Doda, March 20
With an increase in the water level in the reservoir of the Baglihar hydroelectric project, fear has gripped inhabitants of Doda as the only bridge connecting this area with the rest of the country is gradually submerging into the river and work on an alternative bridge, the Ganpat bridge over the Chenab, is going on at a snail’s pace.

The construction on this prestigious project was started with much publicity in August 2006, with a promise to complete the bridge before the commissioning of the Baglihar hydroelectric project as it was predicted that with the filling of reservoir, the only bridge connecting Doda would also be submerged. More than two-and-a-half years have already passed, but there is no sign of the completion of the bridge in the next one year.

Two pillars have been erected but further work on this bridge has been stopped due to reasons best known to the authorities. “For the past one year, we have been watching these pillars,” pointed out Rashid, a resident of Doda.

Although the authorities have maintained complete silence over the delay in the construction of this bridge, sources said contractors, who had been assigned this job, had left the work midway. When the construction was started, the estimated cost of this 263-m bridge was Rs 29.32 crore, but today it has increased manifold. It is alleged that the contractors had withdrawn some money and had refused the complete the project.

Although 90 per cent of Pul Doda has already submerged into the Chenab, there is every possibility of the rise of the water level in the summer and the bridge at Pul Doda would also get submerged. “Kishtwar and Doda districts would be cut off from the rest of the country if the construction of the Ganpat bridge was not completed before May 2009,” observed Shahin, a resident of Pul Doda. He, however, admitted that keeping in view the pace of the work it was not possible to complete the bridge in the near future.

It is pertinent to mention here that before the commissioning of the Baglihar hydroelectric project, the authorities had started the construction of alternative roads and bridges as they had already been warned that a large stretch of the National Highway 1-B would be submerged into the Chenab. Despite warnings, nothing concrete has been done so far.

Deputy commissioner Sayeed Sharief ud-Din said the work on the bridge was stopped due to differences between the JKPCC and the contractors.“ I have sorted out the confusion and the pace of the work would be expedited soon,” he said.

Srinagar, March 20
One-hundred-five-year-old Taja Begum visited a medical camp recently at Puchal in Pulwama district, some 38 km from the Srinagar city.

Apparently, Taja had come to seek treatment for a chest disease and pain in joints, but in charge of the medical camp and chairman of de-addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre, a unit of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh charitable organisation Syed Shabir said she has been consuming tobacco for a long period before switching over to “naswar” type of addiction.

“Taja was accompanied by her daughter-in-law and was curious to get the check-up done by the doctors,” said Shabir.

Shabir along with his team of doctors was taken aback when 98-year-old Abdul Gani asked for voveran (pain killer) tablet. “The tablet gives me satisfaction and I often take it,” said Shabir while quoting Gani. Earlier, the senior citizen was fond of ganja.

Mostly, the drivers in this poverty-ridden village consume opium in liquid, powder or round-shaped form. They are addicted to it to the extent that they consume it mostly in morning and believe that the same gives them strength to work for long. This is mostly seen among drivers, who drive their vehicles to longer distances.

Women in this area are reportedly addicted to “naswar”. “Earlier they puffed tobacco now they have turned to applying naswar, contained in small pocket-boxes, on gums. Being potable they prefer it over hubble-bubble. Consequently, they have developed gum problems,” said Shabir.

A shocking revelation has been made by 22-year-old Aijaz Sheikh while interacting with a team of doctors, when he told them that he started smoking from the age of five. A shopkeeper by profession, Aijaz said, “Whenever, I am unwell my father offers me a cigarette, as a doctor told me to smoke whenever I am down with my health.”

Referring to this particular case, Shabir termed the same as ignorance to its best. “You can easily judge the lack of knowledge and they can be easily befooled by any person,” he added.

Jammu, March 20
The Jammu region has yet again achieved the coveted status of having the highest literacy rate in the entire state while Jammu itself has achieved the rank of frontline district in the education sector.

These revelations have been made in an interim report of a sample survey conducted by the directorate of economics and statistics during the year 2008. It shows the literacy rate of the entire state at 64.18 per cent while the literacy rate of Jammu at little more than 83 per cent.

Jammu has a literacy rate of 83.06 per cent now against the earlier percentage of 77.02 per cent, while Samba district holds the second position with 82.59 per cent followed by Srinagar with 74.94 per cent.

Ramban and Kupwara with 47.37 and 49.84 per cent, hold 22nd and 21st position, respectively, amongst the 22 districts in which the survey was conducted.

As per the 2001 census, the Kashmir region had topped the list of educationally backward regions with the literacy rate of 48.86 per cent.

The Ladakh region had a literacy rate of 63.15 per cent while the Jammu region had a 63.42 per cent literacy rate.

Against the rural literacy of 49.78 per cent at the state level in 2001, it has improved to the level of 61.41 per cent while the urban educational status has grown to the level of 75.36 per cent against 71.92 in 2001.

Similarly, the male literacy rate has been pegged at 72.32 per cent against the earlier 66.6 per cent in 2001 and 36.29 per cent in 1981.The per cent of the female literacy rate has also improved and is 55.35 per cent against 43 per cent in 2001 census.

Jammu, March 20
Finally, the city bus stand is witnessing some improvement with new bulbs and fans installed to light up the premises and provide respite from the heat. The stark whiteness of new fans installed at the dingy and dark bus stand come across literally as a silver lining in the dark clouds.

The Tribune had raised the poor condition of the bus stand in a recent issue. The place that brings huge revenue to the state had become a pockmark on its face.

Ramesh Lal, a daily passenger, says, “We badly needed new fans. Without these, summer just becomes unbearable. We also hope that old fans which are out of order for a long time will be repaired soon before it gets quite hot”.

People at booking counter, too, heaved a sigh of relief as their dark counters are lit bright with bulbs with the resumption of power supply that was missing for the past few days. A booking clerk says, “It was getting difficult for us to work in the dark. We had complained many times but nothing happened. Today morning, new bulbs were installed.”

The cleanliness at the site looks little improved but much more needs to be done. These signs of improvement have filled people with hope for further betterment. They have been demanding better sanitation facilities and seating arrangement.

Giving further hopes of improvement, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) vice-chairman Pandu Ram K. Paul said, “The JDA will spend Rs 11 lakh on refurbishing infrastructure at the bus stand. People will also get new seats. You would see the difference within a week.” 

Jammu, March 20
Child beggars exploiting religious sentiments of people are a common sight in the city of temples. These children can be seen in numbers at Jewel Chowk, Vikram Chowk, Bagh-e-Bahu, Raghunath Mandir, Ranbireshwar Temple and at other busy market places.

Gudu, a seven-year-old girl, has a daily duty to obtain a look of goddess. She does full makeup, wears artificial ornaments and then starts begging.

These beggars have come in chunks from different states. They have come here because they get alms easily by exploiting people on religious lines.

Gudu, a native of Rajasthan, said, “My friends Avanti and Muna have come from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. We have come here because people are hospitable and kind-hearted. Avanti and I get alms more easily just by touching feet of people or by standing in front of them but it is a difficult task for Muna.”

Muna, six-year-old boy, said, “I hardly get Rs 30 a day.”

Though Gudu have big dreams in her eyes, but due to sheer poverty she is forced to beg.

“My parents forced me to beg for my survival. I want to study and to live my childhood but I can not do so,” said Gudu.

Adding she said, “I usually get Rs 50 to Rs 100 a day. On Saturday, Thursday and on other festivals I used to get around Rs 150 to Rs 200 a day.”

“People are unknowingly encouraging innocent children being used for begging. Besides, beggars were obstructing smooth flow of traffic,” said a traffic policeman at Jewel Chowk.

“Mothers use their kids for the purpose of begging. Children are forced to beg by their parents and when we give them alms, it means we are indirectly encouraging them,” said Aruna Bhat, a student.

“Effort should be made by the civil society to stop production of such children only for begging. The government should also instruct the traffic police to eliminate all beggars on road crossings,” said Meenakshi Rajput, a resident of Shastri Nagar.

Jammu, March 20
The subcontinent’s second largest 222-m long underground aquarium-cum-awareness centre at Bagh-e-Bahu has become the most attractive, informative and revenue generating tourist destination in Jammu.

The fisheries department has now planned to add another phase to the aquarium where it would install a glass tube within a tube, which is 66-ft long. The glass tube would be filled with different species of fish, which would provide mental relief to the visitors.

“For the second phase, the government has sanctioned Rs 2 core as a token amount and the project might start from next year,” said Masood Hussain, project officer. In addition to it, an aqua park would also be constructed on the premises of the aquarium, he added.

The aquarium was inaugurated on July 14, 2007. The ornamental, marine and even carnivorous fish stocks captivate the onlookers. According to official figures, 5,93,882 tourists consisting of 4,60,078 adults and 1,33,804 children of below 12 years of age have visited this aquarium so far.

Masood Hussain, project officer, said, “During this period, an amount of Rs 74,06,975 has also been earned from it”. The aquarium comprises of 24 aquarium caves, including 13 small caves for holding freshwater fishes, two large caves for holding marine water fishes and nine medium-sized aquariums for holding marine and fresh water fishes.

There are 120 varieties of freshwater and marine fish on display in these caves and 400 varieties in the museum as reported by the project officer. The entrance of this underground aquarium is designed in the shape of the mouth of a fish and the exit in the shape of a fishtail.

Research work has also been started. So far, breeding of more than 100 fish species has successfully been conducted at the breeding farms of the aquarium and the aquarium is presently engaged with the breeding of 30 new species, including 10 local species, said T. Angchook, director, fisheries. He said the breeds produced in the farm were being provided to the fishponds of the state.

Kalpna Sharma, a tourist from West Bengal, while praising the Jammu and Kashmir government for constructing this aquarium, demanded that a guide was needed here to educate the visiting tourists about the species displayed in this aquarium.

Another tourist, Sajad Hamdani of Mumbai, demanded lowering of entrance fee from Rs 20 to Rs 10 for adults and free entrance for children who are being charged Rs 10 at present. Instead of telecast of Discovery channel on TFT monitor in the conference hall, he demanded the telecast of water bodies programs to educate the tourists. 

Who is responsible for the pathetic condition of the city bus stand? SUNAINA KAUL asks a cross-section of Jammu residents.