Jammu, April 9
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the state-owned J&K Power Development Corporation (PDC) Limited for its failure to recover outstanding bills of Rs 1,041.28 crore.

The PDC sells electricity to the Power Development Department (PDD), which failed to make payments for the power purchased and thus the outstanding power bills rose to Rs 1,041.28 crore, stated the CAG in its report for the year ended March 31, 2010.

“An ineffective system of recovering dues from the PDD led to the outstanding bills of Rs 1,041.28 crore and forced the PDC to depend on loans. Against the power bills of Rs 1,267.71 crore, the PDD paid Rs 476.96 crore only during 2005-10,” added the report.

The perusal of government documents revealed that the PDC also failed to assess the actual requirement of manpower for the operation of its powerhouses. “Despite training its employees, the PDC failed to manage the operations and maintenance of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project, which had to be outsourced to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC),” it said.

The PDC also failed to evaluate the demand and supply position of electricity in the state. “The PDC did not devise a proper management information system to evaluate the demand and supply position of electricity to take timely policy decisions regarding capacity addition,” said the report.

The peak power demand in the state had increased from 1,800 MW to 2,247 MW and the deficit in meeting the peak demand ranged between 31 per cent and 37 per cent during the review period. It added that against the proposed power supply of 10,790.53 MU in respect of hydroelectric projects, the actual generation was 7,979.31 MU in 2009-10.

In its recommendations to the PDC, the CAG said the timely commissioning of power projects could have enabled it to increase power generation. “There were cost and time overruns in four projects. The time overrun ranged from four to 16 years and the cost overrun between 41 per cent and 687 per cent,” it added.

Jammu, April 9
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the need for planned initiatives for the promotion of the Gandhian values and philosophy to create greater awareness among the youth about Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of peace, harmony, tolerance, brotherhood, secularism and nonviolence to establish a harmonious and tolerant society.

The Governor called for involving students and the youth at large for the promotion of the Gandhian values for securing the much required impact.

The Governor was interacting with a 27-member delegation of noted Gandhian workers and close associates of Baba Amte at Raj Bhawan here today. The delegation comprised 10 Gandhian workers from various states, who are currently in Jammu in connection with the silver jubilee celebrations of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan. The silver jubilee is being organised under the aegis of the Gandhi Global Family, J&K state branch.

Referring to the situation in the state for the past over 20 years, the Governor said there was need for greater unity among the people of all regions of the state for ensuring a safe and happy future for the coming generations. He said the message of Gandhi was more relevant today than ever before for establishing lasting peace and tranquillity in the state.

He said a well considered calendar of activities needed to be formulated for creating awareness about Gandhi’s life and philosophy and the role played by Baba Amte and other Gandhian workers for connecting the hearts of people. He lauded the Gandhi Global Family for undertaking various activities in this regard.

The Governor felicitated 10 associates of Baba Amte on the occasion who had participated in the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan 25 years ago. He also honoured Balraj Puri, a noted journalist, and Mohammad Shafi Pandit, a former civil servant, on the occasion.

Satya Pal, a renowned Gandhian from New Delhi and close associate of Baba Amte, who had participated in the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, and Balraj Puri honoured the Governor by presenting him a handmade silk, Angvastar, in recognition of his distinguished services.

The Governor handed over the National Flag to a young Gandhian worker as a symbol of entrusting the responsibility on the youth to propagate the Gandhian philosophy. Satya Pal briefed the Governor about various functions being organised as part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan across the country and the initiatives underway to propagate the message of peace and harmony among the youth.

Srinagar, April 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the residence of Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah at Lal Bazaar in Srinagar here this morning to condole the bereaved family. Showkat Shah was killed in an IED explosion at Maisuma here yesterday.

“I am pained over the killing of a noble person and religious scholar of high echelon,” Omar told the bereaved family while condemning the cowardly and barbaric act. He said the killing of Maulana Showkat was a great loss to society and those responsible for it had displayed their dastardly attitude towards the humanity.

Omar spent some time with the bereaved family, offered “Fateh” for the peace of the departed soul and consoled the family. He also conveyed solidarity with and sympathy to the bereaved family.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his political adviser Devendra Rana and Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani.

A large number of people, relatives and friends of the slain cleric thronged his house in the Lal Bazaar area here. The visitors included the moderate APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and others.

Meanwhile, the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has condemned the killing of Showkat Shah. The Sikh community expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic death of Showkat Shah, the APSCC said in a statement. In a condolence meeting held at the party headquarters, APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said, “Maulana was a prominent social and religious leader, who always stood for peace, truth and justice. His demise has created a vacuum in the social and religious circles and we pray to the Almighty to grant his family courage to overcome this irretrievable loss”.

The Maulana showed keen interest in the welfare of the minority Sikh community and attended the Baisakhi Milan last year. The cleric, during the Baisakhi Milan, urged the members of the two communities to strengthen the cordial relations between them, Raina stated.

Srinagar, April 9
Normal life was paralysed across the Kashmir valley today in response to a bandh call given by the separatists to mourn the death of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, president of the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees, who was killed in an IED explosion here yesterday.

Tension gripped the city and other areas of the Valley yesterday following the killing of the Moulana. The police, meanwhile, is investigating the incident that led to the death of the religious leader and serious injuries to others outside the main mosque of the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees at Gaw Kadal in Srinagar here yesterday. “We are looking into all aspects and investigations are on,” a senior police officer told the Tribune here. He said it was too early to say anything about the investigations. However, more contingents of the police and the CRPF were deployed across the city today, particularly in the vulnerable areas, to prevent any trouble. “The situation remained peaceful and there were no reports of any trouble from anywhere,” he said.

All shops and business establishments remained closed and the city roads wore a deserted look. The public transport was off the roads and there was a low attendance in government offices and banks. Most of the private schools here had already announced that they would remain closed today in view of the situation.

The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and hardliners led by Syed Ali Geelani had called for a general strike today, while the JKLF had called for a two-day bandh in Kashmir today and tomorrow.

Jammu, April 9
To counter the report prepared by the Centre’s interlocutors on Kashmir, the BJP has constituted a “Kashmir Study Group” comprising MPs of the party to conduct a detailed study of the Kashmir issue.

The group headed by former BJP president Rajnath Singh will visit all regions and sub-regions of the state and interact with a cross-section of people. It has been given three months to prepare its report, which will be later submitted to the Prime Minister.

Besides Rajnath Singh, other members of the group are party national spokesman Ravi Shanker Prasad, Shahnawaz Hussain, Maya Singh and former MP SK Jain.

Although the local BJP leadership has refused to divulge the details of the formation of the group, the party sources said the group had been constituted on the directions of the national party chief, Nitin Gadkari, to conduct a detailed study of the Kashmir problem to counter the propaganda of the interlocutors.

“The main reason for forming the group is to counter the three interlocutors appointed by the Union government, as these interlocutors have been working with a mindset, ignoring the wishes of a majority of the people,” a senior BJP leader told The Tribune.

He said the party had hired a building exclusively for the group so that during its visit it could interact with a cross-section of people and could frequently visit the state like the Centre’s interlocutors. It would try to hold discussions with all sections of society, he added.

The sources said the party leadership felt that the interlocutors had recommended a greater autonomy to the state and their recommendations were not acceptable to the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions. “The team will explore the possibilities of bringing all nationalist forces, including the Gujjars, Paharis, Ladakhis and the people of Jammu, on a platform to oppose any move to restore the pre-1953 position or grant greater autonomy to the state,” the sources said.

On April 11, Rajnath Singh is reaching Jammu along with other MPs. “During his first visit, Rajnath Singh will get feedback from the organisations of the Sangh Parivar before starting discussions with other non-Sangh Parivar organisations,” the sources said. They added that the panel would also visit Leh and Kargil to asses the ground situation in these mountainous regions.

Inclusion of Shahnawaz Hussain in the group was a clear indication that the party wanted to involve nationalist Muslims, especially of twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, in its campaign for the total integration of the state with India. 

Jammu, April 9
Stepping up its campaign for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, the PDP organised demonstrations at all tehsil headquarters in the Jammu province today to corner the state government over its demand for the revocation of the Distributed Area Act and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Though the party had announced to hold similar demonstrations in the Kashmir valley also, due to the killing of Moulana Shoukat Ahmed Shah the programme was cancelled. During the protests, PDP leaders lambasted the state government for adopting strong-arm methods to stifle the voice of the people. In Jammu, a large number of party activists held a rally and emphasised on the need for taking some effective steps for the resolution of the Kashmir problem. Amid shouting of pro-peace slogans, the PDP activists marched through various areas in a rally.

Addressing the rally, the PDP leaders warned the government against adopting delaying tactics or taking cosmetics steps for the resolution of the issue, as “an overwhelming majority of people in the region is in favour of a peaceful resolution of this decades-old problem”.

They pointed out that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was also important for the development and economic growth of the region, as lasting peace in the sub-continent would provide opportunities for the realisation of the full development potential of Jammu and Kashmir. They cautioned the government against pushing the issue under the carpet as it would prove to be counterproductive.

Reiterating that the resolution of the Kashmir issue is the main agenda of the PDP, the leaders said the party would continue to strive in this regard through peaceful, democratic means. They said today’s demonstration at all district headquarters was a step in this direction. They said a heavy turnout of people in today’s demonstrations was a clear indication that s majority of them wanted the resolution of the Kashmir issue. 

Jammu, April 9
Ruling out the possibility of deployment of additional CRPF troops in Kashmir for ensuring a peaceful summer this year, Special Director General of the CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir zone, Anirudh Uppal, said the force would stick to the pattern followed by them last year.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the ‘Valour Day’ celebrations here this morning, Uppal said the CRPF deployment would be the same this year as it was last year.

“Everyone is hoping that the situation would remain peaceful in the Valley so that the state witnesses a good tourism season. The people here want peace to prevail in the state,” he said.

The Special DG refused to comment on the killing of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, a cleric, in an IED blast near a mosque in Srinagar yesterday.

“You should ask this question to the state police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Our role is to assist the police in maintaining law and order in the state and we work in tandem with it to deal with any situation,” he said. On the forthcoming panchayat elections, Uppal said the CRPF would work in consonance with the police to ensure hassle-free elections.