Jammu, November 26
The successive state governments have failed to explore the tourism potential of the Jammu region. Most of the projects, which were announced to attract tourists remained only on paper as it is widely alleged that those at the helm of the affairs are not serious in implementing such projects.

Besides, all packages announced for the revival of tourism remain confined only to the Kashmir Valley.

A deputation of the Jammu Hotel Restaurant and Bar Association, which called on C Rangarajan, chairman of the Reconstruction Committee of the state, and member of the task for development of the Jammu region, pinpointed inordinate delay in the completion of various projects announced for this region.

The deputation has reasons to express concern over the delay. The ropeway project of Patnitop, a similar project on the Tawi, an artificial lake and a project for protecting lakes of this region have been hanging fire since long.

The members submitted a memorandum, highlighting the steps required to be taken to promote tourism and pilgrimage in the region, thereby boosting the economy and generating employment.

Emphasising that the Jammu region has a vast tourism potential, the members demanded bringing twin lakes of Mansar and Sruinsar, holy spots of Purmandal and Uttarvani, Raghunath Temple, Jamavant Gufa, Peer Baba, Budha Amar Nath, Shadra Sharief and Nagali Saheb Gurdwara on the tourism map of the country.

Underlining the need for expediting the projects of artificial lake on the Tawi and Mubarak Mandi heritage complex, the memorandum also demanded early taking up of the cable-car project between Mubarak Mandi and Maha Maya, besides ropeway at Patnitop, Kud and Vaishno Devi.

The deputation members pointed out that although tourism was declared as an industry by the government vide SRO-72 in 1995, the benefits and incentives available to the industry in the state had not been extended to the tourism sector. It also rued that all packages of tourism revival, rehabilitation and incentives had remained confined to the Kashmir Valley. It was also demanded that the hotel industry should be granted complete tax holiday in respect of VAT and service tax etc. at least for five years.

The promotion of border tourism at Suchet Garh on the lines of Wagah Border and shrine of Baba Chamliyal in Ram Garh was also sought. It was also demanded that Jammu airport should be expanded and made international.

Jammu, November 26
Even as public transport and condition of roads continue to remain in shambles in the hilly state, the state government has decided to come out with a passenger welfare scheme.Under the scheme, kith and kin of those persons who die in road mishaps will get Rs 1 lakh each and the injured would be given up to Rs 50,000.

It is a fact that more people have died in road mishaps than in 20 years of militancy in the state.

In a meeting, Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon said the government would shortly implement the passenger welfare scheme under which kith and kin of those persons who died in vehicular mishaps would get Rs 1 lakh and the injured up to Rs 50,000.

Akhoon also stressed upon the officers to discharge their duties with sincerity and responsibility to the expectations of the people since the department was directly linked with the public.

He asked them to adopt the method of quick disposal of cases so that people got more and more facilities.

Keeping in view of the interests of the public, Akhoon asked the authorities for initiating measures for installation of four weigh bridges already sanctioned for Jammu, Udhampur, Sonamarg, and Lower Munda.

Similarly, regional transport officers and assistant regional transport officers had been asked to gear up their men and machinery at the ground level and streamline transport services. They were instructed to check fares being charged by bus operators and overloading to avoid mishaps in the state.

He asked them to implement decisions and instructions of the government in letter and spirit.

Meanwhile, the government has realised revenue of Rs 63.36 crore through the Transport Department during the current fiscal year so far in the shape of taxes and fee from transporters.

The meeting was informed that during the current year ending September, 36,238 vehicles had been registered by the department, 23,935 in Jammu division and 12,203 in Kashmir division.

It was also told that 45,318 driving licences had been issued till October this year, of which, 2,452 were commercial and 42866 non-commercial.

The meeting was told that eight offices of RTOs and ARTOs at Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, Srinagar, Baramulla, Leh and Budgam had been computerised and in the second phase, offices of Doda, Poonch, Kargil, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kupwara would be computerised for which Rs 64 lakh were released by the government.

The remaining offices of newly created districts would be taken up in the third phase. 

Reasi, November 26
Oozing sores of Zulaikha, a leprosy patient woman belonging to the Gujjar community, are not as hurting as the mental pain she is going through because of separation from her children. She was abandoned by her husband 12 years ago, since then she has been yearning to see the faces of her children.

Dr Armauer Hansen of Norway might have dispelled many wrong notions in 1873 by telling the world that leprosy was caused by a bacterium (mycobacterium leper), but still there are people who believe that the disease is caused by some curse or sinful ways.

Zulaikha, in her mid 30s, is presently living in her parents’ house near the Panchayat Ghar of Bharakh village in the Pauni block of Reasi district. She was married to Mohd Shafi of Keri village, Bakori, Rajouri district, and gave birth to two girls and a boy. However, after her ankle accidentally sprained, she was sent to her maternal home in Bharakh village of the Pauni block of the district with vestiges of the disease, never to be called back.

“My husband told me never to come again and my mother brought me back home,” she said and on being asked if she wanted to meet her children, she said: “That is not possible. The children belong to him (her husband) and, moreover, I cannot go to see them due to my disability”.

She has been living with a deformed foot. While leprosy has damaged her hands, her sprained ankle is also badly affected by the disease. “Doctors at Pauni hospital told me a few years ago that this wound is non-healing,” she said pulling her left foot from a rubber shoe.

As she showed her foot, pus started dripping profusely (see photo) suggesting that if the treatment was not provided in time, part of leg might have to be amputated.

At her maternal house, she could avail just a shelter and not the concern of the family, their poverty could be a reason in this connection. She said while her brothers never took her to hospital, the local ASHA (community health worker) never approached her.

For her disability, she gets a monthly pension of Rs 100 from the Department of Social Welfare, the only economic support she has. When the case was brought to the notice of Gangyal Ravinder Khajuria, medical superintendent of Rajiv Gandhi Leprosy Hospital, he assured that: “We will definitely help her in every possible way”.

Tourists have fun while playing with snow at Gulmarg. A file photo

Srinagar, November 26
Famous tourist attraction Gulmarg has been listed as one of the top 10 ski destinations in Asia by a top media organisation. Placed 7th in the coveted list, Gulmarg has been recommended by CNN International as one of the best ski destinations for downhill thrills, which attracts visitors from across the globe. This was announced by the government in Jammu on Wednesday.

Appi Kogen, Tohoku, Japan, tops the list as the best ski resort in Asia, followed by Niseko, Hokkaido, also in Japan. The other resorts to find their way in the shortlist are Rusutsu Ski Resort, Hokkaido, Japan, Alpensia Resort, Yongpyong, Gangwon-do and Jisan Forest Resort, Icheon, all in South Korea, Alshan Alpine, in Mongolia, Yabuli, Ski resort, in Heilongjian and Nanshan Ski village, in Beijing, both in China.

CNN International writes that in the 19th century, Gulmarg was a hill station for British colonies to escape the summer heat. “These days, it is a world-class ski resort blanketed with fresh light powder from the Himalayas, attracting ski bums tired of Alpine lift queues and fondues,” writes the CNN report.

CNN International further reports that the resort’s claim to fame is the Gulmarg Gandola, the highest ski lift in the world, at a dizzying 3,979m. At the top station, skiers can take on challenging runs with Nanga Parbat, the world’s 9th highest peak, in the backdrop. Around 4,00,000 intrepid skiers took gondola ride last year, the report adds.

Various tourist trade associations in Kashmir have welcomed the decision of CNN International to declare Gulmarg among top 10 ski resorts of Asia saying that it would give fillip to the tourism industry, especially during winter season, besides raising the tourist graph in Jammu and Kashmir. They have also praised the efforts of the government which is promoting all improved facilities in various tourist spots of the state besides developing new tourist destinations.

Jammu, November 26
The enforcement staff of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), led by Satish Khajuria, chief enforcement officer, along with police force demolished an unauthorised construction at Narwal.

Its owner, Dharmpal Sharma, was raising the building without seeking permission from the MC.

In another move, the team conducted a drive to clear footpaths/pavements and seized the goods like weighing scales, juice machines and benches kept by shopkeepers and vendors by encroaching upon public spaces at the Jewel and Canal Road areas.

The MC also appealed to the public to seek building permission before raising any construction work to avoid action.

The enforcement staff has been directed to be more vigilant and ensure that no unauthorised construction or encroachment takes place in their respective areas. Meanwhile, the municipal veterinary officer along with field staff continued the drive to check the menace of stray animals.

The team visited the areas of Rehari, Panjthirthi, Circular Road, Janipur, Jewel, Talab Tillo, Narwal, Gandhi Nagar, Railway Road, Channi, Trikuta Nagar, Digiana and Gangyal. They lifted 26 stray animals from these areas. The stray animals have been kept at the municipal cattle pound.

In the areas of Kunjwani, Satwari, Narwal and Gangyal, the team fined the defaulters, who were selling unstamped meat. An amount of Rs 7,510 was charged as fine from them.

Srinagar, November 26
A comprehensive proposal for the beautification of the areas adjoining the historic fort of Srinagar under the Naagar Nagar project has been sent to the Central government.

This was stated by Minister for Rural Development, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar while interacting with scores of deputations during his extensive tour of the old city here yesterday. The project, which had been worked out during the previous coalition government, had not taken off due to various reasons. The project, designed and formulated by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, would provide various upgrading facilities around the old fort of Srinagar. These include restoration of the Hariparbhat Fort, Ecological Park, Water Park and renovation of roads and other civic amenities.

The project, according to official sources here, would cost Rs 25 crore. A presentation about the project was made in New Delhi on September 14, while the second phase of the project would be submitted soon to finalise the beautification project of the historic capital city of Srinagar.

Meanwhile, Sagar, representing the Khanyar constituency of interior Srinagar, also inspected the pace of work on the renovation and modernisation of the playing field at Rainawari taken up with an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh. He asked the officers to speed up the pace of work so that it is completed within the stipulated time. He said all modern and state-of-the-art facilities like changing room and toilet facility had been provided for the convenience of sportspersons.

The Minister also inspected the proposed site of construction of cable car project from Rainawari to the shrine of Makhdoom Sahib, close to the Hari Parbhat Fort. The multi-crore project would be completed within a year and a half, the Minister was told.

Jammu, November 26
At a time when wedding season is presently blossoming, “Henze” and “Wanvun”, the most typical folk expressions and traditional marriage songs of Kashmiri Pandits, are alarmingly missing from their marriages.

The art appears to be a dying one, as there are a few surviving ladies amongst the community who could now recite the sacred singing throughout the rituals associated with marriage and yagnopavit ceremonies.

“A group of elderly women used to sit on a side of the mandap and sing nonstop as each ritual was carried out. Now, this tradition is hardly seen more so after the mass migration of the community from the Valley,” said AK Chetan, a social activist.

Citing urbanisation of the community as the main reason for the dying art, Chetan said, prior to migration, the tradition of “Wanvun” was common among female community members, particularly those who had a rural background.

“After their migration, the community while trying to get settled mainly in cities lost the rural touch. Elderly women could not pass the baton of “Wanvun” and “Henze” recitation on to the next generation,” opined Chetan. Contrary to that, Kashmiri Muslims, who have their own style of “Wanvun”, have still kept the art intact, he said.

Manoj Sheeri, a culture columnist, said: “Wanvun is a song form reflecting since ages the age-old rich cultural ethos of Kashmiris, which had no religious, social or any other kind of discrimination that made it to survive.

“Unfortunately in the new era, the community has forgotten this melodious song form. Instead, they have added new and alien forms of entertainment to their celebrations,” he said.

Although some cultural forums over the past tried to revive the art of “Henze” recitations on marriages by producing some cassettes and CDs, the arrangement, however, lacked the professional touch and as such could not be popularised.

Gulzar Ahmad Ganai, a renowned Kashmiri singer, who is known for singing “leelas” and “bhajans” in praise of Hindu Gods, said his group was ready to render “Henze” to revive the art. “Since Kashmiri Hindu “Wanvun” is more based on Sanskrit hymns, it needs an expert opinion before rendering the typical verses,” he said.

Daleep Langoo, a noted musician, however, said he was planning to revive the art. “I am presently on the job of collecting whatever material was available by reprinting some text on the subject. It, however, requires a deep research to revive the art of “Henze” recitation,” he said.

KK Lidhoo, programme executive at Radio Kashmir Jammu, said the institution was ready to support any musician on the subject. “We would love to play “Henze” recitation and other Kashmiri marriage songs provided some artist knows how to recite or sing them with authority,” he added.

The Kashmir Valley is gearing up for winter months ahead even as dry weather conditions have been prevailing over the past couple of months. Though the inclement weather conditions hit parts of high-mountain reaches in south Kashmir on Wednesday, it remained dry across the planes.

People in the Valley, like any other geographical regions, have their own ways to tackle its harsh winter months after pleasant summer. Woollens wear like the traditional pheran or long robes with kangri, made of local produce, although waning still makes an essential tool to fight the biting cold.

The traditional way of using dried vegetables continues during winter when the highways get blocked, restricting the supply of fresh vegetables.