Badhori (Samba), April 22
Even as the ongoing panchayat poll is witnessing unprecedented turnout of voters, there is a general feeling among the people that the government is not serious in empowering the local self-government. They caution that any attempt to distort the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) would shatter their faith in democracy. They observe that instead of trying to capture PRI seats for petty political gains, the parties and the government should avail this opportunity to ensure maximum participation of the people in the local self-government.

“These elections are concerned directly to the villagers and this is the reason why every person has been trying to use his right to franchise,” says Abdul Rashid, a resident of this kandi village, who argues that most of the villages lack development due to defunct PRIs in the State. “Even for petty things like installation of a power transformer or hand pumps, we have to approach the local MLA because the power is yet to trickle down to grass-roots level,” he says and adds that the government should honour the mandate of the people and empower the panchayats to make this institution vibrant and functional.

During visits to different areas of Samba district and border areas of RS Pura, this correspondent observed that people are quite aware of their political rights and they are unanimous in their demand of empowering panchayats so that the purpose could be served.

Rajiv Singh Charak, a resident of Khara Madhan village, was of the view that the government should decentralise decision-making powers so as to create a feeling of belongingness among the local people. “The entire exercise would prove futile if adequate powers are not given to the newly elected panchayats,” Charak cautions and regrets that the successive regimes in the state had never tried to decentralise the powers.

Echoing similar views, Khatib Hussain, who is a candidate for the post of sarpanch, argues that without giving adequate powers to the panchayats the purpose of the huge exercise would be defeated. “The provision of nominating members should be done away with and only the elected people should be given the right to elect the chairman and vice-chairman of the Zila Parishad,” he demands.

As the last panchayat elections were held in 2001, people are over enthusiastic to participate in the process of constituting local self-government. Locals believe that with the constitution of local self-government, many of their problems would be solved.

Srinagar, April 22
Even as the ongoing panchayat elections are being held on a non-party basis, the two phases of the elections have seen a tremendous response from the voters. The polling in the two rounds have surpassed all previous records of voter turnout in the Valley.

This despite the fact that the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and various militant outfits had given a call to boycott the elections. “We were apprehensive that after the killing of a woman candidate for the post of panch, people might stay away from the elections, but more than 81 per cent polling was recorded on April 17,” a senior police officer said.

He added that people’s participation was a reflection of their desire to take part in the democratic process and resolve their basic problems. “This is a clear rebuff to those who were opposing the elections, as common people have shown that they want to strengthen democracy in the state,” the officer said.

“These elections are being held to empower the people to oversee the development process themselves,” said Mohammed Amin, a voter from Budgam district. People in Kashmir say they have various problems which can only be resolved by strengthening the panchayats in the Valley. “We voted for development. We have many problems relating to roads, electricity, school buildings, water, and drainage in our village. We need to have a local representative whom we can approach,” said Aiyaz Ahmed, a voter from Baramulla.

Srinagar, April 22
The government is taking an initiative to develop Bangus and Lolab valleys in Kupwara district of north Kashmir as centres of excellence in tourism so that the scenic beauty in this frontier district is brought to the fore.

This was stated by Minister of State for Tourism & Culture Nasir Aslam Wani who visited Bangus and Lolab valleys recently.

The minister was accompanied by Dr Cesar Castaneda, director general operations, World Centre for Excellence in Tourism Destinations; Muhammad Shafi Rather, deputy commissioner, Kupwara; Farooq Ahmad Shah, director, tourism Kashmir; Muhammad Yasin Lone, CEO, Bangus-Lolab-Drangyari Tourism Development Authority; and Prof Parikshat Singh Manhas from School Of Hospitality and Tourism & The Business School, University of Jammu.

The minister said the government had made an investment of Rs 2.31 crore on the development of peripheral areas leading to Bangus under its Destination Development Scheme. “We will chalk out an ambitious programme to promote Bangus as an eco-tourism site to maintain its fragile ecological balance,” he said, adding that several new scenic spots in Lolab and Drangyari would also be brought under the ambit of biosphere tourist development.

Nasir Aslam said the government had made several efforts to promote tourism in Kupwara district. “The newly-created Lolab-Bangus-Drangyari Tourism Development Authority has started functioning. A number of promotional activities will be launched this year to develop tourism which will help generate employment opportunities for the youth,” the minister said.

Dr Castaneda, who is on a five-day visit to J&K, said Kupwara district, especially its valleys of Bangus and Lolab, had great potential to be developed as tourism destinations. “These are virgin spots with minimal human interference. We would like to keep it that way and promote these as eco-tourism sites. We look forward to work closely with the J&K government on tourism development front,” he said.

Earlier in the week, Dr Castaneda had a meeting with high-ranking officials of the Tourism Department in which it was discussed as to how CED, a UNWTO-supported organisation, could collaborate with the state and help it come up in a big way on the international scene.

Chatha (Jammu), April 22
With the possibility of rains in the next few days, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, has advised the fruit growers in the region to immediately harvest their horticulture crops like ber, papaya and loquat.

“Fruit growers are advised to harvest ber, loquat and papaya fruits in order to avoid the loss due to possibility of rains,” said a senior scientist, Agrometeorology Department, SKUAST. He added, “Weather is changing every day and the day temperature is lesser than the required, so the fruit growers should harvest their produce, otherwise they will have to suffer huge losses.” He further said during a survey conducted in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts, they found that ber, papaya and loquat were almost ripen and ready to harvest.

“Delay in this exercise at this time can increase the worries of the fruit growers,” he opined. About the growing mango crop, he said the recent rainfall on April 17 and 18 had caused maximum loss to the mango crop. “Mango crop is under the flowering stage and the rain at this stage has infected the crop,” said the expert.

He advised that the mango growers should remove malformed infected twinges from mango orchards, which would save them from further losses. The grape growers have also suffered losses due to the rainfall and if it occurred again, the entire fruit crop would be destroyed, the experts maintained. Even the Meteorology Department in its recent advisory report has forecasted that they were expecting rains in next few days.

Terming it the effect of the western disturbance, weathermen have forecasted that there would be rainfall in the next two-three days, the farming community should immediately make arrangements to save the crops. 

Srinagar, April 22
Incessant rain for past more than a week has created havoc in different parts of the Kashmir valley, but the officials say they have not yet pressed the panic button for the flood, despite many low-lying areas being submerged.

Most of the roads in Srinagar city are water-logged and drains in the city centre Lalchowk are overflowing making it difficult for commuters to move.

The flood threat is looming large in Kupwara and some parts of Baramulla. “There is a flood like situation in Baramulla in the areas alongside the Jhelum. Water has entered into fields at various places. We have been praying to God to stop the rain now,” said Jabbar Ahmed, a resident of Baramulla.

The continuous downpour has caused the water bodies, including the Jhelum, in the Valley to swell. The Jhelum was flowing four feet below the danger mark at Sangam.

Low-lying areas in Kupwara, including Bohipora and Gushi villages, are submerged, forcing the people to vacate their homes along with their belongings. In Baramulla district, various roads along the Jhelum have submerged causing inconvenience to people.

Horticulturalists say the seedlings and fruit buds have also been damaged in north Kashmir’s villages due to the heavy rain. “Rain has caused a lot of damage to the buds of cherry, almonds and other fruits. Due to the continuous rain for the past one week the buds have wilted and fallen off the branches,” said Rashid Ahmed, a horticulture expert.

He said if weather condition does not improve in the next few days it would have a drastic effect on the apple crop also.

Rain also caused disruption in normal life affecting power supply in many areas of north Kashmir.

Reports said five houses suffered heavy damage after persistent rain caused landslides in Lateefabad area of Baramulla.

Meanwhile the MeT Department said there was no possibility of any flood as the weather was set to improve.

The water level in the Jhelum River in Srinagar city stood at 17 feet, which was two feet below the flood alert level.

“Further heavy rain can result in a flood alert, but we are confident the level would go down as the weather starts improving,” an official of the disaster management cell Kashmir said.

The officials at the MeT Department said the weather was set to improve in the next 24 hours.

“The western disturbance affecting the weather system in the Valley has weakened. Light to moderate rain can occur at some places in the Valley till tomorrow morning. The weather will start improving after that,” Sonam Lotus, the director of the local MeT Department said.

Leh, April 22
Indian Warrior won the 12th Kargil War Heroes Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament defeating Friends Club by 45 runs yesterday. Indian Warrior, which won the toss and decided to bat first, scored 153 runs.

The Kargil War Heroes Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament, being played on the 20-20 format, was organised in the memory of the martyrs of the Kargil War by the Sports and Cultural Welfare Society, Chushot. The tournament started on April 1 and 26 teams, including a team each from Doda, Kishtwar and Srinagar districts, participated.

The Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, who was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the tournament, announced that the tournament would be organised on a large scale by the government from next year. He said cricket was one of the ways to remember the martyrs of the Kargil War, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Spalbar added that the LAHDC would also propose to the 14 Corps to come forward for organising the cricket tournament next year.

Talking about sports infrastructures in the district, Spalbar said the 13th Finance Commission had approved Rs 20 crore for a sports stadium and talks with the Army were in progress for land procurement as some portion of land was occupied by the Army.

He said the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 9 crore for an indoor stadium recommended by the Special Task Force. He added an international standard ice hockey rink was under construction.

Srinagar, April 22
Various associations of health and family welfare met the Minister for Health, Floriculture and Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma in Srinagar.

The associations thanked the minister for confirmation of employees, who are working on migrant posts. They also took up various demands with the minister and he assured them that their genuine demands would be fulfilled. Earlier, the minister visited Government Nursing Home, Gupkar, and inspected various units and sections of the hospital. The minister issued directions to the director, health services, and the director, rural health mission, that a comprehensive plan shall be made immediately for renovation of the hospital on the pattern of Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Jammu.

The minister along with MLA Batamaloo Irfan Ahmad Shah also visited various areas of Parimpora and inspected various ongoing works. He asked the concerned officers that the works shall be completed very soon. The minister inspected the fruit mandi, Parimpora, and released Rs 3 crore for further construction and beautification of the mandi.

The minister assured the president of the fruit mandi association that a cold storage facility would be set up for safe guarding of fruits. The minister also instructed that a dispensary shall be constructed at the fruit mandi. Earlier, the minister also visited MLA Hostel Park and Arts Emporium Garden. He directed the concerned officers that a plan shall be submitted for the beautification of the parks.

Srinagar, April 22
Several deputations met Javed Ahmad Dar, the Minister of State for R&B, Medical Education, at the Winter Secretariat (Srinagar) and apprised him about the problems of their areas.

A deputation from the Fruit Growers Association, Sopore, headed by Fayaz Ahmad Malik demanded early completion of road leading to the Fruit Mandi, Sopore, and allotment of shops and improvement of drinking water facilities in the mandi. The deputations from Bemina and Gulshan Nagar Bypass, Srinagar, demanded dewatering of rain water from their localities. The other deputations, who met the minister, belonged to Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Sopore and Anchar Soura of Srinagar district. They discussed various issues pertaining to public importance and sought early redressal.

The minister directed the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, to immediately press into service sufficient number of dewatering pumps and ensure early dewatering of these areas.

One minister remains present every week in the Winter Secretariat during winter months when the Civil Secretariat functions from Jammu, the winter capital of the state. The Civil Secretariat and other offices are closing in Jammu next weekend to reopen in Srinagar in the first week of May for the next six months of summer.

Jammu, April 22
A large number of city-based academicians participated in a workshop “Eduvate India 2011”, organised by Mexus Education, here, recently.

Prominent educationists and academicians including Dr Adit Gupta, joint director, MIER Group of Institutes; Dr Vikram Handa, director, Tiny Tots Group of Institutes; Dr Anjali Raina, principal, Bhargava Public School; Anil Choudhary, principal, Montessori MNKG; and Sudesh Raina, principal, DBN Vidya Mandir, participated.

The panel discussed gaps in the current educational system and how technological innovations would make learning more qualitative, interesting and meaningful.