Jammu, March 19
Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon said in the Legislative Council here yesterday that there was a shortage of ration supplied by the government to above poverty line (APL) people across the state.

He added that the government had decided to increase the ration quota of the APL families from 35 kg per month to 40 kg per month for the next six months.

He informed the Upper House that though there was a shortage of ration for supply to the APL people, there was no ration shortage for the people in the below poverty line (BPL) category, as the department had procured adequate ration that was being distributed among the people.

He said the areas of Kathua, RS Pura and Samba were mostly affected due to the shortage of ration for the APL families.

Winding up a debate on the CAPD Department, Akhoon said, “The department has been seriously considering the issue and after getting additional supply of ration from the Centre, we have increased the quota for the APL families from 35 kg to 40 kg per month for the next six months”.

He assured the House about supplying adequate ration to both APL and BPL people. He said, “The census was the major reason behind the shortcomings in the functioning of our department, but now with the completion of the census this year we would be able to perform better”.

About ration pilferage, the minister said, “Besides other steps, we have set up the State Consumer Council to keep a check on such incidents”.

“Apart from it, the government is contemplating to set up eight new consumer forums to protect the rights of the consumers through institutional mechanism,” he added.

Replying to a question by Nizam-ud-Din-Khatana of the PDP about the ration distribution system for the tribal people, Akhoon said, “These people fall in the most deserving category, but most of them have not yet received BPL cards. They will be covered in a short period, as the department has already approved giving mobile ration cards to them”. He added that the state government had also written to the Centre seeking ration quota for the nomadic people.

“The department has started issuing three-colour ration cards. Besides, the deputy commissioners of all districts have been directed to keep a check on the officials of the CAPD Department,” Akhoon said.

Treva (Bishnah), March 19
With the notification for the panchayat poll being issued, hectic political activities have started in the border Bishnah block where the polling is scheduled for April 13.

People here are enthusiastic about participating in the process of constituting the local self-government at the grass-roots level. But some villagers with a political background expressed apprehensions that the ruling coalition would try to capture the panchayati raj institutions through illegal means, taking the advantage of a few provisions in the present Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act.

“I do agree that people are enthusiastic about participating in the panchayat elections, but the intention of the government is not clear,” said Chatter Saini, a political activist of border Arnia village. “Through the provision of nomination in the existing Act, there are chances that the ruling parties will capture the panchayats by nominating their own men to the panchayats,” he said.

He added that without giving total powers to the elected members, the process of empowering people at the grass-roots level would not be complete in the true spirit.

A number of villagers echoed similar views and suggested that the provision of nomination should be deleted from the existing Act so as to empower the elected members. As the panchayat elections are going to be held after a gap of 10 years, a large number of youths are taking interest in it.

“For the first time the youths are showing keen interest in the panchayat poll, which is a good beginning,” said Tilak Raj of Changia village. He added that earlier only veteran people used to contest the panchayat elections. The last date of filing nominations in the Bishnah block is March 25, where 80,435 voters will elect 38 sarpanches and 284 panches. As many as 100 posts of panches have been reserved for women and 119 for the SCs.

Gul Hussain, block development officer, Bishnah, told The Tribune that 284 polling stations had been set up so that people could cast votes in their respective villages. “Some polling stations located near the international border have been termed as hypersensitive and adequate steps will be taken to ensure peaceful elections,” he said.

In the last panchayat elections held in 2001, the Bishnah block had 25 sarpanches. However, this time the number had increased to 38, as a few areas of the Vijaypur block were included in this block. 

Jammu, March 19
To protest against the alleged discriminatory attitude of the government towards militancy-affected people of the Jammu region, the Tehreek-e-Insaf (TeI) has given a call for “Jammu Chalo” on March 21 to force the government to accept its demands.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mohammad Farooq Mir, chairman of the movement, said the government was not serious in solving the problems of the militancy-affected people of the Jammu region.

He said neither the militancy-affected people nor the migrants of the region had been given any relief by the successive state governments so far. “We have decided to march towards the Civil Secretariat on March 21 with household materials, as we neither have food nor shelter,” he said.

Mir said thousands of people from Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts were hit by militancy and a large number of families were forced to migrate.

He added that the state government had so far not even registered the displaced families as migrants. Aslam Kohli, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Beig and Ravinder Raina spoke on the occasion. 

Jammu, March 19
As the controversy over a tender floated by an NGO for the construction of a five star hotel on the premises of the Mubarak Mandi complex has snowballed, the Jammu-based political parties have decided to take the issue to people.

As the people of Jammu are emotionally attached with the Mubarak Mandi complex, which was the seat of the erstwhile Dogra rulers, the BJP has decided to rake up the issue to corner its arch rival Congress in the region.

After creating a commotion in the Legislative Assembly over the issue, the Jammu-based political groups had announced to launch a mass movement to force the government to disband the committee constituted for the conservation of this heritage project.

“In the name of conserving this historical building, the committee has grabbed the complex and decided to sell it to private parties clandestinely,” alleged Harsh Dev Singh of the Panthers Party. He announced that all Jammu-based parties would jointly launch an agitation to get the “controversial” committee disbanded.

“For us Mubarak Mandi is not just a building. It symbolises our history, culture, heritage and ethos,” Harsh Dev said and warned that the people of Jammu would retaliate if the complex was leased out to some private parties. “Our fight on the issue would not be confined to the Legislative Assembly only. We have decided to take the issue to people,” he said and suggested to the government to take over the complex immediately and develop the building as a heritage project.

BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria, who had vociferously raised the issue in the Assembly, said a meeting of various organisations was held to devise a strategy to launch a movement against the government. “We have already informed the Chief Minister that the people of Jammu would not tolerate any such move,” he asserted. He added that any attempt to hurt the sentiments of the Dogras would prove counter-productive.

Khajuria, who represents the constituency of old Jammu city where the Mubarak Mandi complex is situated, expressed surprise over the government’s failure to keep a check on the activities of some persons, who were hell-bent on selling this symbol of Dogra heritage. The BJP leader took the Congress to task for maintaining silence over the issue. “The people of Jammu will not spare the Congress leaders for this blunder,” he warned.

Jammu, March 19
The Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of the internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits, has welcomed the statements of the US Ambassador in India, Timothy J Roemer, in Srinagar yesterday implying that the USA considered Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India like other states.

At a meeting of its executive council here today, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, president of the organisation, welcomed the statement of the US Ambassador and resented the recommendations of the interlocutors to the Union government.

He said the recommendation regarding the restoration of the posts Wazir-e-Azam (Prime Minister) and Sadar-e-Riyasat (President) in the state made it clear that the interlocutors were fed with a predetermined agenda before their appointment.

This had vindicated the stand of the Panun Kashmir that the Centre had remained interested in pursuing a ‘beaten track policy’ on Kashmir, which had brought the state to a mess, he said. “Any attempt aimed at taking the state to the pre-1953 position will further create an unending process of political uncertainty, which will have a dangerous fallout on the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country,” Chrungoo said.

He added that the Panun Kashmir pledged to take the issue to the people of India in order to create awareness on the subject and stop the government from committing a harakiri in this regard.

On the occasion, Chrungoo appealed to the rank and file to gear up for the next phase of struggle in exile.

Another leader of the organisation ML Raina said the Kashmiri Pandit community could not remain silent on its geo-political issues. “It has a right on the territory of Kashmir and the Pandits have a broader responsibility to espouse the national concerns in relation to the state on all available forums,” he said.

“The ‘margdarshan’ resolution of homeland espoused by the Kashmiri Pandit community clarifies that co-existence was refused to the community all along in Kashmir. We cannot subjugate ourselves again to a second class citizenship and, therefore, demand the establishment of a homeland in the Valley,” he said.

Virender Raina, another leader, said the organisation believed in consistent efforts, which alone could take the geo-political struggle of the present generation to the next generation.

“We cannot make any compromise on the issues of national concerns in the state. The Panun Kashmir will be taking up major initiatives in future to bring the issues of national importance regarding the Valley into focus. All out efforts will be made to make people a part of this national mission on Kashmir,” he added.

Jammu, March 19
A meeting of the head of the departments of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, was held here today under the chairmanship of Minister for Medical Education RS Chib.

The meeting discussed the unauthorised absence of lecturers, who had not attended the duty since March 15 as assigned to them. The minister took a serious note of the absence of the lecturers, causing inconvenience to patients, particularly those from far-flung and remote areas.

“This act of the lecturers, who have chosen to remain absent unauthorisedly, has been viewed very seriously and action as warranted under the relevant provisions of law shall be taken against them,” Chib said. He added that a final warning was given to the absentee lecturers to resume duty immediately, latest by Tuesday, without further delay. He said if the lecturers failed to resume duty, it shall be presumed that they had been placed under suspension and strict action shall be initiated against them. The meeting, among others, was attended by Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, RK Jerath, and Principal, GMCH, Dr Rajinder Singh.

Jammu, March 19
A deputation of agriculture technocrats (Rehbar-e-Zirat) met Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and Sports RS Chib here today and requested him to help in the regularisation of their services.

The delegation was led by president of the Agriculture Technocrats Association, Kashmir province, Dr Khursheed Ahmed Saraf, and president of the Agriculture Technocrats Association, Jammu province, Dr Surinder Radotra. The technocrats told the minister that they could not make both ends meet with their meagre salary of Rs 1,500 per month.

Chib assured the delegation that he would ensure that necessary steps were taken by the ministry concerned in this regard. Meanwhile, the protesting technocrats said they would not suspend their protest till the government fulfilled their demands.

Jammu, March 19
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has decided to revive the organisation in the state. Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Abdul Rashid Choudhary, state president of the NSUI, said the review, revamp and revival of the organisation was on the cards and the NSUI high command had given a green light for it.

Choudhary announced that the state executive meeting would be held on March 23 and 24. “All office-bearers of the state, district and university levels and some special invitees will participate in the two-day event. All office-bearers concerned can get in touch with the state office to get the meeting identity cards and training kits before March 23,” he said. “Besides the NSUI state leadership, the national leaders of the NSUI will address the third state executive. The meeting will discuss common grievances of the people and seek their immediate redress,” he added.

Choudhary said the NSUI would play an active role in ensuring political participation in the panchayat poll. He appealed to the youth and the student community to vote for energetic, educated and effective local leaders in the panchayat poll. Choudhary said the NSUI would field some candidates in the forthcoming municipal corporation elections in the state.

Jammu, March 19
A Holi Milan function was organised at Raj Bhawan here today in which Governor NN Vohra and First Lady Usha Vohra celebrated the festival of colours with the staff of the Governor’s Secretariat, their children and families.

The event organised on the lawns of Raj Bhawan made the festival a memorable one for the participants, particularly children.

The Governor and the First Lady offered sweets to those assembled on the occasion and interacted with the children, the staff members and their families. The Governor prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state.

Sriagar, March 19
The lack of awareness among public and the bureaucracy about the Right to Information Act has been the major stumbling block in seeking information under the Act, which came into force in the state two years ago.

In the absence of Public Information Officers (PIO), the state Information Commission has been flooded with complaints from individuals, mainly government employees, seeking redress of their grievances.

Talking to mediapersons here today, GR Sufi, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), said most of the people were not aware about the contents and provisions of the Act. He said the RTI Act was still in its infancy and there was need to create awareness among people and the bureaucracy about the Act and the process of seeking information under it. “The RTI is a power given to people for seeking information from any public authority, both in the state and Central governments,” he said during his maiden interaction with the media. “For obtaining any information they have to follow a procedure,” he added, saying the applicants needed to seek information through the PIOs of various government departments.

Elaborating, Sufi said the PIOs were designated by the public authorities in all administrative units to provide information to citizens requesting for information under the Act. “Any officer, whose services has been sought by the PIO for the proper discharge of his or her duty, shall render all assistance,” he said. 

Srinagar, March 19
Most parts of Srinagar city were inundated even as heavy rain brought down the temperature in the Valley today.

The heavy rain continued in most parts of Kashmir since morning while the upper reaches received fresh snowfall, prompting the authorities to issue an avalanche warning in many parts.

In Srinagar, drains were overflowing and all roads and streets were flooded with rainwater. “Every year the Srinagar Municipal Corporation makes tall claims of providing a proper drainage system in the city, but a day’s rain punctures these claims. The situation in Srinagar today is so bad that all roads are inundated and it has become difficult to walk,” said Abdul Hamid, a local resident.

In Lal chowk, all roads were submerged in water, making it difficult for pedestrians and drivers to move through the area.

At the time of the filing of the report, it was raining heavily in Srinagar while the upper reaches of the Valley reported light to moderate snowfall. The coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell of Kashmir, Amir Ali, said, “A medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded by the Disaster Management Cell for the higher reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdar and higher reaches of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg. A low danger avalanche warning exists on the peaks of Drass and Kargil.” He said people living in these areas had been advised to stay indoors during the snowfall in these avalanche-prone areas.

Leh: A fresh spell of snowfall across Ladakh has paralysed normal life in the region. The snowfall started in the morning and continued till late afternoon. According to the police control room, Leh, the Changla pass and the Khardongla pass, which connect the Durbuk block and the Nubra subdivision of the Leh district, remained closed to traffic today due to heavy snowfall.

The bus service between Leh and its adjoining areas was also affected. The scheduled flight and a chartered flight for defence personnel from Delhi to Leh were also cancelled.

Meanwhile, the cold conditions revived in the region following the snowfall. A minimum temperature of minus 1.8°C was recorded at Leh town this morning. 

Leh, March 19
Even after eight months of the devastating cloudburst causing a huge damage to life and property in the Ladakh region, Leh district is yet to receive any major financial support from the Union government.

Many important projects, including the irrigation canal, were incomplete due to lack of funds. The irrigation canal was to be reconstructed within two months to avoid drought-like situation in the district. It was earlier reconstructed temporarily after the cloudburst to protect the standing crops.

To restore different works and clear debris from agricultural lands damaged by the flash floods, a detailed report of projects worth Rs 148 crore and Rs 16.5 crore had been submitted by the state government to the Centre for sanction of the funds under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

The chief executive councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, said, “The LAHDC has taken up the demand for funds at various levels. Apart from correspondences to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Union ministers concerned for their intervention in this regard, the chief executive councillor had visited New Delhi twice”. The CEC also met the Prime Minister at the Parliament House in New Delhi yesterday and urged him to intervene for ensuring the timely release of funds, early restoration of various projects damaged in the floods and removal of debris from agricultural land to allow cultivation.

Jammu, March 19
The police arrested six bootleggers, besides demolished three distilleries and destroyed 3,000 litres of ‘lahan’ (country-made liquor) in the Bishnah area of the RS Pura subdivision yesterday.

Girdhari Lal, a resident of Dhangday Khurd, Kewal Kumar of Kotli Charkan, Rajesh Kumar, Sham Lal, Akash Kumar and Ajay Kumar of Nandpur in Bishnah were arrested under the J&K Excise Act.

The police said Girdhari Lal was a head constable in the state police, who reportedly retired voluntarily a few years back. He allegedly had property disproportionate to his known sources of income and was patronising many illicit liquor manufacturers, especially the youth, it added.

Rajesh Kumar, Sanjay Kumar and Akash Kumar, all residents of Nandpur in Bishnah, are school dropouts and were lured into the illegal trade by Gridhari Lal.

In view of the ensuing panchayat elections, the production and consumption of country-made liquor has dramatically increased in the area.

During the intervening night of March 18-19, the Bishnah and Miran Sahib police conducted a series of raids and destroyed six drums of lahan and recovered 100 litres of illicit liquor from the possession of the six accused.

“More than 40 per cent of the cases in the police stations of RS Pura, including Bishnah, Miran Sahib, RS Pura and Arnia, are accidents due to the consumption of illicit liquor,” Shailender Singh, SP, headquarters, said.

He said due to the growing trade of illicit liquor in the area, the police had been getting a number of calls from women complaining of domestic abuse at the hands of their male members. He added that many families had taken to illicit liquor making as a full-time occupation and had set up concrete improvised distilleries in cemented rooms.

“We have got reports that contractors from outside the state also visit these areas,” the SP said. He added that the clandestinely produced liquor was also supplied to adjoining areas like Samba, Vijaypur and Ramgarh.