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International flights to take off from Srinagar
104 rescued, Guv visits snow-hit areas
IAF rescues patients from remotest areas
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3 more die of cold in Doda
Azad visits snow-affected areas
Muslim migrants’ colony plan draws flak, Azad denies report
HC issues notice to Azad
Azad hails Soz’s appointment
People asked to ‘repress’ Valentine feelings
Unlike basmati, India, Pak may disagree on pashmina patent
Power theft go unabated, faulty meters still exist
Cleanliness keeper, MC, itself housed in filth
Loran, Mandi residents allege govt apathy
Infiltrators shift focus towards LoC areas
Thermal power project
BSNL users a worried lot
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International flights to take off from Srinagar
Jammu, February 13 The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting in New Delhi late last night between chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union minister for civil aviation Praful Patel. The airport would be ready for international flights after the completion of the new terminal building, which is projected to ready by June 2008. To start with, flights will be operated to and fro the Gulf countries. Besides, the Union ministry of civil aviation has agreed to construct an airport at Kishtwar also. Chairman Airports Authority of India (AAI) K. Ramalingam and senior officers of the civil aviation ministry and AAI were also present. The chief minister requested Patel to operate international flights to and fro Srinagar from this summer, which was agreed to. The AAI chairman assured Azad and Patel that the new international airport terminal at Srinagar would be ready by June 2008. The building will handle 500 domestic and 450 international passengers per hour. The airport will have four aero bridges while five more aircraft parking bays are also proposed. By another decision taken in the meeting, the runway of the Jammu Airport will be extended up to 9,000 ft from the existing 6,700 ft. It was also agreed that a new terminal building would be constructed at the Jammu Airport costing more than Rs 100 crore. In yet another important decision, the Airport Authority of India would construct an airport at Kishtwar. The minister for civil aviation directed the AAI chairman to visit Kishtwar for making an on-the-spot study so that the hilly and far-flung area of Jammu division has its first airport at the earliest. The J&K government is also constructing a small airport at Surankote in Poonch district in the state sector. The ministry of civil aviation cleared the project during the Azad-Patel meeting last night. The ministry also agreed to the Chief Minister’s proposal for constructing a new terminal building at Leh Airport. The new building will be constructed at a cost more than Rs 100 crore with extension in the built up area from the existing 2,500 sq mt to 12,000 sq mt. The new terminal will handle 500 passengers against 200 at present. The terminal will have two aero bridges. Earlier on Tuesday, the chief minister had a meeting with Union minister for power Sushil Kumar Shinde during which a 1,000 MW thermal power project was agreed to be constructed at Udhampur in three years, besides the central government agreeing on joint funding for the two phases of the Baglihar hydel power project. |
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104 rescued, Guv visits snow-hit areas
Srinagar, February 13 In view of the improvement in weather conditions triggering snow avalanches, alerts have been issued in various parts of the snowbound areas warning people to remain cautious. These areas include the upper reaches of Karnah, Machil, Tangdhar, Gurez and Qazigund in Kashmir and parts of Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts in Jammu region. The people in these areas have been asked to remain cautious to prevent themselves from the possible snow avalanches due to bright weather conditions. Meanwhile, Governor S.K. Sinha today visited the snow-hit areas of Anantnag, Doda and Kishtwar districts and stressed the need for early restoration of road network to reach out landlocked habitations. He was informed that the power supply in Kishtwar would be restored within three days while stranded people would be airlifted to Paddar and Dachan areas of Kishtwar district in a day or two. The power supply had got interrupted on account of damage to two towers. The Governor noted with satisfaction constitution of rescue mission teams at Anantnag, Kishtwar and Doda with standby helicopters to evacuate affected people, wherever needed. He was told that the GREF has made available 16 bulldozers in Kishtwar district for clearing roads while the Army and local administration have established control rooms at district, tehsil and block-levels to monitor the overall scenario. He said the rescue teams would have to remain in a state of readiness in avalanche prone areas. Divisional commissioner, Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey, who was accompanying the Governor during his visit to snow-hit areas of the division, said that nature’s fury has been more severe this time in Jammu areas than in Kashmir. Some far off areas like Dessa, Machail and Sumchan recorded over 12 feet of snow. He said the main thrust would be on clearing all bridal paths, besides restoration of other utility services. At Anantnag, deputy commissioner G.A. Peer and Brig S.P. Patil of 1 Sector RR briefed the Governor about relief and rescue measures. On February 6, seven persons, including six members of a family, were killed due to collapse of house-tops. While the hapless family, comprising mother and five children, died beneath their rooftop in Kapran area, one person died at Gulab Bagh. The authorities with the assistance of the Army rescued 37 other villagers, who have been lodged at a camp set up in Manigam. |
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IAF rescues patients from remotest areas
Udhampur, February 13 Apart from dropping these trapped passengers at their native places, the Air Force also airlifted some patients from remotest areas, who were in dire need of advanced treatment. Decision to airlift these stranded passengers were taken after repeated protest by these people who were trapped at Kishtwar, Udhampur, Doda and Jammu. Authorities this morning airlifted 69 passengers from Udhampur airfield and dropped them at Gandoh one of the remotest area of Doda district. While the Air Force airlifted stranded passengers from Udhampur, it carried 15 ailing persons from Gandoh while coming back. All the 15 ailing persons were later admitted in the Udhampur hospital for advanced treatment. Special teams of doctors have been deputed to provide treatment to these patients. “We are examining all the patients brought from Gandoh,” medical superintendent of Udhampur hospital Dr Maqsood told The Tribune and stated that majority of the patients were responding to the treatment. Stranded at Jammu for the last 10 days, these helpless passengers were demanding airlifting as their native places are still cut off from rest of the state. This morning these passengers were earlier taken to Udhampur from where they were airlifted to Gandoh area of Bhaderwah in four sorties. “On our request the defence authorities made special arrangements to airlift stranded passengers of far-flung areas,” Udhampur deputy commissioner O.P. Kalandari said. Although roads connecting to main towns have been thrown open for vehicular traffic, many areas are still cut off from rest of the state. The authorities had airlifted only Jammu and Srinagar-bound passengers from summer and winter capitals but people from other far-flung areas remained trapped at different places. After clearing the stranded passengers from Udhampur, the authorities have been formulating plan to airlift people from Kishtwar where inhabitants of Decchan, Marwaha, Wardwan, Padder, Machail etc have been trapped for the last 10 days. |
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3 more die of cold in Doda
Udhampur, February 13 Reports of deaths continued to pour in from different parts of the district. Three more persons reportedly died due to severe cold. Although authorities have yet not confirmed their deaths due to snowfall, reports said that three persons, Pancham Singh of Deoli, Doda, Mohammed Akram of Badhotdra and Hem Singh of Udhianpur Doda died due to severe cold. "We have deputed teams to ascertain the real cause of their deaths", an officers in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Doda, told The Tribune. He said reports of losses continued to pour in and actual picture would be emerged within a week's team as some of the far-flung areas were still inaccessible. Meanwhile, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Lt-Gen S K Sinha (retd) along with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sadanshu Pandey visited the snow-bound Bhaderwah area and assess the losses. They also inspected the on-going rescue and relief operation in the affected areas. Later, interacting with the people, Lt-Gen Sinha assured the people that the state government would take every possible effort to mitigate their woes. He said the authorities were aware of the problems being faced by the people and rescue operations had been going on war-footing. Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Commissioner directed the officers to expedite the relief operations. He asked the Deputy Commissioner to prepare the report of total loss as early as possible so that relief would be distributed to the affected families. While interacting with the Divisional Commissioner residents suggested that adequate storage of essential commodities should be made before commencement of winter to face these types of crises. |
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Azad visits snow-affected areas
Jammu, February 13 During his interaction with the snow-affected people, he assured them that his government was committed to address their difficulties. Immediately after his arrival from New Delhi this morning, from where he had a meeting with union ministers of power and civil aviation, resulting in major development projects being sanctioned to the state, the Chief Minister visited the hilly areas of
Machhedi, Malhar, Dhaggar and Bani in Kathua district. He met the local people hit by the recent calamity and received inputs on the post-snowfall situation. The Chief Minister held a meeting with the district officers at Bani and asked them to take urgent measures to alleviate problems of the people in the snow-affected areas. He also called for immediate restoration of road links and basic services. He issued instructions for compilation and submission of the report on damages caused by the snowfall within a week. Addressing the public that had gathered to meet him, Azad said, “I have visited all parts of the state that were hit by the snow to take stock of the situation. The visits helped in taking adequate measures to address the crisis” He said his attention was focused on developing and upgrading connectivity in areas where road communication scenario was dismal. He said the state government, in tandem with the Centre, was implementing an ambitious programme of road construction through which all villages would be connected by roads in next four to five years. |
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Muslim migrants’ colony plan draws flak, Azad denies report
Jammu, February 13 In a joint statement, party leaders Prof Virender Gupta and Abdul Rouf Ganai said separate colonies for Kashmiri Hindus and Muslims exposes communal face of the ruling parties. “This further establishes anti-Jammu attitude of the coalition government in view of the fact that 1965 and 1971 Chamb refugees still live in makeshift and worn out tents,” they said. Meanwhile, amid the reports that the state government was planning to set up a Muslim migrants’ colony in Jammu city, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday sought a factual report on the issue from various departments concerned. This follows the reports carried in a section of a press that the state government had decided to transfer about 600 kanals of forest land to the Jammu Development Authority for setting up a colony for the Muslim migrants from Kashmir. Besides about 3 lakh Kashmiri Pandits, many Muslims had also migrated from Kashmir valley during the turmoil. It was reported that the government was planning to set up an exclusive colony for them here in the city and land had been acquired from the Forest Department for the purpose. However, the Chief Minister strongly denied the reports yesterday. An official spokesman said Azad had taken a serious note of the news report that said the government had decided to transfer more than 600 kanals of the forest land for setting up of the Muslim migrants’ colony in Jammu. The spokesman said the Chief Minister has expressed shock over the news report. Azad said he was not aware of any such decision nor had he passed any such direction. No representation had been received by the Chief Minister regarding such a subject, he added. |
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HC issues notice to Azad
Jammu, February 13 A division bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, on Tuesday admitted a public interest litigation challenging setting up of Kashmiri Muslim migrant colony on a forest land here and issued notices to Azad, chief secretary B R Kundal, commissioner secretary Forest, chief conservator of Forests, chairman of Jammu Development Authority and DFO social forestry division. The court also directed respondents to file counter affidavits within four weeks. The PIL, filed by chairman of National Panthers Party Bhim Singh, alleged that 623 'kanals' and 10 'marlas' of forest land were being transferred to JDA for setting up of Kashmiri Muslim migrant colony. It has also been submitted in the PIL that Supreme Court judgement prohibiting the destruction of forests or trees from the forest land is applicable to the Jammu and
Kashmir. — PTI |
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Azad hails Soz’s appointment
Jammu, February 13 |
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People asked to ‘repress’ Valentine feelings
Srinagar, February 13 After the Dukhtaran-e-Millat’s (Daughters of Faith) warning two weeks ago, the National Peoples Party, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, has also asked the youngsters and all others associated with the trade related to the celebrations to refrain from such festivity describing it as un-Islamic and immoral activity. At the same time, mobiles have been abuzz with a series of SMS seeking attention of the youngsters to contribute and be able to win attractive awards. Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi had asked the business community to refrain from making arrangements for the occasion two weeks ago here. The call was given much in advance to avoid any losses to the business community, who had been making investments in the related purchases for the occasion. “This is prohibited in Islam”, said Aasiya Andrabi of the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, which also has been leading a campaign against other social evils under the “Forum against Social Evils (FASE).” Hoteliers and restaurant owners, responding to the call given by the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, had welcomed the move and assured that the festivity programmes related to Valentine’s Day would not be allowed. This was in accordance with the traditions in the valley, they said. However, the police, in view of the damage caused to certain hotels or shops in the past, have resolved that nobody would be allowed to take law into their hands. |
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Unlike basmati, India, Pak may disagree on pashmina patent
Jammu, February 13 None of the two countries had any objection. But the two countries are most unlikely to arrive at a similar consensus on getting a joint patent on pashmina, the finest woollen fabric, exclusively produced in Kashmir, and that too on this (Indian) side of the Line of Control. The discord is obviously not over pashmina, but because it is related to Kashmir. Since the two countries are holding exclusive claims over the territory, they are unlikely to yield any concession when it comes to patenting a product that is exclusive to Kashmir. Pashmina is supposed to be a heritage product coming from a disputed territory, thus making it at least for the time being, practically impossible for any of the two countries to concede any ground. When the Srinagar-based Craft Development Institute applied for a Geographical Indicator Patent (GIP) with the Chennai-based GIP registry, Pakistan raised its objection under the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), of the WTO regime. However, Pakistan is learnt to have not passed any law or issued an ordinance in the country on the GIP, which is mandatory under the WTO agreement. So, Pakistan may not be able to put up a strong case for blocking the Indian patent on pashmina. But it can certainly prolong the dispute and delay the grant of patent to India. Pakistan has been questioning the Indian claim of getting the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) of the Kashmiri Pashmina shawl in the international market, as it holds that the product has traditionally been manufactured on both sides of the “disputed territory” of the state. However, local pashmina traders are disputing the Pakistani claims. Irrespective of the political views they might be holding on the issue of the production of the pashmina, they are firm that the real pashmina is produced in this (Indian) part of Kashmir only. A third generation Kashmiri pashmina trader told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the Pakistani claim over getting or sharing a patent with India over the pashmina is as good as from any other part of the world where pashmina is claimed to be made. |
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Power theft go unabated, faulty meters still exist
Jammu, February 13 The coalition government had initiated the project way back in 2004 to bring down Accumulated Transmission and Commercial (AT&C) losses to nationally accepted figure of 18 to 20 per cent from a whopping 60 per cent. Talking to The Tribune commissioner secretary, Power Development Department, Basharat Ahmed Dar, said, “So far 3.39 lakh electronic meters have been installed in the state. Over 1.50 lakh devices have been installed in Jammu while 1.88 lakh units have been installed in the Kashmir valley.” “We have achieved tremendous results and the process of installation still continues,” claimed Dar. However, he admitted that people in certain metered localities still resorted to power theft, for which special squads had been framed. “These squads visit different localities during night to detect the offenders,” he added. Official sources said, “The state has over 12 lakh genuine power consumers while over 10 lakh illegal power connections had also been identified ever since the department initiated the exercise.” Former power minister, presently holding industries and commerce portfolio, Nawang Rigjin Jora said, “Under the APDRP the process has to continue till we achieve hundred percent results.” “The union government at regular intervals gives a benchmark to us, which has to be adhered to so as to avail benefits under the APDRP,” he said. A senior PDD official, however, admitted that marred by constraints the department has not been able to achieve desired results. “The state has a population of nearly 11 million people and installing 3.39 lakh meters are insufficient to check power pilferage and bring down the AT&C losses to 18 per cent,” he said. He said, “The installation process has not been abandoned but procedural delays do hamper the objective.” He said, “The department is focusing on overloaded districts like Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag and Baramulla where AT&C losses are comparatively much higher than other areas of the state.” |
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Cleanliness keeper, MC, itself housed in filth
Jammu, February 13 As one enters the town hall, he is greeted with the filth scattered everywhere inside the building and the graffiti made by the chewed betel (paan) leaves and tobacco on the walls. And if the visitor manages to bear all this then he/she has to tackle non-responsive attitude of the staff working in the municipal corporation’s office. “If this is the condition of the building that houses the office of the corporation, which is believed to the keeper of cleanliness, then anyone can guess how clean the city will be,” said Vikas Kumar, a resident of Talab Tilo Jammu. The stairway that leads to the office of the MC Commissioner is so stinky that one would imagine that he had entered some filthy dump. “Have a glimpse on the stairways leading to the cabin of municipal commissioner Jammu and you could well guess the seriousness of the staff for keeping the city clean,” said another resident Madan Lal, belonging to Kacchi Chawani in Jammu. The residents here blame that if the condition of MC that claims to keep the entire Jammu city clean is like then who would take care of the entire city. Adding to the worries of the residents of Jammu is the non-responsive attitude of the staff working at the municipal corporation of Jammu. “Nobody is ready to provide any information here, even nobody listen to our worries, for the past few days we have been complaining about the poor drainage system of our locality, but nobody cares,” said Shanta Devi, a resident of Digiana pully Jammu. |
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Loran, Mandi residents allege govt apathy
Poonch, February 13 Although rescue and relief operations have been launched on "war-footing" in Doda, Kishtwar and other areas, this belt has allegedly been neglected by the state government. Most of the areas of this hilly belt of Poonch district are still cut off from the rest of the state but the authorities seemed to the unconcerned. While they lambasted the local administration for not mitigating their woes, residents lavished all praise on the Army for responding positively at the time of crises. “We are facing worst conditions. It is all due to the timely action of the Army we managed to save lives of our family,” said Nishar Ahmed of Sabazia. He rued that the state government has attended to the problems in Doda and Kishtwar but has neglected our areas. While pointing towards accumulated snow on the roads, he regretted that officers at the helm of the affairs were seemed to be unconcerned towards clearing the track. Echoing similar views, Jahangir Sheikh of Loran said many areas were still cut off from the district headquarters but rescue operations have yet not launched. He said that even some areas were facing shortage of the medicines, ration and other essential commodities. At the time of crises, the Army came out to help the people. Local Army formation provided medicines, kerosene oil, ration and other essential commodities to locals. |
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Infiltrators shift focus towards LoC areas
Jammu, February 13 “The recent escalation in infiltration bids from the Rajouri and Poonch districts of the region is a result of changed strategy of militancy perpetrators to carry on their activities in remote areas of the state,” sources in security intelligence told UNI. Though the militants take cover of bad weather while infiltrating the unprecedented snowfall along the LoC had made all their secret entry points practically impossible to access, the sources informed. Jammu-based defence spokesman Lt-Col S.D.
Goswami, while corroborating the intelligence reports said “All the possible passages to enter into Kashmir (from
PoK) have been blocked due to heavy snowfall during this winter. And now, the infiltrators find the LoC areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts less troublesome as compared to the secret points in the valley.” Around 5,000 odd trained militant youths of the state are waiting (in
PoK) to intrude into Indian side, the sources said. — UNI |
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Thermal power project
Jammu, February 13 An official spokesman said the decision to this effect was taken at a meeting between Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde at New Delhi this evening. Economic advisor to the state government Haseeb Drabu and union secretary for power V. K. Razdan were present along with senior officials of the ministry. “The thermal power project would be set up at Udhampur for which the state government would provide 700 acres of land and equity,” said the spokesperson, adding that the project will be completed in three years. |
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BSNL users a worried lot
Jammu, February 13 The consumers in the region, who use the mobile services provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the first mobile service provider company in the state, say that they are troubled with the erratic service provided by the company. With a wide consumer base in the state, the services provided by the biggest telecom operator of the country are not at par the expectations of the people of the state. “The mobile network is always down. Whenever, you try to make a call, it only shows congestion.” said Ashok Kumar, a BSNL mobile phone user in Jammu. After BSNL started its prepaid service in the state, the quality of the service provided by the company has further diminished. |
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