|
|
|
|
Fertiliser shortage worries Jammu farmers
Winter games a hit in Ladakh
BSNL dealers make most of strikes in valley
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Punjab, J&K border villages set example in sharing water
Relief to
stone-pelter’s kin
Jammu MC gears up to tackle rains aftermath
An open sewer drain passing through Trikuta Nagar choked with garbage and polythene bags in Jammu.
Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Men in olive help septuagenarian
from Kalakote
Vehicles parked on the roadside outside the City Square Shopping Mall in Jammu obstructing free flow of traffic.
Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Education takes a back seat in valley, courtesy strikes
JMC poll in Oct likely
Amarnath yatra
Slain HuM chief wanted
to escape to PoK
Killing of civilians
Srinagar diary
|
|
Fertiliser shortage worries Jammu farmers
Jammu, July 30 In the villages adjoining the towns, the problem is not so acute, but in the remote areas, especially in Kandi belts, farmers have been confronting with this problem. “Every year we have to face similar problem as the promises of the authorities to provide fertilisers and seeds on time remained only on paper,” regretted Sewa Ram, a farmer of Shahpur village in Bishnah tehsil. Farmers of the region have lost two successive crops due to the prolonged dry spell, but this year’s monsoon has brought smiles on their faces because so far most parts of the region have received adequate rains. “We have adequate water to start sowing, but the need of the hour is to get fertilisers in time,” he said and pointed out that just after the beginning of the sowing season, fertilisers have been mysteriously disappeared from outlets and depots opened by the concerned department. A majority of the farmers of the rain-fed areas of Jammu district are by and large satisfied by the rains so far, but their only concern is to get fertilisers in time. Those who are sowing maize and pulses in the Kandi belt are very particular about getting fertiliser in time as their crops solely depend upon it. “The problem of shortage of fertilisers emerged only in the remotest areas of the Kandi belt, so the authorities should take some preventive measures in this regard,” demands Pyara Singh, a farmer of Raiya Morh. He said fertiliser was available in the villages located on roadsides, but the situation was not same in the far-flung areas. BJP MLA from Marh and prominent farmer Choudhary Sukhnandan, who had raised the issue of the shortage of fertilisers in the last Assembly session, alleged that there was no proper system of distribution of fertilisers in the Jammu region. He alleged that the government was not concerned about the problem being faced by the farmers of the region, as priority of the authorities was the Kashmir Valley. “Even fertilisers from the allotted quota of the region were transported to the Valley,” he alleged. Karan Singh, president of the Kissan Morcha, pointed out that the main reason for the shortage of fertilisers was improper distribution system. “Depots have been opened only in the villages situated on roadsides, but in the interiors there is no provision of providing fertilisers to the farmers,” he said and informed that during their visit to the remotest areas of Reasi, they found that not even a single bag of fertiliser was available in that belt. He demanded that the authorities should issue licence for opening depots in the remotest areas rather than concentrating on roadside villages. He further said in the remotest areas, some middlemen have been selling fertilisers on higher prices and some poor farmers were not in the position to purchase the same on such rates. “The agencies concerned should ensure that fertilisers should be supplied to all villages on same prices,” he added. |
|
Winter games a hit in Ladakh
Leh, July 30 However, the popularity of these games has gained momentum with a series of events being organised here at Leh. It is perhaps the only place in the country where a number of winter games are held. To promote tourism in Ladakh, the Leh Tourism Department has started organising ice hockey events from the last winter. To attract tourists, the department has also started trekking from Leh to Zangkar on the frozen Indus, known as Chader trek. The ice hockey in the extreme cold winter months keep people busy at the time when outdoor activities are impossible. The popularity of the games has now paved the way for its bigger role in the winter sports. Players from Ladakh are now representing the country at the international events as well. Mohd Bhashir, general secretary of the Ladakh Winter Sport Club, who is promoting the event in Ladakh, said, “Players of Ladakh represented the country’s first international ice hockey team in the Asia Challenge Cup at Abu Dhabi in Dubai in 2009.” In the fourth Winter Olympic Games at Vanacour in Canada in 2010, two Ladakhi players belonging to the Army represented the country. Jamyang Namgail represented in Alpine Skiing while Tashi Lhundup in cross skiing. Bashir said whenever the country represented any international event in winter games, the Ice Hockey Association of India had been mostly nominating Ladakhi players. He added that the continuous nomination of players followed by the games’ popularity among masses created a feeling of dignity among the people of Ladakh. Former ice hockey player Gyal Wangyal stated that young players of ice hockey, ice skating and speed skating had represented the country in several international events in the US, Finland, Korea and China. This month, Padma Chorol and Stanzin Dolker represented India in the Ice Hockey Camp and Women Leadership Seminar at Vierumaki Sports Institute’s International Ice Hockey Centre of Excellence in Finland. Ice hockey was introduced in Ladakh by the Army, who played to beat the freezing cold in 70s. A decade later, civilians started playing the game. Wangyal said, “Players of Ladakh used to go to Shimla to participate in the Marshal Titto Cup, which used to be very popular in 80s. In the initial years, we used to come back without scoring a single goal. However, our confidence started to build when we lifted the National Ice Hockey Championship in 1986 by defeating the Shimal team.” Under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Package, an international standard rink is coming up in Leh. Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh Tsering Dorjey said, “Civil works of the rink will be completed by October, while its mechanical parts might take another year due to funds’ shortage”. The LAHDC has approached Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to provide funds to the tune of Rs 5 crore from the state sector to complete the rink. Focusing on the ice hockey under sports infrastructural development at the block level, the LAHDC is constructing mini-ice hockey rink, each in the Saspol block and at Residential Centralised School in the Durbuk block. A mini-ice hockey rink at Fobrang village of the Durbuk block is already working to meet demands of young players. |
|
BSNL dealers make most of strikes in valley
Baramulla, July 30 After the state government blocked mobile services of the private telecom operators in Baramulla, only subscribers having the connection of the state-owned BSNL have a mobile connectivity and majority users of other telecom operators are now buying BSNL connections. To take undue advantage of the situation, the BSNL dealers, who were authorised to sell BSNL SIM cards, were selling the same by charging hefty amounts from customers. “While the BSNL sells a SIM card for only a few rupees, private dealers in some cases are even charging thousands of rupees from customers for a SIM card,” said Tanveer Ahmed, a subscriber. However, subscribers say that in order to make easy money, these dealers are not following the security procedure before issuing a SIM card and are issuing the same without verifying proper documents. “Ever since the service of the private operators have been blocked in Baramulla, these dealers have been taking undue advantage of the situation by charging a hefty amount from customers,” said a BSNL subscribers. According to sources, when the issue was brought into the knowledge of the higher authorities of the BSNL in Baramulla, the authorities took action and recovered SIM cards from various dealers. “Now, the BSNL is encouraging people to purchase connections from counters set up by the BSNL in its office and avoid going to dealers. We request them to bring into our knowledge any malpractice by dealers,” said a
BSNL official. Meanwhile, private companies were facing huge losses as their services have been snapped in Baramulla and a large number of their subscribers were now shifting to the state-owned BSNL. “The huge rush of people on the BSNL is putting extra burden on the network as it has increased its call drop rate. Even due to congestion in the network, we are facing connectivity problem,” said a BSNL subscriber. However, till the time being, the service of private operators are low compared to the BSNL, which was earlier criticised for network congestion and poor service. |
|
Punjab, J&K border villages set example in sharing water
Jammu, July 30 Visit Mirpur village in Kathua district whose residents have a unique understanding with the residents of Taloor village in Kot Nirmal Singh tehsil of Gurdapsur district on helping each other in the hour of need. The villagers have tubewells installed in Jammu and Kashmir land, but merrily provide water to the fields of Punjab farmers. Similarly, Punjab farmers also return the compliment whenever J&K farmers need water. “My tubewell is in J&K land, but many a times due to power cuts or other problems, I irrigate fields with the water provided by my neighbhours living in Punjab villages,” said Hakam Singh, a resident of Mirpur. “Yes, there are issues of sharing of the Ravi water between the two states, but these are political issues. It has nothing to do with us. Often our farmer brothers of the villages in Kathua district divert rain-fed channels to our fields when we need more water,” said Suraj Singh, a resident of Taloor village. Mirpur and Taloor villages situated next to each other are just an example. Almost all villages situated along the border have an unwritten water sharing understanding. “There has been rarely any confrontation between us. Often, farmers of Kathua give prior warning of floods to the downstream Punjab villages,” said Sanjay Salaria, a resident of Kathua, who owns some land along the Punjab border.
|
|
Sangharsh Samiti flays govt decision
Tribune News Service
Jammu, July 30 Taking serious note of the decision, the samiti said the government was yet to implement the agreement reached with the Sangharsh Samiti in 2008 during the Amarnath land agitation. The samiti criticized the government for ignoring Jammu people. He said government should fulfill its agreement with the people of Jammu. Brig Suchet Singh said it was another example of discrimination with the people of Jammu as 13 persons had lost their lives during the agitation but not a single penny had so far been announced for them. “Our government has betrayed Jammu people by announcing ex gratia to those who were protesting against India”, he said. The samiti also criticised the Jammu-based ministers for not raising their voice against anti-national Kashmiri leaders for ignoring the martyrs of the Amarnath land agitation. The samiti asked the government to implement the agreement otherwise it would decide its future course of action.
|
|
Jammu MC gears up to tackle rains aftermath
Jammu, July 30 According to sources, four vehicles, along with one JCB, have been kept stationed at the municipal transport yard for conducting quick operation. The corporation claimed that they had cleared almost all deep drains falling in its jurisdiction before the arrival of monsoons, but due to the lack of civic sense among people, who dump domestic waste into these drains, most of the deep drains get blocked and thus result into overflowing after heavy rainfall. The Transport Wing, the Sanitation Wing and other departments of the corporation are on their toes these days to tackle such situation immediately and effectively. The JMC has appealed to common masses that they should not dump building materials and debris in drains, which block the flow of water and cause flood-like situation in the area. The corporation has also advised the people to use helpline/control room telephone number 2571308 of the corporation for emergent situation arising out of heavy rains. Recently, the JMC met with similar situation in the Gangyal area where a deep drain overflowed after heavy rainfall in the city. "When the drain overflowed around three days ago, we immediately reported to the corporation and they acted quickly, thus saved life and property of several residents," said Mohinder Singh, a resident of Gangyal. In most of the municipal wards, many people have encroached upon embankments of these deep drains by constructing houses on them. Similarly, in other areas like Talab Tillo, Shastri Nagar, Indira Chowk and Jewel Chowk, rehariwallas have encroached upon the embankments of deep drains for carrying out their business. Besides residents, they also dump garbage into these drains, which results into the blockage of drains and thus hinders free flow of drain and rainwater. |
|
Men in olive help septuagenarian
from Kalakote
Jammu, July 30 While separatists and others of their ilk quite often rake up fabricated issues in a bid to tarnish the image of security forces in the Kashmir valley, the men in olive continue to win hearts and minds of the suffering populace. From demining vast chunk of agricultural fields in forward villages on the border in Akhnoor subdivision to rescuing the people caught in flashfloods in swollen rivers and rivulets, the Army has always remained in the forefront to reach out to the people in distress. In a similar gesture the men in olive again reached out to the masses in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district. The Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform) organised a medical camp at remote Brehvi village in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district for village elders, women and children. During the camp Captain DK Barman, medical officer, examined a septuagenarian Raj Mohammad, son of late Mishri Khan, and found that the old man had vocal cord cancer. The medical officer called Raj Mohammad’ son, Shabir, to the camp and was given medical counselling. Subsequently, the father and son were sent to Government Medical College, Jammu for immediate medicare along with financial aid. Both father and son were extremely grateful to the Army authorities for this life-saving gesture. Village sarpanch DN Sharma also conveyed his gratitude to the Army on behalf of the village. All these steps have always had a welcome effect on locals. It is a strong message to the perpetrators of terrorism, who have been misguiding local youths and attempting to bring them into the folds of terror. However, the Army has been reaching out to them by such welfare measures and taking them towards the path of peace and prosperity. |
|
Haphazard parking leads to traffic jam
Jammu, July 30 Mostly, traffic comes to a standstill as the wrongly parked vehicles on the road have congested it and there is hardly any space left for the vehicular movement. Even the one-way road is also used both ways as the other road has not been constructed. Commuters alleged that although the management of the shopping mall had made a parking at the basement, commuters were not ready to park vehicles there as it was a paid parking. A visit to the area revealed that commuters were facing a lot of inconveniences as shoppers were seen parking their vehicles in the ‘no parking zone’ and on the road. Traffic police personnel have also failed to challan such vehicles and hardly any cop was seen there. “We have complained a number of times to senior police officers, still traffic rules’ violations are going on. The officers also seem to be in no mood to pay any heed towards our problems,” said Ajay Sharma, a local resident. He added, “These days, when the discount season is on, the number of vehicles parked on the road has doubled, but the traffic cops are least bothered about it”. Another resident Gurmeet Singh said senior police officers should give a surprise visit to the place to see the plight of commuters. He further said it was not the first time that he had faced such a problem as the cops had failed to manage the traffic. “Though the cops have been deployed at the Dogra chowk, they hardly come here to manage the traffic,” Gurmeet added. SP (Traffic) Zahid Manhas said, “This is not our traffic point, still we have deployed some cops here and they are regulating the traffic. Sometimes we lift the wrongly parked vehicles after using the recovery van. Still people are parking their vehicles on the road, as they are in no mood to spend money as parking charges.”
|
|
Education takes a back seat in valley, courtesy strikes
Srinagar, July 30 “We attend schools only when there is no strike call or curfew. Our teachers have asked us to complete syllabi at home. But what about our lab work?” asks Arif Ahmad, a student. His parents say: “We’ve to pay school dues in toto, but our children aren’t attending schools regularly and their education is suffering”. Many students have enrolled for private tuitions, but there are some who can’t afford tuition classes. “Number of students opting for private tuition has increased over the past few weeks. Mostly, they have joined to complete the school syllabi,” says Shabnam Ara, a private tutor. She added that certain families could not afford tuition and there was no one to guide them at home, especially students from government-run schools. Some private schools have asked the students to download syllabus from the school website and prepare accordingly. “We are trying to prepare our children for their second semesters at home, but we too face difficulties at the certain level while guiding them as we can’t replace their teachers,” said a group of parents. Some educationists believe that relaxing syllabus vis-à-vis examinations would be in the interest of students, yet others believe that providing more optional questions in term-end examinations
would help. There are some who want educational institutions to be opened irrespective of strikes or restrictions. Rehana Bhat, academic counsellor with one of the private colleges here, says many students are opting to move out of the Valley due to the situation prevailing over here for the past one month or so. “You can somehow tackle with theoretical aspect, but what about the practical aspect of curriculum. Field visits and lab works can’t be learnt at home. Besides, teacher-taught interaction is must for the overall growth and development of students”. |
|
JMC poll in Oct likely
Jammu, July 30 He said the corporation had completed the summary revision of electors. Around 26,551 new electors would cast votes in the coming municipal elections. With the addition of these new electors, the total number of voters had gone up to 3,47,066, including 1,69,147 women. "The election would be conducted in all 71 wards at around 424 polling stations", said Charandeep Singh. In 2005 when the municipal elections were conducted after a gap of 27 years, the total number of electorate was 3,30,435, including 1,68,209 men. According to a source, the state government might further defer the elections due to the prevailing conditions in the valley. |
|
Gujjars, Bakarwals spread secularism
Archit Watts Tribune News Service
Pahalgam, July 30 These people are also known as the backbone of the yatra, as all ponywallas and porters belong to these particular communities. “It will not be wrong if one says the yatra becomes tougher without the help of these people,” said a senior Army officer. The yatra, which is 46-km long from the traditional route of Pahalgam, is to be covered in two days and the track is almost snow clad. The other route of Baltal is very dangerous as the track is narrow, but it is 32-km shorter than the Pahalgam route. “The terrain is tough and it is a difficult task to reach the cave shrine by carrying luggage, so almost every pilgrim depends on porters and ponywallas, who take a meagre amount to carry the luggage,” said Harsh Bhateja, a devotee from Fazilka in Punjab. These porters and ponywallas not only carry the luggage and ferry pilgrims, but also they speak Hindu hymns like “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bam Bam Bhole”. Imtiaz, a porter belonging to the Gujjars community, said: “It is not only the source of livelihood for people like us, but also it gives peace to our soul as we daily travel on holy tracks. It is our faith in Lord Shiva, which gives us power so that we are able to make two rounds daily on these arduous tracks”. He added, “In the beginning of the yatra, we first pay obeisance at the cave shrine and then start carrying the luggage of pilgrims”. Salman, another ponywalla who belongs to the Bakarwal community, said: “When the pilgrims coming here treat us like their brothers, then it also becomes our duty to treat them in the similar manner. Besides earning money during the yatra, we are also spreading brotherhood between various communities and castes”.
|
|
Slain HuM chief wanted
to escape to PoK
Jammu, July 30 The dreaded terrorist, responsible for Lal Chowk "fidayeen" attack on January 7 this year that left four persons dead and 11 injured, was gunned down in Sopore on July 20. "Nouman was planning to exfiltrate to PoK along with another terrorist Paaji, alias Wakas, of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)," intelligence sources told The Tribune. On surveillance radar of the Army since Lal Chowk carnage, he had been pleading his mentors in PoK to allow him to come back, they said, adding that his mentors spurned his request because of voids created by security forces in the leadership of various terror outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir. In the recent past, Nouman had also been upset with his senior commanders in PoK for not providing enough funds to him so as to carry on militant activities in the Valley. During Lal Chowk encounter, Nouman was in constant touch with ultras accompanying him, directing and motivating them in the name of jihad, they said, adding that the HuM commander was also involved in the Chinkipura encounter on March 10 where he along with Abdullah Uni, another ultra, were trapped by the security forces before they managed their escape. Besides, he was also instrumental in the gruesome killing of another HuM ultra Basharat. Sources said Nouman thought that Basharat had links with security forces and hence, he ordered the killing through Abu Saad, which was carried out in a gruesome manner by using a saw. Known as Mike Islam among terror outfits, the Pakistan national had planned and executed a number of militant activities, particularly against the security forces. The sources also divulged that the slain ultra had recently been coordinating with the freshly infiltrated HuM cadres in the Valley. |
|
NHRC move fails to convince human right activists
Afsana Rashid
Srinagar, July 30 According to a recent statement issued by the commission, a notice has been issued to the Union Home Secretary asking him to send a reply on the allegations by August 19. The commission has received the complaint from Sushobha Barve of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation. "We don't expect much action. The people of Kashmir consider it tainted," says Khurram Parvez, coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (J&KCCS). Parvez said the commission had never come to the rescue of Kashmiris. "Such institutions come forward to restore the image of the state. They've always acted in defence of the government. They've never acted to question commissions and omissions of security forces. If justice is to be delivered, the police should start investigations". Sharing examples, he said, "The Bijbehara massacre (that left 51 civilians dead and about 200 wounded allegedly by security forces in 1993) was the first case that went to the NHRC, but it didn't help in getting justice. Again, what happened in Shopian rape and murder case last year? Even in the cases of disappearance the commission hasn't proved to be of any help". Mir Hafizullah, noted attorney and human rights activist, puts the situation as: "Courts are protecting perpetrators. How can we be hopeful if not even a single perpetrator has been punished so far?" The attorney added, "Faith in any institution is the first and foremost thing. The NHRC has never taken any initiative with reference to human rights violations here. Some cases pertaining to human rights abuses were referred to it, but the commission has shown cold response. Consequently, not many people approach it". "It is just symbolic and nothing fruitful is going to come out of it. The NHRC has jurisdiction over security forces and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) could have taken similar initiative with reference to the police as it too is involved in such alleged killings," says a human rights activist, adding, "They ought to break the ice so that justice is delivered".
|
|
Traffic congestion routine on normal days
The crossing on the road to Budgam also leads to the airport. Diverting via Sanat Nagar to avoid the junction, Irfan Ahmad was again held up at several places before reaching the airport road for onward travel to Budgam. It took him about one-and-a-half hours to travel 16 km, otherwise covered in about half an hour. There seems to be no time frame for completion of the flyover on the bypass at the Hyderpora crossing which has been going on for the past four years. The construction work has been hindering the movement of traffic. Its completion would end to this traumatic experience for those travelling to and fro the airport and Budgam district. Harmful residue in tear gas shells
With frequent use of tear gas shells in the past month, the canisters of these shells are being used by children to play in certain localities. But at times these shells prove harmful as the residue inside is injurious to health. One such half-exploded shell created tension in Baramulla town after it started emitting smoke, making people run hear and there. Many people suffered serious breathing problems due to the emanating smoke of the tear gas shell. It becomes the duty of the government to make sure that the half exploded and unexploded shells are collected and disposed of properly lest these should become a health hazard for the children who use them as toys. Mobile
subscribers face heat
At a time when technology has become advanced, Kashmir still lags behind. With SMS facility getting blocked quite, poor mobile services add to the problem. Mobile connections of many subscribers of private telecom services have been disconnected in the valley in the past few days. It is said that the cellular connections of those subscribers who have more than one connection in their name have been disconnected. But some of the subscribers refute these allegations, saying that they've no information about more than one connection in their name. These companies were last time asked to check all this but it seems that they don't take matters seriously. (Contributed by Ehsan Fazili, Tejinder Singh Sodhi and Afsana
Rashid) |
|
||
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Jammu, July 30
Jammu, July 30
On his way from Lal Chowk to Budgam, about 16 km away, Irfan Ahmad had to undergo an arduous task on Tuesday, thanks to traffic congestion. The one-day relief in hartals once or twice a week since June-end has been resulting in heavy traffic congestions with people coming out in large numbers. Traffic congestion (see photo) at the Hyderpora bypass intersection led to long queues of about one km on all four sides.