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ROAD MISHAPS Traffic police alone not to be blamed: DIG Traffic dept’s proposal hangs fire |
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Mishaps fail to move health
officials Speaking Out KU
scientist stopped from visiting China Declining saffron production worries cultivators Capturing nature his passion Trade fair a hit with Jammuites Buses plying illegally on interstate routes Kashmir varsity festival helps youth show talent srinagar diary
Dogri scholar portrays Kashmiri migrants’ agony Jhiri Mela, a tribute to Baba Jitto
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Over 3,500 killed in Jammu region in 5 yrs Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 6 More than 3,500 people have been killed in road mishaps across the Jammu region in the past five years. In 2006, nearly 1,000 persons lost their lives in 5,593 road mishaps across the state. Almost every second day, a precious life is lost in a road mishap in Jammu district where, on an average, at least 180 persons die every year. In a recent incident, 12 passengers, including 10 members of a family, were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a tempo traveler at Baghial Morh in Kathua district on November 3. Though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been trying to improve the traffic scenario and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been working on the four-laning project, risky roads vis-à-vis increasing number of vehicles and negligent drivers continue to claim more lives. It may come as a surprise that Jammu district, which is considered to be well-equipped with infrastructural facilities compared to other districts, tops the list when it comes to deaths in road accidents. In a district, having a population of about 18 lakh, over 100 mishaps take place every month and 6,000 people return home with broken bones and limbs. This year again, Jammu attained the dubious distinction of a district with maximum number of accidents, casualties and injuries. The district has so far witnessed over 1,400 accidents, 177 casualties and 1,526 injuries followed by Rajouri district with 291 mishaps and 113 casualties. Other accident-prone districts of Kathua, Ramban and Doda showed the figures of 111, 107 and 76 casualties, respectively. The figures of 2006 also tell a sordid tale of how human lives were lost in road accidents. In 2006, the Jammu region, comprising of 10 districts, recorded 742 deaths in 3,564 accidents compared to the Kashmir region which recorded 247 deaths in 2,029 mishaps. Similarly, the mountainous districts of Doda and Ramban recorded a toll of nearly 200. SSP (Traffic) Parminder Singh, however, opined that fatal accidents on the highway from Kunjwani to Lakhanpur, the gateway to the state, had reduced in the past two to three years after its four-laning. “Mishaps do occur on this stretch even now but the frequency has declined drastically as compared to the past when fatal accidents used to inflict heavy casualties,” he said. Jammu district has 4.30 lakh registered vehicles out of which 2.30 lakh are two-wheelers. The year 2007 also remained a bloody year for the entire state as 950 people died in 5,864 mishaps out of which 198 were killed in Jammu district in 1,400 mishaps. Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Samba and Doda districts followed Jammu with casualty figures of 80, 73, 69, 67 and 41, respectively. In 2008, Jammu once again witnessed maximum number of deaths - 205 in 1,396 mishaps. “The government has not been doing enough even as people are being killed every other day on dilapidated roads of the state,” said a police officer. Besides instructing the NHAI to expeditiously complete the four-laning project, the government should immediately go for the expansion of roads besides strengthening the traffic police. Otherwise people would continue to die on roads,” he added.
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Traffic police alone not to be blamed: DIG
Whenever there is a major road accident, people hold the Traffic Police Department responsible for the mishap for not regulating the traffic properly. Tejinder Singh Sodhi spoke to Pankaj Saxena, Deputy Inspector General of Police, (Traffic) Jammu, about what the department is doing to prevent such mishaps. Q. What are the main reasons of the frequent road accidents? A. Accidents mainly occur due to the following reasons: fault of driver, defect in vehicle, poor road design and poor weather condition. Most of the time, the attention is limited to the immediate person causing the accident i.e. the driver, or the blame is put on the traffic police, the only visible arm of the state. There are several other factors responsible for accidents and we need to explore them also. Q. There are reports of rampant overloading of vehicles in the Jammu region. What is your department doing to check it? A. We have been conducting surprise checks and penalise the operators who indulge in overloading. In the past three months, we have penalised 2,348 vehicles indulged in overloading. In July, we fined 697 operators, in August 650 and in September 1,001 operators were penalised for overloading. Q. Commuters also complain about overspeeding of vehicles. What measures have you taken in this regard? A. We are using speed radar guns to check the speed limit. We are also increasing its use across the Jammu region. Those found responsible for violating the norms are being penalised as per law. In July, we challaned 203 vehicles, in August 172 and in September 396 vehicles were challaned for overspeeding. Q. What steps are you taking to educate drivers to avoid rash driving? A. Various measures are being taken to spread awareness among the drivers. We hold camps with them wherein they are educated about the road safety and the laws governing the road safety. We also make sure that all these laws are implemented. Q. There is an increase in road accidents. What are the main reasons? A. As I mentioned earlier, there are various reasons responsible for mishaps. But whatever the reason may be, our basic duty is to minimise the loss of human lives. Q. At certain areas in Doda district, which is prone to road mishaps, the ratio of passengers per vehicle is more than 1,200. What steps have been taken to increase the number of vehicles? A. This is the prerogative of the state government. We have asked it to identify the areas where there is a need to increase the vehicles. The problem lies in the interior areas of the district where fewer vehicles are plying which results into overloading and frequent mishaps. |
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Traffic dept’s proposal hangs fire Jammu, November 6 To streamline the traffic and to reduce the number of causalities, the traffic police has sent a proposal to the government, but so far no action has been taken. The department has asked the government to install traffic lights at various places across the state. It will smoothen the traffic and relieve traffic policemen for performing other duties, a source in the transport department said. The traffic police has also asked for the issuance of notification for speed limits. “Section 112 of the Motor Vehicles Act provides for specifying speed limits and the government has to specify an authority which can impose such restrictions,” the source said. The department has also asked for the identification and marking of bus and matador stops. Another point raised is the improvement in rotary or intersection design. The department also wants to put signage at appropriate places as at present, most of the roads do not have warning signs. Besides, the department also asks for safety features like parapet walls on roads in hilly areas. |
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RTO blames poor roads for mishaps
There is no let-up in road accidents in the Jammu region which have been claiming a large number of lives. Tejinder Singh Sodhi spoke to JS Manhas, regional transport officer, Jammu, on what the department is doing to check the frequent road mishaps in the region. Q. What are the main reasons of frequent road mishaps in the region? A. The main reason for traffic mishaps is the poor condition of roads. At some places, the roads are rough while at others, they are under construction. There are no signboards and crash barriers. Q. Who is mostly responsible for these traffic mishaps? Are these due to mechanical error or human error? A. Most of the accidents are due to human error. As far as mechanical errors are concerned, we don’t allow faulty vehicles to ply on any of roads. To rectify mechanical errors, companies need to open their service outlets in these areas, so as to repair minor errors in the vehicles. Q. At many places old vehicles are plying. What is the department doing for that? A. There are instructions from the court that passenger vehicles which are 15-year-old cannot ply on the roads, so we don’t allow such vehicles to ply on roads. Q. On certain routes there is an acute shortage of passenger vehicles. What steps are being taken to increase the number of vehicles on such routes? A. We have called upon people to invest and start services in these areas. They want special incentives from the government like exemption in toll tax and so on and I think the government will take a lenient view of their demands. Q. There are many complaints of overloading and overspeeding by transport operators in the Jammu region. What measures are you taking? A. In Jammu city, the enforcing agency is the Traffic Police Department, whereas in the rural areas we conduct surprise nakas to check overloading and over speeding of vehicles. Our inspectors on a rotational basis visit these areas and conduct surprise checks and those found guilty are
penalised. Q. How do you penalise traffic law violators? A. First, they are challaned and then their licences are punched and based on the number of punching on the licence, the penalty is fixed and if one continues to violate the law, the licence is cancelled. In many cases, the route permit is also cancelled and even the vehicle is
also seized. Q. How many licences have been cancelled so far? A. During the past few days, we received recommendation from the Traffic Police Department to cancel 18 licences. But we have a set procedure; we issue a notice first and then take the action. Q. What should be done to avoid frequent road accidents? A. Various measures can be taken to avoid frequent road mishaps, like in the areas where the number of vehicles are less should be provided with sufficient number of vehicles. Drivers must be made aware about the traffic rules and should follow the regulations. They should also be made aware of the impact of accidents so that they have a psychological impact on them about |
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Mishaps fail to move health officials Jammu, November 6 Since all three assistant neurosurgeons, Dr Haroon Salaria, Dr Sudhir Sabarwal and Dr Adarsh Kumar, were relieved and attached with the department of health services during the recent medicos’ strike, the hospital has not found any alternative yet. There is not even a separate neurosurgery department. Official sources said there were surgeons to conduct surgeries of orthopaedics patients, but patients with serious head injuries could not be treated at the hospital. The situation is even grimmer as the trauma hospitals of the region are short of staff and ill-equipped. “Whenever any road mishap occurs, doctors at peripheral hospitals and district hospitals refer the victims to the GMCH, which is already overburdened,” they said. The sources disclosed that there were only six ambulances at the hospital which were just “carriers.” “These ambulances have only oxygen cylinders and first-aid kits and are used for ferrying bodies from the hospital as a matter of routine,” they added. Whenever a disaster of a higher magnitude takes place, the civil administration has to approach the Army for rescue operations. However, procedural hiccups result into the loss of precious lives. As the hospital is running short of manpower and equipments, it has not been able to run its new emergency ward that stands locked since its completion. Medical superintendent Romesh Gupta and principal, GMCH, Dr Rajinder Singh said the hospital was fully equipped to cope up with any major disaster. They, however, declined to comment further on the availability of facilities and manpower. |
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Speaking Out How can road accidents be checked? TNS talked to a cross-section of people in Jammu. This is what they had to say.
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KU scientist stopped from visiting China Srinagar, November 6 Romshoo was recently awarded the prestigious Kasumigaura International Award for his research work on “Pollution Modelling of Himalayan Lakes”. The decision to award him for his work had been conveyed to him by the Japanese Government on September 10 last. The research work was done on developing Geoinformatic techniques for study on pollution of Kashmir lakes. Romshoo was also invited to deliver a keynote speech at the conference. The team of researchers headed by Romshoo at Kashmir University has also won the Best Research Award from the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS) last year for their research work on the study on pollution of the Dal Lake. Romshoo is not the first Kashmiri to have been stopped from proceeding to China, while several others have been stopped recently on an account of a stapled visa issued by the Chinese Embassy to the visitors from Jammu and Kashmir. He was stopped by the authorities at the New Delhi International Airport from proceeding to China for receiving the award despite visa from the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, he said. Despite invitations by the World Lake Organisation, the Japanese and the Chinese governments, Romshoo could not make it to China to receive the award as China was disputing the citizenship of Kashmiris holding Indian passports and issues visa on a separate document that the Indian immigration authorities refuse to accept. Despite India’s protests, Chinese Embassy officials say the visas issued to J&K citizens are correct and valid. The tussle between China and India over the issue has been affecting business and career prospectus of hundreds of J&K citizens who cannot travel to China for studies or business, he conveyed in his message. The research work on “Assessing pollution load of Himalayan lakes”, done by Romshoo, observed that the unplanned urbanisation, deforestation, soil erosion and reckless use of pesticides for horticulture and agriculture resulted in heavy inflow of nutrients into these lakes from the catchment areas, which also deteriorated the water quality affecting the aquatic life within the lakes. “As a result of which the process of ageing of these lakes is hastened,” the study reveals. “As a consequence, most of the lakes in Kashmir are exhibiting eutrophication,” Romshoo said. He observed that while studies had been conducted to understand the hydrochemistry and hydrobiology of these lakes, little had been done on modelling the pollution loads to the lakes at the catchment scale. In the research focused on the Mansbal Lake in the north Kashmir, the study revealed that the lake received domestic effluents from the expanding human settlements and the run-off from fertilised agricultural land and residual insecticides and pesticides from its surrounding areas. “The objectives of the research were to identify and estimate the critical source areas causing nutrient pollution; develop a spatial and temporal database; simulate nutrient pollution loading from the catchment to the lake; and to suggest a probable solution for reduction of nutrient productivity and contamination to the lake from the catchment,” Romshoo stated. |
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Declining saffron production worries cultivators Srinagar, November 6 The festival began in the vast saffron fields in and around Pampore, about 13 km from Srinagar and the saffron belt of the valley. “The purpose is to attract tourists and motivate locals to promote the cultivation of saffron,” says GM Pampori, president of the Saffron Growers Association. The Tourism Department is organising the festival. Saffron’s flowering season starts from the last week of October to the first week of November. “Since the tourists are here, we want to attract them to see saffron flowers,” says Pampori. He says the saffron production has declined over the past 15 years. From 45,000 kg, it has reduced to 7,000-9,000 kg. Last year, the saffron production was the lowest. It was around 4,000 kg to 5,000 kg. “We are expecting better production this year,” he says. He adds that draught-like conditions over the past few years, diseases and pollution has resulted in the decline of saffron production as well poor irrigation facilities. Farmers say they need sprinkle irrigation for growth and cultivation of saffron, as is done in Iran. But it is not followed here despite a nod given by the government. As of now, they have to depend only on rainfall and erratic rain over the years has impacted the industry. Another reason for the declining growth of saffron is construction work going on in nearby areas as increasing pollution harms the quality of soil and produce. “We tried to stop people from such activities, but farmers have their own limitations. Permission has to be sought from the Agricultural Ministry for undergoing such constructions, but it is a fact that illegal constructions take place,” they said. |
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Capturing nature his passion Srinagar, November 6 The exhibition's success apart, Ahmad -- whose photographs are adorning many corporate calendars and offices these days - is now gearing up to open his training institute for wannabe photographers if Kashmir University grants it affiliation. Admiring chinar leaves turning russet and gold in the autumn, Mukhtar says Kashmir is a photographer's dream. A much-travelled man, who has spent a good period in over last two decades outside India, he says nature has been kinder to the valley than humans. "You can still see sunrays and moonlight kissing each other in the evening horizon in Sindh valley, but the way is littered with canisters and devastated forests. It is so pitiable," he says. So the artist in him finds some silver lining in the past two decades of militancy. "At least, grass is still green in many parts of Kashmir as people have kept away," he says in a lighter vein. A graduate from New York Institute of Photography, Mukhtar, 52, was trained in portraiture, tabletop and glamour modes of photography as well but he opted to make a career in landscape because Kashmir's beauty could be seen through the lenses of a landscape photographer only. So he might not have made much money, though things have improved in the past four-odd years, but he did manage to explore and catch Kashmir's boundless beauty. Son of a government officer, Mukhtar's interest in photography was aroused by his uncle, who was a photographer with the government's Information Department, warning him daily against touching his expensive cameras, which would be enormous in size in the 70s. His M.Phil in Kashmir Tourism took him to 134 villages and their fascinating beauty cemented his decision to be a photographer. Mukhtar also runs shawl business in Dubai, which he says provides his family their bread and butter. But he is increasingly spending more time in Kashmir and photography. He plans to catch autumn beauty of the valley in coming weeks and then to explore the Chenab belt of Doda and Kishtwar. |
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Trade fair a hit with Jammuites Jammu, November 6 The 10-day trade fair from November 1 has been an instant hit as traders from different parts of the country and the state have exhibited their products for sale here. Feroz has come a long way from Delhi to participate in the trade fair and have been selling stuffed toys. “I have been participating in such trade fairs for the past many years as we get good business there,” said Feroz. A variety of items are on sale in the trade fair ranging from stuffed toys to household items of furnishing and decoration. Kitchen items are a hit with people. Mashrat Ahmed Jaan, a member of the organising committee, said:” Such fairs give a chance to youth to exhibit their talent and sell their items here” |
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Buses plying illegally on interstate routes Jammu, November 6 While as the authorities are tight-lipped over this illegal activity, transporters have the reasons to adopt “illegal means” to earn their livelihood. “Governments of different states have slapped huge taxes on interstate buses, so we are forced to adopt some illegal methods to earn profit,” a transporter said. It is widely alleged that buses bearing registration numbers of Nagaland and Mizoram have been plying without valid documents. These buses are not attached with any reputed transport company and some travel agents have been managing these buses from different bus stands. On an average, 35 to 40 buses ply between Jammu and Delhi regularly and 60 per cent of these vehicles have been plying illegally without valid documents. “If we have to complete all documents, we cannot earn even a single penny,” the transporter argued and pointed out that besides paying huge amount in the name of passenger tax, transporters had to pay for “entry” to the traffic cops in all states. “On an average, a bus operator has to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 from Lakhanpur to Katra to the cops for the smooth plying of buses,” he said. Transporters, while admitting that they have been adopting illegal means, suggested that one-time amount, including all taxes, should be charged from them. “Instead of forcing us to give taxes in different states, the government should adopt uniform policy for all interstate buses,” a transporter suggested. A majority of the buses carrying passengers to either Chandigarh or Delhi through night services don’t have the permission to carry passengers. These buses have been permitted only to take package tours from one place to the other. Interestingly, the authorities are aware that these buses are not allowed to pick up passengers from the bus stand, but the illegal activity has been going on unabated. |
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Kashmir varsity festival helps youth show talent Srinagar, November 6 About 15 events, including debate, poetry recitation, elocution, clay modelling, cartoon, painting and quiz were held, said Prof Nilofar Khan, Dean, Students Welfare, said. About 300 students from various affiliated colleges and varsity departments participated in the events. Vice-Chancellor Riyaz Punjabi said he was overwhelmed to see the talent of Kashmiri students. He asked them to open up new vistas of creative activities to face the challenges of modern world. Such events also encouraged young students to contribute in creative fields and helped them grow. He termed “Sonzal” (rainbow) as the festival of creative minds of the university departments and affiliated colleges. The festival gave students recreation for mind which could prepare them for the new challenges of future, the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that these events also encouraged young students to contribute in creative fields. Syed Fayaz, Registrar, appreciated the Department of Students Welfare for sharpening the talent of students of Kashmir University and its affiliated colleges Rafeeq Masoodi, Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, who was the guest of honour on the occasion termed the event a great success and said it was laudable that Kashmir University had been able to assure maximum participation from colleges and university departments. Masoodi said creating platforms to give vent to the hidden talent of youth was the need of hour and he volunteered full help of his kendra in this direction. |
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srinagar diary Amid a long dry spell, the Kashmir valley is fast changing its autumn colours, with the pentagon-shaped chinar leaves changing from green to golden and crimson red. The crispy sounds while walking over the thick covers of fallen autumn Chinar leaves have been attracting everyone. (See picture) These colours have been endearing to politicians like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Indira Gandhi had visited the valley in October to have a look at the autumn chinar leaves just days before her end came. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah named his autobiography as "Aatish-e-Chinar" (The Fire of Chinar). "I am delighted to be back in the valley of Kashmir in the lovely season of autumn. We will soon see the beautiful golden hues of the season and the magnificent chinar will soon be flaming red", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said in Anantnag on October 28. The burning of chinar leaves to produce coal for use in the Kashmir firepot, kangri, goes a long way providing warmth through the chilly winter. Ridiculous claims
As the Information Department is always expected to glorify the government's actions, a bit of exaggeration and hyperbole is always in place. However, mandarins sitting in the department have often crossed the line of late. A recent press release termed the playing of golf by 22 foreign dignitaries as "the most significant and historical period in the tourism history of Kashmir". It did not matter that few on the street were aware that such "momentous" occasion had passed Kashmir by. It became only funnier as the release said these guests would convey their feelings to "billions of people" and help attract "millions of tourists" to Kashmir. It did not matter to propaganda writers that the total population of the countries they represented would not be even half a billion and Kashmir,even in its heyday, never attracted more than a million tourists, including Amarnath pilgrims. And such common sense defying exaggerations are more a norm than exception. Ensure
disabled-friendly environment
Much is spoken about disabled-friendly environment but such a thing hardly exists on the ground, apart from a few ramps here and there. To encourage physically challenged people to enjoynormal life, disabled-friendly environment is a pre-requisite. Generally, what meets the eye here is not barrier-free, be it hospitals, local transport facility, pedestrian paths along roadsides, banks and other commercial institutions. Money might be pouring in from various quarters for the welfare of such people but all organisations working for their cause and the funding agencies ought to see the ground reality and help provide the same to physically challenged people lest the effort goes waste in the long run.
(Contributed by Ehsan Fazili, Kumar Rakesh and Afsana Rashid)
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Dogri scholar portrays Kashmiri migrants’ agony Jammu, November 6 Dr Jatindra Udhampuri, recipient of the Sahatiya Academi award, in his revised edition of “Thera Hua Kohra’’, has portrayed the sufferings of the community members and their struggle to sustain the trauma while living away from Kashmir and their ancestral land. Although a number of Kashmiri Pandit writers have contributed a lot to the literature in exile by penning over 100 books during the past 20 years, Udhampuri, however, appears to be the only Dogri writer who has visualised and poetically portrayed the pain of migration. He has given vent to his feelings through this Hindi book, based on 43 poems. The author admits that he has not been the victim of migration at any stage. “But as a poet” I can emotionally feel the sufferings of a common man having lost his home and hearth while moving out of Kashmir in distress’’, he said. In one of his poems, Udhampuri states that “Visthapan’’ (migration) does not affect the body alone but the very psyche of a person. `` There is a cure for body wounds and ailments but not for the hurt psyche’’, he argues. In another poem “Mara Ghar’’, the Dogri scholar, who is also a recipient of Governor’s and Chief Minister’s medals, mentions that despite residing away from Kashmir, the soul of the community continues to live around Shankarachayara and Kheerbhawani temples or the cave shrine of Amarnath . “Away from the roots, their soul continues to recite the shrukhs of Nund Rishi and vaakhs of mystic poetess Lal Ded’’, he said. “It has been my modest attempt to pen something on migration and Kashmir. It is not necessary that only the wearer should know where the shoe pinches. Any individual, who is sensitive towards the happenings in and around, can feel the pain and agony’’, he added. |
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Jhiri Mela, a tribute to Baba Jitto Jammu, November 6 To commemorate his sacrifice, which raised him to the status of a household deity, people from northern states gather at Jhiri on the outskirts of Jammu every year on “Kartik Purnima”. This year, too, the weeklong Jhiri Mela began on November 2. Hundreds of devotees from other states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi have already converged at Jhiri and all roads leading to the Baba Jitto temple have been renovated. The state administration has geared up to promote the event having a vast religious tourism potential. Additional troops have been deployed in and around the historical place that houses a sacred pond, “babe da talaab”, which is known to have miraculous powers for curing skin and other disorders. Ashok Kumar, sarpanch of Jhiri, while narrating the legend that has been passed to him by his elders, says devotees converge at Jhiri to seek repentance for the act of “murder” that was committed by a landlord bent upon usurping the produce of Baba Jitto. Baba Jitto (1426-1474) had toiled hard and transformed a piece of barren land into a lush green field that yielded the much-needed crop. Bir Singh, the landlord, wanted to lift three-fourth of the crop and leave only a quarter with Jitto against which the Baba vehemently protested. No other farmer had the audacity to appreciate the vision of Baba and consequently nobody offered him help which left him with the only option to sacrifice himself at the alter which symbolically proved to be the heap of grain that Baba had raised. The grains thus got smeared with his blood and it is said Baba’s seven-year-old daughter Bua Kouri also set herself ablaze on the pyre of her father. The poor villagers then took away the blood-smeared grains for their consumption only to be afflicted with ailments. Later, they accepted Baba and his daughter as deities in order to save themselves from the heavenly wrath. The sarpanch says since then, villagers and their descendants have been attending the annual fair to atone for the sins that were committed by their forefathers. |
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Whenever there is a major road accident, people hold the Traffic Police Department responsible for the mishap for not regulating the traffic properly. Tejinder Singh Sodhi spoke to Pankaj
Saxena, Deputy Inspector General of Police, (Traffic) Jammu, about what the department is doing to prevent such mishaps.
DIG Pankaj Saxena
Srinagar, November 6
Srinagar, November 6
Srinagar, November 6
