Jammu, September 6
People in this power-starved state may heave a sigh of relief soon. After a long row with Pakistan, the state-owned 450MW Baglihar hydroelectric project over the Chenab in Chanderkote has been finally put on testing mode.

The procedure started two weeks ago and yesterday one of the three turbines was put to test.

Talking to The Tribune, Sandeep Naik, commissioner secretary of the Power Development Department, said the project has been undergoing testing from the last 15 days and being a complicated and lengthy process it would take at least a month to go through the entire procedure.

When asked about commissioning of the much-awaited project, Naik said, “Being a mega project there are different types of testing procedures and it’s a long process. But yesterday we had run the turbine in one of the three units.”

It would be too early to say anything about its commissioning as lot of testing procedures are yet to be conducted and it would take us at least a month, he said, adding that problems, which may crop up during the testing procedures, would need intervention and rectification.

It may be stated that work on the project having three turbines of 150 MW each, was started in 1999.

On July 31 this year, a three-member team from Pakistan led by the Central Water Commission (Indus Water Treaty) Commissioner Syed Jamait Ali Shah visited the project and after thorough inspection gave a clean chit.

Earlier in December 2006, the team had recommended to World Bank arbitrator Prof Raymond Lafitte that height of the dam should be decreased to 143 metres from the present 145 metres.

India subsequently accepted and implemented it in 2007.

The project had run into rough weather in the wake of frequent objections by Pakistan before Prof Lafitte gave his consent to India with slight modifications in designs.

Being constructed by Jai Prakash Industries at a cost of over Rs 4,000 crore, former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in April this year also threatened to slap a penalty of Rs 81 crore on the constructing agency for not meeting 
the deadline.

Centre approves drinking water package

Srinagar, September 6
The Centre has approved a special package for Jammu and Kashmir to ensure safe drinking water in all the areas of the state under the centrally sponsored Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme in the ratio of 90:10 against the earlier ratio of 50:50.

This was conveyed to Governor N.N. Vohra by Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, an official spokesman said today.

The special dispensation has been given to the state as it was not in a position to provide the matching 50 per cent share from its own resources.With the revised pattern of funding, 90 per cent by the Centre and 10 per cent from the state, under the special dispensation, the flow of funds to the State would now be much easier and smoother. — PTI

Jammu, September 6
The Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS), spearheading the 63-day-long agitation in Jammu, has threatened to revive the agitation if the government failed to fulfil the promise it made, while signing the agreement on the land deal.

“We would like to remind the state government that the agitation was suspended, following the agreement. If the government continued to backtrack from the agreement, the samiti would not hesitate to revive the suspended agitation”, samiti spokesperson, Dr Narinder Singh, said.

The samiti has accused the state government of adopting delay tactics in implementing the decisions reached between the samiti and the government on August 31.

As part of the agreement, the Governor's panel had promised to withdraw criminal cases against agitators who were protesting to restore land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

“The Governor's Panel during the deliberations before the agreement had promised that all cases, including those who were arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA), would be withdrawn. It was promised that a high-level committee headed by Anil Goswami, principal secretary, Home, would review all the cases. It has been observed that the government has not taken any serious effort to activate the committee, as promised in the agreement”, Dr Singh said.

Dr Singh said: “It was also promised during the deliberations that the committee would look into the cases of atrocities committed by the police on protesters. The Governor's panel had promised to take action against the erring officers who were responsible for committing atrocities on innocent people before the committee starts its working. It is unfortunate that the authorities have not taken any action against the officers despite the number of sufficient evidences available in print and electronic media to prosecute these officers”.

Dr Singh said point 4 of the agreement reached between the Governor's panel and the samiti stated that all cases of a non-serious nature which shall were bailable and compoundable, would be withdrawn.

“It was decided that the remaining cases would be revived, on merits of each case, by a committee headed by the principal secretary, within 60 days. Till the completion of this process, no action would be taken in such cases. Specific allegations of atrocities on agitators, based on prima facie evidence, could also be looked into by this committee” Dr Singh said.

Srinagar, September 6
The independents stole the show in the elections of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, whose results were declared today.

As per final results, independents won 17 seats out of a total 24 council seats for which elections were held while the National Conference won six and the Congress, which suffered the most, could win only one seat. The council has a total of 30 seats and four candidates are nominated while the NC won two seats uncontested.

Sitting LAHDC chairman and chief executive Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie, who contested elections from two constituencies of Pashkum and Poyen, won from Pashkum while lost in another seat.

Haji Karbalaie secured 1,726 votes while as Mohammad Murtaza got only 1,326 votes. In Poyen, his rival Haji Ibrahim secured 1,475 votes against 1,142 votes got by Haji Karbalaie.

The other winners also include two sitting executive councillors Nasir Hussain Munshi and Sonam Namigial, who won from Graundmanglepure and Karsha constituencies, respectively.

The winning NC candidates are Syed Abass from Taisura, Ghulam Aamir from Chiktan, Ghulam Rasool from Rambirpora, Syed Razvi from Chutiskambo, Aga Syed Ahmed from Parkachik and Abdul Rahim Akhoon from Thasgam-Thuina. The Congress bagged its single seat from Karsha constituency of Zanskar sub-Division.

Jammu, September 6
To strengthen security arrangements and enhance work culture at the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed at all strategically important locations at the hospital.

The decision to step up security arrangements came after a hospital received a hoax call regarding a ‘bomb’ on its premises on August 26.

The anonymous call, which was received by the casualty medical officer (CMO) in the emergency wing, had kept the hospital administration along with the police, bomb disposal and dog squads on tenterhooks for several hours.

For the first time in the region, a government hospital is taking such measures. “As a part of this project, 16 CCTV would be set up at the most frequented areas”, N.N. Thusoo, executive engineer, mechanical wing, said. Thusoo said the cameras would be installed by the end of this month.

The surveillance cameras would be operated from a full-fledged control room and the screens could also be monitored in the office of the medical superintendent and principal, GMC Hospital.

The key areas where the cameras would be installed include inside and outside the OPD, OPD Cubicles, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care Unit (CCU) and both blocks of the emergency ward.

Stating that cameras would keep vigil round the clock, besides storing entire video clippings as evidence, Thusoo said: “This will further lessen the scope for complaints against the absence of medical staff in the wards.”

“The CCTV system surveillance is required for monitoring the people as well as the hospital staff, besides keeping strict vigil on suspicious movements and objects within the hospital campus for security reasons”, Satish Khajuria, administrator, GMC, said.

Meanwhile, the hospital administration has also decided to replace the hospital’s outdated lift system. “The replacement would be carried out by the end of October or in the beginning of November,” Thusoo added.

Srinagar, September 6
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter Scale rocked Srinagar and its adjoining areas today.

The quake forced people to rush out and reach for safer places. There were, however, no report of any loss of life or damage to property, police sources said.

This was the second tremor in the past 24 hours here. Yesterday, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake with the epicentre in Afghan-Pakistan border was experienced here.

The tremors, which occurred at 11.18 am, lasted only a few seconds.

A MET department official said the quake was epicentred at Hindukush in Afghanistan.

JAMMU: A moderate-intensity earthquake, occurred in the twin bordering districts of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said today.

“The 5.5 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre at 36.7 degree North latitude and 70.6 degree East longitude in the Hindukush mountain range in Afghanistan, struck at 11.18 am,” an official spokesman said.

The tremors however, lasted for around 10 seconds and were felt in Doda and Poonch districts, besides some regions in the valley. — UNI

Srinagar, September 6
The reinvigorated separatist forces in Kashmir may have dented the chances of heavy polling during the impending Assembly elections, but the security establishments in the state favour early elections.

The Election Commission would be meeting all national and regional parties in New Delhi on September 8 to make up its mind as to whether postpone the J&K polls or go ahead with the polls in October and November.

Official sources told The Tribune that internal security agencies also pushed the case for finishing the election process as early as possible, a view also shared by some senior state government officials.

Their belief is that things are still not bad, which will negate every possibility of successful elections in the valley. They say absence of any militant activity during the secessionist protests means that there is no serious fear factor for electorates, which was a potent threat even in 2002 Assembly elections.

The counter point of view is, a senior official says, that elections be postponed till May next year as the interim period would allow passions to cool down in both regions, Jammu as well as Kashmir.

The catch is, however, that separatists would also use the period to harden sentiments and consolidate their gains and even limited success for them would further jeopardise electoral prospects.

Another strong argument for October and November elections is that separatists as well as mainstream parties, especially the PDP, are playing identity and communal politics with their eyes fixed firmly on elections. If Hurriyat wants to ensure low turnout, mainstream parties want to consolidate their votes by preying on people’s religious and regional insecurity.

“Once we are done with the elections, then there will be no immediate stakes for them to play divisive politics,” official sources said.

However, political arithmetic and not national interest could be a deciding factor in different political parties’ stand on the polling schedule.

A strong section of the state Congress would be happy with delayed polls as they believe Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti’s two-month-long agitation has polarised voters on religious lines in Jammu, which is the party's main political base, and the BJP would gain at their expense.

The PDP is also apprehensive of its chances in the valley. The National Conference, though, is more open to idea as it believes it would gain from the PDP’s flip-flops.

The silver lining, however, is that Central government is more inclined for early polls as they share the belief that a popular government would be more effective in dealing with prevailing situation.

Jammu, September 6
The state has received an adequate rainfall this year and farmers are expecting a good yield of vegetables and a bumper crop of paddy.

Assistant director, Meteorological Department, T.K. Jotshi, said July and August, on an average, witnessed good rainfall in the state.

While Srinagar recorded a rainfall of 55.6 mm and 66.2 mm during July and August, respectively, Jammu recorded 317.9 mm and 313.3 mm during these months, Jotshi said. Jotshi said: “Based on these readings and also while comparing them with that of the last year, one can say it was not a dry spell for the state this year.”

Jotshi said even during June, when the rest of the country witnessed hot weather, Srinagar and Jammu witnessed an “unexpected” rainfall of 37.4mm and 60.3 mm, respectively.

Jotshi, however, said there was deficient to scanty rainfall in the Ladakh division of the state and in other Kandi belt areas, which traditionally received scanty rainfall throughout the year.

Director, agriculture, Vinod Bala, while, confirming that there was an adequate rainfall during the past two months, said farmers were expecting a bumper paddy crop in the coming days.

The rains that lashed the Jammu division on regular intervals last month proved beneficial for the cultivation of seasonal vegetables.

Bala, however, regretted that farmers of the region faced huge losses as they could not transport their vegetables due to the two-month-long Jammu agitation that had crippled normal life in the entire division.

Bala said chief agriculture officers of all districts had been directed to submit detailed reports on the account of losses suffered by the farmers, so that the same could be forwarded to the government. The reports are to be submitted within a week’s time, Bala added.

Jammu, September 6
Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh has said the party would raise the issue of delimitation with the Election Commission (EC).

Singh said the party’s stand pertaining to the holding of election would be taken in its working committee meeting to be held soon.

However, Singh came down heavily on the Congress-PDP government for failing to introduce the delimitation commission in the state. Singh also held the UPA government equally responsible for failing to do the same.

A resolute Singh announced that his party would urge the EC to look into the demands of the people implementing the delimitation commission prior to the election.

Stating that the last delimitation was conducted in the state in 1971, Singh asked why the Centre was not doing the same this time.

“The state was singled out, while constituencies in the rest of the country had been changed as per the delimitation report, bringing changes to the areas of even political bigwigs”, Singh added.

Meanwhile, the party has praised the residents of Kishtwar, Banihal, Gool, Bhaderwah, Ramnagar and Chenani for maintaining communal harmony in spite of provocation by the ISI during the nearly two-month-long agitation for restoration of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

Chairman, JKNPP, Bhim Singh said here yesterday that the constant ISI provocation along the border areas in the Jammu region failed to break communal harmony among people of different faiths.

Jammu, September 6
B.P. Sharma, known as the “walking encyclopedia” of Jammu and Kashmir for his knowledge of the state history and his contribution towards Dogri literature, seems to be a forgotten man today.

Three years have passed since his death, but Sharma’s contribution has not been acknowledged.

Sharma played a pivotal role for the inclusion of Dogri language in the VIII Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He was nominated president of the Dogri Research Institute that did pioneering work in dishing out valuable and historical documents to prove ancient existence of the Dogri script and grammar.

As a member of the Sahitya Akademi, a national-level organisation, Sharma also contributed towards the promotion of Dogri literature.

Sharma was also appointed as the first director of the Radio Kashmir Jammu which was established to counter the Pakistani propaganda in 1947; thereafter Sharma was appointed the principal information officer.

Sharma also contributed in the book “The Stamps of Jammu and Kashmir”, which was authored by Frits Staal, a professor in California University, and published by the New York Collectors Club in 1983.

Frits Stall, also wrote in the preface that Sharma had inspired and helped him in bringing out the book regarding the postal system introduced about 150 years ago by Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

Sharma was also instrumental in tracing the original copy of “Instrument of Accession” with India signed by Maharaja Hari Singh.

“The original copy later went missing in the archives and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by someone against the callous attitude of the state government,” an official of the State Archives Department.

The official added that the Centre and Farooq Abdullah were relieved when the copy was traced and the government was saved from landing into an embarrassing situation. At the age of 92, Sharma's name found space in the Limca Book of Records, for being the oldest living journalist in the country and for his contribution towards the literary world was also recognized by his American counterparts, who visited the state during his period.

Sharma’s knowledge of history was also acknowledged by the state government when the then chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, granted him status of minister and appointed him chairman of a committee that was entrusted the task of suggesting measures for streamlining the valuable records that were dumped haphazardly in the state archives.

It is surprising that the contribution of this great man has been forgotten by the state government.