Jammu, November 19
Irrigation Minister Taj-Mohi-ud-din has stated that the Ranjit Sagar Dam is illegal as there is no land use or lease agreement between the two states.

The state government has been claiming a compensation of Rs 8,000 crore from Punjab for the use of its land and for non-supply of the “promised” power that is being generated from the dam.

However, claiming that the compensation and power were to be provided under the Shahpur Kandi project which could not take off, Punjab has maintained a silence since it had “unilaterally” scrapped all water-sharing agreements during Capt Amarinder Singh’s government.

In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, the Irrigation Minister questioned the legality of the dam, saying no compensation was paid to displaced residents of 22 villages of Jammu.

He said, “Punjab has been taking us for a ride for so many years. Over 60 per cent of the land used for the dam and the reservoir belongs to us.Yet, no compensation has been paid. Unbelievable but true, there is no land lease agreement between Punjab and J&K over land use.”

When asked how it was possible, the minister said it was all done in good faith. “It was a gentleman’s agreement. We were supposed to share the benefits of the dam. However, we are now going to take the matter to the Union Government and also to the Supreme Court.”

The minister had recently sent a missive to the Punjab Government, claiming a compensation of Rs 8,000 for not providing electricity and honouring other agreements.

“There has been no response from the Punjab Government. We have proposed to the Punjab Government to give us 40 per cent electricity from this year and make up for the lost time and energy, but to no avail. We will have to take up the matter further now. We have already scrapped the Shahpur Kandi project and decided to take water from the Ravi river, which we would have taken from the Shahpur Kandi project reservoir. They haven’t opposed it also so far,” he said.

On the J&K Water Resources Act passed recently by the state Assembly, under which water used for power generation would be taxed, he said the state had been a loser all these years even though its resources were being used.

“The water in the state, including lakes, rivers and underground, is its property. But till date, there was no regulatory authority for it. With this Act, every drop of water and its use would be accounted for. We are going to tax the water which is being used for electricity generation like the Chenab waters is being used in the Baglihar Dam project,” he said.

Jammu, November 19
Warring factions of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) organised parallel functions to celebrate birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Dissidents, who owe their loyalty to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, were conspicuous by their absence in the official function that was held at the PCC headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk.

Congress ministers and other leaders who are loyalists of PCC chief Saifuddin Soz participated in the function, in which not even a single leader of the dissident group was present. Rivals, on the other hand, organised a separate function at Palora in which former minister Jugal Kishore Sharma was the chief guest.

Apart from paying floral tributes to the former Prime Minister, Congress leaders present in that function praised Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for giving special attention to the state. A resolution was passed in which leaders appealed to Azad to increase seats in existing medical colleges of the state so that more deserving students get the opportunity to pursue medical studies in the state.

In the official function, Congress leaders described her as an iron lady and great visionary leader. Former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma remembered her major contributions like nationalisation of banks, 20-point programme and strengthening of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The Congress Seva Dal - one of the frontal organisation of the party - organised a separate function to pay tributes to Indira Gandhi.

Srinagar, November 19
A policeman was injured when miscreants threw stones at the security forces near Tagore Hall and Magarmal Bagh here today.

Reports said demonstrations and incidents of stone throwing were also reported from Pulwama and Baramulla.

Meanwhile, shops and business establishments reopened after the Eid celebrations ended in the afternoon in Kashmir today.

There was thin attendance in government offices and educational institutions which reopened after two days. There was normal traffic on the roads.

There were no reports of violence from any part of the Valley and Friday prayers were held peacefully.Hurriyat Conference leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, continued to be under house arrest and were not allowed to offer prayers. The chairman of the moderate faction, Umar Farooq, condemned the restrictions on his movement.

A spokesman for the faction said here the Mirwaiz had mostly been kept under house arrest during the past four months. His house had virtually been turned into a sub-jail with a heavy deployment of the poilice outside his house.

The spokesman said the Mirwaiz had not been allowed to offer Friday prayers for the past 10 weeks, thereby restricting his religious activities. The Mirwaiz (chief priest) delivers the sermon on the occasion of the Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid every week as per an age-old tradition. Other separatists described the curbs as the scuttling of religious, political and social rights of people.

Meanwhile, the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Geelani, which had decided not to give a strike call from November 12 to November 19 in view of the Eid celebrations,has called for a general strike tomorrow.

He today appealed to people to boycott the proposed panchayat and local bodies elections in the state,saying the participation in any election process was being projected in a different way by the Centre.

Srinagar, November 19
A total of 715 recruits participated in a colourful passing-out parade at the Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) of the Border Security Force (BSF) at Humahama near the Srinagar Airport here today, after completing a rigorous training of 38 weeks since February this year.

Inspector General of BSF, Kashmir, Baljit Singh took the salute at the parade while a number of other BSF officers, including DIG Ashok Sharma, head of the STC, were among those present on the occasion.

The recruits include 703 from Bihar, four from J&K, three from Punjab, two each from Himachal Pradesh and Tripura and one from West Bengal.

They included 31 graduates, 315 intermediates, 366 matriculates and three under-matric.

During their training, stress was laid on physical training, fitness, weapon handling, shoot-to-kill exercise, map reading and discipline. They have also been trained in field engineering, field craft, minor tactics, anti-terrorism and anti-insurgency operations, commando operations and respect for human life.

The STC at Humhama in the nearby Budgam district was established on June 10, 1990, for training requirements of the BSF. So far, it has trained 9,271, of which 1,749 are Kashmiri recruits who are performing their duties in various parts of the country.

Jammu, November 19
In order to provide infrastructural facilities to students of Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM)Science College, the Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment Abdul Gani Malik along with Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ashok Khajuria today inaugurated a multipurpose hall on the premises of the college.

According to an official statement issued here, the hall is spread over an area of about 7000 sq ft and constructed at the cost of Rs 1 crore by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC).

Speaking on the occasion, Malik said the need of the hour was to strengthen the basic infrastructural facilities at colleges of the state. He added that adequate funds were been made available in addition to normal grants by the Higher Education Department for creating more required infrastructural facilities.

He told the college principal and the JKPCC authorities to use the allocated funds on the pending works by March 31, 2011.

He assured that more PG courses would start in this college from next year.

The Director of Colleges, Prof Sham Lal Gupta and principal of GGM Science College, MS Baloria also spoke on the occasion.

The principal demanded adequate funds for more infrastructural facilities in the college.

The Director of Colleges said about Rs 40 crore had been provided to various colleges for infrastructural facilities.

Udhampur, November 19
Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, GOC-in-C Northern Command and Colonel of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Ladakh Scouts, will review the Reunion Parade of the JK Rifles during its four-day biennial conference that commenced at the Regimental Centre, Jabalpur, yesterday.

Accompanied by his wife, Ritu Jaswal, Lt-Gen Jaswal will also inaugurate the new building of the Record Office, besides having an interaction with the veterans attending the Regimental Reunion. Upon his arrival at Jabalpur, he was introduced to all officers and Subedar Majors. Notably, a vast majority of the troops of the JK Rifles hail from the northern states of J&K, HP, Punjab and Haryana.

In his inaugural address, Lt-Gen Jaswal spoke on his key result areas and directions on major issues pertaining to training, operational efficiency and administration. Before this, Brig CM Rodrigues, Commandant, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regimental Centre, welcomed the Colonel of the regiment, and all Commanding Officers to Jabalpur and presented a detailed account of training, manpower, and other relevant issues.

The history of the regiment, which is linked with the great Indian military revival of the 17th and 18th centuries, was recalled with a great sense of pride on the occasion.

Udhampur, November 19
The Army under Operation Sadbhavana organised a free veterinary aid and rural development camp at Chak Rakwalan village in the district today.

Besides a team of officers and jawans from the 3 Advance Field Veterinary Hospital on behalf of the 71 Sub Area, the officials concerned of the District Animal Husbandry and the Sheep Husbandry departments and the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, SKUAST, RS Pura, Jammu, provided professional advice to the villagers.

More than 2,800 head of livestock, including cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, horses, mules and dogs, were treated at the camp by the Army and civil veterinarians. Besides, 295 villagers were also provided treatment and medical advice by the doctors. Free animal feed packets were also distributed on the occasion. Male calves were given free of cost by the Military Farms.

As per an Army spokesperson, the villagers were also provided animal husbandry advice and special veterinary cover.

They were provided an opportunity to get advice from Army agencies like the ECHS, ESM helpline, DGR and the AMC.

Specialist diagnostic facilities and treatment, besides medicines, were provided free of cost for sick animals of the villagers.

Jammu, November 19
Finally, the state government handed over the Languages Block of the old campus of University of Jammu to Government Sri Pratap Memorial Rajput (SPMR) College of Commerce here today. The Languages Block, which is situated adjacent to the commerce college, was handed over to the college for the conduct of regular classes and to handle the problem of insufficient infrastructure.

While expressing happiness over the possession of the Languages Block, Dr Anita Sudan, Principal of Government SPMR College of Commerce, said, “The college authorities have paid around Rs 1 crore for the block and we got its possession officially today.” She said the Languages Block would help accommodate over 800 students of the commerce college.

Though the college got the possession of the block, the classes would be conducted in it only after the completion of the renovation work. “We will conduct B.Com-I classes in the Languages Block only after the renovation work is completed,” Dr Sudan told The Tribune. She added, “The block needs some renovation.”

The Principal said as soon as funds were allocated to the college by the government, it would start the renovation work in the block. “The Roads and Building Department has made an estimate of around Rs 70 lakh for the renovation of the Languages Block and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has made an estimate of Rs 25 lakh for it. We have sent both proposals to the government for approval,” she added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the college has insufficient infrastructure. The strength of the students is more than its seating capacity. “To cope with the problem of space constraint, we have converted nooks and corners of the college into lecture halls,” said Dr Sudan. The college has been conducting classes in the gymnasium hall, games storeroom, girls common room, committee room and the table tennis hall. The college lacks canteen facility and even does not have a playground for the students.

The Ambedkar block of the college is in a dilapidated condition and parasite bushes have grown on its wall, which has developed cracks. The building can crumble any time.

Jammu, November 19
Keeping in view the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley, the Northern Railway authorities today claimed that the restoration work of the damaged railway infrastructure in the Valley would be completed within a month’s time. During the four-month-long turmoil in the Valley, protestors had damaged railway properties in particular, following which the functioning of the Railways was suspended. The suspension continues till date.

They also announced that the restoration work would start from tomorrow, as employees, who had earlier migrated to their hometowns after they were attacked by miscreants, had resumed their duties. SK Budhalkoti, General Manager of the Northern Railways, who came for an inspection at Jammu today, said, “Most of our employees have resumed their duties in the Valley, and within a month the restoration work of railway infrastructure would be completed.”

Besides this, he said the Jammu-Katra railway link would be connected by December 2012. “The work is going on in full swing and we hope that the installation of the railway track between Jammu-Udhampur-Katra would be completed by the end of 2012,” added Budhalkoti.

While inaugurating a loco-lobby for railway passengers at the Jammu Tawi Railway Station, he announced that the number of existing platforms at the station would be increased soon.

To facilitate traders, the GM also announced that the length of the existing yard at the station would be increased, as a train of 24 coaches could not be parked there.

Budhalkoti, who came here after almost five years, was accompanied by all senior officers of the Northern Railway, including Divisional Railway Manager (Ferozepur Division) Vishwesh Chaubey, and visited some areas to take stock of the functioning of railways in the state. Replying to a query about the completion of electrification work at Chakki Bank, Budhalkoti said, “The work is going on there and it is in the priority list of our agenda.”

Jammu, November 19
To commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Government College for Women, Parade, inaugurated “Quami Ekta Week” on the college premises today.

The function started with the lighting of a traditional lamp by Dr Kiran Bakshi, Principal of the college, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

Students sang patriotic songs, which enthralled the audience.

Bakshi impressed upon the students to inculcate the values of tolerance, coexistence and brotherhood in this multi-cultural and multi-religious country.

The Principal, members of the staff, NSS Programme Officer Prof SDS Jamwal, Prof Sushma Mahajan, Prof Shefali Gupta and NSS volunteers took a national integration pledge on the occasion.

Jammu, November 19
The BJP Mahila Morcha celebrated birth anniversary of Laxmi Bai- the Rani of Jhansi - by organising a function at party headquarters here today. A portrait of the brave queen was garlanded and tributes paid to her by party activists.

Morcha president Sakina Bano said Laxmi Bai had set an example which present-day women should follow. She was born during such a period when women were confined within the four walls and could not think of taking up weapons or entering battle fields.

She said although we were living in an advanced and modern age, yet the society had not changed its attitude towards women.

“Even today, the birth of a girl is not welcomed in many families,” she observed, adding, “History shows that whenever a woman has been given a chance, she has proved her capability. In many cases, women have taken lead and brought name and fame not only for family but for the nation as well.”

Jammu, November 19
The Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust is holding a two-day free medical camp at the residence of the president of the trust, Pawan Shastri, at Shakti Nagar here on November 20 and 21.

This is the eleventh such camp being held by the trust in which world renowned cancer specialist, Dr Ashok Vaid, will examine persons suffering from cancer-related diseases. Tomorrow, Dr Vaid will be available from 12 noon to 6 pm.

The persons desirous of getting free consultation can register themselves on telephone No. 0191-2582559 or by personally visiting the camp.

Dr Vaid, a son of the soil, is at present Chairman, Oncology and Haematology, Medanta Cancer Institute (The Medicity), Gurgaon.

Jammu, November 19
The Bagh-e-Bahu police today arrested a man, who had allegedly in an inebriated condition damaged a temple in Qasim Nagar on November 17. The police said the accused, Padam Singh, had been absconding since Wednesday and was finally nabbed today.

A case has already been registered against him at Bagh-e-Bahu police station.