Srinagar, June 22
For efficient and scientific management of traffic under the new transport policy, the state government has decided to constitute an Urban Metro Transport Authority (UMTA).

A comprehensive and integrated proposal for the purpose is expected to be submitted soon to the Cabinet for approval. Decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held here on June 17 under the chairmanship of Minister for Transport, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon.

The meeting decided to submit city transport plan to the Centre within a week’s time for necessary approval so that initiatives would be taken in this regard.

Two hi-tech driving institutes, one each at Srinagar and Jammu, were decided to be set-up where unemployed youth would be offered driving training to produce trained drivers to enable them to get more employment opportunities.

Spread over 100 kanals, the driving institutes, to be funded by the Central government, would be equipped with modern facilities. It was also decided that a committee comprising of divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, vice-chairmen of Jammu and Srinagar Development Authorities and deputy transport commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir would be constituted to complete land acquisition process for these institutions within a month.

Construction of parking places in twin cities was also taken up. A multi-tier parking complex has been proposed under the public private partnership mode at the General Bus Stand, Jammu, spread over an area of 52 kanals. Similar parking lot has been proposed near old KMD Adda, Srinagar, under Asian Development Bank. In addition, construction of idle parking lots to ease traffic congestions in these cities was also discussed.

A private company has reportedly offered to install traffic signals on a BOOT basis and action on it will be taken within six months. Beacon and other authorities were asked to initiate quick action for installing signboards at curves, speed breakers, zebra crossings and likewise to avoid accidents.

Asking the agencies concerned to complete necessary recommendation for new transport policy so that its implementation can be done at the earliest, the Transport Minister directed the authorities to provide route permits in the hilly areas like Doda, Poonch and Rajouri so that more passenger vehicles could be pressed into service to check accidents due to overloading.

“The State Road Transport Corporation is being revived at the pattern of Hyderabad and Himachal Pradesh,” the minister added.

Jammu, June 22
With much publicity Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din, accompanied by political adviser to Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana and MP Madan Lal Sharma, recently laid the foundation stone of a proposed artificial lake at Jhajjar Kotli.

Interestingly, a foundation stone of another artificial lake on the Tawi was laid a few years ago, but the work has not been started and there is no possibility of its starting any time soon.

For the past six years, the government has been claiming that the work would start soon.

Though ministers and senior bureaucrats concerned have been keeping mum on the issue, sources say funds meant for the lake have already been diverted.

With the work pending on an already proposed artificial lake, the government has laid the foundation stone of yet another one. “Instead of completing the already approved projects, the government has been laying foundation stones of new works, which is messing up the things”, says Rajesh Sharma, a local social activist, who expressed concern that except promises nothing concrete is being done in terms of development.

In November last year, the government announced that the work on the artificial lake to be developed on the dry riverbed of the Tawi would be started soon and the tendering process had already been completed. Eight months have already been passed and the work is yet to be started and now the foundation stone of another lake has been laid.

The government has earmarked Rs 25 crore for the project and the state has also received another Rs 25 crore under the 13th Finance Commission, but the fund is yet to be utilised.

The lake for which the foundation stone has been laid last week would be constructed by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department at an estimated cost of Rs 2.85 crore. The lake when completed will boost tourism potential as the place is often thronged by pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, besides providing flood control infrastructure to the nearby areas.

Jammu, June 22
With most schools closed for summer vacation, it’s the time for schoolchildren to enjoy their break from studies, but the rising trend of summer camps has changed the entire meaning of the vacation. It seems that children cannot take a pause even for a while in this competitive world.

A visit to nana-nani’s (grandparents’) house during vacation has become a thing of the past as majority of the children and their parents prefer summer camps. Earlier, children used to spend more time with parents, friends and relatives in order to take a break from the routine life.

The number of children joining the summer camps has been on the rise with each passing year, which indicates the inclination of children towards these camps.

Around 50 children aged between two and 12 have signed up to learn various activities in a summer camp organised by the Annizone Meadow at Angels school recently.

While talking to the Tribune, Annu Singh, director of the school, said, “We conducted our first batch from June 1 to June 15 and the second batch, which started on June 16, will conclude on June 30,” she said, adding that around 50 students were enrolled in each batch.

“We have started the summer camp for the first the time and the response is overwhelming. Parents want to give their kids a head start. Under the two-week course, children learn art and craft, personality development, music and dance, yoga, cooking and computer.”

“For the camp, we have charged Rs 500 from students of our own school and Rs 700 from students of other schools,” she added.

NN Pandita, a parent, said, “No doubt, summer camps are good for children as they boost the talent and creativity of a child, but parents should also ensure that their child is not missing on social activities. Parents should not make complete thrust on making their wards competitive. They should also ensure that their child is not missing his/her childhood days”.

“With the rising popularity of reality shows, many summer camps are organising dance and singing classes to lure the children”, said Monika Sharma, a parent.

Manisha Kohli, a psychologist, said, “Summer camps are generally conduced to refresh the child, but unfortunately these camps are putting mental burden on a child. Conducting summer camps at hill stations like Patnitop can refresh a child in real sense where children can opt for mountaineering and tracking which exposes them to education outside textbooks. But instead, schools organise summer camps inside the premises under same atmosphere. The children have lost their childhood. Now the child do not have time to spend with family and even mother do not want to have child for even half an hour.”

However, Dr. Arti Bakshi, head of the Department of Psycology, University of Jammu, said, “By joining summer camps, children get time to learn other activities besides their regular studies. Parents who are working somewhere do not get time for children and they do not want that their child should sit idle. By sending them to summer camps, their children remain busy. Earlier, parents were not aware about enhancing the talent of the children so they were not concentrating towards other activities of children. A summer camp gives exposure to children and helps increase their confidence level of children”.

Jammu, June 22
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is trying his best to promote sports activities in the state, Sports Minister RS Chib has forgotten his promise made to people living in the Panjtirthi area.

The minister had inaugurated a sports complex at Old Dhounthly in Panjtirthi on March 3 and promised that within a few days adequate equipment like mats etc would be provided in the complex, but no steps have been taken in this direction.

Besides, the gymnasium hall in the complex has been locked since its inauguration.

A number of local leaders, including Rani Baloeria, Yogesh Sawhney and Narinder Singh, had contributed Rs 10.60 lakh for the construction of the hall to promote sports activities and to facilitate young sportspersons of the city.

But the locked gymnasium hall suggests that the contributions made by these people have been wasted.

The players are a harried lot as earlier they were hopeful that after the construction of the sports complex they would not have to go far off places for daily practice.

"One must come here to see the present condition of the complex. It is the perfect example of how state funds are being misused," said Arun Kotwal, a sportsperson, adding that lakhs of rupees have been spent but it is of no use as no equipment has been made available.

Initially, Panchmukhi Akhara was established on an open piece of land here on the banks of the Tawi where wrestlers used to practice in the morning and evening hours, said Shatrughan Jamwal, president, Panchmukhi Akhara.

He said in 1973, the akhara was given a proper shape and after that in 1994, a badminton hall was built here.

"The newly constructed sports complex was also built to facilitate players and wrestlers, but it remains useless in the absence of machinery and other equipments," lamented Jamwal.

SA Laharwal, director general, J&K State Sports Council, said, "The minister was only invited to inaugurate the building and the sports council has nothing to do with the newly constructed sports complex".

Srinagar, June 22
For the past several years, the 30-km-long road from Srinagar to Chrar-e-Sharief has been in a dilapidated condition. The road is causing inconvenience to commuters as well as pilgrims to the revered shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani in the holy township in central Kashmir district of Budgam.

Reconstruction work on the road costing Rs 24 crore had been taken up under the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA). The road to the famous tourist resort of Yusmarg also leads through the Chrar-e-Sharief township, about 20 km away. Though a number of tourists have been thronging the tourist resort in the forest area with famous shrines at Chrar and Pakharpora around it, domestic tourists are yet to re-explore the scenic spot of Yusmarg. This is mainly because of the dilapidated condition of roads on the Srinagar-Chrar-Yusmarg axis. But for the bad condition of roads, both destinations are lagging behind with the least number of pilgrims and tourists getting attracted to the area.

Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather recently expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Srinagar-Chrar-e-Sharief road. As a short-term measure, he sanctioned Rs 1 crore for blacktopping of 4.5-km Wahthora-Chadoora road via Dalwatpora which is being presently used as a diversion for travelling from Srinagar to Chrar-e-Sharief and vice versa. He directed engineers to complete the blacktopping work on the diversion route within a month after which work on the new Wathora bridge would be started.

During the day-long tour to his home constituency of Chrar-e-Sharief, Rather also directed the ERA to expeditiously complete the upgrading of Srinagar-Chrar-e-Sharief road as the locals as well as devotees travelling to the revered Sufi Saint Hazrat-Sheikh-ul-Alam's shrine were facing hardships due to the bad condition of the road.

The minister also announced that widening work on the Yousmarg-Chrar-e-Sharief road would be taken up at a cost of Rs 24 crore. He said owing to the huge tourism potential of Yousmarg, the resort would be developed in a big way to attract tourists both from the country and outside. This would also generate employment avenues in the area, he added.

Interacting with the people at Wathura, where the work on new Wathura bridge connecting the road with Chrar-e-Sharief and other areas of districts had been halted due to objection by some land owners, the minister assured that the affected people would be compensated and properly rehabilitated. He instructed that by the end of July, work on Wathura bridge should be completed and a separate footbridge would be constructed in the village for the convenience of people.

Tulmulla-Ganderbal, June 22
Presenting a perfect scene of religious camaraderie, Mela Kheer Bhawani has always been a symbol of Hindu-Muslim bondage. The festival tends to revive the memories of brotherhood that used to be forte of both these communities two decades ago.

Devotees thronged the temple, northwest of Srinagar, on June 19 as one of the important festivals of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) was celebrated.

Most devotees wished that peace and tranquility returns so that they could live together with the majority community here. Some of them turned emotional while aspiring for it. The tears that filled their eyes, while expressing their wish, conveyed it all.

“This is an important occasion. Every KP wants to come over here. The situation has changed over the years, hopefully for the best,” said Sham Lal, a devotee.

The occasion was festive with groups of people dressed in colourful attire moving around the temple premises and heading towards the place where the main ‘pooja’ was being held. Some devotees captured these moments in their cellphones and digital cameras.

“Kashmir is known as ‘Resh Waer’ or ‘Peer Waer’ (land of Sufis and Saints). These people have devoted their attention to well-being of masses. They have set guidelines for people to follow,” said Ravi Kumar, a devotee, adding importance of the fair is such that Muslims stay away from non-vegetarian meals for days before the festival.

Women devotees along with their male counterparts and children could be seen lighting diyas (oil lamps). This presented a perfect bonhomie.

“We always want to be guided by bright things, what better than lights. Lighting diyas gives us feeling that there is a light at the end of tunnel. This is the driving force for lighting diyas,” said Mansha, a female devotee.

Interestingly, Muslims of the area had set up roadside stalls to sell articles required for pooja. “As male folk is busy with other stalls, we thought it better to sell oil lamps and other requirements for pooja. It also gives us a chance of revisiting past,” said Afroza Bano, a local vendor.

“We are collecting pooja thalis and empty diyas. We sell them and make earnings,” said Khushboo and her sister Insha.

Devotees could be seen lined up waiting for their turn for ‘darshan’. They offered donations, showered rose petals and flowers on the idol of goddess Ragnya. The pond inside the temple premises had been filled with rose petals and flowers.

A group of devotees, while chanting hymns and singing bhajans in praise of the goddess, made use of instruments like dhol, harmonium, dholki and pitcher while giving a musical vent to their emotions.

Langar was also organised by several social groups. “We have been organising langar for years now. We try to do our best in providing facilities to devotees,” said Chuni Lal Bhat, Public Secretary, Hindu Welfare Society. Stalls were set up by various departments where devotees were offered soft drinks and beverages.

Jammu, June 22
Radio Sharda, the first-of-its-kind community radio station in the state, will shortly go on air from here.

The radio station through its broadcast, plans to preserve, promote and revive the rich culture of displaced Kashmiri Pandits which has received a setback during the past two decades after their mass migration from the valley in 1990.

Pir Panchal, a socio-cultural NGO, will run this radio station on the outskirts of the city near Muthi migrant camp with a 10-km aerial distance. It will cover areas like Janipur, Barnai, Bantalab, Roopnagar, Anand Nagar, Bohri and Chinore where thousands of community members are presently putting up.

Radio Sharda will be aired on 90.4 MHz frequency on FM. Programmes will be broadcast in Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu languages.

Pir Panchal president Romesh Hangloo said since the displaced community members are scattered all over, the need of the hour was to have a strong community institution. “Radio Sharda is a step in that direction. It will give voice to the voiceless community’’, he hoped.

Hangloo feared that the present generation of displaced KPs, living in alien conditions, was losing strong community bonds and getting drifted away from their roots. “If we do not have strong institutions for preparing the future generation, the survival of community will get jeopardized,’’ he feared.

Hangloo said Radio Sharda was okayed after the organisation approached the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2008 for establishing a community radio for the displaced Kashmiri people. “The Institution will help in preservation, awareness and promotion of culture besides inculcating educational and social values,” he said.

The state government has allotted space for running this community radio, Hangloo added.

Srinagar, June 22
Emphasising the role of media in highlighting complicated issues, Jai Chandiram, media consultant and president, Indian Chapter, International Association of Women in Radio and Television, has said the entire outlook of newspapers is changing.

"Paid form of news was never unethical. Now it is politicised. There are many other issues that need to be looked into," she said while interacting with media professionals, students, filmmakers, academicians and NGOs, adding, "We do have ethical people and we've to encourage them".

The interaction programme was organised by the Anhad Institute of Media Institute (AIMS). Besides a general talk and discussion on various issues concerning media, women and society, a 20-minute documentary, "Where have you hidden my new crescent moon" was also screened.

"The documentary is a tribute to Mughal Massee and her struggle. The whereabouts of her son are unknown since years together. He was her only child. On October 26 last year, Mughal passed away. Her search remained incomplete and now no one will follow her case," said Iffat Fatima, the documentary maker. She has done the camera work for this film.

She, during the interaction session, pointed out that with the death of Mughal, her son's story is lost forever. "Whatever is happening here, there is a need for 'contextualising' things". Iffat has worked in Sri Lanka from 2000-05.

"Violence is something touching everyone's life in a deep way," says Jai, adding, "No one wants inhuman treatment anyway anywhere". She adds that the Bhopal gas tragedy has shown that after 25 years of searching for answers "we got nothing". Jai says, "We as journalists don't question ourselves and that leads to various problems".

Nadeem Ahmad, an advocate, referred to the regional divide in media while highlighting issues concerning different regions as communication divide. "There is total disconnection of voices. There is no common voice coming out".

Well, teetotallers may not get attracted to “bhayankar thandi beer” but of course an “aesthetically” conceived and written hoarding popping out of a liquor vend on the Jammu-Pathankot highway does attract ale drinkers.

When the mercury has touched 45°C in the winter capital, ale drinkers in the sweltering heat and on a dusty highway could be seen splurging their cash to taste the zing thing and beat the heat in their own way.

Well, it appeared that “bhayankar garmi” might have given enough “creativity” to the vend owner, who conceived the idea and came out with “bhayankar thandi beer”.