Jammu, August 8
Relief and Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla has assured to the deputation of the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) that the central university would be set up in the Jammu region.

This assurance was given by the minister in a meeting which was held today between the state government representatives and the deputation of the CUAS.

Raman Bhalla said the state government was committed to establish the central university in Jammu but this huge project could not be done overnight.

“I have appealed to the deputation to cancel the decision of Jammu Bandh and they will reply tomorrow,” Bhalla said.

The minister said: “The government needs time for the project and has identified three sites for the university but it is the proposal of the central government. A committee constituted by the Human Resources and Development Ministry will have to visit and approve the suitable site, only then the government will start construction work.”

Pushvinder Singh Manhas, co-convener of the CUAS, said: “The minister has assured us verbally that the central university will be established in Jammu but he has not given us any written assurance. If the state government had sent them as their representatives, they should have given us the assurance in written.

Jammu, August 8
A large number of students of various city colleges today boycotted classes in support of the bandh call given by the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) for August 10. The protesters demanded that the government should set up the central university in Jammu.

Wearing black ribbons, the students took out a rally to make people aware about the Jammu bandh call. Some students also hoisted black flags in various colleges and in Jammu University during the protest.

Girl students of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, took out a rally that culminated at Bikram Chowk. The protesters blocked the main road and disrupted traffic for around 20 minutes.

Students of MAM College boycotted classes and held a protest. The students also boycotted classes in Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Commerce College and Jammu University. The university students also blocked traffic on the main road in front of the university for around 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Mayor Kavinder Gupta has also extended support to the CUAS and urged the state government to set up the central university in Jammu. While addressing a press conference here today, the Mayor said the state government had adopted a discriminatory attitude towards Jammu people.

Udhampur, August 8
Even as the state government has opened a channel of dialogue with the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) spearheading the agitation against the alleged shifting of the proposed central university from Jammu to Srinagar, various organisations have started a door-to-door campaign for the success of the bandh call.

Interestingly, the grass-roots level workers of the Congress and the NC have come out openly in support of the on-going agitation in many areas of Udhampur and Reasi districts. Instead of defending the government, local NC and Congress workers announced to join the stir for Jammu’s cause.

The CUAS, an amalgam of various student, social, political, religious and business organisations, has given a call for Jammu bandh on August 10.

Groups of students, women, traders and political activists have been moving from one area to another to convince people to observe a total shutdown on Monday in protest against the policies of the state government. During their corner meetings, activists of the CUAS cautioned people against the gimmick of the authorities, who according to them, had been desperately trying to create confusion over the issue.

In a meeting of the CUAS at Ramnagar, speakers made it clear that they would not accept anything less than the setting up of the central university at Samba, where land had already been earmarked.

Shopkeepers, traders, transporters and students of Ramnagar offered full support to the CUAS. Students decided to take out a rally to enforce the bandh on Monday.

Similarly at Chenani, a all-party meeting was held to chalk out a strategy to make the bandh successful. Representatives of all political parties, including the NC, also participated.

Various political, social and religious organisations held a meeting at Reasi today and unanimously decided to observe a total shutdown on Monday in support of the call. Local PDP leader Bansi Lal Thakur also came out in support of the agitation. 

Udhampur, August 8
Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik and Minister for Roads and Buildings GM Saroori visited the satellite campuses of Jammu University at Doda and Kishtwar to review the ongoing renovation works.

Rector, Bhaderwah campus, IA Hamal briefed the Minister for Higher Education about the physical and financial status of these campuses of Jammu University.

The Bhaderwah Campus is running four courses - MCA, MBA, MA English - and a certificate course on e-learning for women.

The Rector informed that the infrastructure was in place at the Doda and Kishtwar satellite campuses and the university was expecting a clear nod from the government in the form of staff, salary and recurring expenditure, the proposal of which is lying with the government.

Rajouri, August 8
Chowhary Zulfizar Ali, MLA, Darhal, has demanded the establishment of an ecological tourism park in the Kandi area. The ecological park should be established over 273 kanals.

While demanding tourist infrastructure for different areas of Rajouri district, Zulfikar pointed towards the condition of roads in the district. He demanded construction of a road link to Nanga Thub to develop it as a tourist destination. He said Nanga Thub was a beautiful tourist spot in Rajouri and it was important to bring it on the tourist map.

He said Minister for Tourism and Culture Nowaig Rigzin Jora had already accepted the demand and sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for the construction of this road but much more needed to be done.

He further said the infrastructure for tourists should be developed in this place, which had a huge tourism potential. He demanded amenities for the devotees of Shiv temple cave at Budhal as a large number of pilgrims visit this temple. He also demanded that more areas to be explored as tourist destinations in Rajouri.

Jammu, August 8
Two suspected patients of swine flu, who had returned from Pune and Bangalore recently, reported at the Government Medical College (GMC) here today.

Dr Ramesh Gupta, Medical Superintendent, GMC, told The Tribune that two patients, including a woman, having symptoms of suspected H1N1 virus, reported at the GMC today. A team of doctors checked both of them and their blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi, he said.

“We would get their reports probably by tomorrow or day after tomorrow,” Dr Gupta added.

Epidemiologist Dr RS Charak said the 22-year-old woman, who had been to Pune and Goa recently, returned to Jammu and had a history of one-day old pyrexia (fever) when she reported at the GMC today.

Similarly, a 25-year-old youth, who had been to Bangalore, also reported at the hospital today with symptoms of suspected swine flue, said Dr Charak.

The girl lived in Nanak Nagar here, while the boy hailed from Kathua town, 80 km from here.

However, under the new guidelines issued by the Union government, the GMC authorities discharged both persons after initial treatment, besides counselling them about precautionary measures, said the Medical Superintendent.

It may be stated here that a 14-year-old girl, who returned from Singapore on July 10, was the first suspected case of swine flu. However, much to the relief of doctors at the GMC here her reports were tested negative the very next day.

Being a tourist state where a big number of pilgrims also keep visiting Mata Vaishno Devi throughout the year, the state government has deputed special teams of doctors on terminal points like airports and railway stations. Furthermore, several youths from the state pursue their academics and other professional courses from Pune and Bangalore.

Srinagar, August 8
Our “honourable” ministers may reluctantly leave their official residence when pushed out of power, but many of them also prefer to carry along government furnishings and other expensive items to their new homes!

The government has informed the Assembly that a large number of former ministers continue to keep government goods, from colour TV to Belgium carpet to decorative items, worth crores. In a reply to a question by Baldev Raj, BJP MLA from Reasi, the names of former ministers Tariq Hamid Qarra, Dilawar Mir, Raman Matoo, Jugal Kishore, Javed Mustafa Mir emerged as the main culprits.

Former Finance Minister and PDP leader Qarra continues to keep 41 items that he used to adorn his residence when in power. When he left his posh house in Church Lane, he also took along sofas, Belgium carpets, handmade and fabric painting and even items like a table lamp and an LPG cylinder.

At least on paper, it is mandatory for MLAs and ministers to return the government items when they leave their residence. Qarra told The Tribune that he was out of the state and could comment only after studying the government’s reply.

Dilawar Mir, another PDP strongman and former minister, who faced a shock defeat in the Rafiabad constituency this time, has kept carpets, 29 inch colour TV and dustbins as well. Mir said he had shifted to his own house long back and would like to check the list of items he had been accused of keeping.

“I would not deny it, but I am not really aware of it as well. Let me see if my house has these items,” he said.

Jugal Kishore, Congress leader and former Rural Development Minister, has retained air-conditioners, coolers, geysers, furniture and many other items despite being no longer authorised to keep them.

Former ministers Javed Mustaf Mir and Raman Mattoo, who has kept away from public glare after his name figured in the sex scandal, have also kept furniture, a fridge and a TV.

BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta said it was an irony for a poor state like Jammu and Kashmir, whose economy depends almost completely on central grants, that its leaders have “robbed” the state exchequer of crores.

“The government should be proactive in getting back these items. It reflects very poorly on our state,” he said. 

Srinagar, August 8
Governor NN Vohra has stressed the need for short and long-term measures for continuously improving the management of the Amarnath pilgrimage to facilitate the pilgrims.

Addressing a post-yatra review meeting held here today, the Governor said it was a matter of satisfaction that this year’s yatra remained incident free and smooth.

He said timely putting in place of the required logistic facilities for the pilgrims had to be ensured. He also emphasised the importance of proper lay out plans for all camps.

He said despite continuing adverse weather conditions this year, the work of track clearance and providing required facilities for the pilgrims had been accomplished in a time-bound manner. He said all this became possible with complete coordination and synergy among various agencies. BB Vyas, chief executive officer of the SASB, said a sanitation drive to clean the camping sites as well as the holy cave shrine area was being launched immediately. 

Srinagar, August 8
The Economic Survey 2008-09 tabled in the Assembly yesterday has painted a gloomy outlook of the state’s economy and says that a rising unemployment rate, poor rate of growth and almost non-existent industrial sector has dragged it down, causing the state to miss the economic boom the country enjoyed after reforms.

The survey says the state’s income has grown around 6 per cent against the national growth of 8.2 per cent and, worse still, its contribution to national income has declined to 0.7 per cent from 0.85 per cent in 1999-2000 despite militancy being a bigger danger previously than at present. J&K’s per capita income is Rs 20,604, much below the national average of Rs 27,442. “We rank 22 among all states in the country and it is a matter of serious concern,” it says.

The survey has blamed long spells of strikes and protests in the state, especially in 2008 over the Amarnath land controversy, and global recession, which hit revenue from exports of the state’s horticulture and handcraft goods, for the low growth and says it would be difficult to achieve 8 percent growth rate for 2009-10 as planned earlier.

The slow growth of 1.79 per cent in agriculture, on which depends the state’s 70 per cent population for livelihood, and the fact that state’s per hectare yield of crops is less than the national average is another cause of serious concern. The critical sector of tourism also suffered adversely, especially in the valley.

The survey also deplores poor exploitation of the state’s rich hydel power potential, saying that only 2318.70 MW has been exploited from the identified potential of 16480 MW and even here the state power sector owns only 758.70 MW, resulting in central agencies making a tidy sum by selling power but J&K forking out a huge sum to meet its demand.

Commenting on Indus Water treaty, which allows Pakistan to use the state’s rivers for its purposes while limits their exploitation for power and irrigation by India, the survey says it has “literally sealed our fate in both energy and irrigation sectors”. However, the survey also underlines some positive aspects like significant growth in the banking and financial sector and also the increase in the credit-deposit ratio though credit to agriculture sector remains abysmal. Amidst absence of big-ticket industrial projects, growth in small-scale industries (SSI), which number 23,908 and provide employment to almost one lakh persons, is an auspicious sign, it says.

The successful rail project in Kashmir and turning Srinagar airport into an international one would also boost economic activities in a state heavily dependent upon central grants for its planned as well as non-planned expenditure, it says.

Srinagar, August 8
Despite the technological invasion of the Internet, book lovers showed tremendous enthusiasm during the five-day book exhibition that started here on August 4. The exhibition came to an end today. The exhibition was organised by the Sahitya Akademi and Meezan Publishers.

The topics on which books were available included Islamic Studies, History, Iqbaliyat, Kashmir and Urdu literature. Besides, the works of famous poets and literary figures like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Gopichand Narang, Ali Mohammad Lone and Maqbool Sahil, the exhibition also saw collection of sayings of important personalities like Lalded and Sheikh-ul-Alam. — OC