Jammu, August 24
Though the security forces continue to hunt militants across the Jammu region, going by the recent incidents it seems Pak-based militant outfit-Lashkar-e-Toiba has been trying hard to revive itself in mountainous Kishtwar and Doda districts.

“The seizure of yet another Lashkar-e-Toiba poster from a mosque on August 20 in Kishtwar town was a clear indicator that the outfit still had several sympathisers in the district,” said police sources.

It may be stated here that the handwritten poster on the letterhead of the Mujahideen Lashkar-e-Toiba had asked the people to condemn killings in the valley and get united to wage a fight against the security forces.

The same outfit, which in recent times had been decimated by the security forces, had also circulated handwritten letters in Sungali village of Doda district issuing diktats to the local youth not to join the police.

“If two groups of 10 Hizbul militants continue to operate in the Marmat and Gandoh areas of Doda district nearly 15 Lashkar militants are still active in Kishtwar district,” they said.

However, Kishtwar district SSP Hasib Mughal said that around 12 LeT militants were active in his district.

“Six to eight militants still operate in the Keshwan area while three to four are in Bonjwah. We are after them but as of today we can say that around 12 Lashkar militants are still present in Kishtwar district,” said Mughal.

There is no denying the fact that a depleted Lashkar has been trying to revive itself in Kishtwar but we are already on our task, said the police officer. Police sources said that the LeT suffered major losses when the security forces either gunned down its top commanders or the latter surrendered before the forces to save their lives but intelligence inputs suggest that the mentors across the borders have asked their remaining cadres to lure the youth in the name of jihad.

“Intelligence inputs and a couple of intercepts revealed that the masters in the LeT on the other side of the LoC have asked their remaining cadres to lure youth into the outfit in the name of freedom struggle,” they said.

Not only this, the LeT has also taken strong exception to the surrender of its Doda district commander, Ghulam Mohammed, alias Gulla Tailo, alias Rafiya Maulvi and his accomplice, Mohammed Asif, alias Abu Maaz, before the security forces on August 22.

“But the duo would be protected and rehabilitated properly,” said sources.

It may be stated here that one of the most dreaded terror outfits in the world, Lashkar had also announced a unilateral ceasefire in February this year in Kishtwar district to deal with the informers.

Despite suffering major setbacks this year losing its top commanders in gun battles, the outfit is down but not out, said sources, adding that the Army and other counter insurgency forces are keeping a close watch over the outfit and, more importantly, its sympathisers.

On July 19 one of the oldest surviving Lashkar terrorists, who was a self-styled area commander in Kishtwar district, was arrested with an elector’s photo identity card.

Without the involvement of sympathisers in the Revenue Department and other related offices it was not possible for Mohammed Shafi Shah of Ganai Gund in Aishmuqam to get the voter card, said sources in a bid to convey that how the outfits had penetrated deep inside.

Jammu, August 24
Notwithstanding claims of the state government to bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of its departments, misuse of the funds meant for schemes meant for the poor has been going unabated.

As repeated complaints to the authorities have failed to yield encouraging results, people have decided to constitute committees to keep a check on the implementation of such schemes.

Although allegations of irregularities in such programmes have been reported in all regions of Jammu province, many such cases have been detected in Poonch and Rajouri districts where most of the schemes have been allegedly implemented only on papers and the deserving have been denied their rights.

Interestingly, the idea of forming committees by villagers was floated by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) general secretary Ravinder Sharma who himself was finding it difficult to get the schemes implemented in Rajouri. It was only after his suggestions that villagers constituted committees to force officials not to give benefits of welfare schemes to undeserving people.

“Wherever I have gone, people complaint about malpractices and improper implementation of various schemes sponsored by the state and Central governments for the uplift and development of the weaker sections,” Sharma told the Tribune.

He said there were cases when genuine Below Poverty Line (BPL) families were excluded from the list and some influential persons were given benefits meant only for the poor. He said the matter was repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities, but no action has been taken so far.

“I have asked people to come forward to check malpractices and improper implementation of development schemes,” he said and pointed out that there were complaints of irregularities in functioning of the Rural Development Department (RDD) and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department.

“Now people have decided to constitute committees themselves to monitor the functioning of such departments,” he said.

There are numerous complaints about the non-availability of ration meant for the poor in depots run by the CAPD Department. It is alleged that ration meant for BPL families have been sold in the open market with the connivance of department officials and ration dealers.

As far as the RDD is concerned, people allege that officials of the department have prepared BPL lists while sitting in their offices. “It is a matter of concern that the officials of the RDD have so far failed to visit the village for the review of BPL lists and the most poor people did not exist on the list,” he said.

Important to mention here that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs of Poonch and Rajouri have already levelled such allegations. PDP MLA from Darhal, Rajouri, has recently alleged that the government had failed to implement MNREGA in his area.

He has alleged irregularities in the implementation of this revolutionary scheme.

Srinagar, August 24
To provide hassle-free marketing support to cocoon farmers of the Kashmir valley, the government has shifted the cocoon auction market from Srinagar to Banihal and also decided to facilitate the farmers in ferrying their crops from different areas of the valley to Banihal to tap the high market potential.

The price of cocoon this year has shot up to Rs 400 on an average as compared to last year’s average of Rs 285 per kg even as some cocoon lots have been sold at the rate of Rs 550 per kg also, according to an official spokesman here.

A large number of farmers are taking their stocks to Banihal for availing this opportunity. They are upbeat on the prospects of fetching better remunerations this year.

The divisional office of the Sericulture Department has put in place adequate arrangements to accommodate the buyers and sellers. The buyers from outside the state are also participating in the market.

On an average 200 farmers sell their produce daily in the market while about 50,000 kg of cocoon was sold during three days last week fetching a whopping amount of Rs 1.75 crore for the sellers. The farmers are paid the cost of their produce on the spot as the department has arranged a cocoon bank facility for both buyers and sellers in the market.

Meanwhile, 1700 farmers from Anantnag district have sold 71,000 kg of cocoon in the ongoing cocoon market at Banihal, earning Rs. 63 lakh at an average cost of Rs 270 per kg.

The total production of cocoon in the district last year was 60,000 kg, which had fetched Rs 50 lakh at an average cost of Rs. 240 per kg.

With the timely guidance and inputs of the Sericulture Department, the farmers in Anantnag district have registered an increase of 11000 kg cocoon this year. Some of the lots have been sold at even Rs. 641 per kg in the auction market.

Srinagar, August 24
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken up the issue of employment of locals in the national highway project with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath.

The CM wants to ensure maximum jobs for local youth in the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Project (NH-1A).

In a letter to the Union Minister, Omar has underlined the need for giving preference to locals in the NH-1A project to help address the serious problem of unemployment. He urged for directions to the companies undertaking the construction of roads and tunnels for engaging local youth for technical, skilled and unskilled work.

The Chief Minister has also called for providing sub-contracts to local contractors to enhance economic activities and help generate more economic avenues for the people of the state.

Omar also identified the requirement for more flyovers on the national highway that have not been included in the four-lane Rs 10,000-crore Srinagar-Lakhanpur NH-1A project. The flyovers identified are at Bemina and Sanantnagar on Srinagar bypass road and Greater Kailash on Jammu bypass. Omar stressed on making these flyovers part of the project.

Presently, the construction of about 18-km four-lane national highway project is under way in Srinagar from Parimpora to Athwajan, involving the construction of four bridges at various places on this bypass. The work is likely to be completed by the end of next year. Out of the total estimated cost of Rs 212 crore, more than Rs 176 crore have been utilised on it so far, registering 82.50 per cent completed work by July this year.

The Chief Minister has also approved Rs 62.07-crore four-lane flyover at Sanatnagar juncture, Rs 31.65-crore flyover at Bemina crossing and Rs 3.60-crore overhead pedestrian bridge on the national highway bypass, near JVMC, Bemina. 

Srinagar, August 24
The government has decided to recruit 8,000 gang-coolies and helpers in the R&B Department for the upkeep and maintenance of roads for which the process would start in a month.

This was stated by GM Saroori, Minister for R&B, while reviewing the progress of different schemes, including PMGSY, CRF, projectisation and state sector, here, an official spokesman said. Executive engineers were asked to submit proposals as per their requirement within a fortnight so that the engagement process sets in motion on time.

It was informed in the meeting that 400 km road length have been macadamised so far in Kashmir division. It was informed that Rs 105 crore have been earmarked for macadamisation in Kashmir division, of which Rs 60 crore are allocated for Srinagar city and Rs 45 crore for the rural areas.

The minister has called for speeding up macadamisation on all roads under NABARD, stressing that funds under the schemes have to be utilised timely to improve the road network in the summer capital of the state.

The government has already released Rs 50 crore as state’s share for NABARD schemes in a bid to achieve the targets well in time, Saroori said, adding that another installment of Rs 50 crore would be released shortly. He said Rs 10 crore had been released for utility shifting services for different roads of the division.

Referring to recent extensive damage caused to road infrastructure in Leh and Kargil as also in Kupwara and Handwara due to flash floods, the minister said the government was keen to rebuild damaged road network in all affected areas. He directed the concerned engineers to construct diversions in all such places where road communication links had got snapped for extending succor to the affected populace.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman said macadamisation by R&B department in the Kashmir valley was in full swing where 400 km road length had been covered so far. Keeping in view the limited working season in the valley, the R&B Department had already geared up the macadamization and road upgrading programme.

In Jammu city, macadamisation to the tune of Rs 30 crore had been completed so far, while in Srinagar city, macadamisation worth Rs 7.84 crore only had been completed over an area of 56 km, the spokesman revealed.

Jammu, August 24
With the laying of foundation stone by Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla at Bhour Camp for the construction of bridge over Landoi Choi nullah, the long-pending demand of more than 25,000 people was fulfilled because during rainy season habitants of several localities usually remained cut off.

The government has approved Rs 1.93 crore for the construction of the 18-m-span steel grinder bridge that would be constructed under NABARD project. With the construction of the bridge, the distance of Lower Gaddigarh, Karan Bagh, Bhour Kothey, Azad Nagar, Vikram Nagar and its adjoining areas would be reduced to a larger extent.

Addressing the gathering after laying the stone, the Minister said the Omar Abdullah-led government has accelerated developmental activities and initiated some revolutionary steps to provide all amenities to people.

Listing the measures taken by the government, the Minister said a primary health centre costing Rs 1.60 crore is nearing completion at Bhour Camp, adding that after the inauguration of the hospital, rush in Gandhi Nagar as well as main hospitals of the city would be reduced and people of the area would have an easy access to the health care facilities.

Bhalla said the government has approved Rs 4.92 crore for the widening of Karan Bagh-SKUAST-J Link Road, the work on which is nearing completion. He informed that for facilitating the people of the Satwari zone, the government has approved Rs 3.16 crore for the construction of six multipurpose community halls in the areas, adding that after the completion of these halls, people could arrange social as well as religious functions there at nominal charges.

The Minister said a detailed project report for the construction of 21 new link roads costing Rs 4.92 crore had been submitted to the NABARD authorities for funding, adding that with the release of funds, the works would be started.

Responding to the demand of the locals, the Minister asked the Roads and Buildings authorities to immediately remove garbage from the choked portion of the Landoi nullah and start the restoration work of the damaged crates so that flash floods in the nullah do not harm the property of people. 

Leh, August 24
As per the tentative assessment report of the district administration, the cloud burst on August 5 and 6 that caused heavy flood in Leh had destroyed almost all infrastructure of the district. The cloud had burst in the entire district barring a few villages. Tsering Angchuk, Leh deputy commissioner, has said most of the district road network has been destroyed as culverts and footbridges in all affected villages have been washed away. Many remote villages, including tourist places like Fotoksar, Chilling, Wanla and Sumdha, are still cut off from the district headquarters.

The flood also washed away a BSNL office leading to the collapse of communication link, especially through fixed lines. According to the report, about 11,000 electric poles have been destroyed and Igoo-Marsetlang and Stakna hydle projects, which fed power to Leh town and its adjacent villages, have been damaged partially.

The report also says that micro-hydel schemes at Basgo village of Leh block and Hunder village of Nubra subdivision and 125 KVA diesel generator set at Hanu village of Khalsi subdivision have also been destroyed in the disaster.

The cloudburst has also made the district SNM Hospital building unsafe and unusable as the flood has washed away all medical equipment, stores, drugs, gas cylinder and CT scan. It also destroyed medical aid centre of Choglamsar and Ney villages and Primary Health Centre of Nyoma subdivision.

The disaster has rendered 2,600 people homeless, 203 dead, including six foreigners, and 607 injured. According to the deputy commissioner, two foreign tourists are still missing in Leh. The district administration has sought financial assistance of Rs 100 crore for permanent restoration of public utilities and over Rs 2 crore for temporary restoration.

The alleged involvement of a Congress minister in the CET impersonation case has provided ammunition to the BJP to target the Congress. Moreover, a faction of the Congress too is working over time to ensure that the minister is booked in this case. When cops caught some impersonators and got information that one of the impersonators was sitting in place of the minister’s daughter, they tried to hush up the case.

Jammu, August 24
Due to the casual approach being adopted by the concerned authorities, a huge chunk of the deserving population is not getting benefits of the schemes especially formulated for uplifting the marginalised and neglected lot of society.

The existing Below Poverty Line (BPL) lists, which are full of discrepancies, are yet to be re-verified despite the fact that the government has repeatedly issued directions in the regard to include the deserving people in these lists.

Interestingly, there are variations in the BPL lists prepared by different departments to give benefits to the deserving people. Those who fall in the BPL category in the lists prepared by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CADP) Department have been excluded in the lists of the Rural Development Department and the Revenue Department.

To remove such variations and discrepancies, the state government had issued an order in 2009 to determine the exact number of BPL families in the state, but survey in this regard has been going on at a snail’s pace.

The government in its order number 821 GAD of 2009 dated 25-6-2009 had admitted that variations in BPL lists have arisen as various departments have adopted different figures of the BPL population.

In every district, committees comprising officers of CAPD, Revenue and RDD were constituted to conduct door-to-door survey to re-verify the BPL lists, but the process is yet to be completed.

“Deputy commissioners of every district have been heading the committee to conduct fresh survey for excluding the undeserving people and to include the left-out poor people in the lists,” Minister of CAPD Qamar Ali Akhnoon said when asked about the progress in the ongoing survey.

He said only deputy commissioner of the concerned district could give report about the progress of the survey. Akhnoon said the main reason for involving officers of three different departments in the team was to ensure that all deserving people would be figured in the lists.

Sources in the administration said due to the lack of coordination between different departments, no progress had been made in removing discrepancies from the existing BPL lists.

“Undeserving people are taking benefits of the schemes exclusively meant for poor section of society,” admitted Ravinder Sharma, spokesperson for the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), whose party is also partner in the coalition government.

Sharma revealed the number of deserving cases of the Nowshere Assembly segment that were not excluded in the BPL category despite the fact that these families were poorest in their respective areas.

“Most of the Centrally sponsored schemes are not giving positive results as poor people can not take benefits of such programmes as their names are not figured in the BPL lists,” he added.