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Wullar Lake turning into a cesspool
Geelani placed under house arrest
People wish Muslims Id mubarak
Pipes go dry in Rajouri villages
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Fire Incidents in Kupwara
EO in dock over misappropriation of funds
Corneal transplants may again see light of day
Azad seeks economic uplift of Muslims
Rs 4 crore generated from timber sale
Strong govt in Pak may help Indo-Pak talks
Contractors allege non-payment by company
‘Green Brigade’ to protect ecology
NHRC directs govt to disburse ex gratia
Army rockets land in school
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Wullar Lake turning into a cesspool
Srinagar, December 21 Surprisingly, years of negligence have only speeded up its deterioration, also Asia’s largest freshwater body. Official reports say its area has shrunk to 125 sq km from the earlier 260 sq km. Decades of encroachment and dumping of sewage and garbage have threatened to turn it into a cesspool. A large part of the lake, located between Bandipora in Sopore in central Kashmir, already looks like a wide drainage. A survey by the Environment and Remote Sensing Department had cited encroachment and disposal of waste as the biggest threats to its existence. A senior official of the Pollution Control Department (PCD) said Wullar lake was a victim of exponential human growth in the most irregulated way. “People used to drink the lake water earlier. Now a large part of it resembles like a nullah than a lake,” he said. Chief wildlife warden N.K. Srivastav said they had sent a proposal of Rs 386 cr to the government for the Wullar’s resurrection, while steps were being taken to ensure that no further damage was done to it. “I have seen it die slowly in the years goneby. Much of the good in the valley is a gift of nature and much of the decay is from the government,” Abdul Wahi, a local farmer, said. He added that politicians had encouraged people to encroach along side the Wullar lake. “Its maximum depth has decreased to eight meters and the beauty surrounding it has faded away slowly,” he rued. The lake is a major source of fish in the valley. Locals said the Dal lake still managed to stir the government and judiciary to take steps for its betterment, but the Wullar lake did not register in public consciousness. Wahi said, “Dal is not even a pale shadow of its former self. I don't know whether the Wullar lake will exist 20 years from now or will be reduced to a drainage.” |
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Geelani placed under house arrest
Jammu, December 21 This was done to prevent him from addressing the Id congregation at the local Idgah, besides the weekly Friday congregation afterwards. He was, however, released later in the afternoon. Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, Dr S.P. Vaid, told The Tribune that Geelani had to be put under house arrest as precautionary measure. This was done apparently as a preventive measure as Geelani is known for his hardline and anti India rhetoric. Moreover, last year also on the occasion of Id, he had addressed the congregation at the local Idgah. He had delivered “a provocative and anti-India speech.” This was followed by some anti India slogans also, which had had led to considerable tension in the area. The police had registered a case against him. It is learnt that the local Imam had also not allowed Geelani to address the Id congregation lest it led to tension and controversy like the last year. The local Muslims have consistently maintained a distance from the hardline and secessionist politics. Geelani had offered the last Friday prayers in a local mosque. At that time he had announced that he would be addressing the people of Jammu on the occasion of Id. While the local Muslim religious leaders did not allow it, the police took preemptive measure in putting him under house arrest. Meanwhile, Hurriyat (Geelani) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar, said, Geelani was put under house arrest right in the morning itself. He was camping in the local office of the party, which is used for residential purpose also. Geelani's personal secretary Malik Manzoor Fayaz and the driver Pervez Ahmed were also detained by the police. The aging radical secessionist leader has been on a whirlwind tour of the Jammu region during last fortnight. He visited different places in the region in the districts of Doda, Poonch and Rajouri. His interaction with the people there mostly remained at the personal level. He had reportedly planned his visit in such a way to be present in Jammu on the occasion of Eid where he could address the people, spelling out his agenda. However, he was prevented from doing so. |
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People wish Muslims Id mubarak
Jammu, December 21 Muslims, though in minority in Jammu province, celebrated the festival of Id with all religious pomp and festivity. “We have come here to greet our Muslim brothers on the festival of Id and we prey to almighty God for the early return of peace and prosperity in this troubled torn state of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Preetam Singh who was standing outside the mosque at Khati Ka Talab area of Jammu, while the Muslim community was busy offering Id prayers inside the mosque premises. Following the onset of harsh winter season in the valley and after the closure of civil secretariat and all the educational institutes in the valley, most of the Muslim families shift to Jammu for the winter break, and the mosques witnessed a huge rush of followers of Islam who had come to offer Eid prayers. “Today’s Id is very auspicious as it has come on Friday the day which otherwise is also considered auspicious in Islam,” said Ghualm Mohammed, a resident of Srinagar, who works at civil secretariat and is presently in Jammu with the darbar. The Muslims after offering prayers hugged the members of other communities who had come to greet them on the occasion of Id and exchanged pleasantries amongst each other. “It is very encouraging and soothing when people from other communities, respecting your sentiments come and stand outside the mosque just to greet you. This is a perfect example of secularism,” said Mustaq Ahmed while coming out of the Id-Gah in Jammu. People who attended Id prayers at various mosques in Jammu city prayed for the restoration of people in the state. “Though militancy and separatist wave is going on in the state, but we never had a major communal tension and our state has always stood as an example of communal harmony for rest of the country. Today we prayed to almighty Allah for early restoration of peace in the valley,” said Molvi Ajaz Ahmed a local Imam. Adding he said, “The festival of Id teaches us to help the needy and to share whatever we have with them. There is nothing like rich or poor in the eyes of Allah.” Hundreds of sacrificial animals were slaughtered in the city and their meat was distributed amongst the members of Muslim community. “Id-ul-Adha teaches us to help the needy and we do the same, by sharing the meat of the sacrificial animals.” Said Ajaz. |
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Pipes go dry in Rajouri villages
Rajouri, December 21 Ironically, villagers in Dhanore Gharisyan, Dhanore Dhindian and Dhanidhar just five kilometres from this district headquarter here continue to suffer due to water shortage and that too when the state government makes tall claims of providing adequate drinking water in remote areas of the state. The villagers here complained that though
Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department installed water pipes in their
villages but water hardly oozes out of these pipes. They said that the department now supplies water through tankers and that too after 3-4 days and that too is not sufficient. “The PHE installed water pipes here about 30 years back. Initially water used to flow in these pipes, but now the department hardly supplies water through these pipes,” said 75-year old-Sanghar Begum, who had made four rounds of her home in Dhanidhar after filling 10 litres water in silver container from the tanker supplying water. “Now since water is not supplied through the water pipes, the department supplies it through these tankers. But even the supply is erratic and water supply is made once in four days which is inadequate since water is needed for every domestic use,” she muttered. According to sources, these villages were supplied with water pipes few years back from Ujjain water source, but due to the increase in population between the water source and these villages, water doesn't reach here and people living along get the water pumped into
their houses. They said even the department doesn't seem to be taking serious view of the water crisis in these
villages and is making the poor villagers to suffer. Superintendent engineer,
PHE, Rajouri division, Ashok Kumar Gupta, admitted that there is shortage of water in these villages. However, he said the department is exploring the possibilities of augmentation and improvement of the water supply in these villages. |
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Fire Incidents in Kupwara
Srinagar, December 21 The police said people in Dardsun village caught a man in “suspicious circumstances” and handed him to the police in Kralpora. The man was later identified as Abdul Rahim Bhat, a resident of Srinagar. The fact that he tried to mislead villagers by saying that he was a policeman added to their suspicion, the police said. The police said this was another example of how rumourmongers were having a field day in Kupwara. “The man is of an unsound mind. Apparently some anti-social elements are running propaganda and we are also a victim of this,” B. Srinivas, DIG, north Kashmir said. He said villagers suspected the man to be behind arson, but later they handed him over to the police. A sudden spurt in fire incidents in Kupwara village has set panic among the people. The DIG said those venturing out at night, including cops, had been accused of being behind the arson. He informed that in the past 10 days, three cops were detained and thrashed up by locals in two separate incidents on the same charges. A villager was also killed when policemen resorted to gunfire and escaped, while the locals nabbed some of their colleagues, he added. Meanwhile, villagers claimed that the police resorted to setting their houses on fire to keep them away from housing militants, as militants often spent their nights in borders villages. The villagers said people were afraid of retribution and kept away from reporting to the police. The DIG said the police had intensified night patrolling in the district and it had brought down the number of fire incidents.
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EO in dock over misappropriation of funds
Udhampur, December 21 The fingers of suspicion are pointed towards the EO as funds worth Rs 90 lakh have been alleged misappropriated by the council. Works worth lakhs were allotted, without inviting tenders, to some “blue eyed” boys of the officers and 92 casual workers were appointed without taking consent of the general body of the council. Executive officer, Satpal Saini, was allegedly found to be attached, while a probe was conducted into the allegations of misappropriation of funds, director, Local Bodies, G.A. Qureshi told The Tribune. Qureshi said a special team would be constituted by the department to probe all allegations. He said elected councillors and citizens had complaints regarding the misappropriation of funds by the council. As such the minister, housing and urban development, ordered an inquiry into the functioning of the council. He informed that during the meeting of the executive officers of the municipalities of Jammu division, the EO failed to give a satisfactory reply to the minister. Sources said the council had generated revenue worth Rs 1 crore by auctioning shops constructed at the Gole Market, the bus stand and the new bus stand. According to municipal laws, revenue collected by auctioning shops or buildings, should be spent on creating assets for the body and not for developmental activities or recruiting people. It was alleged that instead of creating assets, the council allotted work to some selected people and payments were made from the revenue generated through auctioning shops. Furthermore, 92 casual workers were appointed by the council by violating rules and regulations. “It is a glaring example of the violation of rules and regulations”, alleged Pawan Khajuria, former president of the Udhampur Municipal Council, adding, “Recruitment was made without the consent of
the House”. However, present chairman of the council, Ashok Kumar, claimed that every step was taken with the consent of the House. “General House was taken into confidence while taking these steps”, he said and pointed out that the EO was not aware of the ground reality so he failed to answer the queries of the minister.
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Corneal transplants may again see light of day
Jammu, December 21 Aggravating the problem, the Human Organs Transplant Act 1994 has made things complicated for the donors and ophthalmologists. Now after a decade, the Jammu and Kashmir government claimed that it has initiated measures to enable corneal transplants in the state. Talking to The Tribune, secretary health and medical education K.B. Jandial said, “In the backdrop of human organs transplant act a competent authority has to be registered first with the government. We are at it.” Jandial said, “Yesterday the issue was discussed threadbare between me and principal of the GMC Jammu,” adding “shortly we will be framing a competent authority which under the act would be empowered to give permission for human organ transplants.” Dr Rajinder Singh, principal of the GMC Jammu, told The Tribune that problem cropped up because of the Human Organ Transplant Act. “Yes corneal transplants were stopped long back because of the act. Under the act lot of tests had to be conducted before going for any transplant,” added Dr Singh. He further said, “The government has been apprised about the problem and now it has to frame a competent authority.” Talking to The Tribune, head of ophthalmology department Dr P Sadhotra said, “We do have an eye bank but san facilities to store corneas.” “The cornea has to be transplanted between four to six hours after the death of a donor,” she said. “Before 1997 we were doing corneal transplants in the hospital but after the act we need support infrastructure to conduct various tests including HIV infection, hepatitis and various blood tests for other illnesses besides preservation facilities for the donated cornea,” she said. “I have already written about it to the government and we are in the process of getting everything in place,” added Dr
Sadhotra.
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Azad seeks economic uplift of Muslims
Jammu, December 21 Addressing the Id congregation at the Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, Azad regretted that most of the Muslims in the country were still socially and economically backward. He underscored the need for educational development of Muslims for their rapid economic and social progress. Azad, who was in Delhi in connection with a meeting of the National Development Council and Chief Ministers' conference convened by the Prime Minister there, offered the Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the 17th century Grand Mosque. According to an official spokesman here, as a special gesture, the Chief Minister was invited to address the Id congregation. Azad made a special reference to the economic backwardness of Muslims in the country and prescribed educational uplift as its remedy. He said educational backwardness led to ignorance and kept people hostage to superstitions, which in turn blocked the road to progress. He urged the community to invest in the spread of education, saying educational development would ensure their social and economic emancipation.
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Rs 4 crore generated from timber sale
Srinagar, December 21 After a meeting by forest minister, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, an official spokesman said the Forest Department had earned a revenue of Rs 4 crore on account of sale of 3.31 lakh cubic of timber so far, while a target of 5 lakh cubic feet of timber had been fixed for the remaining period of the year. The meeting was also informed that more than 5 lakh cubic feet of timber had been dumped in the sale depots of the Forest Department in Kashmir division and there was no scarcity or shortage of timber in the valley. He said the meeting recommended a compassionate appointment and bravery award for the next of the kin of an employee of the Forest Department of Anantnag division who died, while fighting fire in the forest in Noorabad area.
— PTI
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Strong govt in Pak may help Indo-Pak talks
Srinagar, December 21 The dialogue between New Delhi, Islamabad and representatives of Kashmir should resume soon, he said in his sermon on the occasion of Id-ul-Azha at Jamia Masjid here. Raising the issue of demilitarisation, in political discourse after the PDP first demanded reduction of troops, Mirwaiz said demilitarisation could be the most significant confidence-building-measure at a time whem CBMs were being talked about in both countries.
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Contractors allege non-payment by company
Jammu, December 21 The contractors said they had been given contracts for developing the township for displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jagati near Nagrota. Soom Nath, one of the contractors, alleged that they had not been paid their salary by the company. He said the company had sublet the construction work to a number of local contractors. “Each time we approach them for the payments, they tell us that drafts are on the way”, the contractors told The Tribune. The contractors said they had to make payments to labourers and other workers. They have appealed to the government to ensure that the company made timely payment so that workers and labourers were not made to suffer. |
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‘Green Brigade’ to protect ecology
Udhampur, December 21 A group of youth from the town have formed the “Green Brigade” to protect the ecology of this region which is the trade centre of the state. Founder of the Green Brigade, Rakesh Wazir, said to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, construction in Trikuta hills had been going unabated which ultimately led to ecological degradation. He said the Green Brigade was the first organisation formed to protect environment of the region.
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NHRC directs govt to disburse ex gratia
New Delhi, December 21 Taking cognizance of a report in a national daily about Kashmiri children begging in Delhi, the NHRC has asked the state government to disburse within two weeks the entire amount of ex gratia to the affected families. It has also asked the state government to send an Action Taken Report within a month. The report described the plight of Kashmiri families living in slums in Seelampur. It said that these families left Khundroo after their homes were destroyed by a fire in the army ammunition depot.
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Jammu, December 21 The Army was conducting a firing exercise in Khour area when the two rockets flew over the firing range and fell in the compound of a primary school in Chamarki village near the Indo-Pak border yesterday, official sources said. Though the rockets did not explode in the school which was closed during the exercise, panic gripped the area after this incident.— PTI
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Festivals do work wonders in spreading the message of love and harmony.
