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Illegal Transfer of Land at
Gulmarg
Ruckus in House over rights violations
Protest over shortage of ration
Aphid disease hits mustard crop
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Govt shifted IPS officers recklessly: Harsh Dev
Women’s Day
Protesters defy prohibitory orders
A deserted street following the imposition of prohibitory orders in Srinagar
on Saturday. Tribune photo: Amin War
Kavinder assumes charge as Mayor
Councillors and BJP workers greet Kavinder Bhushan Gupta after he assumed charge as Mayor in the town hall building in Jammu on Saturday.
Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Hill Development Council
CM: Kashmir a political issue
Govt to upgrade PSUs, says Salathia
PHE staff rue govt apathy
Farmers protest against recruitment process
2 jewellery shops gutted
Ghazal evening organised
Ensure proper facilities to pilgrims: CM
Training on office communication
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Illegal
Transfer of Land at Gulmarg Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 7 The booked officers are Mehboob Iqbal, then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, District Collector, Baramulla, Garib Singh, then tehsildar, Tangmarg, Farooq Ahmed Lone, then Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority, Farooq Ahmed Shah, then Additional Deputy Commissioner (now retired), Sarmad Hafiz, Joint Director, Tourism Department, Rafi Ahmad, then Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Baramulla, and Ghulam Mohi-u-Din Shah, naib tehsildar, Kunzar. An official spokesman said the Vigilance registered the case after verifying allegations of abuse of official position and illegal vesting of ownership of the land in Gulmarg estate. This land was earmarked for the development of tourist infrastructure under the master plan of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA). These officials belonged to the revenue and tourism departments and were members of the committee constituted under the J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership Rights to Occupants) Act, 2001, during year 2008. It was found that during January-February 2007, the officers concerned entered into a criminal conspiracy with some persons and applicants (beneficiaries) to illegally process and vest the ownership of the land in Gulmarg estate to ineligible applicants (occupants) under the J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership Rights to the Occupants) Act, 2001, commonly known as the Roshni Act. The accused public servants (members of the empowered committee), under the chairmanship of Mehboob Iqbal, then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, convened a meeting on June 4 last year for disposing of the land and determining the price of the land for the applicants in Gulmarg estate under the Act. It was found that prior to convening the meeting it was brought to the notice of the then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Baseer Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, by the Tourism Department and the Chief Executive Officer, GDA, that no ownership rights of the land could be transferred to the applicants, as the land in question was earmarked for a specific use i.e. construction of hutments etc. under the master plan of the GDA. The other members of the empowered committee also derived such knowledge from the public documents. The members of the committee dishonestly vested the ownership of the land to the applicants, the spokesman said. It was also found that public servants as part of a criminal conspiracy dishonestly vested the ownership to different persons, who were not entitled to it. It was also found that lease in respect of the above land had since expired. All this was done to confer undue benefit upon the attorney holders, the spokesman added. In this manner, the accused public servant and other officials in league with the accused beneficiaries abused their official position under a conspiracy and violated rules to vest the ownership of the leased land in Gulmarg estate to the beneficiaries. The Vigilance had seized some incriminating records and the investigations were in progress, he said.
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Ruckus in House over rights violations
Jammu, March 7 As soon as the House assembled in the morning, PDP members led by Abdul Rehman Veeri stood up from their benches and raised slogans against the government for its alleged failure to check human rights violations in the valley. The PDP members were agitated over the killing of a youth allegedly by security forces in the in the Nowhatta Chowk of Srinagar city yesterday. They raised anti-government slogans and tried to storm the well of the House. Meanwhile, the MLAs of the NC also stood up from their benches and blamed the Opposition for politicising the issue. Amid the ruckus, the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour. Later, while speaking to the Tribune, Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister AR Rather said, “The government is equally concerned over the issue and
every member of the ruling parties are perturbed to see blood of innocent people.” He added, “It was for the first time after the Bomai incident, in which two civilians were killed, the Chief Minister had ordered a time-bound inquiry and its report is with the government. We are examining the facts. Whosoever found guilty would be given a severe punishment.” Rather said the government would also order an inquiry into yesterday’s incident. He said the government was committed to preserving human rights. And without naming the PDP, he added that people with vested interests were trying to disturb peace in the valley. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference on the Assembly lawn, PDP’s Abdul Rehman Veeri said, “The people who came forward to vote are being killed. We cannot tolerate this, the NC itself is the judge and the killer.” He blamed the ruling coalition for shying away from tabling in the House the report on the Bomai killings. Later, when the House reassembled, ruckus continued, as the PDP members continued to blame the government for the killing of innocent people in the Kashmir valley. They again tried to storm the well of the House, but were stopped by marshals. Meanwhile, the members of the treasury benches also stood up and raised anti-PDP slogans. MY Tarigami of the CPM said the government should investigate the issue and punish the culprits. |
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Protest over shortage of ration
Udhampur, March 7 The slogan-shouting people were demanding the supply of adequate ration in the far-flung areas and streamlining of the functioning of the CAPD depots in their respective areas. The protesters lifted the dharna after senior officers of the CAPD Department arrived there along with ration and distributed it among the people. Additional Director, CAPD, Zafarullah Bhat told the Tribune that residents of Dul and adjoining localities protested against the non-availability of adequate ration. Expressing his helplessness in the distribution of allocated ration to the people on full scale, Bhat said only 50 per cent of the allocated quota of the ration had so far reached Kishtwar. According to official data, Kishtwar has been allocated 3,100 quintals of ration per month, but only 1500 quintals has reached the district so far. “A 50 per cent gap between demand and supply is the real cause of the brewing resentment among the people”, Bhat said. He, however, assured the people that the problem would be resolved soon, as the higher authorities had promised to dispatch additional ration. Notwithstanding claims of the authorities, many parts of Kishtwar district have been facing a shortage of ration, especially flour and rice. The problem of the scarcity of ration was further compounded after the sinking of the road link between Batote and Kishtwar. Kishtwar remained cut off from the rest of the country for more than 20 days. Although the supply of ration was made through Air Force choppers, the problem was serious in far-flung areas of the district. “Most parts of Kishtwar district has been facing a shortage of ration”, Sunil Sharma, a local BJP leader who was leading today’s protest at Dul, told the Tribune. He alleged that ration meant for CAPD depots was being sold in the open market due to a nexus between government officials and shopkeepers. He said many areas of the district, especially Dul, Paddar, Gulabgarh, Nagsani etc., were facing a shortage of flour and rice. |
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Aphid disease hits mustard crop
Udhampur, March 7 “Pesticides are not working on the disease, which broke out due to an abrupt rise in temperature”, SDO, Basantgarh, Arvind Gupta told the Tribune. When Gupta’s attention was drawn toward fear-stricken farmers, who had been demanding immediate attention of the officers of the Agriculture Department, he admitted that they had received complaints from the farmers and teams had been deputed to some areas to assess the situation. “It is too early to say how much crop has been hit by the disease”, he said. Fear gripped farmers of Siayamari, Balota, Palai, Jophar and many other villages of Basantgarh after their mustard crop was hit by the disease, which broke out 10 days back and was slowly hitting new areas. “We have approached the authorities concerned, but to no avail”, rued Girdhari Lal of Siayamari village. Officers of the Agriculture Department have assured the farmers to depute teams, but till day no action has been taken to control the disease. “For the last one week, the disease is spreading rapidly in one after another village and the farmers are helplessly watching their losses”, Manohar Sharma of Balota village, who along with other farmers approached senior officers of the Agriculture Department at Udhampur. In the Kandi belt of Udhampur district, mustard along with wheat is the main crop in this season. Due to topographical disadvantage, farmers of far-flung areas of the district are not aware of the advance techniques of agriculture. “We are depending upon our century-old conventional system”, Girdhari Lal said and charged the Agriculture Department with ignoring remote areas. Local leader RS Pathania demanded adequate compensation for the farmers whose crop had been damaged due to the disease. “The authorities should depute teams of experts in the affected areas immediately”, he demanded. Chief Agriculture Officer, Udhampur, Partap Singh Choudhary, while admitting that there was reports of aphid attack in some areas of Ramnagar, said the prevailing dry spell was providing favourable conditions for the spread of the disease. He, however, assured the farmers that steps would be taken within a couple of days to control the
disease. |
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Govt shifted IPS officers recklessly: Harsh Dev
Jammu, March 7 Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Assembly here yesterday, Harsh Dev said transfers should not be politically motivated. The government shifted three senior police officers Alok Puri, Sanjay Kotwal and Shakeel Beig to the Vigilance Department, but the department refused to accept the officers on the grounds that it was not informed, he said. Now these officers were being maltreated and this showed how ‘reckless’ and ‘unscrupulous’ the functioning of the government was, he said. The Panthers leader added this had resulted in an administrative crisis. However, Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammed Sagar confronted him saying Harsh should not use words like reckless and unscrupulous given the fact that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was an honest and straightforward person. This provoked Harsh, who asked Sagar to resolve the crisis than commenting upon his statements. Meanwhile, the House yesterday witnessed a triangular contest between three law graduates -- Speaker Mohammed Akbar Lone, NC legislator Mir Saifullah and Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh. It all started with Mir Saifullah, who wanted a discussion on the vote-on-account before the House passed a Bill to provide for the withdrawal of certain sums from and out of the consolidated fund of the state for the first five months of the next fiscal. The three referred to the nitty-gritty of the rulebook governing the House proceedings. They repeated verbatim rule 232/233 (5) and rule 229 (3), but eventually the Speaker prevailed upon Mir and Harsh. The Speaker disallowed further discussion on the interim budget saying Mir Saifullah was misinterpreting the rules. Subsequently, Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rahim Rather moved the motion that the Bill be passed and through a voice-vote the House gave its approval.
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No fair deal for fair sex
Afsana Rashid
Budgam, March 7 Younger generation rejects to do this job but older women have no choice. “Cleaning for the family is duty of my mother. I feel pity for her but this is her job and she has to do it,” says Irfana Akther, a resident of Budgam. “This is a dirty job. I would never do it like the way my mother does,” says Irfana. “I don’t like this job but there is no other alternative. Men in the family insist women to do it. My grandmother and mother have been doing this and now it is my turn. How can I revolt? I have to follow the tradition,” says Moughal, Irfana’s mother adding that, “It gives me a dirty feeling but I have no other choice.” Women after cleaning the night soil carry it in baskets over their heads to open fields where it is used as manure. Rural people consider it as the best form of manure for their fields. This job is in addition to her other household chores. Mohammad Ramzan, an elderly villager said they did not over-burden their women; it was only on alternate days that they were asked to do this job. He was of the opinion that since it forms good manure, so the practice should go on. “Toilets are constructed in a corner in compounds or towards street or water point (nallah),” says Ezabir Ali, field officer, Rural Sanitation Programme, Kashmir. Ezabir says that water from these water bodies is later used for bathing, drinking, washing and other purposes. “This gives birth to various diseases like diahorea, skin and fungal infections, worm infestations and likewise,” says Ezabir. She considers the job as worst form of violence against women. “They are helpless, people in general consider it the duty and responsibility of women,” says the field officer. She says that despite the alternatives being available, people continue with this practice. “Lack of awareness about sanitary ways of life, other alternatives available, health implications associated with it and using it as manure are reasons that lead people to stick to this practice,” says the field officer adding that, “Adopting sanitary ways of life would ensure dignity for women.”
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Protesters defy prohibitory orders
Srinagar, March 7 However, no serious clashes took place today barring an incident in Rainbari, where locals pelted security personnel with stones. Hurriyat (M) leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Lone and Zafar Bhat were among those kept under house arrest, as the authorities apprehended that they would mobilise people over the killing that could further deteriorate law and order. Shahid Ahmad Ahangar (22) was killed in firing by CRPF personnel when a mob encircled a convoy of 161 battalion of the CRPF and attacked its vehicles. “We had to fire in self defence. Our officers and jawans could have been lynched. The magnitude of damage to their vehicles suffered in the attack makes things clear,” CRPF spokesperson Prabhakar Tripathi said. The condition of another man, who was run over by a CRPF vehicle as security men tried to run away, remains serious and the rumours of his death kept the city tense. Hurriyat leaders have condemned their house arrest and termed it a reflection of the dictatorial attitude of the authorities in their dealing with separatists. The protests were largely confined to the downtown, where security personnel were also deployed in a large number. Situation in the rest of the city remained normal, and even in Lal Chowk many shops were open. |
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Kavinder assumes charge as Mayor
Jammu, March 7 All councillors, along with other party workers and
higher officials, extended greetings to Gupta on the day. Talking to
The Tribune Gupta said, “I am fully aware of about the problem being
confronted by the people due to poor sanitation system. My first job
will be to tackle with this major problem in the city. I will put all
efforts to establish solid waste management plant in the city. The
Supreme Court is also serious about it.” Jammu is the city of temples
and the garbage accumulated on the roads has laid bad impression on the
tourists who come here in numbers every day. I have already sent a
notice to different agencies for presenting their expression of
interest, he said. “This plant can prove a big source of income
generation along with providing employment opportunities to many people
in the state,” Gupta said. “Instead of dumping garbage into Tawi
beds, which is 300 tonnes per day, we can utilise the garbage by
producing bricks and manure out of it, with the help of solid waste
management plant,” he added. Due to lack of manpower and garbage
lifting vehicles, the corporation is helpless for maintaining sanitation
in the city, but with the installation of this plant, the problem
regarding sanitation will be solved completely, said the Mayor. Gupta
has also sent an appeal to the government for re-organising the Jammu
Municipal Corporation. “Earlier there were only 23 wards and now the
number has increased to 71. And due to lack of staff and vehicles, it
has become a difficult task to maintain cleanliness in all wards. By re-organising
the corporation we can solve the problem to some extent,” said Gupta. |
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NC legislator embarrasses govt
Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 7 PDP MLA Zulfiqar Ali today moved a resolution in the Assembly, demanding a hill development council for the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, to which NC MLA Mir Saifullah wanted an amendment and a council for Kupwara district as well. Replying to the resolution and the amendments introduced in the House after the discussion, Minister for Finance Law and Parliamentary Affairs AR Rather said, “Every district wants a hill development council on the pattern of Leh and Kargil. However, there are various factors that are kept into consideration before granting the council.” He said every district could not be given a hill development council, as there were various financial implications related to it. The minister said more powers needed to be given to the district development bodies. “These bodies need to get more powers, as they have become only recommendatory bodies.” The minister requested the members to withdraw the resolution. However, both the members, including Mir Saifullah, pressed for voting on the resolution. The resolution was defeated by a voice vote. The government today also tabled the amended Bill on Right to Information. Meanwhile, the five members withdrew their resolution after the “satisfactory” reply from the government.
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CM: Kashmir a political issue
Jammu, March 7 In an interview with a news magazine here, Omar said the role of the state government was to engage the separatists and facilitate a dialogue between the Centre and them so that a consensus could be arrived at, stated a press note issued by the Information Department here. “We are not setting boundaries. They can talk and advocate any solution. It is up to the Union government to accept it or not. We should not pre-suppose what they talk or not”, he said. Omar said Kashmir was not an administrative issue or matter of good governance. He said even as issues of bijli, sadak and paani remain of prime concern to the people, the lasting solution of Kashmir lies in tackling its political dimension by taking along all stakeholders so that peace returns to the region permanently. He said the state government was the first point-of-contact and so long the Centre kept the state involved in the dialogue process, it would move forward with consistency. He said the lack of consistency in the dialogue process hampered progress. “Without bypassing the state government, the dialogue should be carried forward constantly. We have nothing to lose if they (separatists) join the mainstream”, Omar said. In reply to a question, Omar said the state Assembly approved the autonomy proposal floated by the NC and no proposal had replaced it yet. “We have also brought it into the deliberations of the 5th Working Group. We do not suggest that it is the only solution, but it is the ideal one”, he added. On relations with Pakistan, the Chief Minister said the relations between the two neighbours had a direct impact on Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Govt to upgrade PSUs, says Salathia
Jammu, March 7 Replying to a calling attention notice moved by NC legislator Nasir Aslam
Wani, Salathia said the government had a comprehensive programme to upgrade silk factory and other PSUs by modernisation and upgrade of the machinery and other infrastructure. In case of Bemina Woolen Mill, the Board of directors proposed an investment of Rs 163 lakh for modernisation and re-engineering of installed machinery and infrastructure, he said. On another calling attention notice by BJP legislator Chaman Lal Gupta, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar assured the Lower House that the government had taken concrete measures to maintain coordination between agencies involved in the execution of works in twin capital cities. Seeking the attention of the government Gupta said Jammu city had been converted into a hell because of the unplanned digging of roads. This not only has increased chances of accidents but also amounts to wastage of public money, he said. He asked as to whether people would continue to suffer because ongoing projects would be completed by February 2010 and December 2010, deadline given by the UEED and ERA, two agencies executing the projects. Responding to him, Sagar assured the House that the UEED projects would be completed by February 2010, while the ERA projects would be completed by the end of the same year. |
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PHE staff rue govt apathy
Udhampur, March 7 Interestingly, Intuc is the labour wings of the ruling Congress but employees are fuming over failure of their own government to remove discrimination with the government servants of the Jammu region. For the past four years the PHE employees of the region have been agitating to get wages at par with their colleagues in the Kashmir valley but every time their demands were ignored by the government. Contractual employees engaged by the PHE department to run tubewells and pumping stations have been getting a meager amount of Rs 500 per month in this region. But their colleagues engaged on same posts in the valley are getting Rs 2,100 per month. “Our protest on Tuesday was a warning to the government to remove this discrimination,” leader of Intuc, said Somnath. “For the past four years except assurances nothing concrete has been done by the state government to bring employees of the region at par with their colleagues of the valley,” he said. |
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Farmers protest against recruitment process
Udhampur, March 7 Farmers from Sungli, Sartangal, Morarha, Paneja and other areas joined the protest and shouted slogan against the university authorities. Local BJP leader Koushal Kotwal also addressed the agitating farmers and regretted that authorities have not fulfiled their promise of providing jobs to affected families. He alleged that more than 70 outsiders had been appointed through backdoors while as not even a single family member of affected families has been adjusted in the campus. He recalled that the authorities had promised to give preference to the effected farmers when the land was acquired from them for the construction of the campus. Farmers alleged that due to political pressure and influence, relatives of the university officers had been recruited in the campus by floating norms. They demanded that all outsiders should be sacked and locals be rehabilitated as promised by the authorities. The authorities had acquired 410 kanals of agricultural land from the farmers for the construction of the Bhaderwah campus. |
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2 jewellery shops gutted
Jammu, March 7 Two brothers - Parveen Kumar Suri and Surinder Kumar Suri - owned these shops. Director, Fire and Emergency Services, RS Sodhi said it took four fire trucks to control the blaze. He attributed the cause of fire to short circuit. Shop at the first floor bore the maximum brunt while workshop on the second floor sustained minor damage, said Sodhi. He added, a car parked in front of the shop was also damaged. The loss has been estimated at Rs 6 lakh. |
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Ghazal evening organised
Jammu, March 7 Shaam Sajan, Deepali Wattal and Dharmesh Nargotra enthralled the audience by presenting their soulful ghazals. Savita Bakshi, additional secretary, J&K Cultural Academy of Art, Culture and Language (JKAACL) said the academy was committed to initiate the activities to promote and encourage the culture, literature and visual art of the state and also to exchange the cultural ethos of the other states. She further said the academy had organised large number of national programmes recently and it was a matter of proud for the state people to had talent in the field of music at par with the talent of national repute. The programme was organised by the JKAACL in collaboration with the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala. |
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Ensure proper facilities to pilgrims: CM
Srinagar, March 7 He said he would personally monitor the arrangements at the shrine on Sunday. The Chief Minister said there should be foolproof arrangements and asked all departments concerned to ensure uninterrupted power supply, medical facilities, transport, drinking water, sanitation, public address system on the occasion. He directed vice-chairman, Wakaf Board, MY Qadri to construct a sarai in the vicinity of Aasar-e-Sharief, Hazratbal. The Chief Minister asked the J&K Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, the police and the Fire and Emergency Services to keep their motorboats available near the shrine to meet any emergency. |
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Training on office communication
Jammu, March 7 Prof HL Misri and Prof Poonam Dhawan were the key resource persons for the said programme. The controller of examination, Dr PS Pathania highlighted the importance of such trainings which not only abreast the knowledge database but also prove to be motivating and encouraging for functionaries of dynamic institutions.
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Srinagar, March 7
Kavinder Bhushan Gupta, BJP candidate, who won
the Mayoral election on March 5, assumed the charge as Mayor for the
second consecutive year today. On the first day, Gupta took the
resolution to make the city garbage-free by establishing solid waste
management plant.
