|
|
|
|
Rendered homeless
Srinagar’s development a priority: Omar
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Winter Games
Army Fair leaves visitors spellbound
Drug peddling on the rise
Kashmir to have five indoor wickets
NRI plans to expand Doda education project
Netherlands to help state boost agriculture
Cops to train rural youth in mushroom farming
Politics over cross-LoC trade
srinagar diary
|
|
Rendered homeless
Jammu, January 14 The officials used JCBs and bulldozers to raze the shanties as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The poor labourers, including women and children, are now forced to spend their days in the open at a time when the cold wave, breaking all records, has gripped the entire region. The migrant labourers, particularly old aged and children, were found shivering in the chilly cold weather conditions the next morning. Shanti Devi, a migrant labourer, who was cooking food on the roadside and surrounded by her children, said, “Since we are poor, we have to bear the ire of the authorities quite often. Just recently, we lost our shelter which was demolished by the authorities using bulldozers”. Tears rolled down Manoj’s eyes when he said, “Many times they take away our rehris, leaving us without work, and now, our houses have been demolished in the name of an anti-encroachment drive since they know we do not have any support. The encroachments done by the rich and influential are being ignored”. He added, “In the freezing cold, the authorities should have thought about our small children and elderly before conducting the drive. At least, they should have waited till the harsh winter was over. Our children are now forced to stay in the open to face chilly weather”.
|
|
Srinagar’s development a priority: Omar
Srinagar, January 14 Omar’s visit to inaugurate a community centre and paying obeisance at the revered shrine of Shah-e-Hamdan in the city yesterday came a day after thousands of youth from the area thronged a district-level recruitment rally organised by the J&K Police at Khanyar on Wednesday. The government’s attention towards the development of congested downtown comprising a majority of the population of about 14 lakh within Srinagar Municipal limits has been at the centre of political blame game between the ruling NC and its predecessors PDP during the past eight years. While speaking on the occasion of inaugurating Shah-i-Hamdan community centre at Zainakadal, the Chief Minister said it was malicious intention in the past that Srinagar city, particularly Shehr-i-Khaas, was ignored and lesser funds were earmarked for its development. “But immediately after I took over as the Chief Minister, I kept Srinagar, particularly Shehr-i-Khaas, as one of my top priorities,” he added. Keeping in view the historical importance of Shehr-i-Khaas, the government has launched various developmental activities in and around the city, conducted on-spot recruitment drives which will continue in future as well, given directions to concerned departments for new initiatives for the uplift of artisans of Shehr-i-Khaas and enrich and upgrade its already deteriorated lanes and roads, the Chief Minister said while addressing the public rally on the occasion. The two-storeyed community centre has been completed at a cost of Rs 119 lakh, providing all facilities and would accommodate about 1,500 persons during the functions. Regarding the development of various projects initiated by the government for the welfare of the people, Omar said work on two power projects in Kathua and Baghliar-II was being taken up soon to improve power scenario in the state.He said the previous government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stopped the work on Baghliar and Sawalakote projects initiated by Farooq Abdullah. In an overt reference to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s recent protest march against power crisis, the Chief Minister said those people who were now coming out with lanterns in their hands and raising false slogans, “I ask them what they have done during their tenure for the improvement of power rather the fact is this that they sabotaged the construction of big power houses in the state”. Omar added that his government in two years had provided assured power supply to the people more than any government had provided. He reiterated his promise with the people of Shehr-i-Khaas that his government would develop it on the modern lines and said a satellite township and plots would be provided to the people living in the dense areas so that they could also prosper in all ways. Earlier, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats Ali Mohammad Sagar said Omar had sanctioned 10 community centres for Srinagar.
|
|
Winter Games
Leh, January 14 Despite no advanced facilities, except a natural ice rink that too available for less than three months in a year, the skaters from Ladakh have performed excellently in all speed skating events. Mohd Bashir, general secretary of the Ladakh Winter Sports Club, through which the players have participated in the games, said, “In all three events of ice speed skating, seven medals
have |
|
Army Fair leaves visitors spellbound
Jammu, January 14 As a part of the Northern Command’s investiture ceremony, which would culminate with awards ceremony on January 15, the fair is not only an attempt to showcase our daredevilry and might, but also to attract youngsters to join the Army and become a part of one of the elite forces in the world, said a senior Army officer. “On the first day of the celebrations, we came across youngsters who evinced keen interest in weaponry on display. They posed some interesting queries and asked us how to get a commission in the Army,” he added. While the youngsters were excited on daredevilry being showcased by the men in olive, people in general, who are visiting the fair, derive a sense of pride and satisfaction. They rightly felt that they are in safe hands, said the officer. The Army Day is celebrated every year on January 15 to commemorate the appointment of Lt-Gen (later Field Marshal) KM Kariappa as Commander-in-Chief of the Army from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander in 1949. Since then it has been a tradition to present the gallantry and distinguished service awards to the deserving soldiers on the day. The awards are presented by the Army Commanders in each of the Commands of the Army. The Northern Command, which is responsible for operations in Jammu and Kashmir, is celebrating the Army Day this year in Akhnoor garrison. The awardees from the entire command theatre have assembled in Akhnoor for the investiture ceremony scheduled to be held tomorrow. A large gathering of spectators enjoyed the daredevilry of Army skydiving team followed by hot and cold air ballooning by the Army adventure cell. The skydivers jumped from a helicopter flying at a height of 8,000ft. The spectators were left awestruck when these skydivers displayed various adventurous formations in the sky before manoeuvring their parachutes and landing on the precise point in the centre of the stadium. Thereafter, flashing hot air balloons took off from the stadium and after hovering for some time over the spectators they descended in the middle of the stadium drawing much applause from the crowd. As the spectators were thrilled watching the display in the air, the most enjoyable event of the evening, a dog and horse show, commenced immediately thereafter. This turned out to be the highlight of the evening as these special breeds of trained dogs and horses gave a valiant display of military temperament and drills. These supporting warriors proved that they were no less than their brave masters. The show included brisk manoeuvres of horses in obstacle crossing and detection of explosive devices by dogs using their supreme gift of smelling sense. The animals also shook hands and displayed hilarious body movements much to the amusement of the spectators. A talented dance troupe from the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages gave an exhilarating performance showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the state, regaling the audience with music and dance. After the show, the might of the Army was displayed in an equipment gallery. The display of the latest weaponry and war equipment generated a sense of pride amongst the spectators.
|
|
Drug peddling on the rise
Jammu, January 14 In a recent press conference, DGP Kuldeep Khoda said the number of cases registered under the Psychotropic Substances Act in 2010 was 45 per cent more than 2009. The continuous rise in drug peddling cases, relating to intoxicant capsules and injections, across the state has become a big challenge for the police, as the situation has assumed alarming proportions. A major reason behind the rise in such cases is the prevalence of the menace in the neighbouring Punjab. As most cases have been registered in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts, which either share border with Punjab or located nearby. Even the police has accepted the fact that most drug peddling activities take place through Lakhanpur, which shares its border with Pathankot in Punjab. In the first two weeks of January, a number of such cases were registered, which gives an indication that there is a dire need to take immediate measure. On January 12, the Jammu police seized 1,100 intoxicant capsules and arrested two drug peddlers near the Education Board at Rehari here. The same day, the Kud police arrested a man and seized 200 grams of charas from his possession. Similarly, on January 8, the Kathua police arrested two drug peddlers who were carrying 450 intoxicant capsules and 55 pouches of illicit liquor. On January 6, the Kathua police arrested a drug peddler and recovered 5,000 intoxicant capsules. The police said a naka was laid at Rajbagh from where the accused was held when he was about to hand over the drugs to youngsters in the adjoining areas. In another incident, the Ramban police arrested a trucker for possessing 100 kg of poppy straw near Batote in Ramban district. Meanwhile, the DGP has said a campaign would be launched this year to curb the menace.
|
|
Kashmir to have five indoor wickets
Srinagar, January 14 The indoor wickets are expected to be ready by August this year, which would allow the cricketers from Kashmir to continue their practice even during the winter, Saleem Khan, Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), told PTI. "Five indoor wickets are being constructed at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium where around 30-40 players can play at any time. We hope it will be complete by August this year," Khan said. He said the Director, Operations, of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and former India cricketer Sandeep Patil visited the cricket stadium yesterday to review the ongoing work at the indoor wickets. Patil was accompanied by academy's bowling coach Arun Bharti. Khan said the indoor wickets would be fitted with a proper heating system and a gym. The NCA was established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to "improve the standard and safety of cricket in India at all levels through high-quality specialist coaching and coach education, and optimal use and development of sports science". Patil has assured the JKCA of all possible help from the NCA in improving the standards of the game in the state and promised to visit the stadium again to ensure that the indoor wickets are as per accepted standards.
— PTI |
|
NRI plans to expand Doda education project
Singapore, January 14 Nasir Haji, now a Singaporean citizen and the Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) Managing Director for South-east Asia, has opened three English-medium primary schools located between Jammu and Srinagar in Doda city, a 7-km climb off the Chenab river and home to the famous Baglihar dam. The Haji Public Schools at Breswana, Shadiwan and Parsholla, a village of the Hindu community, have been conducting classes for more than a year, said Nasir, who established the Haji Amina Charity Trust in his late mother's name in 2005, which is now supporting the schools. The Breswana school started classes in 2008 and the other two in February, 2010. Nasir said he was convinced that education would remove the barrier between the religions. "The immediate challenge is to provide English-speaking teachers for the schools, attended by children from the Doda community," Nasir told PTI here. "We have put a number of teachers through fast-track English courses in Jammu for starting the schools," many of which, he said, were supported by donations received from colleagues and friends working around the world. The goal is to provide education to the younger generation of this backward area . "I have grown up in Doda and feel that I have an obligation to Doda ," said Nasir, the son of a retired senior sessions court judge. "My family members have been fortunate to get educated at the highest levels, and it is time for us to serve the community by establishing these schools," said Nasir, who leads the South-East Asia operations of the world's second largest shipping company. "We want to take the school project to the next phase by adding a high school and a college, perhaps, through collaborations with social funding institutions such as Bharti Foundation and Azim Premji Foundation," he said. His aim is to have 10 primary schools in the Doda area, and then gradually establish a high school, said the 52-year old Kashmiri. Nasir said he planned to set up a college within 10 years for which a site was recently acquired near the Chenab . "If we get good financial support, we can have the college ready much sooner," said Nasir, whose vision includes a separate college for girls. — PTI
|
|
Netherlands to help state boost agriculture
Srinagar, January 14 During a meeting with state Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in New Delhi recently, Netherlands' Deputy Ambassador to India Jeroen Roodenburg assured Jammu and Kashmir of providing technical support for boosting the agriculture sector, an official spokesperson said here. "The government of Netherlands is ready to forward technology, farm machinery and elite planting material for agriculture, horticulture, floriculture and dairy farming to Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesperson quoted Roodenburg as saying. The Minister was invited by the Netherlands government to discuss various areas of agricultural concern. In this connection, agriculture counsellor of Netherlands Henk van Duijn will be visiting Kashmir soon, the spokesperson said. During the meeting, Mir said previously tourism was thought to be the only thrust area for the state economy, but agriculture is now being given due focus as it also has tremendous potential for employment generation. He said the similarities in climate between European and Jammu and Kashmir makes it possible to grow all types of high-value crops at very low cost. "In order to improve the quality and increase the production of saffron, the government has launched the Saffron Mission in the state under which quality seeds are being provided to farmers and the marketing shall be done though the Spice Board of India," Mir said. The spokesperson said the agriculture counsellor to the Netherlands government assured that sufficient support for the production of quality planting material of saffron shall be made available by the Dutch experts. In order to fulfil the country's demand of flowering bulbs, the Department of Agriculture is going to start a bulb propagation unit at Model Floriculture Centre, Ganderbal district of the Valley, and the planting material would be imported from Holland.
— PTI |
|
Cops to train rural youth in mushroom farming
Udhampur, January 14 The idea, the first-of-its-kind in the state, is being given shape in association with the District Agricultural Department wherein the police will sponsor the training while agricultural experts will provide technical knowledge. The latter will also help the trained youths to tap the market of their produce. Around 70 farmers have taken to mushroom farming in the district under the National Horticulture Mission. “We have identified 100 youths from all parts of the district, especially from the remote and backward areas of Mahore Arnas and Pouni blocks. The idea is to offer them a constructive way of earning livelihood so that they do not become vulnerable to the allurement by militant outfits to join their ranks,” said Mohammad Rashid, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Reasi. The initiative, under the civic action programme of the police, has got approval of the state police authorities. A week-long training camp will be organised at Mushroom Demonstration Centre, Agricultural Farm, Reasi, from January 17. The modalities for this have already been completed. The police will bear all expenses of the training, including boarding and lodging of the trainees. The Agricultural Department has already successfully experimented with the mushroom farming at the demonstration centre where 5 quintals mushroom was produced last year. “This year, we have set a production target of 30 quintals. We also hope to achieve it because there is a perceptible change in the favour of mushroom consumption in the district. One kg of mushroom is sold at the price ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 150 in the local market,” informed Balwant Raj, chief officer at the demonstration centre.
|
|
Politics over cross-LoC trade
Jammu, January 14 Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former Chief Minister and PDP patron, has expressed concern over the “failure” of the present regime to further facilitate the trade which, according to him, was started due to the efforts of the previous PDP-Congress government. Reacting sharply to Mufti’s statement, NC leaders termed it as rubbish and misleading. Interestingly, both parties have been claiming that cross-LoC trade was started due their efforts. While the PDP leadership is claiming that it was due to the vision and conviction of their leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the NC, on the other hand, said the idea of opening the Muzafferabad-Srinagar road and other LoC links was that of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. According to it, it was Abdullah who had advocated the opening of these roads for all kinds of trade and free movement. Surjit Singh Slathia, Minister of Industries and Commerce, said the PDP was trying to mislead the people. He asked why during their rule the trade could not be started at all during their much-hyped Muzafferabad route opening campaign. On the allegations of the PDP that the trade has been hampered during the regime of the present government due to unnecessary restrictions, the minister claimed that the facts and figures revealed that there had been a sharp rise in the trade during the past two years of the Omar-led government. Substantiating his claim, he said up to 31st March, 2009, since the beginning of the trade, the state had exported goods worth Rs 2.76 crore while the same were Rs 131.96 crore during last fiscal and this fiscal, the state exported goods worth Rs 178.68 crore up to December. Slathia further clarified that the state had imported goods worth Rs 64 lakh only from October 10, 2008 to March 31, 2009, while it registered Rs 219.48 crore (in Pakistani currency) imports during the last fiscal. And this fiscal, the imports up to December, had reached Rs 297.01 crore, he added. Slathia made it clear that the present government was determined to increase the trade and strengthen the infrastructure to give it a boost.
|
|
Class X results declared late this time
The matriculation results was declared recently by the J&K Board of School Education (BOSE) for candidates of the Kashmir Valley. A huge rush of parents and candidates was witnessed outside the BOSE office (See photo). It was for the first time that the results were leaked on the evening of January 10, at least 36 hours before the scheduled declaration of the results. The result gazette had already printed January 12 as the date of declaration of the results. Candidates, who suffered on account of turmoil in the Valley, were in the first instance granted 50 per cent relaxation in the syllabus for the October examinations last year. They were also given multiple choices to compensate for the loss of school days during the summer months of turmoil. There was this time inordinate delay in the declaration of the results that came 80 days after the exams were over though these were declared within 38 days last year. However, the school board, adhering to the new government policy, had to implement the grade system instead of marks in this examination, which is believed to have delayed the results. But, the leakage and refusal to provide the re-evaluation facility to the candidates, has raised more questions than it has answered. Traffic chaos at Qamarwari intersection
The Qamarwari intersection on the Srinagar-Baramulla road is always marred by a traffic chaos and frequent traffic jams. Vehicles going to and coming from Baramulla and other areas of north Kashmir comprising two other districts of Kupwara and Bandipore, get stranded for a long time in traffic jams at this point. The situation becomes worst for the patients being shifted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences from various north Kashmir hospitals in a critical condition. The ambulances, too, are stuck in the traffic congestion, forcing the wastage of time so crucial for serious patients. The main cause for the traffic chaos on this intersection are passenger buses and three-wheelers, which stop right in the midst of the road, obstructing free flow of traffic and resulting in long queues. The authorities should take strict measures to rein in the chaos on this road. (Contributed by
Ehsan Fazili and Tejinder Singh Sodhi) |
|
||
| 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, January 14
About three months after the unrest subsided across the Kashmir Valley, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made his maiden visit with his hands full of promises to the dense population of Srinagar downtown, which had been at the centre of clashes between the angry youth and the police during summer months.
Jammu, January 14
Udhampur, January 14
The matriculation results was declared recently by the J&K Board of School Education
(BOSE) for candidates of the Kashmir Valley. A huge rush of parents and candidates was witnessed outside the BOSE office (See photo). It was for the first time that the results were leaked on the evening of January 10, at least 36 hours before the scheduled declaration of the results.
The result gazette had already printed January 12 as the date of declaration of the results.
