs 200 crore for the completion of various projects in the area gets sanctioned in the 11th Five Year plan. “Rs 200 crore is not a big deal for our government but the state representatives should approach us with the project” he said, adding “I have taken up the issue of the release of 1100 cusecs of water from Ravi river to J&K with the Punjab Chief Minister and I am hopeful J&K would soon get the water from Punjab.” Congress leader and member of Parliament Lal Singh, who represents Kathua- Udhampur- Doda constituency also, addressed the gathering. |
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Dry spell spells loss for saffron growers Udhampur, October 7 “Saffron is a drought-prone crop to some extent, but in the prevailing dry condition farmers are likely to suffer huge losses”, said Laksham Chand Bhagat, saffron development officer, Kishtwar,who termed the situation as alarming and admitted that a large chunk of farms had been already affected. Saffron growers of Kishtwar have been facing nature's fury for the second successive year. Most of the saffron-growing areas are located on both sides of the Chenab in which water always flows, but there is no facility to utilise the water. Bhagat, who has been told to grow more saffron in Kishtwar, said untimely rain had already delayed sowing of the crop. “In case of good monsoon, the process of cultivation usually starts in mid-September, but this year this has been delayed due to absence of rains”, he said. For the past six years poor rainfall has led to decline in yield of this crops. “Saffron bulbs are planted after every four years. When the bulbs flower, the stamens have to be picked by hand. After every four years the bulbs have to be separated from the soil, dried, and transplanted to new fields”, said Bhagat, adding thatmany bulbs had been destroyed due to prevailing dry conditions. “Teams have been formed to visit the areas where saffron is cultivated to assess the ground situation”, he said adding that effective steps be taken urgently to save the crop. After the Kashmir valley, Kishtwar is the only area where saffron is cultivated. It is cultivated in Beerwar, Cherhar, Pochal, Sagrambatta and Matta Nandiyal areas of Kishtwar district which earlier was part of Doda. Since centuries saffron is cultivated in these areas, but due to lack of marketing policy farmers of the belt remained backward despite saffron being a valuable commodity in the market as it is used for medicinal purposes. To boost saffron production in Kishtwar district, the Department of Agriculture has developed 50 demonstration plots of five marlas each at Beerwar Kishtwar and this farm was brought under saffron crop at departmental farm in 2004-05.
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NSUI takes initiative on education in Doda Udhampur, October 7 This initiative has been taken by the National Student Union of India (NSUI)- student wing of ruling Congress party. The team visited remote areas of Doda district and inspected functioning of schools. The team visited Malanu, Gandoh, Bhallessa, Bhalla, Gundana and Malothe areas where functioning of most of the schools has been affected due to unavailability of teachers. The team of students has decided to collect information on the functioning of the educational institutions and a report will be submitted to the minister concerned. After a tour of one belt of Doda district Mohammed Sajjid Malik alleged officers at the helm were least interested in improving functioning of schools. He cited example of Malanu higher secondary school functioning without any lecturer. He said class XI and XII students had been facing hardship due unavailability of lecturers in the school. The team blamed the authorities of the Education Department for prevailing conditions of the schools. |
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