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Landslide Tragedy
Be a watchdog: Minister to people
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Official Apathy
Heat drives tourists to valley
Army barricade: Villagers protest, block highway
Agri dept to distribute high-quality seeds
Darbar move: Srinagar given a facelift
Registration of Amarnath pilgrims begins
Standing houses can be made quake resistant
Rs 53 cr for Kupwara under annual plan
Stray ammunition: Army helpline to avoid mishaps
SI ‘thrashes’ Sena leader, suspended
1 killed in clash
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Landslide Tragedy
Udhampur, May 2 Residents shifted all blame on the GREF authorities for the tragedy and demanded registration of a case against all officers who have been engaged in the job of widening the Kishtwar-Singthantop road. "Our priority is to retrieve all bodies buried under wreckage", Riyaz Ahmed Zarger, officiating Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, told The Tribune but hastened to add that responsibility for this worst tragedy would be fixed on those who had been engaged for the job. "We have already directed the GREF authorities to immediately take preventive measures at all the spots where rocks were blasted recently,” Mr Zarger said and admitted that due to the blasting, soil had become loose at many places which led to landsliding and erosion. Worthwhile to mention here that to construct the alternative national highway to connect Kashmir with rest of the country, widening of 80 km long Kishtwar-Singthantop road has been on a war footing. This road would connect Anantnag district of South Kashmir with Chamba of Himachal Pradesh. Many such tragedies have been already occurred on this road during the past some time but the authorities have failed to take any preventive measures. Officer Commanding of the Border Road Organisation (BRO), Ajay Verma, who has been supervising the on-going work on this road, told The Tribune that mountains became unstable as there were only fissured rocks in this belt. Verma said the department had already initiated an inquiry into this incident. This morning some senior officers of the GREF authorities visited the spot to supervise the on-going rescue operations but these officers maintained guarded silence on the whole episode. They interacted with the officers concerned and gave them some directions to take preventive measures to avoid such tragedies in future. On the other hand, the Kishtwar police has already started investigations in
this case. "The police has registered an open FIR in this case to start investigations”, DIG Doda-Ramban Range, Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune and said officers who were engaged in the job of widening the road would be questioned by the police to single out those who were responsible for this tragedy. Meanwhile, a large number of locals joined the rescue teams to retrieve the bodies from the debris. After blasting the boulders two more bodies were retrieved till this evening. The rescue teams struggled to recover the bodies. Helplessness of the rescue teams can be gauged from the fact that the body of one Dhamant Dahaia, a driver of BRO, who was resident of Madhya Pradesh, was visible but authorities failed to remove the boulder to get it retrieved. Ultimately the boulder was blasted and the body retrieved in pieces. Former Minister and Congress MLC M S Niaz has demanded that one member from each family of the deceased should be given employment in BRO. |
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Be a watchdog: Minister to people
Udhampur, May 2 The government also suggested local people to supervise all on-going development works in their respective areas to keep a watch on the quality of material used during construction. Addressing a function after laying foundation stone of 28-km Moungri to Ladha road, minister of roads and bridges Jugal Kishore Sharma said while the present government was committed to provide basic amenities of life to each and every inhabitants of the state in transparent and stipulated time frame, it becomes the responsibility of the people to extend their cooperation to the government in smooth execution of development schemes taking place in their respective areas. He directed the officers to make all out efforts in completion of works. He asserted that the coalition regime has made much headway in restoration of peace, tranquility and prosperity besides accelerating the pace of development activities and other welfare schemes. The minister said emphasis was being laid to provide connectivity to yet unconnected habitations in rural areas by means of all weather roads and added that with the facility of road connectivity hitherto neglected areas would ameliorate the socio-economic status of the people of such locations. |
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Official Apathy
Jammu, May 2 Much hype had been generated by the coalition government when it had framed the JKSAC to check rampant corruption in the state, but the missing independent investigating wing, apart from other pre-requisites, has almost shackled it. However, five years down the lane, the JKSAC continues to grapple with official apathy of the coalition government. Official sources said from the past over eight months, the coalition government had not filled up two vacant posts of deputy registrars, thereby adversely affecting functioning of the JKSAC. A JKSAC member admitted that vacant posts had adversely affected their functioning. “Though as a stopgap arrangement, the government has provided two officials, rules say that only retired judges to the rank of sub-judge should be appointed on these two key posts to take up cases for hearing,” he said. In the absence of an independent investigating agency, the JKSAC has no option but to rely upon the state police for probing different cases of corruption, thereby raising doubts of impartial inquiries. Under the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Act, the state government had to provide an independent investigating agency to the JKSAC. Sources said the nonchalant attitude of the state government for obvious reasons had left the JKSAC a “limbless” organisation. They also said in the past two years, the JKSAC had made 18 recommendations to the coalition government, but not a single one was implemented. In certain case of corruption, the JKSAC had recommended stringent action against bureaucrats, legislators and even eight to nine former ministers besides, a sitting minister of the Congress in the ruling alliance. However, all of them obtained stay orders from different courts of law and state government, too, remained a mute spectator for obvious reasons saying recommendations could not be implemented in the wake of stay orders. Sources said instead of citing lame excuses, the state government should have defended the JKSAC and requested the judiciary to either dispose off such cases or reject them outrightly. |
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Heat drives tourists to valley
Jammu, May 2 The reason is quite hotter. As mercury crosses the 40°C mark in various parts of the country, tourists in large numbers make their way towards the picturesque mountains in the Kashmir valley. And the state Tourism Department has high hopes to host record number of tourists this season. So the holiday-wishers not only from different parts of the country but also from the plains within the state like Jammu, which is also reeling under the hot weather, are heading towards the valley for their vacations. “With the temperature going up in Jammu, we have made plans to visit the valley in the next few days. The visit to valley would be a succor for us from this heat,” says Vandana Sharma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Jammu. As far as the Tourism Department is concerned, it has made elaborate arrangements to welcome the tourists to the valley. “We have been doing a lot to attract tourists to the valley. We have not only given advertisements in print and electronic media, but also have been holding campaigns and road-shows in various parts of the country,” Farooq Ahmed Shah director Tourism tells The Tribune. Regarding the infrastructure with the department, Shah says the valley has the required infrastructure to greet any number of tourists this season. “The required infrastructure with us is of the best standards and not only domestic tourists but also the tourists coming from other countries have appreciated the infrastructure that we have provided,” Shah says. Talking about the golf course amidst the scenic mountains of Gulmarg, he says it has always been the most cherished destination for all domestic and international tourists. “As soon as the school of my son declares vacations I will leave for the valley,” Vandana concludes. |
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BJP bandh evokes lukewarm response
Jammu, May 2 The BJP had declared to observe a nationwide bandh on May 2, to protest what it termed the failure of the government to control the increase in the prices of essential commodities in the country. However, the bandh in Jammu evoked a mixed response. Traffic movement in the city remained normal but people faced various hardships as entire business establishments in the city were closed. “Nobody is bothered about the masses. The government has failed to check inflation and some parties are trying to take undue political advantage of the suffering of the common man,” Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Jammu said. Meanwhile BJP activists in Jammu burnt an effigy of the Congress-led UPA government and raised anti-government slogans. Rajouri: The strike call given by the BJP over the price rise got negligible response in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri today, as majority of the business establishments remained open. Similar reaction was witnessed in the adjoining towns of Sunderbani, Nowshera and Kalakote. “The strike call could not affect the attendance of employees in government offices and banks. The strength of the students in schools too remained thick,” said a senior officer. |
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Chopra Murder Case
Jammu, May 2 He further directed the special investigation (SIT) team to speed up the investigation and complete the same within three months. Keeping in view the nature of the act committed and the publicity the case had created, the HC would monitor the investigation being conducted by the SIT. The HC further directed the SIT to submit a weekly progress report of investigation to the Registrar Judicial, HC, for placing the same before the court for perusal and appropriate order. The HC further observed that “The investigation of the case is at a most crucial stage and to interfere at this stage, to stop it or to handover it to the CBI, will adversely affect the progress of the case. The high court has found that SIT has got vital clues which may help to solve the case.” Cement tycoon Rajinder Bhushan Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, daughter Saloni Chopra, their servant and driver were brutally murdered on September 18, 2006, at their residence at Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. The state government vide notification dated September 25, 2006, had requested the CBI to take up the investigation. The matter was examined by the CBI, but they expressed their inability to take up the investigation on the ground that the case was local in nature and did not require the CBI’s intervention. In these circumstances, a special investigation team of 11 gazetted police officers and one IPS officer of the rank of SP was constituted. |
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Army barricade: Villagers protest, block highway
Udhampur, May 2 Agitating villagers said the barricade be removed as it connected their villages to other places. They alleged that the road was constructed for the people, but later the Army had created its own barricades. A large number of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the highway which lead to utter chaos. Udhampur MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia also reached the spot and joined the agitating villagers. Encouraged by the support of the local MLA, villagers blocked vehicular movement on the highway. Senior police and civil officers rushed to the spot to pacify the villagers, but to no avail. Later, the police warned to use force to disperse the agitators. Senior Army officers said the barricade had been created due to security reasons. They suggested issuing of identity cards to villagers so that they could move freely on the road. But this suggestion was outrighly rejected by the villagers. MLA Mankotia informed the Army officers about the problems of villagers and demanded immediate redressal. The enraged villagers lifted the dharna only after senior Army officers assured them that their problems would be solved within a week's time. They also assured that no one would he frisked unnecessary. |
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Agri dept to distribute high-quality seeds
Rajouri, May 2 District development commissioner Rafiq Ahmed Sheikh disclosed this in a meeting of district development board conducted recently. He said 1,04,650 hectares would be brought under high yielding variety (HYV) seeds. Honey and mushroom being subsidiary income of the farming community, the production would rise to the level of 150 quintals and 100 quintals, respectively, Sheikh added. As far as the capital component is concerned, Sheikh said that during the current fiscal, the department has been earmarked a sum of Rs 14.50 lakh for carrying out activities across the district. “During the last fiscal 3,095.80 quintals of HYV seed of paddy, maize, wheat, pulses, oil seeds and fodder and 4,535.10 MT of fertiliser were provided to the farmers. During the period 68,185 hectares gross area of different crops was brought under HYV programme,” he said. “Production of 80 quintals of mushroom had been registered while as 1,32.84 quintals of honey had also been produced through departmental beehives as well as prospective.” |
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Welcome back Mr Dar
Srinagar, May 2 Dar, who had been general secretary of the PDP after he joined it in 2002, formally returned to the National Conference at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh, after quitting the PDP about three weeks earlier on April 13 last. The NC patron and former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah and president, Omar Abdullah, apart from some legislators and former ministers, Ali Mohammad Naik, Mehboob Beigh and Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan were present on the occasion. Six other leaders, including a former NC legislator, Sadiq Ali had returned from the PDP to the NC on
March 10 here. The return of Sonaullah Dar from Pulwama to the party is being looked as significant in view of its strength in south Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Pulwama. He had shifted over from the National Conference to the Awami National Conference led by former Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah
in 1984. Replying questions on the occasion, NC president Omar Abdullah said the grant of internal autonomy was to be the main plank of its election campaign due to be held in the state later this year. In a veiled attack on the PDP, Omar held that the party leadership was not going to adopt changing stances on different issues like the duel
currency. |
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Darbar move: Srinagar given a facelift
Srinagar, May 2 Srinagar is undergoing a facelift and fresh instructions for vehicles and pedestrians are being issued. Engaged in for the past couple of weeks, labourers in large numbers are working hard to give roadside railings, footpaths, zebra crossing and road dividing lines a new look. The civil secretariat houses offices of the Chief Minister, ministers and commissioner secretaries. The secretariat was closed down in Jammu on April 25. Around 7,000 employees and truckloads of the office records have to undergo the bi-annual move exercise as part of more than a century old practice. Meanwhile, the Commissioner-Secretary, General Administration Department Basharat Ahmad along with officers concerned conducted a tour of the civil secretariat, Tulsi Bagh and Rawalpora residential quarters here yesterday. He reviewed the sanitation, drinking water, power facility and other concerned issues during the tour. He directed the agencies concerned to complete the renovation, painting of walls etc before Sunday so that routine official business in the secretariat can be resumed on May 5 without any hindrance. The officers also reviewed the availability of basic amenities like power, water supply and sanitation in Tulsi Bagh residential quarters, where the move employees would be lodged. The government has also occupied several hotels and lodges to accommodate the employees during summer months. Arrangements are also in place to provide chartered bus services for these employees from their respective places to their offices and return. |
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Registration of Amarnath pilgrims begins
Jammu, May 2 In three hours at least 472 devotees got registered on the first day of registration which opened here. The two-month long Amarnath yatra would begin from June 18. Similarly, nationwide registration at 80 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank also started. Registration would end on July 13. A total quota of 2,86,680 pilgrims would be registered across the country by the bank branches. The state has a quota of 12,960 out of which 9000 pilgrims would be registered in Jammu, 1200 in Srinagar, 720 in Kathua, 480 in Rajouri, 480 in Poonch, 480 in Doda and 600 in Udhampur. |
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Standing houses can be made quake resistant
Srinagar, May 2 Speaking at a three-day training programme organised by the UNDP in collaboration with the administration, Ranjendra Desai and Rupal Desai, both experts hailing from Gujarat, said it was much better to go for making existing houses proof to earthquakes by retrofitting rather than building news ones. The programme was held for engineers and other professional concerned with construction so that they could learn the know-how of improving the seismic performance of the existing brick and stone masonry building. The training included a field visit to Nambla village in the Uri sector where they visited a damaged school building to give a first hand experience in determining the ways of repairing the building and making it safer for the future earthquake so that it could be put back in use without totally dismantling and reconstructing it. Over 40 senior engineers of the PWD, SMC, SDA and JKPCC attended the training and were told that damaged buildings have to be repaired in a systematic manner using right techniques and special materials so that they could be restored to their pre-earthquake state. |
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Rs 53 cr for Kupwara under annual plan
Srinagar, May 2 The plan was approved by the District Development Board, which met in Kupwara yesterday under minister for social welfare Abdul Gani Vakil, who is the chairman of the board, while legislators of the district also attended, an official spokesman said. The meeting was told that Rs 8.20 crore have been kept for roads and buildings sector and Rs 3.25 crore for public health engineering sector while under social welfare sector Rs 2.91 crore has been earmarked for the current fiscal year. There is a target to blacktop 35-km road length while 80 km will be metalled, 20 km shingled besides 60-metre culverts would be constructed during the current financial year in the
district. — TNS |
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Stray ammunition: Army helpline to avoid mishaps
Srinagar, May 2 The residents have also been asked by repeated announcements not to tamper with any unidentified objects lying in the area, which has witnessed a number of accidents leading to a death and injuries to several others while fiddling with such explosive objects after the fire at Khundroo ammunition depot last year. Fresh measures have been taken in view of the incident of a live fuse exploding in the hand of a teenager at Pahloo village on April 14, a defence spokesman here said. After the launch of helpline, 15 bomblets and a shell of Bofors gun were recovered by the bomb disposal team of the Army at Sombran village on April 29.
— TNS |
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SI ‘thrashes’ Sena leader, suspended
Jammu, May 2 Thereafter, the DIG suspended the SI and attached him with police lines. However, the SI has denied the allegations and said he had only questioned him. The SI said Chowhan's wife Anu Devi had registered a complaint Amit thrashed her daily. Acting on the complaint, the police picked up Amit and questioned him at the police post parade.
— PTI |
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1 killed in clash
Srinagar, May 2 They said two groups of people clashed over a piece of land at Behar Abad in Ganderbal district. During the clash Abdul received serious injuries and was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police has registered a case. The police also seized illicit timber and two horses belonging to smugglers at Beerwah in Budgam district.
— UNI |
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