Udhampur, February 27
The completion of the work on the Bani-Bhaderwah road would fulfill decades-long demand of the inhabitants of both the areas of Kathua and Doda districts. For the last 40 years, people of this place have been demanding opening up of this road, as both the areas have same culture and ethos but due to non-availability of road connectivity, people could not remain in touch with each other.

The road would lead the people of Bhaderwah, a mountain- locked sub-district, to prosperity, as presently this picturesque area with huge tourism potential is connected with only the Pul-Doda road. Despite assurances of the successive state governments, nothing has been done so far to open alternative frontiers with the rest of the country.

The 166km Bhaderwah-Bani-Basoli road would have reduced traffic on NH-1A, which is prone to landslips and some areas of this highway, had already been declared as “unsafe” after sinking of some portion at Trungal in Ramban district.

For the inhabitants of Bhaderwah it is a “blessing in disguise”, as the authorities have been forced to open this road after sinking of some of the portion of the Batote-Kishtwar highway and the residents were obviously delighted over this development.

"For the last 30 years, we have been demanding opening up of this road, but our demand was rejected by the authorities with one or the other excuse", said Abdul Rashid of Bhaderwah. "We are happy as the work for opening up of the Bani-Bhaderwah road would be completed very soon. This road would lead to prosperity and economic growth of the people,” he added. Fruit growers are hopeful that they would easily reach Punjab through this road to sell their products. Rajmash and apple of Bhadewah are known for their best quality. But due to inaccessibility, farmers have to depend on middlemen for selling their products.

"We usually sell Rajmash to farmers at Rs 20 per kg and traders sell the produce at Rs 70 per kg in the urban markets", Rajinder Parihar, a local farmer said. Situated on a 10,000 feet high altitude, the Bani- Banderwah road is an 86 km long stretch of dense forests covered with heaps of snow during the winters. Chattragalla is the last place on the Bani side. In 1990, the government had issued a notice to start earthwork on the Bani-Banderwah road, but the work was abandoned two years later after eruption of militancy in this belt.

Sopore, February 27
In a situation where there is very less or, in fact, no cooperation from the forest and police departments, the wildlife department feels trapped between the devil and the deep sea. The situation is more alarming as the department has to ensure the protection of human beings and, of course, the animals.

"For the department, the protection of wild animals is priority, but at the same time law expects us to protect people,” says Abdul Rauf Zargar, wildlife warden, North Kashmir Division. "We are protecting wild animals for the survival of human beings.

An ecological balance has to be maintained while keeping interests of both humans as well as animals in prime consideration."

The official says it is very challenging for the department to protect wildlife and humans simultaneously. “Human beings lived in harmony with nature in the past. Now, the things have changed as human beings are driven by lavish standards and greedy tastes. This has developed a fissure between the two," he adds.

Despite pulls and pressures, the department, according to Zargar, has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years.

“There was a time when single assistant conservator (AC) used to control the entire department. Today, there are 13 wildlife divisions across the state. The department takes cognisance of every single incident confronting wildlife," he says.

The wildlife warden, however, says the department faces insufficient staff strength, lack of infrastructure and funds from both state and union governments to tackle human-animal conflict.

Zargar says the department is paying ex-gratia relief to families whose member is killed during human-animal conflict. He adds that some assistance is also given to those who are injured in such attacks. This, he says, has helped in better relations between the department and masses.

Stressing on more coordination from the police and forest departments, the official says the department is working against various odds. "In addition to the lack of cooperation, we are at times influenced by some politicians about the action taken by us."

"Of late, the police department has started providing help during operations but it is not up to the desired level," says the wildlife warden.

Zargar says the department has taken certain measures like action against poachers, lodging complaints against violators, seizure of arms and ammunition and seizure of animal hides etc.

"Although poaching incidents are minimal, we have taken action against those who are indulged in such acts. The follow-up action has to be taken by the law enforcing agencies," he says.

Jammu, February 27
Season of spring has been spreading out its aroma all around as the buds have started sprouting on the branches yet again, while the earth has turned 
lush green.

The time is apt for the cultivation of several flowers, as the experts maintain that the city is growing as a potential market for the flowers. At present, most of the flowers like rose, tullip and gladiolus are being imported from outside the state for all the commercial purposes.

"We have been distributing the hybrid seeds of marigold to motivate women farmers towards floriculture as a mean of sustained employment," said director floriculture KK Sharma.

According to him, if farmers take to floriculture along with the conventional agriculture, they could relatively harp more benefits in the former, as the quantum of indigenous production of flowers is sufficient to meet the growing demand in the domestic market.

Sharma said on the experimental basis they have been distributing marigold seeds for 100 canal of land in Wattal, Tok Waziran, Nagrota and Kattal villages.

"These measures have been initiated last year only and we have got encouraging results. Farmers earned Rs 12,000 to 15,000 per canal against the cultivation of marigold and they are enthusiastic this time too," he said.

The department has also procured seeds of the busa narangi, a specialised marigold variety that could be cultivated anytime after 15 days.

"To attract the tourists, we have been preparing 150 kanal of flower garden at the Bhor camp and it would come to full bloom within a couple of days," he said.

Professor and head division of vegetable science and floriculture (FOA) SKUAST- Jammu JP Sharma said during the season of festivities the consumption of marigold goes up to 10 tons per day. The busa narangi, a composite variety of marigold, is able to yield 3-5 kg of flowers per plant.

"At present, 150 hectare of land in the city has been under the cover of marigold. We have been distributing saplings for another 70 hectare of land," he said. "Market experts maintain that still nearly 60 per cent of the flowers are being imported from outside the state as local farmers fail to meet out the demand throughout the year," he added.

"Apart from marigold and gladiolus, farmers could also cultivate ornamental plants like tuberose, gerbera, lilium or asiatic lilly in protected conditions and rose as well for commercial purposes," he suggested. 

Jammu, February 27
Autorickshaw and minibus drivers transporting schoolchildren continue to risk the lives of these children by openly violating all norms and resorting to overloading.

The parents say their children are being ferried to schools in overloaded vehicles.

“If one stands outside any school in Jammu, he or she can clearly see how these minibus and autorickshaw drivers violate all norms and resort to overloading,” said Meena Kaul, a resident of Gandhi Nagar.

“Many a time, we have lodged complaints with the school administration, but so far no action has been taken.”

The situation is no different with various ‘big’ schools of the city, which transport their students through private minibuses and autorickshaws.

“When we send our children to school, we pray for their safety as we are always unsure of any untoward incident that could arise due to the overloading of the vehicles,” said Anamika Mangotra, a resident of Satwari.

The parents here say that many a times they have complained to the school administrations to keep a “check” on the overloading by these minibuses and autorickshaw drivers, but their requests have fallen on deaf ears.

“We met the school administration and requested them to check the overloading of these small vehicles. They assured us of proper action and for a few days everything went fine, but then everything was back to square one,” said Upinder Kumar of Punjtirthi, Jammu.

The parents in Jammu are worried as they fear any eventually.So, many of them have decided not to send their children by these vehicles.

Many parents here say that as the safety of their children is top on their priorities,they would like to drop them school by themselves rather than sending them by these auto rickshaws or minibuses.

“For the past few months, I have been taking my son to school by myself rather than sending him by an autorickshaw as these transport operators know how to make money and don’t care about the safety of our children,” said Ajmer Singh, a resident of Nanak Nagar.

However, schools blame parents for encouraging these autorickshaw and minibus drivers for resorting to overloading.

“We have our own fleet of school buses, but some parents in order to save money hire private transporters,” said a private schoolteacher.

Jammu, February 27
Students of Government Girls High School, Resham Ghar Colony, can only wish to get quality education.

Around 250 students are pursuing education in this school. With seven classrooms, 24 desks and mere 14 teachers, including sports and physical exercise teachers, the school is imparting education to students.

The school does not have sufficient classrooms to accommodate its students. However, students of class VI, IX and X avail the facilities of desks, whereas remaining students are being imparted education under the sky or in verandahs of the school due to lack of proper infrastructure.

Under such circumstances, not only class tests but also half-yearly and annual examinations are conducted in the open.

During rainy and summer seasons, it becomes difficult for us to study in the school premises, averred a student of class VII.

The school authorities said it becomes difficult for them to keep their vigil on the students while conducting examinations and to restrain them from resorting to unfair means.

A majority of the students belong to poor families.

Though the school provides them free of cost books up to class VIII, due to lack of proper infrastructure they are deprived of quality education.

“We have all teaching and learning material but due to lack of proper accommodation, it becomes difficult for us to impart education to the children,” said a teacher of the school.

Rajni Sharma, another teacher, said, “We conduct classes on mats under open sky.

It is a regular work and it becomes difficult for us to take blackboards, mats and other teaching accessories to the ground.”

The school also does not have a library room where students can sit and study the available books for enhancing their knowledge.

School in charge Ayodha Sharma said they had already brought the matter into the notice of the higher authorities.

Meanwhile, all efforts to contact Zahida Khan, director, School Education, proved futile.

This has reference to the news item, “City of temples turns into concrete jungle”, that appeared in J&K Plus, dated February 25.The author has correctly observed that the Jammu Municipal Corporation has buried its head under sand like an ostrich. There has been a mushroom growth of banquet halls in and around Jammu city which is not possible without the involvement of JMC officials. Most of these banquet halls do not have any parking space as a result of which roadsides are used for parking purposes. The roads get blocked thus creating trouble for general public. Schoolgoing children are the worst sufferers as they do not reach the school in time. High volume speakers create noise pollution in the area and people, especially old,ailing and children, living in the close vicinity suffer the most as these banquet halls are situated in densely populated areas like Sarwal, Patoli, Muthi, Bantalab and Roop Nagar, etc.

It is high time that the people at the helm of affairs should serve time-bound notices on the owners and ensure the closure of these banquet halls without wasting any time in order to save the masses from further suffering.

Sheena Bhat, Jammu

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