Jammu, March 25
When the Budget session resumed in the Legislative Council after six-day vacation here today, legislators from opposition and treasury benches grilled the Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Shabir Ahmad Khan over the shortage of kerosene oil across the state.

Demanding the setting up of a committee to inspect various areas and find out reasons for the shortage of kerosene oil, a number of legislators belonging to the NC and the Congress, besides the PDP and the Panthers Party made a hue and cry during Question Hour.

When Shabir Khan was replying to a question by Congress legislator Ravinder Sharma about the shortage of kerosene oil in Nowshera and Sunderbani areas of Rajouri district, most of the legislators were dissatisfied by the reply and grilled the minister by asking supplementary questions.

The acting chairman of the Upper House, Arvinder Singh Micky, directed the state government to look into the matter and ensure adequate supply of kerosene oil to people. The minister assured the House that “there is no shortage of kerosene oil across the state and if there is shortage somewhere, I will direct the officials concerned to look into the matter urgently. So, there is no need to constitute a committee in this regard”.

Furious over the minister’s reply, Ajay Sadhotra of the NC said, “The minister should inspect the areas and only then he will know the ground reality”. “Depute a legislator and an official of the department concerned to check the availability of kerosene oil in government depots. If they get even a single drop of the oil in the government deports, I will resign from the House,” added Sadhotra.

Meanwhile, Syed Asgar Ali of the PDP, referring to some figures provided in the minister’s reply, said the minister had provided wrong information to the House. Other legislators, including Rafiq Ahmad Shah of the Panthers Party and AG Vakil of the Congress, also raised the issue.

Jammu March 25
Functioning of the health sector in the state has been badly affected due to the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff. Many new health centres were opened by the successive state governments without creating adequate infrastructure.

Not only health centres functioning in the rural areas have been confronting the shortage of staff, even the premier health institutions of the state, namely the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, and the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Srinagar, are facing the staff shortage.

Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma told the Legislative Assembly here today that 329 posts of doctor were vacant in the GMCH, Jammu, and 529 posts of doctor in the GMCH, Srinagar. A total of 2,285 posts of doctor were vacant in the whole state.

These posts were vacant in district hospitals only and the situation was worst in other health centres set up in the interiors of the state. As many as 143 posts of doctor were vacant in Kathua district, followed by 131 posts of doctor in border district of Baramulla in the Kashmir valley.

The minister informed the Assembly that 277 posts of B-grade specialist doctors, 53 surgeons, 262 assistant surgeons and 143 lecturers had been referred to the Public Service Commission for appointments. He claimed that the Health Department was making every possible effort to provide an adequate number of doctors and paramedics in the government hospitals subject to their availability.

Replying to the calling attention motion of Abdul Majid Wani of the Congress, the minister said only 12 registered diagnostic centres, including X-Ray units, ultrasonography units and laboratory clinics, were running in Doda district at present and all private clinics, diagnostic centres and laboratories were registered under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishments (Registration and Licensing) Act, 1963.

He said the ultrasonography units were also governed by the Pre-Natal Sex Selection/Determination Regulation Act, 2002, which was in force in the state. Registrations were granted to all private clinical establishments only after they fulfilled the necessary requirements.

The Health Minister had admitted in the Assembly earlier that the vital health sector had been functioning in an ad hoc manner because health centres were opened by the previous governments on political considerations.

Jammu, March 25
Governor NN Vohra today stressed the need for complete coordination between agricultural universities, departments concerned and field agencies of the state government for ensuring the timely transfer of latest technologies from lab to land and equip farmers with the latest knowledge for substantially increasing the agricultural production in the coming years.

The Governor was addressing the valedictory session of the three-day Kisan Mela organised by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, on its main campus at Chatha.

The Kisan Mela was visited by a large number of farmers from the Jammu division. The mela was organised to bring farmers, livestock owners, agriculture business and industry entrepreneurs, researchers, technocrats, extension workers and students on one platform to enable them to have direct access to new ideas and technologies in the field of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, animal husbandry and other allied sectors.

The Governor observed that there was a vast potential of increasing the productivity and production of cereals, vegetables, mushroom, pulses, oil seeds, horticulture, floriculture, forestry, fisheries, beekeeping, animal and sheep husbandry, poultry and other allied activities, by taking technology to the farmers to transform their socio-economic conditions.

He added that Jammu and Kashmir was largely dependent on the import of pulses, foodgrains, mutton and poultry products from outside the state and stressed on a well-coordinated approach to gain self-sufficiency in all these areas.

The Governor called upon the farmers to visit the integrated Farming System Research Model of the FSR, which has been established by the university for undertaking advance research, targeting small and marginal farmers. He added that by adopting such models farmers could benefit immensely even from their small landholdings.

The Governor released four publications brought out by the university on the occasion. He also gave away prizes to the farmers and various organisations for their outstanding achievement in agriculture and allied activities.

He interacted with scientists and stallholders and evinced a keen interest in their exhibits.

Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the Integrated the Farming System Research Model FSR Centre on the university campus and inquired about its various aspects. He emphasised on popularising this model by establishing demonstration units in various parts of the Jammu division.

During his visit to the Experimental Area of the Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, the Governor inquired about the new varieties of various crops developed and released by the university. He also inspected the Agronomical Observatory and the Practical Crop Production area and interacted with the students about the harvesting technology and the production per unit. 

Jammu, March 25
With reports about yellow rust affecting the wheat crop in hill areas of the state, NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra asked Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in the Legislative Council here today about the steps taken by the government to save the crop of farmers in hill areas.

Moving a calling attention motion in the Upper House, Sadhotra said, “As 70 per cent of the standing wheat crop in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts has been destroyed, what steps the government has taken to save the crop of the farmers of hill areas, as yellow rust has hit these areas too”.

He also challenged the effectiveness of the fungicide spray being distributed by the government among the farmers with 50 per cent subsidy.

Sadhotra asked, “The government should conduct a test in the laboratory to judge the effectiveness of this spray on the affected crop, as a number of farmers have complained about the poor results of this fungicide”.

On this, the Agriculture Minister said, “The fungicide (propiconazole) being distributed to the farmers at subsidised rates is already tested and if the members feel to get its effectiveness tested again, we will get it done and submit its report in a short period”.

Mir appreciated the concern shown by Sadhotra for the farming community and said, “The government has been trying its best to save the crop and overcome the disease. If required, we will surely take more steps”.

Mir informed the House that yellow rust had affected the wheat crop on 51,367 hectares in the Jammu region.

“Of this, yellow rust has damaged the wheat crop on 1,367 hectares in hill areas,” said Mir. He added that Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda and Ramban districts were included in the areas affected by the disease.

During the calling attention motion, Sadhotra took Mir to task for a number of times. “During this season, the first case of yellow rust was detected in December last year, but due to the dilly-dallying approach of the officials of the Agriculture Department they took notice of it only in March, thus causing huge losses to the farmers,” said Sadhotra.

Before winding up his speech, Sadhotra demanded that if the government wanted to save the farmers, it should take some long-term steps so that the disease could be controlled in the coming years.

He urged the state government to increase the supply of fungicides and take the help of experts from neighbouring states. The Agriculture Minister accepted his suggestion.

Jammu, March 25
“Hun Main Utthein Nahin Rohanda” (Now, I no longer stay there), an anthology of poetic work by eminent Dogri poet Yash Sharma was released at a function the University of Jammu here this evening. It was followed by a musical concert.

Parvati Anil Sehgal, a star attraction of the popular television serial “Pratigya”, who is also the granddaughter of the Sahitya Akademi Award winning poet, released the book. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Medical Education and Sports Minister RS Chib, and Chairman of the Kashmir Times group of publications Ved Bhasin were the prominent guests at the function.

In his welcome address, president of the Dogri Sanstha Prof Lalit Mangotra said, “The anthology is a tremendous contribution to the Dogri literature. Describing Yash as a poet of compassion and musings, he said, “The songs of Yash Sharma are benchmarks for others. He has set standards, which are very difficult to meet”.

The head of the Dogri Department of the university, Prof Shashi Pathania, said, “The writer was recently honoured with the Writer in Residency Scholarship by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and the book was compiled under the same scholarship”.

The poet, in his keynote address, threw light on his long association with the Dogri Sanstha. He said, “When the sanstha started it was like a small spring. In the due course of time it became a river and today it has acquired the status of a big ocean. I wish it keeps its vastness”.

The Deputy Chief Minister and the Medical Education Minister appreciated the role of Yash Sharma in enriching the Dogri literature and culture. Both of them maintained that writers and poets like Yash had played a key role in getting Dogri its due place in the Indian Constitution.

In the concert, eminent singers of the state, including Jeevna Sharma, Sham Sajan, Jatinder Kaur, Anita Sharma, Krishna Devi and Bushan Dass, mesmerised the audience with the acclaimed songs of Yash Sharma. Noted singer of the sub-continent and daughter of the poet, Seema Anil Sehgal, cast a spell by singing a famous song of her father with a blend of folk music. The function was jointly organised by the Kashmir Times Group of Publications and the Dogri Sanstha. 

Jammu, March 25
Even as the state government has announced to withhold a proposal for the construction of a heritage hotel at the historical Mubarak Mandi complex, Gulchain Singh Charak, vice-chairman of the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society, today sought to clarify that there was no proposal to lease out the historical complex to any private party.

Interacting with mediapersons here, Charak maintained that legislators, who had raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, were not properly informed about the facts. He asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to constitute a high-powered committee comprising prominent citizens of Jammu to check the record of the society and monitor the ongoing activities at the Mubarak Mandi complex.

“The government has not transferred the historical building of the society to any party,” he said. He added that the decision to float an expression of interest for a heritage hotel on the complex was taken in the governing body meeting of the society on January 11, 2010, under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. Local BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria was also present in the meeting.

“Members of the society will resign if people do not come forward to shoulder the responsibility of preserving this heritage site, which symbolises the rich culture and tradition of Dogras,” Charak said. He clarified that the job of the society was to manage and conserve this historical building. Quoting bylaws of the Articles of Association of the society, Charak said, “The Chief Minister is the chairman of the society while he (Charak) is the vice-chairman of the society and chairman of the Executive Committee”. Charak made it clear that he was appointed the vice-chairman of the society in his individual capacity.

The Mubarak Mandi heritage Complex was transferred to the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society for conservation and management purposes and INTACH, New Delhi, was entrusted with the task of preparing a vision plan for the complex. As per the detailed project reports (DPRs) submitted by INTACH, the total cost of restoration work on various buildings was Rs 235.92 crore. Keeping in view the availability of funds for the conservation of monuments, special efforts were required for arranging substantial funds for the conservation and restoration of the complex.

Charak said Rs 4.37 crore had so far been allocated to the society and out of this Rs 3 crore had already been given to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the conservation of some portion of the heritage complex. “It is totally incorrect to say that a whopping Rs 300 crore has been put at the disposal of the society,” he said.

Charak appealed to people in general and representatives of political parties in particular to cooperate and guide the society by giving their valuable suggestions and guidance by visiting the complex.

Jammu, March 25
At least 11 passengers on board a bus sustained minor injuries when it rammed into a hill near Sagra village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district this evening. The mishap occurred around 4.45 pm.Official sources said packed to its capacity, the bus (number JK02D/5057) was on its way to Sagra from Mendhar town.

They added that the conductor of the ill-fated bus, Tanvir Ahmed, a resident of Sagra village, was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. Soon after the mishap a police party from Mendhar police station reached the spot and shifted the injured, including the bus driver, to the sub-district hospital in Mendhar. Negligent driving was said to be the cause of the accident.

Udhampur, March 25
A total of 902 candidates filed nomination papers for the panchayat elections for the Udhampur district today.As many as 1,170 forms were issued and 223 candidates filed nominations for the posts of sarpanch, which included seven women candidates, while 679 candidates filed nomination papers for the posts of panch, which included 218 female candidates.

In all, 332 polling stations have been set up for 64,933 voters in the Udhampur block, which included 30,709 women voters. Meanwhile, a training programme for the presiding and polling officers for the panchayat elections in the Udhampur block was held at the Town Hall here today. — TNS

Srinagar, March 25
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken has appreciated the hospitality, humanity and brotherhood of the Kashmir people and said the hearts of these people are filled with the spirit of love and amity.\

The minister said this while addressing the concluding function of the National Integration Camp held at the famous tourist resort of Verinag in south Kashmir today.

Maken said India had multi-lingual people, culture and religions, but had unity in diversity as well. Referring to the youth of Kashmir, the Union minister said various measures were underway to encourage the youth of the state, besides promoting the sports activities.

He said the sports infrastructure, including play fields, would be developed at block and panchayat levels in the country for which Rs 5 lakh and Rs1 lakh would be spent in each block and panchayat, respectively.

Maken said the Kashmir youth had a keen interest in football. He added that both state and Central governments would jointly work for developing basic infrastructure for football and enable the youth compete at the national and international levels.

Maken asked the participating youth from 11 states of the country to take the message of love, amity, culture and civilisation of Kashmir people to their areas. He said 20,000 youth volunteers had been selected from across the country and 8,000 youths on the instruction of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been selected only from Jammu and Kashmir. He added that these youths would be fully skilled so that they could earn their livelihood, besides providing employment to others.

Srinagar, March 25
The situation became tense in Sopore town of Baramulla district when the body of a missing youth was recovered from a well in the area today.Sources said the body of Mohammad Yasin Mir (26) was recovered from a well in the Wadoora area of Sopore this morning. The boy had been missing since March 2. Local residents took to streets soon after Mir’s body was fished out from the well.

The protesters, who were demanding the arrest of the guilty, alleged that the police did not make enough efforts to trace the missing youth. Additional police and paramilitary forces had been rushed to the area to keep the situation under control.

Meanwhile, in another incident a 45-year-old woman, who was critically injured in a firing incident during the unrest last year, died in Baramulla district today. Sources said Haneefa, a divorcee, died at her parental home in Kreeri after being bedridden for eight months. She was injured as a bullet had hit her in the abdomen. With this the death toll in the last year’s unrest has gone up to 115.