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Katra panel gives bandh call
‘Renegotiate water pacts with NHPC’
Make eco-tourism theme of sightseeing, Jora asks officials
Pro-Soz faction now wants Sewa Dal chief out
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Gujjars can play vital role in uniting state: Minister
Chib: Indoor shooting range in Jammu
30 students on Bharat Darshan
Plea to airlift stranded labourers
Medical camp organised
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Katra panel gives bandh call
Jammu, November 22 The bandh has been called in protest against a notification to acquire land for the construction of a new bus stand under Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act. Katra being the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi has several pilgrims visiting everyday. The committee, however, said the business establishments of the town would organise free langers for the pilgrims so that they didn’t face any inconvenience. The committee accused the government functionaries of having a nexus with land grabbers in the area and urged the chief minister Omar Abdullah to order a high-level inquiry into the acquisition of the land. “The notification for acquisition of land seems to be stage managed and tailored with a view to accommodate favourites. The notification for acquisition of land has been issued without obtaining the requisite No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MLA concerned or other departments, including pollution control board and environment department,” said Sher Singh, president, KDCC, at a press conference here. He added that the Chief Minister during the District Development Board (DDB) meeting held on October 2 had emphasised on redrafting and reviewing the entire Master Plan for Katra town, including reviewing and renovation of existing bus stand. Singh alleged that the local administration in connivance with land-grabbers had managed to redraft and review the entire plan in a mechanical manner and that too, within a period of 15 days. MLA, Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma, said the KDCC was not against development, but said it should be transparent and fair. The land acquisition process should be suspended with immediate effect and the entire plan should be redrafted and thoroughly reviewed so that pilgrims visiting the holy shrine didn’t face any difficulty in near future. |
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‘Renegotiate water pacts with NHPC’
Jammu, November 22 This demand was made by former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig while addressing a one-day seminar on self-rule organised at Doda.“According to rough estimates, the state has already suffered from a recurring loss of Rs 600 crore per annum because of discriminatory Indus Water Treaty and surrendering of water resources to the NHPC against a paltry royalty of just 12 per cent electricity has further complicated its economic distress,” he said while referring to the discriminatory agreements signed with the NHPC in 2002. The former Deputy Chief Minister said his party had moved a resolution in the Assembly against this discriminatory agreement with the NHPC but due to non-cooperative attitude of the other parties the resolution could not be passed in the House. “I don’t think any state in the country would barter its resources in such a reckless manner as was done by the NC government by handing over seven power projects to the NHPC under an arbitrary agreement signed with the Union Power Ministry in 2000,” he said and added that NC’s illogical surrender of the state’s water resources to the NHPC was another blow to its economy. Beig observed that water to the state was like oil to the oil-producing countries, but National Conference had systematically sold out this most valuable resource for political power. He said it was tragic that a state so rich in resources that it could be cash surplus was converted into a virtual begging bowl as a result of NC’s lust for power. “In our self-rule proposal we demand rights on our water resources so that we can utilise these resources properly to make our state economically self-reliant,” he said and further demanded that NHPC projects namely Dulhasti and Salal hydro-electric projects should be handed over to the state government. |
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Make eco-tourism theme of sightseeing, Jora asks officials
Jammu, November 22 By creating facilities of international standards the state would attract more tourists, he said. Jora while making a thorough visit of Surinsar today said the pristine glory of these renowned tourist destinations not only needs to be preserved but showcased domestically and internationally. The Minister was accompanied by MLA Nagrota Jugal Kishore and senior officers of Tourism Department and Mansar-Surinsar Development Authority. The Minister called for promoting eco-tourism in the state and asked the authorities to make it the theme of state’s sightseeing. He sought cooperation from the people to project the state as an eco-friendly tourist destination and urged active involvement of expert consultancy firms in the preparation of eco-tourism projects. Jora felt the need for creating more accommodation at the sites and directed the concerned authorities to formulate a project report for construction of budgeted accommodation. He said the government would acquire 31 kanals of land at the site for creation of tourism related infrastructure at a cost of Rs 70 lakh which includes public park, parking lot, viewpoints. He said birds watching tower, viewpoints and footpaths around the lake would be also constructed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. |
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Pro-Soz faction now wants Sewa Dal chief out
Jammu, November 22 Although the pro-Soz function termed removal of Amin Bhat a routine organisational affair to give fresh faces a chance, it is an open secret that he was removed due to infighting in the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). Insiders in the Congress said that the removal of BS Sambyal was almost certain. The party leadership has been citing various reasons for revamping frontal organisations but sources said Sambyal would face the music for hobnobbing with dissidents. PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz is learnt to have taken serious note of the activities of the Sewa Dal chief who has been organising separate functions, instead of cooperating with the parent organisation. On October 30, when the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) was observing the death anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi at a function here, the Congress Sewa Dal virtually organised a parallel function at Dogra Chowk, a few yards away from the venue of the main function. “The PCC chief is not happy with the attitude of Sambyal, who has been organising parallel functions,” a senior leader told The Tribune, adding that many pro-Soz loyalists had begun lobbying for the Sewa Dal chief’s post. PCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that revamping of the organisation was a routine affair and there was no question of witch hunting. Making an obvious reference to the non-cooperative attitude of the Sewa Dal chief, Sharma said that the role of the frontal organisation was to support the parent organisation and not to indulge in confrontation. He admitted that some frontal organisations were not supporting the parent body. |
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Gujjars can play vital role in uniting state: Minister
Jammu, November 22 Khan said this at the inauguration of the Tribal Festival organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, a national organisation working on Gujjars here at Abhinav Theatre complex. He added that the Gujjars were all set to play a dominant role in uniting the state as a powerful entity. The event was presided over by Ch Zulifkar Ali, member Legislative Assembly and Zaffar Iqbal Khan Manhas, secretary Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages. Welcoming the guests Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary Tribal Foundation said the main objective of organising Tribal Festival was to highlight the primitive culture of Gujjars which was surviving for the last 5,000 year. He said the foundation is proactive in conservation and promotion of Gojri Language and its musical tradition and had recently launched an e-Channel Gojri on Youtube and uploaded 100 videos of Gojri music. He said there was great demand of Gojri Music on the Internet and the foundation had received hundreds of emails on its videos from all parts of the world. Khan further said Gojri was one of the important tribal languages of India and deserved a fair deal from government and the society as well. He said more NGOs should come forward to promote the Gujjar Culture and oral and modern Literature of Gojri. He said we had to work together for promotion of suppressed cultural identities. The minister appreciated the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation for holding of this festival and congratulated the artists who participated in the event. Ch Zulifkar Ali in his presidential address said there was a strong case for inclusion of Gojri into the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. He asserted that during forth coming session of the Assembly he would move a resolution in the lower house to get it done. He impressed upon younger tribal generation to be united against all odds. He further said the artists and writers should be encouraged by government bodies working in cultural field. Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in his speech appreciated Tribal Foundation and assured all help from Cultural Academy in its endeavour to promote Gujjar Culture and Gojri Language. Earlier prominent singer Kailash Mehra was honoured by Tribal Foundation for her extra ordinary contributions in the field of Gojri music. Ch Bashir Mastana and Ch Allah Rakha Chechi were honoured for promoting Gojri Folk while Suraj Singh was honoured for promotion of Gojri Ghazals. A day-long programme of music was held during festival. |
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Chib: Indoor shooting range in Jammu
Jammu, November 22 “An indoor shooting range is coming up and about 10 acres has been earmarked for this purpose. Work is going on in full swing”, Chib said. Chib further said the government aimed to discover talent and the shooting range would help the shooters to improve their skills. Now, they would be able to show their talent at the national and international levels. Simrandeep Singh, a shooter, said: “I am sure that after the inauguration of the shooting range, not only the number of shooters in the region will increase, but also the game will get a form as per international and national standards”. Welcoming the announcement, a coach, Gurjeet Singh, said: “The government has won the hearts of sportspersons. Let us hope the new shooting range will be built in a short time”. The minister also directed the executive agency to speed up the work. |
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30 students on Bharat Darshan
Jammu, November 22 Deputy Commandant, BSF, Jammu, S Balasubramaniam said the students would go to Gujarat, Delhi, Agra and Amritsar where they would see the Gujarat Coast, Sabarmati Ashram, IT Park, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Kutab Minar, Lotus Temple and Parliament. The children would also meet the Union Home Minister during the tour. In the last leg , students would see Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar and the Attari border which would be a thrilling moment for them, said Balasubramaniam. |
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Plea to airlift stranded labourers
Jammu, November 22 Speaking to mediapersons in Jammu, the minister said due to the heavy snowfall that resulted in blocking the Srinagar-Leh national highway over 100 labourers of Doda district were stranded at
Zojila Pass. “Over 100 labourers from Doda district are stranded as the highway is closed due to heavy snowfall, our engineers have provided them food and shelter,”
Saroori said. Saroori said he had talked to the Chief Minister to ensure airlifting of the labourers from the area as they are in bad condition. |
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Medical camp organised
Jammu, November 22 The camp was organised by 41 EME Battalion (Transport) and the Doctors of Command Hospital (Northern Command). The camp consisting of a gynaecologist, eye specialist, ENT specialists, paediatrician, skin specialist and physicians drew the attention of large number of patients from adjoining villages of the area. In addition to primary health service of specialist doctors, pathological test facilities were also provided and free medicines were distributed by the Army. |
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Jammu, November 22
Jammu, November 22
