Jammu, February 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the Centre to declare the state as a medicinal plants-producing zone.

Abdullah during his meeting with Union Minister for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh has highlighted the vast potential of the state.

The Chief Minister sought central projects for the development of Pashmina, Kani-shawls and sozni works. He said handicraft sector promised greater employment and economic opportunity in the state and added that the state was known for handicrafts of international standard.

Abdullah emphasised the need for encouraging artisans, and craftsmen by way of skill development and innovative designs especially in carpet weaving, Sozankari, Shawlbafi, Basholi crafts, etc. He discussed completion of international trade centre coming up at Pampore, with the Central assistance.

The Chief Minister called for liberal Central assistance for the development of Saffron and spices in the state and said especially Kashmir and Kishtwar were ideally suitable for the cultivation of Saffron. He asked for Central projects for the development of these economically viable cash crops.

The Chief Minister said horticulture industry was a sheet anchor for the state's rural economy and emphasised on Central assistance for enhancing the productivity and production of horticulture produce in the state.

Omar discussed issues relating to completion of various power projects under implementation in the state in the central sector and stressed on accelerating the pace of work on these projects.

He discussed issues relating to the Pukaldul, Kishen Ganga, Sawalakote and other hydel power projects with the Union Minister.

He also discussed issues regarding the thermal energy development projects in the Ladakh region.

Jairam assured the Chief Minister of all possible help and assistance from the Centre. 

Jammu, February 9
Research scholars of Jammu University have resented “inordinate” delay in the election of the Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA), scheduled to be held on February 10.

They have accused the university administration of being biased, as they feel that the administration does not want genuine candidates in the upcoming researchers’ body.

In a press conference JURSEA president Vikas Sharma accused Dean Students Welfare (DSW) DS Bhau of unsolicited interference in the elections of JURSEA so as to fudge the election results.

Sharma also criticised the university administration for not framing the constitution of the scholars’ body.

He sought a quick decision on the date of elections, which as per earlier notification had to be held on February 10.

The JURSEA president said the DSW did not want any genuine candidates in the executive body and therefore he was using his influence to induct candidates of his own choice.

Sociology Department representative Ranjeet Sharma said, “In a recent meet of the department representatives chaired by election commissioner Prof BL Sharma a consensus was reached that elections would be held on February 10.”

”There is no logic in delaying the election and it should be held as per scheduled date”, he added.

However, the JU administration has attributed the delay to a UGC team visiting JU from February 10 to February 15.

Further, Bhau felt that JURSEA on the lines of the Jammu University Teachers Association and the Non-teaching Staff Association should hold elections on its own.

He maintained that it was the responsibility of JURSEA to formulate its constitution and hold elections on its own.

“If the next elected body of JURSEA fails to do so then it will be dissolved after three months”, he said.

The elections were postponed because there had been no consensus among the department representatives and candidates contesting the elections. We have given them time to sort out the confusion, he said.

Srinagar, February 9
Fresh rain and snowfall in Kashmir and its upper reaches today further hampered normal life in the valley after a couple of days of fair weather conditions.

This followed a spell of heavy rain and a thick blanket of snow across the valley recently, which had also disrupted the movement of traffic on the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway last week.

The valley was overcast since early this morning and it was raining heavily in the planes since this afternoon. The weatherman has forecast for three days western disturbances over the area beginning today. Reports said upper reaches of the valley, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg, witnessed heavy snowfall this evening. However, traffic was plying on all routes normally so far.

According to the Met Department’s forecast, rain and snow was expected in many parts of the valley during the next 24 hours. There was a big decline in the day temperature, while the night remained warmer during the past few days. Srinagar recorded 1.8 mm of rainfall by this evening, while Kupwara had already recorded 2.4 mm of rain and snow. Reports from Qazigund said it was raining at many places along the national highway. However, traffic was plying normal on the highway till the last reports came in.

The tourist resort of Gulmarg witnessed heavy snowfall today and till the last reports came in, it was snowing heavily at the scenic spot. It is already under 5-ft deep snow, while more and more winter sports lovers had reached here over the past one month. A two-day snow festival in which more than 200 participants, including locals and foreigners participated, was held in Gulmarg on Tuesday and Wednesday last.

The heavy accumulation of snow has already attracted many foreign skiers, who are also enjoying the facility of 5-km long cable car, Gondola, for reaching the skiing slopes. Gondola has also been a great attraction for domestic tourists.

Srinagar, February 9
NC president Farooq Abdullah has said the present government was committed to relieving people of economic deprivation and ensuring a balanced development of all areas.

Addressing a public meeting in the Hazratbal constituency here today, Farooq said Rs 50 lakh was being spent on improving road connectivity, stabilising power and water supply and providing other civic amenities to the people of the area. He called upon people to extend full cooperation to the government in its effort to bring out socio-economic transformation of the state. He asked the youth to benefit from the schemes being launched by the government for their welfare.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar, who was accompanying Farooq, said 8,500 posts of teacher were being advertised shortly

To have an on-the-spot appraisal of the people’s problems and development needs, Farooq and Sagar conducted an extensive tour of the constituency today.

The NC has won in all eight constituencies in Srinagar district, while Farooq was elected from Hazratbal and Sonwar constituencies. He has already resigned from the Hazratbal constituency.

During the visit, a number of deputations met the NC leaders and apprised them of their problems, mostly relating to poor roads, power and water supply, drainage and sewerage etc. The leaders assured them that the government was fully aware of their problems and development needs and measures had been initiated to address their concerns.

Sagar reiterated the resolve of the government to fulfil commitments made to the people during the Assembly elections.

He said the selection of 8,000 teachers by the SSRB and a recruitment drive for constables in the police department was a prelude to our promise to tackle the unemployment problem in the state.

He said 8,500 posts of teacher were being advertised shortly. He said providing employment to one member of such families having none of its members in government service would be the priority of the present government.

Sagar added that focused attention would be paid to making available better road connectivity, power and water supply, drainage facilities to the people.

Later, Farooq and Sagar visited Fishermen Colony and Shanapora Habak and interacted with people. They directed the officers accompanying them to take immediate steps for upgrading roads, improving power supply and drainage system in the area. 

Srinagar, February 9
Minister for Industries and Commerce S.S. Slathia visited Khrew Cement Plant, which is undr construction near here, today.

It is being constructed at a cost of Rs 87.5 crore. So far, Rs 79 crore has been spent on the project and is expected to be commissioned in March 2009.

The minister was informed that the plant had the capacity of producing 600-metric tonne of cement per day. The company earned a profit of Rs 3.60 crore during the current fiscal.

Later, the minister here launched two websites of the Department of Industries and Commerce Kashmir. He also reviewed the functioning of the Industries and Commerce Department.

Meanwhile, the minister said the government was committed to give fillip to the industrial sector besides utilising the skills of the educated unemployed youth of the state, which would help create more avenues of employment.

He said the youth could get employment not only for themselves but for others also. He said the government was aware about the problems of the youth and several steps were underway to tackle the unemployment problem in the state.

He was interacting with several deputations, especially that of the youth, belonging to various areas of the valley, who met the minister at the Winter Secretariat, Srinagar, here. They put forth their demands and grievances, which included repairs and renovation of lanes and drains, provision of better road connectivity and power, creating employment avenues etc.

Srinagar, February 9
The toll free phone-in counselling for drug addicts offered by a city-based de-addiction centre is becoming popular among people.

Set up under the banner of Athrot Nawjawanan, a de-addiction centre, the Jammu Kashmir Ladakh Charitable Organisation (JKLCO), a non-profit organisation, started the phone-in counselling in April 2008. “The centre has received 4,632 calls up to December 2008 and 251 calls in January this year. We are the first to start the phone-in counselling in the state and our primary target group is youth,” says Dr Syed Shabir, chairman of the centre.

The chairman says during winter many calls were received from outside the valley as many Kashmiris move out of the state for business and other activities.

“The centre has been receiving calls from almost every nook and corner of the valley, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Sopore, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Gurez, Karnah, Ramban and Qazigund and Pattan. Besides calls from within the state, people call from other places like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Allahabad,” says Dr Shabir.

The chairman terms the counselling “successful” in the sense that due to social stigma many people do not come forward for rehabilitation. He, however, feels that the phone-in counselling needs to be made available round-the-clock. According to Dr Shabir, drug addicts generally fall in the age group of 18 to 38 years. Mostly opium, morphine, proxyphene, brown-sugar, alcohol, cocaine, synthetic narcotics, fortwin, perfumes, polish, petrol, grease, sedatives, multiple drugs and volatile solvents are consumed by addicts.

Regarding reasons leading to addiction, Dr Shabir cites depression, family dispute, failure in love affair, break-up in families, anxiety and examination tension as major factors.

Jammu, February 9
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission comprising Justice GD Sharma (retd) and BL Saraf, member, accepted the appeal of Pran Nath Hakim and directed United India Insurance Co. Ltd. to make the payment of assessed amount of Rs 28,000. It has also been told to pay the amount along with an interest @ 8 per cent per annum from the date of accident till the final payment is made. The appellant was also held entitled to litigation charges of Rs 6,000.

Pran Nath Hakim had set up the television transmission system through the cable network under the name and style of M/S JK Network and had established a studio for the recording and transmission of television programmes at Udheywala, Jammu.

The equipment of the said studio got insured with the company on November 14, 2003.

However, lightening had struck the building of studio, which caused damage to electronic gadgets for which a consumer claim was lodged with the insurer. Failing to get any response from the insurer, a complaint was made before the Divisional Consumer Forum, Jammu, which directed the registration and settlement of claim of the insured within three months.

The company deputed NK Tagotra, who assessed the loss of Rs 28, 000. However, the execution petition moved by the insured was disposed of with an observation that the award seems to have been complied with.

The appellant assailed the order, dated October 10, 2005, on the ground that no payment had been made to him and that the surveyor had failed to apply judicial mind to the statement of loss submitted before him. The counsel for the company sought dismissal of appeal being not maintainable.

The State Commission while disposing of appellant’s appeal assailing judgment dated October 10, 2005 of the Divisional Consumer Forum, Jammu, observed that: “Facts have amply proved that respondent’s inaction from November 14, 2003, up to the passing of order dated April 8, 2005, was a deficiency in service on their part because under legal obligation they had to appoint the surveyor immediately after receiving the intimation of incident. In this view of matter, we hold that an equitable relief due to the appellant has been denied to him without any reasons. The J&K Consumer Protection Act is a welfare piece of legislation shorn off technicalities and rigours of procedure and is meant for the betterment of consumer in particular and society in general.”

Jammu, February 9
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand has said that in order to facilitate people living in rural areas, the government has asked the district administrations to make themselves accessible to the general public so that speedy follow-up action is taken on their demands.

Tara Chand made this announcement at a public darbar at Badan village, Jourian. The Deputy Chief Minister has started a series of public darbars across the state whereby he is getting a feedback on the problems and demands of the people, especially in rural belts. He was accompanied by district-level engineers and senior officials from the Rural Development Department, PWD(R&B), PDD, Irrigation & Flood Control etc during his visits.

The Deputy Chief Minister ordered immediate starting of work on lanes and drains in Badan village and asked the authorities concerned to construct a community hall at the earliest.

Later, addressing a public darbar at Manchak village, Tara Chand heard the problems of people and ordered early upgradation of the Jourian-Indra Pattan road and called upon the PDD authorities to make electricity available to the people for longer periods.

Jammu, February 9
A wine factory situated on Bohri-Talab Tillo road has become a nuisance for residents of the area.

The residents rued that after repeated request to the authorities concerned, nothing had been done to mitigate the problem so far.

Foul smell emanating from this factory during evening hours has made life hell for them. It is also a constant cause of irritation for the daily commuters, who pass through the area.

Deendyal Sharma, a resident of the area, said, “We have sleepless nights when the waste is released during the evening hours. We are living in a hell-like situation”.

Mukhtyar Singh, another resident, averred that efforts were made by the welfare committee of the area to get the factory shifted but all in vain.

Meanwhile, the waste discharged from the factory passes into an irrigation canal, which has badly affected the fertility of the agricultural land.

It is learnt that on the complaint of the farmers, the management of the factory was debarred by the Irrigation Department from using the irrigation canal. After complying with the directions for some time, the waste was again being discharged into it.

Despite repeated attempts, the Irrigation Department Chief Engineer was not available for comments.

However, Mayor Kevinder Gupta said, “We have allotted the work of construction of drains to the ERA Department. We also have a proposal for constructing a drain in this area. In order to mitigate the problem of the residents and the farmers of the area, the waste of the factory will be discharged into this drain”.

Jammu, February 9
General secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) Zaffar Javed Ahmad Khan has urged the state government to come out with a clear cut policy on employment.

He said global recession had started impacting this part of the sub-continent and the state government must rise to the occasion.

According to a press statement, Zaffar Khan said a good number of youth from the state were working in other parts of the world and they were likely to be affected by the recession.

“Since the government had promised an employment package for the youth, it must also keep in mind the interests of youth working in other countries before formulating any policy on employment,” he said.

Srinagar, February 9
A swift action by fire brigade today averted a major fire accident in a CRPF camp at Karan Nagar after flames engulfed the unit in a suspected case of short circuit, damaging the communication network and records.

Though the third floor of the three-storeyed building was partially damaged, no one was injured, official sources said.

Fire broke out in the building housing the troops of 23rd CRPF Battalion around 1 pm. Personnel of the fire and emergency departments extinguished flames, preventing the spread of fire. It took about three hours to control the fire, which damaged the communication network and records.

They said the fire started from the office block of the camp due to short circuit and spread to the upper floor, which was partially damaged. —Agencies.