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Direct rail link to Katra still a distant dream
Sansi community living in social seclusion
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Incentive scheme for SC/ST girl students
Come snow, Srinagar-Ladakh road closed
Rights commission office in a shambles
Untimely death halts KP scientist’s mission
Vehicular pollution alarming in Jammu
Radio Kashmir Jammu
Jammu diary
Master Plan violations
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Direct rail link to Katra still a distant dream
Katra, December 8 Not only has the completion of this prestigious project been delayed, it’s cost has also increased after the authorities have floated fresh tenders to re-build the tunnel which start just a few meters away from the Udhampur railway station. The rail link between Udhampur and Katra was scheduled to be completed by 2005. When the Udhampur-Jammu rail link was commissioned in 2005, it was announced that the further link between Udhampur and Katra would be completed by the end of 2005 at any cost. Officers of the Railways refused to give a time schedule for completion of the project which was already been delayed for various reasons. “We are not in a position to say when this project would be completed due to geographical problems”, a senior railway officer told The Tribune, admitting that this project was likely to be delayed by not less than three years. “Only tenders have been floated but work on rebuilding the tunnel has yet to be started”, he said. As there is no chance of completion of the project of re-building the tunnel number 1, work on Katra railway station was also going on at a snail’s pace. Earlier, a large number of labourers were engaged and work was going on a war footing but after work on the track was halted due to a technical snag, the authorities have virtually stopped work on Katra railway station. “Earlier work was going on a war footing but now construction of the railway station has been halted”, pointed out Rajiv Sharma, a resident of Katra who has lost the hope of a direct train from Katra to Delhi. “For the past three years we have been hearing that the project would be completed within six months”, he said. Survey on the 25-km Udhampur-Katra rail project was conducted in 1998 but the actual ground work was started 1999 with the promise that Katra would be connected through rail with the rest of the country by the end of 2005. About 11 kilometre of this track is in tunnels while three kilometres on bridges. Out of the total 10 tunnels on this track, work on nine has already been completed but tunnel number 1 is turning to be problematic due to seepage of water and caving in of some portion of this tunnel. Earlier, the railway authorities had to face the same problem in tunnel No. 3. After two years of work, the railway authorities had rectified the problem at tunnel No. 3 but the same problem emerged when construction was started in tunnel No. 1. The project received a setback when a 1000-meter portion of the 3-km tunnel near Udhampur cave in due to seepage. |
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Sansi community living in social seclusion
Kathua, December 8 A small village deep inside Chak Drabkhan in Kathua district has nearly 500 households predominantly inhabited by this heterogeneous community, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. Roshan Singh, a member of the community, says, “You will never find any case regarding dispute between community members at police stations and courts. Whenever there is some dispute, the council of the community headed by an elder is approached for a solution. The council after listening to both sides gives its decision which is binding on all.” Even as the rest of the country is reaping benefits of development, the community is still living in social seclusion marked by hunger and illiteracy. Most of them are denied a permanent resident certificate by the state government. It keeps them devoid of the ambit of privileges aimed at uplifting the weaker sections of society. They live in mud thatches and shanties and rarely have any tract of land for cultivation. According to elders of the community, they belong to the lineage of nomads. “People of the community used to live in dense forests or some deserted places. Killing and capturing wild animals and reptiles for food was their mainstay. They also used to earn living by performing dance in marriage ceremonies or other occasions of celebration,” they say. The community is quite notorious for manufacturing spurious liquor, which is one of their traditional occupations, besides uncommon eating habits. “There is not even a single person from our community doing a job in the public sector,” says Chaman Lal whose two sons after passing senior secondary have been working as day laborers at a factory in Samba. Disenchanted by politicians, the members say only 10-12 families in the village have been granted the below poverty line (BPL) status. However, living conditions of others who do not officially fall under this category is no different. With no possession of land, Mohd Yaqoob is a frustrated man as his business is a no profit, no loss venture. He has a dairy farm with 30 buffalos. He does not have any land holding. “Whatever I earn from selling milk, I have to spend it on cattle feed. I fail to make my both ends meet with the income I generate from my work.” In view of illiteracy and backwardness, the community remains plagued with all sort of social evils. Be it domestic violence or manufacturing and over consumption of illicit liquor, the community remains target of ridicule in society. Most of the male members have now parted ways with the traditional way of living. The youth is doing odd jobs as truckers or drivers, motor mechanics, butchers at meat shops or labourers in the fields of upper cast communities. Others villages in the area like Lachipur and Badalaa also have substantial number of Sansi families living in similar conditions. |
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Incentive scheme for SC/ST girl students
Jammu, December 8 The scheme is made for SC/ST girls who are studying in class IX. It will help the girl students belonging to the SC/ST category, particularly to poor students, to continue their studies without any economic crisis. The main aim of the scheme is to increase enrolment of girls in schools. “The proposal has been sent to the Centre for approval. It has been taken under consideration by the government. It must get approval within two weeks, after which we will implement the scheme quickly,” said QA Rishi, project director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Under the scheme, around 5,026 girl students would be covered in the state. As per the scheme, Rs 3,000 per annum would be deposited in the accounts of these students. They could withdraw the amount only after they turn 18. The Centre would pay the stipend directly to the identified students by way of depositing the amount in their respective bank accounts. “Under the scheme, the Centre will provide 90 per cent of funds, while 10 per cent of funds will be borne by the state government,” said Rishi. “After the allocation of funds to the Education Department, 3,699 girl students will be covered for 2008-09 and 1,327 girls will be covered for 2009-10,” he said. For the effective implementation of the scheme, the department has already opened accounts of these students in the State Bank of India. According to sources in the department, besides SC/ST students, the stipend would also be granted to meritorious students from amongst the general categories whose parent’s annual income is less than Rs 1.05
lakh. Under the RMSA, three plans have already been approved by the Centre which includes allocation of Rs 2.20 crore for all districts, establishment of model schools and construction of hostels for girls. “There are 22 districts in the state and Rs 10 lakh will be allocated to each district for the development of basic infrastructure in all schools,” said
Rishi. He further maintained that they would also establish 24 model schools on the CBSE pattern in the state. “The Centre has already sanctioned funds for the construction of 19 model schools out of 24 in the state,” he said. He said the Centre had also sanctioned funds for the construction of 19 girls’ hostels in all districts for the convenience of girls who come from the far-flung areas of the state. |
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Come snow, Srinagar-Ladakh road closed
Srinagar, December 8 The Beacon wing of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) maintaining the road up to Zojila Pass from Srinagar, is of the opinion that the road was not feasible for movement of traffic. Due to the bad weather conditions leading to slides and avalanches in the high-altitude area, the movement would lead to loss of human lives. In view of the dry weather conditions, the authorities had decided to continue the movement of traffic till “weather permits”, but it was closed after snow on Zoji La between November 9 and 10. It was decided to close traffic movement on November 16, but after the snow clearance by the agencies concerned, Beacon on this side of Kashmir and Sampark on the Ladakh side, those stranded were allowed to move towards their destinations. However, after clearance of the road between November 16 and 24, there were reports of some
stranded passengers and vehicles on either side, the officials said here. Kashmir officials said that around 47 LMVs, including Scorpio and Tata Sumo taxis, made an attempt to move from Sonamarg (Kashmir) towards Gumri (Ladakh) on November 29. The vehicles were not allowed to move towards Gumri as the road had already been closed on November 26. It was revealed that these LMVs had carried passengers on November 25 from Gumri to Sonamarg and before their departure from Kargil they had given a written undertaking to the Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, that they would carry the passengers to Srinagar at their own risk and responsibility and in the case of road closure they would not insist on returning to Kargil. However, in violation of the written undertaking, these taxi drivers staged protests at Sonamarg and Kulan, demanding permission to move towards Kargil on the plea that Zoji La was motorable. An aerial survey of the road from Sonamarg to Drass was conducted by Ms Naseem Lanker, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, along with Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, Chief Executive Counsellor, LAHDC, Kargil, and H.K. Lohia, DIG, CKR, Srinagar, Col. Yadav, Commander, 32 BRTF Beacon. It was observed that the Sonamarg-Drass road is blocked due to avalanches on Zoji La between KM 103.5 and KM 108 and at Shaitani Nalla between Gumri and Drass, an official spokesman said here. The avalanches between Sonamarg and KM 108 are required to be cleared by Beacon and the avalanches at Shaitani Nalla are to be cleared by the Himank authorities, only after that any decision regarding the movement of traffic between Sonamarg and Gumri could be taken. However any movement of traffic around this time on the road would be disastrous, said Beacon officials. The road remains closed to traffic every winter before which the essential commodities are stored to suffice the winter in the region. |
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Rights commission office in a shambles
Jammu, December 8 Even if with hard efforts a complainant finally comes around, one is in a fix whether it is a commission or the office of Punjab Technical University. As the office of the educational institution also operates from the same house, its banners have apparently covered up the address of the commission. After putting a lot of leg-work and repetitively asking the commuters about the location of the commission, as you walk into the office, a volley of grievances by the employees of the commission welcome you. “The government should streamline the office or wound it up. Does it appear to be an office anyway? We have just three rooms with everything just juggled up. There is no sitting arrangement or requisite infrastructure,” complained a visibly aggrieved employee and asked in the same breath: “Can you imagine, we don’t have even a telephone, a fax and a photostat machine?” Reaching the office is not a feat. Just hold on. It’s just the beginning of mental trauma. The ‘reticent’ commission never bothers to brief the media about when the next court would be held at Jammu for hearings. Anyways, if the case gets registered, relief and compensation remain elusive due to noncompliance of the recommendations. The government hardly bothers to intimate the commission about action taken report or proposed action taken report. In its last years’ annual report, the commission regretfully maintains: “The commission is disappointed to place its anguish for the attempt of brushing aside the recommendations of the commission by some officers of the civil secretariat and starting fresh inquiries.” The permanent staff manning the office here comprises a DSP and two inspectors and an orderly. While the DSP and the inspector are off on some training course, the chairman of the commission normally visits once a month for hearing. Records of the commission accessed by The Tribune show at least 152 cases were registered from January to November this year. Of which, one case was registered as suo motto cognisance which lacked even the basic details like name of the victims. “The file of this case has been transferred to the Srinagar office,’ said an employee on anonymity. “The commission needs to be consolidated and the people must take the initiative. But people here are not aware of rights’ violation,” the employee said and added: “Last year during the two months long Amarnath land row agitation, there were widespread protests, curfews, lathicharge and teargas shelling. Even in such a worse situation we did not receive even a single complaint.” “For educating the people about their rights, we need finance but nobody knows exactly about the budget allocated for the functioning of commission annually,” the employee added. |
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Untimely death halts KP scientist’s mission
Jammu, December 8 The scientist, Kuldeep Wali, 52, who was part of a science expedition to the Antarctica, brought laurels for the community when last year he was selected amongst the team of scientists to carry out research on global warming on the planet and its affects in the ice cap. Everything was fine for the first six months, but things suddenly changed when he fell severely ill and died of a cardiac arrest on June 1 this year. “He was selected as the team leader to lead a team of 25 members to carry out research work on global warming in the Antarctica and it was a proud moment not only for his family, but also for the entire KP community,” said Shiban Krishan Wali, younger brother of Kuldeep. Kuldeep, a senior mythologist with the Indian Metrological Department who was deputed to the Antarctica as a member of the winter over team of the 28th Indian Scientific Expedition in November 2008, became the first person from the continent who died in the inhospitable condition of the ice cap. “As his body could not be brought back to the country, we asked the authorities to cremate him there. But due to bad weather conditions, his cremation took place after nine days of his death and he became the first person to have been cremated in that place,” said Shiban. He said after the first batch of the scientists returned this November, they brought with them the mortal remains of the scientist. “The mortal remains reached the country after 180 days of his death. We took them to Haridwar and immersed the same in the Ganga,” said Shiban. He said as the family received the news about the death of Kuldeep, gloom descended the family and the community. A large number of people thronged the house to offer their condolences. A first-class graduate in science, Kuldeep joined the Metrological Department in 1975 and was elevated to the post of senior mythologist. After returning back from the Antarctica, he was to take the charge as the director of the department, but the destiny has something else in store. “On his death, we received condolence messages from 56 countries. US President Barak Obama also condoled the death of my brother,” said Shiban. The deceased scientist is survived by his wife and a 25-year-old daughter who is settled in New Delhi. Basically a resident of Srinagar, the family had migrated to Jammu and Delhi following the eruption of armed insurgency in the Valley. “Though we miss him a lot, we are proud of him. The contributions he made towards the effects of global warming cannot be forgotten,” Shiban maintained. |
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Vehicular pollution alarming in Jammu
Jammu, December 8 People in Jammu are forced to breathe in polluted air. An increase in release of polluting gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, have made city residents prone to various diseases. According to environment scientists of the University of Jammu, about two-third of air pollution in the city is due to vehicular emission, mainly from matadors, mini-buses, trucks and vehicles coming from other states, as most of them are over 15 years old. As per Supreme Court’s directions, these vehicles should not be allowed to ply, but in Jammu, such vehicles are operating without any check for the past few years. A senior doctor of the Government Medical College and Hospital disclosed that the high level of pollution may cause diseases like lung cancer, blindness etc. The existing air pollution level here is a health hazard for residents and most of the skin infections and gastro problems are occurring only because of emission released from the tailpipes of vehicles. As per details provided by the road transport office, every month, about 5,000 new vehicles are getting registered in the city, especially four-wheelers. When asked why old vehicles are not being phased out, an official said the department was working on the issue and preparing a list of the vehicles with expired certificates. Overexposure to pollution cuts short human life. “The government should start a campaign to make people aware of the hazards of pollution and measures to curb it,” suggested local residents. While air pollution continues to pose a serious threat, the much-hyped initiative of the previous government to check vehicular emissions in the city is nowhere visible. The government had authorised about 35 pollution check centres across the city. But the non-existence of traffic cops led to the failure of this initiative. The centre owners had purchased machines and got licences after paying a fee to the government and now, they are incurring losses. “Barely one or two vehicles come to us to get the pollution-check certificate. How can the government think of controlling the vehicular pollution?” rued an owner of a pollution check centre. Parminder Pal Singh, SP Traffic, said, “We have deployed our personnel everywhere in the city. They are regularly challaning vehicles not having pollution control certificates issued by authorised centres. |
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Reaching out to people across the border
Rajesh Bhat
Jammu, December 8 This is evident from the fact that the station receives a number of letters every week, wherein people from across the border request for listening to typical Dogri, Punjabi, Gojri and Urdu radio dramas, skits and music. They also pray for better Indo-Pak ties while cobbling together those nostalgic days of pre-Partition, when trains would chug between Sialkote and Jammu. Interestingly, the letters received from across the border are generally being written by the segment of people who were once living in the Jammu region and had migrated to the other side after the creation of Pakistan. It was possibly in this context that the Radio Kashmir Jammu on its 62nd inception day on December 1 organised a two-day drama festival at Abhinav Theatre here to showcase the popularity of radio dramas. Prof Rita Jitendra, a veteran drama artist and former secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages read out a detailed paper on the importance of radio dramas and how they were being received well by Pakistani audience, who share the same cultural lineage. Jatindra, who has remained associated with Radio Kashmir since 1947 as a child artiste, recalled those moments when dramas were presented live. Dr Javed Rahi, president of the Tribal Research Foundation, said residents of PoK, who have been regularly visiting this part of the state after the introduction of the cross-border bus service, speak high of Gojri and Punjabi dramas and music broadcast over Radio Kashmir. “They turn nostalgic after listening to our Gojri programmes,” said Hassan Parvaaz, in charge, Gojri section at the RKJ. Broadcaster Nitish Arora, who had remained associated with Punjabi programmes over the RKJ, said: “Residents of Sialkote, bordering Jammu city, often request for listening to Dogri dramas and music”. “The station also receives a number of letters from Pakistan for its programme ‘Yuva Vani Dost’. Young listeners wish better ties between the two nations,” said Nitish. But that has so far remained a distant dream from the other side. Records available with the J&K Department of Archives and Museums suggest that over the years, Radio Pakistan had produced highly anti-India programmes.
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“Crushing music”, police style
Minibus drivers in the temple city demonstrate an unusual penchant for different genres of music. But these music freaks have been facing a tough time, courtesy the traffic police, which, of late, has literally started “crushing” their taste. As a matter of routine, minibuses are being intercepted at every junction and are thoroughly checked. If a music system is found, the same is plucked out and placed under the wheels of the minibus (See picture). Then the driver concerned, much to the relief of passengers, is directed to crush the same. On a positive note, the ongoing police drive has certainly given relief to the daily commuters because all songs played in minibuses may not be music to the ears of commuters. It seems that traffic cops aptly know the hairline difference between good music and decibel-free “noise pollution”. Kissa kursi ka
“Kursi” in politics has always exerted pulls and pressures on khadi-clad netas and PDP leaders are no exception. Recently at a workshop on self-rule, the two PDP MLAs from the Jammu region boycotted the function after they were not allowed to sit on the dais while some junior leaders were sharing the stage with former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig. The two MLAs felt insulted and left the programme to lodge their protest. However, to avoid bickering over “kursi” the party chalked out a new strategy. Instead of putting chairs on the dais during party functions, the PDP leadership decided to allow the privilege of ‘kursi’ to the main speaker only while making other leaders sit among the audience. The changed strategy has resulted in smooth functioning of party programmes as other leaders now sit with common workers in the audience. It was really a difficult task for the PDP leadership to allow “access” to all leaders on the dais. The party organised another workshop on self-rule at Doda. More than 12 senior leaders were present but none of them was allowed to share the dais with Beig. Much to their chagrin these leaders were shocked to see only one ‘kursi’ on the dais. Untrained drivers — a boon for mechanics
Thanks to a faulty system, particularly at the Regional Transport Office, automobile mechanics here are having a gala time. A spurt in vehicles in the city vis-à-vis untrained and minor drivers has increased accidents and traffic snarls. Not only they risk their own lives but also put others in danger. However, amidst accidents automobile mechanics earn good money, thanks to amateurs, who ram their vehicles against anyone, anywhere, anytime. One could easily find a beeline of vehicles, particularly damaged cars, outside automobile workshops. Police above
the law!
While the police teaches law to the people but it blatantly violates various laws. As per law it is mandatory to have the registration number at the specified place on a vehicle but most of the vehicles of the Jammu police don’t have registration numbers. “While they don’t waste a moment to penalise vehicles without registration numbers, it appears that the police and its vehicles are above the law, mocked a resident of Gandhi Nagar being fined at a crossing for tinted glasses on his car. Adulterated food items on sale
Despite the ongoing anti-adulteration drive by the Jammu Municipal Corporation, the sale of adulterated food items goes on in the city. The level of menace can be gauged from the fact that the Health Wing seizes number of adulterated items and collect fines from disgruntled businessmen almost daily but there is no decline in the unethical practice. “In order to control this menace, the authorities concerned should either intensify their drives or charge a hefty amount from the defaulters”, said Rattan Lal, a resident of Sarwal. (Contributed by Ashutosh Sharma, Dinesh Manhotra, Archit Watts, Tejinder Singh Sodhi and Sunaina Kaul)
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Deputy CM promises action
Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 8 The Minister for Housing and Urban Development was reviewing the progress on the functioning of the committee constituted to compile the report regarding “khilaf warzis” made by violating the approved master plan for Srinagar city here yesterday. He directed the additional commissioner to convene a meeting of all four sub committees immediately and get the complete report on the violations within three days. He said the list of “khilaf warzis” along with those responsible for permitting these violations, encroachments and illegal constructions should be submitted to him with the recommendations of action against the erring officials. He also instructed the authorities for categorising the action against the erring officials. Expressing concern over the illegal construction made on both sides of the bypass road, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the authorities concerned to take action, including demolition, after completing the requisite legal formalities. To arrest the illegal construction menace, he advocated close coordination between the Lakes and Waterways development Authority (LAWDA), Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other allied departments. The review meeting was informed that as per the preliminary report, 78 major and 1318 minor violations, encroachments and illegal constructions, mainly on the roads, had been reported.
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After the floating of a fresh tender to overcome seepage in the T-1 tunnel, it becomes clear that establishing a direct railway link to Katra-the base of Mata Vaishno Devi, is still a distant dream.
Kathua, December 8
Jammu, December 8
Jammu, December 8
