Jammu, June 10
With no end in sight to the ongoing impasse between transporters and the state government, normal life remained crippled for the second day today as commercial vehicles, including buses, mini buses, cabs and three-wheelers stayed off the roads.

Talking to The Tribune, transport minister Hakim Mohammed Yasin said the three-member committee constituted by the government would hold a meeting with the striking transporters and the stalemate would soon end.

The state government has constituted a three-member committee comprising commissioner secretary, finance; commissioner secretary, general administration department and transport commissioner, to look into the demands of the transporters.

“Keeping in mind the aspirations of transporters and people, the government would arrive at a decision beneficial to all,” he said.

To deal with the contingency, an entire fleet of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) had been pressed into service but undoubtedly the strike has badly hit the people, Yasin said.

However, T.S. Wazir, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association (JKTWA) said, “None from the government or the three-member panel has approached the association and hence the strike would continue till demands of the transporters are fulfilled.”

The JKTWA had been demanding 50 per cent hike in fares, withdrawal of 8.4 per cent surcharge on insurance and welfare tax levied by the government.

Wazir said the association strongly resented the government's move to constitute another committee when a panel appointed earlier was yet to submit its report.

Wazir said the price of petrol, diesel and spare parts had increased since the past three years, but the government had not revised their fare and freight since 2005.

Over 1 lakh tourists and pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi were left stranded at various places after 75,000 private vehicles went off the road on Monday.

Stray incidents of violence were also reported from some parts of the region where protesting transporters smashed windowpanes of government vehicles.

At the Jammu railway station and the general bus stand, people were left stranded. People rued that no health care and drinking water arrangements had been made by the district administration. People were seen walking to reach their destinations or shifting to horse-driven carts.

Though the SRTC has pressed into service its entire fleet to ferry passengers to their respective destinations, government buses proved inadequate to cope up with the huge influx of pilgrims and tourists. Attendance in government offices, banks, business establishments remained thin.

Tour and travel agents at the BC Road confirmed that several tourists, who had plans to visit the state, had cancelled their itinerary in view of the ongoing strike.

Jammu, June 10
With thousands of private buses and other vehicles off road in the wake of strike call by transporters' in the state, the good old tongas are back in the business here.

Scores of commuters were today seen heading from bus stand to railway station and vice versa either on tongas or on foot.

Though the SRTC has pressed its buses into service, they are not enough to cater to a huge number of passengers, most of them Vaishno Devi pilgrims, thronging the state's winter capital en route to the shrine.

Talking to The Tribune, Ramesh Kumar, a tongawallah, said, "Though I don't remember exactly, I think it's after five years that I have been ferrying commuters on my tonga. Otherwise I have been merely transporting goods. Last time too there was some strike when I ferried passengers in the city"

Channa Ram, who is plying tonga in the city since 1976, said, "The strike could not have been better timed, as my work was passing through a lean phase. Normally, I transport goods like cement and iron bars from factories to shops. However, the last couple of days have taken me down the memory lane when my father would ferry passengers in the old city areas."

Though facing hardship, some commuters too seemed to be enjoying the joyride on tonga. "It's been truly a wonderful experience," said Tanmay Sharma, a teenager.

While a majority of tongawallahs were cashing in on the strike, there were some who chose to stick to transportation of goods.

Swaran Lal, a tongawallah at Gole Market, said, "Though some of my friends are making good money I kept away from it as I could not fleece distressed commuters."

Parkash, who has been plying tonga for the past 40 years, opined that he and his horse were too old to ferry the commuters. "I prefer transporting goods, that too up to a certain limit."

However, he was happy that the strike has made the people take note of one of their traditional modes of transportation.

Jammu, June 10
Despite being a fully funded scheme of the Union government, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has failed to kick-off.

The district mental health units conceived under the DMHP still remain non-existent in different districts, thanks to the laid-back attitude of the state government.

To change the dismal scenario in the wake of acute dearth of qualified psychiatrists in the state, the coalition government in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, had trained nearly 16 doctors in elementary psychiatry.

Official sources said the objective was to provide basic psychiatric treatment to mentally challenged people in their respective areas at the time of initiation of mental disorders, thus, preventing them from becoming chronic patients.

“However, after imparting one-year training to six doctors at NIMHANS and then conducting a three-month training course along with the NIMHANS faculty for 10 doctors in Jammu, the district mental health units have not been established as yet,” the sources added.

When contacted, a senior official of the Health and Medical Education Department said: “In fact we had written a letter and then served a reminder to the director, health services, to expedite the process but, paradoxically, nothing has happened so far.”

Despite repeated attempts, Jasbir Singh, director of the Health Services, could not be contacted for comments.

The sources further said the services of doctors, who were trained in psychiatry, had not been utilised because of the missing district mental health units. “These units had to be set up at the district and block level,” they added.

The sources said an amount of Rs 1.48 crore sanctioned by the Centre in April, 2006, for implementing DMHP in four districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Rajouri remained unutilised for a period of three years.

An official document had clearly held the director of the Health Services, Jammu, and principal of the Government Medical College, Jammu, responsible for the non-utilisation of funds.

Head of the Psychiatry Department Chander Mohan Sharma attributed the delay to the ongoing strike of the clerical staff but claimed that four such units had been established in Doda, Kathua, Udhampur and Jammu.

He added they were awaiting funds for the remaining six districts - Samba, Ramban, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch and Kishtwar.

It may be mentioned that there are just 25 psychiatrists - five in Jammu region, 20 in Kashmir valley and none in Ladakh region- for a population of 11 million people.

Srinagar, June 10
Three former chief ministers at the head of their respective regional political parties, besides the incumbent Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, are in the race for the post of Chief Minister in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The former chief ministers include Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Mohammad Shah. While Farooq Abdullah was the chief minister for four terms, it would be the first time for Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and first Independent contest by Ghulam Mohammad Shah.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in his four-decade-long political career, mostly associated with the Congress party at the Central level, became chief minister for the first time in 2002.

Though his PDP had a maiden victory over 16 seats, mostly from south Kashmir, he had to enter into a coalition arrangement with the Congress with 20 seats.

Mufti thus, headed the coalition government for the first three years between November 2002 and November 2005, and had to step down to pave way for the Congress chief minister.

The opposition National Conference (NC) patron, Farooq Abdullah, took over as the chief minister for the first time on September 8, 1982, following the death of his father and then chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

As the National Conference president, he became the chief minister in 1983 elections, but the government was later dismissed.

Farooq again returned as the chief minister after fresh elections were held in 1987 to make an alliance government with the Congress, which however, did not complete its full term.

He had to resign in January, 1990, in protest against the appointment of a new Governor in the wake of eruption of militancy in the state.

Farooq had only one complete term as the chief minister after being elected in 1996, which came to an end in the 2002 elections.

He did not contest the last elections that were instead led by his son and party president, Omar Abdullah, from their home constituency of Ganderbal.

But, Omar’s defeat from his home constituency, which had been represented by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, relegated the party to the Opposition by getting only 28 seats in the 87-member house.

This time, Farooq has made it clear to join the fray and is already in the electioneering mode for the chief ministerial post.

For Ghulam Mohammad Shah, it would be for the first time, after remaining as the chief minister for 22 months between July 1984 and March 1986, before the Governor’s rule was imposed.

A close associate and son-in-law of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Shah had in 1984 overthrown Farooq Abdullah’s government after getting support of requisite legislators to take over.

During the past 22 years, Shah remained in political hibernation and recently announced to plunge into electoral politics to provide clean administration with no bearing on the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Srinagar, June 10
Over 50,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits are expected to attend the annual Jesht Ashtami festival at Tulamulla in Ganderbal district near here tomorrow. The festival is associated with the Hindu goddess Ragnya Devi.

Long queues of devotees drawn from different parts outside the valley, most of them the Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated from here in the wake of militancy 18 years ago, have been converging at the temple from the past three days.

Deputy commissioner, Ganderbal, A.M. Khanday said nearly 30,000 pilgrims had already converged during the past two to three days.

A larger number that may be added to cross the number of pilgrims to over 50,000 is expected on the occasion of the special prayers of Jesht Ashtami tomorrow.

Adequate arrangements of food, shelter, water, electricity, accommodation in concrete structures and tents had been set up for the pilgrims, the deputy commissioner said.

There are four halls and 65 rooms available to accommodate the pilgrims reaching the place of worship.

The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) in view of the strike by the private transport services had also made special arrangements for the devotees for the Khir Bhawani festival, an official spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has felicitated people, especially the Kashmiri Pandits, on the eve of Khirbhawani Mela and hoped that it brings along happiness and prosperity for the state.

The Chief Minister said the festival had a long tradition and signified the communal amity and brotherhood among different faiths in Kashmir.

He said the composite culture of the state was best illustrated through the festivals and religious occasions when people of all communities share their joy and happiness with each other.

Srinagar, June 10
The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association has called for a strike tomorrow against the rise in fuel prices and the transfer of forestland to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

President of the association Sadiq Baqal said the state government should take an initiative to reduce the fuel prices as many state governments had done since the hike was announced. Broaching the controversial transfer of land to the SASB, he said, it would be detrimental to the ecology.

The rise in fuel and commodity prices continued to attract agitation today even as the private transporters kept their vehicles off roads for the second day.

They demand that the state government should allow them to increase fare by 50 per cent as they had not increased prices for the last three years, even as fuel prices had increased many times.

Government employees also took out a protest march against the price rise and as many as 36 of them were detained by the police near Jahangir Hotel as they marched towards the secretariat.

Srinagar, June 10
Arrangements are being finalised for the two-month-long annual Amarnath Yatra that begins in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir on June 18.

A meeting presided over by the district development commissioner, Anantnag, decided that sufficient boarding, lodging, sanitation, medical aid and security arrangements would be made at various yatra camps at Nunvan, Chandanwadi, Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the holy cave.

It was also decided that the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department would stock 1,460 quintal rice, 306 quintal sugar, 91,000 litres of kerosene and 3,000 filled cooking gas cylinders, while the Forest Department would make 5,387 quintal of firewood available for the yatris.

Besides, the health authorities are setting up medical aid camps at all yatra camps equipped with both generic and life saving drugs and oxygen cylinders.

It was decided in the meeting that the arrangement would be made for adequate power and water supply during the yatra period, besides maintaining proper sanitation and cleanliness at the camps and the yatra routes.

The Department of Information and Public Relations has also geared up its men and machinery at all camps for the convenience of the yatris.

The transport arrangements from Pahalgam to Chandanwadi and from Chandanwadi to the holy cave have also been put in place.

The rent fixation was also discussed and it was decided that a palanquin ride would cost Rs 11,000, labour for load carrying Rs 1,500 and a load carrying or rider carrying horse would cost Rs 2,800.

The meeting also decided to set up a joint control room to be manned by the concerned units of the district administration for the convenience of the yatris.

Noori Chamb (Poonch), June 10
The state government may have failed to develop this place as a tourism spot, but still that doesn’t prevent tourists to come here for picnic.

Though the government doesn’t seem to put this place on tourism map and has failed to provide even basic infrastructure for a tourist spot, yet the tourists continue to throng this place with breathetaking beauty.

In fact, Noori Chamb lying along the Mughal road----named after the Mughal queen Noor Jahan------- situated in Surankote tehsil of this border district, is famous for its scenic beauty and waterfall.

The fall of the stream gives rise to dense clouds of water vapours which engulfs the area and spreads all over.

Emperor Jahangir had developed so much fancy for this fall that he named it Noori Chammb after the name of his beloved queen Noor Jahan. The Mughal queen used to stay here to relax and take bath while on the way to Kashmir.

Even as this place is a huge hit as a picnic spot among the local picnic goers and tourist coming from outside the state, they say that the state government has not done anything to provide basic tourism infrastructure at the place.

“Though the place is one of the most beautiful tourist spots I have ever seen but the fact that there is no accommodation for tourists and no cafeteria has pained me the most,” said Malvika Sharma, a 12th class student from J.P. Institute of Zoology, who for the first time had come here for picnic.

“The government should provide basic tourism infrastructure here so that lack of facilities don’t act as a deterrent to the tourists. To start with it should construct tourist huts, build toilets, and cafeteria, besides the area around the waterfall should be developed.”

Says Niharika Gill, a sixth standard student, who came here for the first time “This place is beautiful especially, the waterfall. I will tell my friend and classmate Diksha Sharma about this place. I reckon every tourist coming to the state must see the beauty of nature here.”

However, going by the lack of facilities here, it doesn’t seem the government is interested in developing this place. They should wake up from slumber and establish tourism infrastructure here,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, B.D. Sharma said that they were first developing religious places as tourism destination in the district.

“We are developing places like Sain Mirian Shrine, Nangali Sahab Gurdwara, Buddha Amarnath Shrine in the first stage. However in the second stage we will develop places like Noori Chamb.

Pakhlai (Udhampur), June 10
Three minor children of a family were drowned in an unfenced tank of the Chenani Hydroelectric Power project in Udhampur district of the state.

The deceased have been identified as three-year-old Sunil, six-year-old Preeti and eight-year-old Anu.

Father of the deceased Arjun Kumar, a farmer, told the police that his kids had gone to fields yesterday. When the kids did not return in the evening, he went to his fields in their search.

The father saw one of his daughter's shoes near the tank. He raised an alarm and called villagers for help but it was too late as the kids drowned in the tank.

The villagers continued their efforts to retrieve the bodies but of no avail. Due to non-availability of instruments they could not recover the bodies from the tank.

The villagers approached the higher authorities today morning and it was only after the approval of the higher authorities of the PDC that the flow of water in the tank was stopped and bodies were recovered in the afternoon.

The bodies were handed over to the family after the postmortem in the Udhampur hospital. The incident fuelled anger among the villagers as they blamed the PDC authorities for this mishap.

We had approached the authorities a number of times to get the tank fenced but they never took our demand seriously, the father of the deceased said. He added that the tragedy was the result of the non-serious approach of the PDC authorities.

Udhampur, June 10
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said the sound basis laid by his government during the last three years for progress would soon see the state emerging among the frontline states of the country in terms of development.

The Chief Minister was addressing public meetings at Jora Upper, Kandhote and Kilhotran in Doda district.

Azad said he was pursuing his agenda for all-round development in state, resulting in the expansion and upgradation of civic amenities and public utility services.

The development process, he said, had been, for the first time, taken to the remote areas and neglected pockets that, more or less, remained out of the development strategy of the governments in the past.

He said he believes in the equal distribution of resources to ensure equitable progress. He said the new culture of working in double and triple shifts had yielded excellent results.

The Chief Minister cautioned the people against elements that tried to draw differences between them in the name of region, religion, community and caste.

He asked them to give a befitting reply to the divisive forces by frustrating their designs. He said the elections being round the corner, different parties and groups would try to politicise issues.

He stressed on the need to watch out against such people. He sought people's cooperation in his war against corruption.

A few hours later, his body bearing injury marks was handed over to his family. The police did not offer any explanations for the boy’s death. — PTI

Srinagar, June 10
A Jammu and Kashmir Assembly panel today suggested that a monitoring committee should be set up to ensure that no harm was caused to the environment en route the Amarnath shrine during the two-month pilgrimage commencing on June 18.

The suggestion was made by the State Assembly's Committee on Environment headed by opposition National Conference MLA Mesheikh Mustafa Kamal at its meeting attended by officials of the departments concerned here today.

The meeting asked the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to take necessary steps to protect the environment and other natural resources en route Amarnath shrine.

The proposed committee comprising officers would also visit the base camp of the yatra at Pahalgam and Baltal to assess the measures initiated by the SASB to save the environment and create facilities for pilgrims, the panel said.

It also stressed upon coordinated efforts by the departments concerned to maintain close liaison with the SASB to ensure that no harm was caused to the environment.

Arun Kumar, chief executive officer, SASB said the shrine board accorded highest priority to the conservation of environment and the facilities created for the pilgrims en route the shrine posed no threat to the environment. — PTI

When the protesters tried to break the cordon, the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them. — UNI