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Promised bridge over Chenab yet to come up
Hurriyat (M) not to run campaign for poll boycott
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Call to weed out polythene
LS Poll
15 in fray for Srinagar LS seat
Rajput sabha to back Wazir
Udhampur Lok Sabha election today
Unkept promises draw ire
Power shortage: BJP flays govt
Check bogus voting,
BJP to EC
Amarnath Yatra
Murder of Kashmir varsity VC
Health officials confused about policy
Simplfy lending rules, Kapur asks banks
Fire destroys wheat crop
Tawi becomes a dumping ground
Delay in delivery of books rued
Armed forces continue to pay VAT on CSD items
Play based on Ray’s film staged
Sustained drive ‘needed’ to check AIDS spread
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Promised bridge over Chenab yet to come up
Prem Nagar (Doda), April 22 However, nearly 10,000 persons cross the river on the trolley several times daily in the absence of a bridge that the parties had been promising every election. And worse, tomorrrow, when they would vote to choose their MP, hundreds of them would take the risky route to reach the polling booths. The mere sight of people, including women and children, perched perilously on the small trolley gives one shivers. But this is the only way of crossing the river. People have died when they fell from the ropes. “Seventeen persons have died in the last 12 months after they fell from the trolley,” said Rasool, a resident of Assi village. He was crossing the river with his wife and a child. The brave man was even carrying a small TV for repair to Prem Nagar. The trolley is basically meant for transporting cement bags in high altitude construction sites. But here, people use it to go across the river. “Often the ropes get twisted and the trolley turns turtle,” said Shaukat Mohammad, remembering how four persons died in this fashion a few months ago. “The successive governments have promised a bridge over the river many a time. People are dependent on Thathri and Prem Nagar townships for meeting their basic needs. We have to walk over 20 km to reach these places,” said Shaukat. The worse comes when there is a medical emergency. “Many have died on their way to hospital,” he said, trying to catch his breath after crossing the river. Mohd Rafiz of Mola village said the trolley served as a shortcut. “I will have to travel by the trolley to cast my vote, if I want to save time. Otherwise, I will have to walk over 20 km to reach the polling booth,” he said. But has any politician used the trolley to cross the Chenab. “No, they only come to inaugurate the work for re-strengthening the ropes,” Rafiz retorted. |
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Hurriyat (M) not to run campaign for poll boycott
Srinagar, April 22 Though Hurriyat leaders, under pressure to revise their “soft” stand which drew strong reactions from militant outfits, especially Hizbul Mujahideen, refused to speak to the media, sources said their stand would remain the same but the final resolution might offer words of praise for HM’s role in the separatist movement. However, the outfit has shown clear division among its members and some seniors like Maulana Abbas Ansari, who headed the previous meetings in Mirwaiz’s absence and said his outfit would refrain from the boycott call, leaving the decision to common masses, Bilal Lone and Abdul Ghani Bhat are sticking together. However, many others like Mukhtar Waja, Fazal-ul-Haq Quereshi, Nayeem Khan and Yusuf Naqqas have pressed for a harder stand. Sources said the final stand, which would be spelt out in a day or two, might have some revision but they were unlikely to go for a poll boycott to placate hardliners, who have accused some of its members of being hand-in-glove with Indian agencies and of trying to subvert the separatist movement. Ansari’s snub to the United Jehad Council, an amalgam of militant outfits headed by HM’s chief Syed Salahuddin, over its threat of disrupting the poll has also not gone down well with many of his colleagues. Many, in fact, issued statements praising the role of the UJC and calling the people for a poll boycott in an attempt to distance away from Ansari’s statements. Angry protesters on Friday had burnt Anasari’s effigy in downtown, a rare sight in Srinagar. A concerned Mirwaiz, who was undergoing treatment in New Delhi, flew to Srinagar to deliberate over the matter afresh. Meanwhile, Yasin Malik’s decision to call for a poll boycott has further isolated the Hurriyat (M), which has had good rapport with Malik’s group, JKLF, in the past. Malik had surreptitiously managed to hold a rally in Pulwama yesterday calling for a poll boycott, a stand taken by hardline Hurriyat faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. |
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Call to weed out polythene
Srinagar, April 22 Speaking at a seminar organised by the State Pollution Control Board at Kashmir University, Farooq Ahmad Renzu, commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (MC), said for the first time people were showing concern toward society in weeding out the problem polythene. “Doctors, advocates, students, businessmen and other people living in Kashmir want to get rid of polythene. The campaign launched against polythene has received international focus and people living across the globe consider Kashmiris as conscious citizens,” said Farooq. Impressing upon the need to invoke laws against people who used polythene, Farooq said the same was imperative so that a ban on polythene was carried out in letter and in spirit. He added that methane gases should be avoided at every cost so that environment was preserved. “We, the Kashmiris, have sacrificed shahtoosh and fur trade for environment. We are ready to do our bit further and we would ensure that no polythene is manufactured in Kashmir,” said the Municipal Commissioner. Referring to the condition of Nigeen Lake, Farooq said 38 trucks each consisting of two metric tonnes of garbage had been taken out from the lake. S. Mufeed Ahmad, Director, Convocation Centre, of the university, said the use of polythene had been banned on the university campus since January 15, 2008. “There is a need for removal of encroachments and floating gardens from water bodies. At the same time, it is important that dislocated people are rehabilitated in a proper manner. Empirical research involving doctors, academicians, students and others should be carried out so that the world famous Dal Lake is preserved,” said Mufeed. Students of various schools spoke on the occasion and a book was released. A website relating to 1,140 sayings of famous saints was also launched. In the morning, a green march was held from Nishat to the university. Students of different schools, members of eco-clubs and members of the Jammu and Kashmir Scouts and Guides Association participated in it. |
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LS Poll
Srinagar, April 22 Former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said the party’s agenda was guided by the state’s political and economic interests and the aspirations of its people. “PDP’s persistent struggle to bring the interests of the state and its people on the centre stage of political dynamics has started bearing fruit and strong political vibes emanating from the state have altered the mindset both in Delhi and Islamabad,” he said. Addressing public meetings in Anantnag today, Mufti Sayeed said as has been envisioned by the PDP, people in the state must get equal share and opportunity to realise their full potential. He added that the people of the state have developed stakes in peace and political stability and they wanted to reap fruits of globalisation and economic liberalisation. Meanwhile, senior NC leader and state finance minister AR Rather castigated the PDP for creating fear-psychosis in the minds of people of the state. Addressing party workers, Rather said in the 2002 Assembly elections, the PDP had practiced same tactics forcing a large number of NC vote bank not to exercise franchise. The minister ridiculed the PDP’s approach for raising fingers and finding faults in others. He said the people were aware that the PDP, when in power, had let loose the reign of corruption, nepotism and scandals. “People received heating touch instead of healing touch and unemployment problem reached new heights despite promises of the PDP to provide two employments for every household”. |
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15 in fray for Srinagar LS seat
Srinagar, April 22 The main contestants are NC president Farooq Abdullah, PDP candidate Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. Farooq Abdullah’s sister, Khalida Shah, is also in the fray as a candidate of the Awami National Conference. Two Assembly segments of Hazratbal and Sonwar in Srinagar district which had been vacated by the NC president Farooq Abdullah, are also going to the polls alongwith the Three candidates have been left in the fray for the Sonwar constituency, including Mohammad Ashraf Mir (PDP), Mohammad Yasin Shah (National Conference (NC) and Farooq Abdullah’s nephew, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah (Awami National Conference). Three other candidates, Mustafa Kamal (NC), Asiya Naqash (PDP) and Mufti Nazimuddin (Independent) are in the fray for the Hazratbal constituency. |
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Rajput sabha to back Wazir
Jammu, April 22 According to a statement issued here today, Naseeb Singh, president of the Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha for Udhampur district, has appealed to the community to vote for Wazir. Naseeb Singh said the BSP was the only party that had given 10 per cent reservation to the poor among the upper castes in Uttar Pradesh, whereas other political parties had always ignored the Rajput community deliberately in all spheres of life. He said the BSP had promised the same reservation to the poor among the upper castes in the entire country if it was voted to power at the Centre. |
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Udhampur Lok Sabha election today
Jammu, April 22 For the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, 17 Assembly segments spread over six districts will go to the polls with a total electorate of 13,62,382, including 8,654 service voters. Lal Singh of the Congress, Dr Nirmal Singh of the BJP, Prof Bhim Singh of the National Panthers Party, Balbir Singh of the PDP are vying for the LS seat. In the Bhaderwah byelection, there are 94,109 voters (including 829 service electors) who would decide the fate of eight candidates. Polling will be held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. simultaneously at 1,972 polling stations set up across Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts of the Udhampur parliamentary constituency. |
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Unkept promises draw ire
This is no scene from a dated cinema. People in Zadaan and its neighbouring villages in Kashtigarh belt of Doda district have got used to lead two lives. When they are away for work in neighbouring towns and cities during the day, they avail all benefits of modern day living. But as they return home the first thing they have to do is to prepare their ‘mashaals’ to face the night. The region has no electricity.
Isolated from rest of the world, the villagers from the area have to walk at least 10 km from the nearest road at least twice a day. During the Assembly elections, all parties had promised electricity by March 2009. But the deadline having since passed, politicians are now back seeking votes in the Udhampur-Doda constituency requesting an extension of deadline. “We only see the politicians during the elections, but they never return. The roads are the same as they were in 1947 with no improvement of any sort. In fact, before the start of the Bagliahar Dam project people could reach from Batote to Doda in 3 hours, which now takes 12 hours due to a much longer route,” says Hafiz who has to walk at least
5 km twice a day to school from Zadaan. When villagers fall sick, their family has to carry them on their back or in a ‘doli’ for hours before arriving on the main road that takes them to the Doda Civil Hospital. The patient survives if he reaches the hospital and in many case villagers bring back the body. Though there is a dispensary in the area, the doctor only comes there to collect his salary once in a month. People in Zadaan, Motha, Lahri, Dhandhal, etc. rejected the sitting MLA and a local Dr. Chaman Lal of the NC to elect Ashok Kumar of the Congress for the Ramban Assembly segment under which the areas fall. But despite assurance of setting up a high school in the area, politicians have disappointed
the locals. Zamela Banoo (18) and her brother Rafiq (23) attend Government Higher Secondary School, Kashtigarh, 5 km from their village. But after an arduous to and fro journey, they return to complete their homework under ‘divas’. Javed Ahmed, a local farmer says, “I have decided not to vote this time. Why even bother when the politicians don’t even take your calls after the elections.” Javed is not alone, there are many in the area now thinking of strategies to make their voice heard, some even contemplating mobilising the public to socially boycott the politicians who don’t perform. |
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Power shortage: BJP flays govt
Jammu, April 22 Khajuria said for the past few days people from different parts of the Jammu city and adjoining areas were approaching him with complaints of irregular supply of drinking water and imposition of unscheduled power cuts. He questioned the state government and the department concerned as to why power cuts were being imposed when the Dul Hasti Hydro-Electric Project was functioning and producing electricity round the clock? He reminded the state government of the assurance of the Prime Minister, when he came to inaugurate this project some months ago, that with the commissioning of this project the people would get regular power supply. He said in Jammu’s old city areas, where the process of installation of electronic meters had almost been completed, people were still not getting regular supply despite the fact that the department concerned had repeatedly assured of ‘no power cuts’ once the electronic meters were installed. He also asked the state government to explain as to why the Shitli Filtration Plant was not been commissioned even after expiry of over one year. The BJP chief asked the government to take immediate steps to ensure regular supply of electricity and drinking water or it would have to face the wrath of the
people.
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Check bogus voting,
BJP to EC
Jammu, April 22 The more sensitive areas of
Marwa, Dacchan Gool-Arnas, Reasi and hilly terrains of Doda district is under threat of militancy and poll rigging. He said, “There can be a large scale misuse of government machinery in the polling tomorrow. A telegram in this regard has been sent to the EC for providing full protection to BJP candidate Nirmal Singh and his supporters, including polling
agents.” Arora also said, “The EC, we hope, will ensure that there is no use of muscle power in the election tomorrow.” The Surankot blast should be an eye-opener for the authorities and they should take more steps to check militant activities to disturb polling. |
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Amarnath Yatra
Jammu, April 22 The Governor discussed measures for the optimum use of accommodation in the complex for providing community services. He issued instructions for raising the height of the boundary wall of the complex with special emphasis on enhancing the aesthetic aspects. He also asked for exploring possibilities, in consultation with the government agencies concerned, for a separate approach to the complex. The Governor visited the ISM dispensary and the immunisation centre in the complex. He desired that both centres be provided with all necessary facilities to enable them to offer health services to the poor. Meanwhile, the Governor today constituted a 13-member Shri Amarnath Yatra Advisory Committee-2009. SL Bhat, IAS, would be the chairman of the committee, while the chief executive officer of the shrine board, BB Vyas, would be its member-secretary. The other members of the committee are: Abdul Kaliq Wangnoo, president of the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Srinagar, AK Sidha, president of the Martand Trust, Mattan, Anantnag, Inder Raina, Inderjeet Khajuria, president of the All Jammu Hotel and Lodges Association, Kuldeep Wahi, president of the Jammu Hotels and Restaurants Association, Lateef Ahmad Bhat, president of the Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Association, Srinagar, Mohammed Jabbar Malik, an authorised representative of the founders and beneficiaries of Shri Amarnath Holy Cave Association, Batakote, Pahalgam, Dr Mubeen Shah, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Srinagar, Poshker Nath, president of the Ganesh Mandal Sabha, Ganeshpora, Anantnag, Ram Sahai, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, UK Jalali, senior advocate, Vijay Dhar, and Vinod Pandit, president of the All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee, Kashmir. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on May 7 in Srinagar. |
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Murder of Kashmir varsity VC
Jammu, April 22 Reacting to the TADA court judgment, Bharat Khera (an IAS officer presently posted as secretary to the Himachal Pradesh Governor) and Manish Khera (marketing manager with GAIL in Delhi) - the two sons of deceased HL Khera - described the judgment as denial of justice to the family. “Firstly, the trial took 19 long years and now it has culminated in the acquittal of seven accused for such a heinous crime,” Bharat said today. He said their mother Sushma Khera was also anguished on learning about the judgment. Kheras observed that there had been instances in the past when people booked under the TADA Act for less heinous offences had been convicted. However, in this particular case, the accused, despite being known terrorists and despite their confession, had been allowed to go scot-free, he said. If terrorists were acquitted like this under the TADA Act, then very purpose of the Act was defeated. The judgment has delivered another blow to our family, he said. Kheras hoped that the government while using its wisdom files an appeal against the TADA court judgement. The CBI had investigated the high-profile case. However, CBI officials in New Delhi refused to share further course of action. ADG (CBI), Media and Communication, Harsh Bhal said there were certain strategic points, which could not be discussed with the media without taking consent of the higher authorities. Meanwhile, special public prosecutor PS Bhardwaj, a former district and sessions judge, who appeared for the CBI had reportedly said the investigating agency would file an appeal in the Supreme Court within 30 days. |
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Health officials confused about policy
Srinagar, April 22 Sources in the Health Department say that there is no health policy the state. However, Dr. Ahmad said: “We do have a state health policy aiming to provide infrastructure and adequate facilities for medicine.” Dr. Muzaffar said there was a chain of hospitals already present and some others are coming up as well. “The government is spending huge amount under this policy and we should have 200-bedded hospitals in every district,” he added. However, Soura said many states in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, did not have the state health policy. “Health is a state subject and every state must have its own health policy. Unfortunately, most of the states, including Jammu and Kashmir, don’t have a state health policy. Existing National Health Policy 2002 is just a guideline and states can derive inspiration from it,” says Prof. Tabish. Holding state government responsible, the medical administrator says, “Primarily, it is the responsibility of the government to frame a proper health policy. Experts can be hired and there is no dearth of them in the state. Unfortunately, their expertise is not utilised.” |
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Simplfy lending rules, Kapur asks banks
Jammu, April 22 The Chief Secretary was speaking at the 75th meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) here today. J&K Bank chairman Dr Haseeb Drabu presided over the function. Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Commissioner/Secretary, Labour and Employment, Khalid Habib and heads of various departments, besides Regional Director for J&K of the RBI OP Agarwal were also present. Assuring all possible assistance from the government in the implementation of the action plan, Kapur said easy loans not only help the youth in setting up self-employment ventures, but also gave a fillip to the economic growth of the state. However, he said, the performance of some financial institutions was not up to the mark, pointing out to the poor performance of some cooperative banks that were hesitant to implement rules under which lending facilities were made available to common people. The Chief Secretary appreciated the annual achievements of J&K Bank, which had registered an aggregate target of 88 per cent. He added that the bank had performed excellently in the housing sector, as high investment had been recorded in the state. He said the performance of the banks was showing a satisfactory upward trend in the Kashmir division also. |
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Fire destroys wheat crop
RS Pura, April 22 This is second incident after wheat fields over 143 kanals went up in flames at Agra Chak in RS Pura and Goh Brahmna in Vijaypur on April 19. Such incidents become recurrent in wheat-growing areas every summer, but the government doesn’t have any provisions for compensating farmers in such a case. Seven farmers have suffered heavy losses, including which two have lost their entire yield to the fire that broke out due to unknown reason. Aggrieved farmers are eyeing relief from the government as they don’t have any other source of income for their survival and rearing cattle.As they come to know that a team of media personnel had come, they all assembled and started narrating their woes. Vijay Sharma, a farmer who lost all bone-dry crop over 14 kanals, said, “I am undone, my family comprising of nine members is dependent on farm produce. Fire reduced the crop to stubble we can’t collect fodder even. Now what will we eat and feed to our cattle?” Corroborating his viewpoint, Anil Kumar, another farmer who lost produce over 16 kanals, took The Tribune team to his house and introduced to his ailing bed-ridden father, Jagdish Raj in a dark and dingy room. “We are 11 members. Except for agriculture we have no other source of income. My father cannot move, we are already debt-ridden owing to his medical treatment,” he said while revealing his burns on hands and feet that he suffered while extinguishing the fire. “Farmers here are living in penury, if the government does not compensate our children will surely starve,” farmers said. Others who share the same grief included Ashok Kumar, son of Dwarka Nath (12 kanals), Dhanna Ram, son of kaka Ram (14 kanals), Jagdish Lal, son of Chajju Ram (16 kanal), Darshan Singh, son of Inder (6 kanal), and Darshan Singh, son of Om Prakash (16 kanaal). The villagers complained that during the elections all politicos made beelines before their homes but after two major incidents of fire none has visited them barring PDP candidate Tarlok Singh Bajwa. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal said: “There is no provision for relief in case the fire reasons are unknown. However, deputy commissioners of the respective areas can provide them succour in different ways.” |
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Tawi becomes a dumping ground
Jammu, April 22 Though various schools, colleges and the State Pollution Control Board today observed the day and held various rallies, lectures, painting competitions to spread awareness amongst masses to save the environment, but at ground-level nothing changed. The board organised a cycle rally in which participants from various schools took part. Known as Surya Putri, the daughter of Sun God, the river has become a breeding ground of diseases as sewage and garbage from the entire city is being dump into the river. “Jammu is in dire need of five to six sewage treatment plants and some are in the process of being constructed,” Dr. Mohit Gera, member secretary of the State Pollution Control Board, told The Tribune. He said his department single-handedly could not do anything, but required active participation of other agencies. He said the department would continue with its drive to check the pollution level in the Tawi and other water bodies. “No doubt Tawi has become a garbage dumping ground and all sewage, be it solid or liquid, is dumped in the river.” Gera said, adding that the department has initiated various measures to check the pollution level of the river. Adding to the woes of the Tawi River is the Jammu Municipal Corporation that dumps all sewage and the daily garbage collection from various parts of the city into the bed of the river. “No political party has ever thought or taken the issue of Tawi as it remains neglected, the day is not far when the Jammu city would loose its identity for ever,” Inder Singh, a local resident, said.
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Delay in delivery of books rued
Jammu, April 22 Some parents said the delay in the release of new textbooks printed by the Board of School Education (BOSE) would affect the overall performance of their wards. Under a new pattern, examinations are now taken on a quarterly assessment basis and promotion is made on the basis of cumulative results of all three assessments. If a student is not able to study for a couple of months due to the non-availability of books it affects his performance in the assessment test. “Books reach us through zonal education officers and these will reach within a few days but till such period students are reading from old books,”’ said a teacher. One teacher said: “Teachers are always held responsible for poor performance of students but nobody tells the higher authorities to provide textbooks in time so that students complete the syllabus easily”. He claimed that books were provided every year when the 1st unit test was due. BOSE chairman Deshbandhu assured that books would be given to all schools within this week. He said more than 72 per cent of the books had already been released. He attributed the delay to the elections in the region. He said the first unit test would be taken in the end of May and not in the beginning. |
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Armed forces continue to pay VAT on CSD items
Jammu, April 22 The state has the largest deployment of the armed forces to counter insurgency and to safeguard the borders. Serving members of the armed forces as well as retired ones are compelled to pay VAT while CSD purchases. Various neighbouring states, including Punjab and Himachal, have already extended exemption of VAT on CSD items. Speaking to The Tribune, president of the Jammu and Kashmir ex-serviceman League Maj-Gen (retd) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal said: “There are around 1.5 lakh ex-servicemen in the state.” He said he had met former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who formed a Cabinet subcommittee to look into the issue, but no decision was taken in this regard. Jamwal said: “The states like West Bengal charged only 2 to 4 per cent of VAT from defence services, but in Jammu and Kashmir we are being charged at 12.5 per cent.”
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Play based on Ray’s film staged
Jammu, April 22 Ray’s film was based on Prabhat Kumar Mukharjee’s short-story by the same name. The story brings to the fore inherent tendency of religions to divide people. The play holds significance in the aftermath of Amarnath agitation that divided the state across religious lines. The play primarily revolves around its central character, “Doyamoyee”, who poses herself as Godess in the village and claims to have divine powers to cure all ailments and sufferings of her devotees. Her optical illusion comes to an end when the villagers place her ailing nephew in her feet and she fails to save his life. The first alumni of National School of Drama, Delhi, from the Jammu region and theatre veteran, Kavi Rattan, has directed the play.
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Sustained drive ‘needed’ to check AIDS spread
Jammu, April 22 After inaugurating a community care centre for AIDS patients, established by the BN Charitable Society in collaboration with the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society (SACS) here today, Kapur stressed on adopting a vigilant and proactive approach to prevent the spread of AIDS. For the purpose, he suggested coordinated efforts by the government, media and social and religious organisations. “The low prevalence of AIDS in the state demands a more effective and responsive role by one and all,” he said while cautioning against complacency. Kapur also released a newsletter titled “Combating AIDS in Jammu and Kashmir”, brought out by the State AIDS Prevention and Control Society.
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