Vessu (Kulgam), April 27
The Kashmiri Pandit migrants, who have returned to the Kashmir valley under the Prime Minister’s package, say that more families of migrants will return if the government extends employment and other facilities to them as well.

“Migration from the Valley has spoiled the future of the Kashmiri Pandit youth and if the state and Central governments provide them with employment and other facilities, all displaced families may return to Kashmir,” said Maharaj Krishan, a Kashmiri Pandit.

Around 372 Kashmiri Pandit youth are living in accommodation provided by the government in this village situated on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. “The Kashmiri Pandits suffered the most during the turmoil in the Valley. We were forced to leave our homes and migrate to other places in our own country. Now that the situation is slowly improving, the government should provide more facilities to the educated unemployed youth so that they too return to the Valley,” said Sheela, another Kashmiri Pandit.

Though the members of the community, who have been living in the accommodation provided by the government, complain of insufficient living space in the quarters, they also rue the non-availability of cooking gas, ration and shortage of electricity and potable water.

“Though we face various problems here like the non-availability of cooking gas, ration, shortage of power and water, our main concern still is safety,” Sanjay Kaul, president of the Migrant Selectee Association, said.

He said the quarters had been built at a highly vulnerable place and little security had been provided to them. “There is no boundary wall around these quarters. Anyone can come and go without any restriction. The police is camping at a distance. I think the administration is awaiting the worst to happen, as our repeated pleas to it have fallen on deaf ears,” Kaul said.

Even as the Kashmiri Pandits say they feel happy on returning to the valley, a sense of insecurity haunts them, as they have brought their parents with them. “My son was born in Jammu and this was the first time that he came to Kashmir. So we are feeling a bit insecure and that is why I have come along with him. But we are facing a lot of problems due to the lack of proper accommodation here,” said Avtar Krishan, another migrant.

Jammu, April 27
Eight weeks on, the trans-LoC trade via Chakkan-Da-Bagh between Jammu and Kashmir and the PoK remains suspended after the state government decided to levy VAT on duty-free trade.

“Since March 8 the cross-LoC trade has remained suspended and despite repeated representations, the government has done nothing to remove the major roadblock in the form of VAT,” Pawan Anand, president of the Cross LoC Traders’ Association, Poonch, told The Tribune.

The trade was considered to be one of the biggest confidence-building measures between the two countries. Nearly 450 to 500 traders, 300 from the PoK and 164 traders from Poonch had been facing hardships since March 8, as business transactions running into crores of rupees remained blocked, he said.

“On March 13, we submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary and on March 15 another memorandum was submitted to the Governor apprising them about our hardships in the wake of the government decision to levy VAT on the cross-LoC trade,” Anand said.

The traders in Poonch had also approached Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Finance Minister AR Rather, but nothing positive had happened so far, he added.

The Tribune had reported in its column on April 15 about the hardships being faced by the traders.

“It is really unfortunate that the present government has failed to take into confidence its own traders, leave aside the confidence-building measures between the two countries in the form of the cross-LoC trade,” he rued.

Anand said two weeks from now, the traders in Poonch would hold a full house meeting to decide their further course of action. The trade between Jammu and Kashmir and the occupied Kashmir started on September 22, 2008, and both countries had selected 21 items for a duty-free trade, he said.

He added that the Commercial Taxes Department was now demanding VAT on items being sold by Indian traders in the PoK. Besides the removal of VAT, the cross-LoC traders of Poonch have been demanding that trading days be increased from two to four a week, increase in number of trucks, replacing the barter system with the banking system, installation of a scanner for carriers, increase in security staff, short-term visa to traders from both sides for the purpose of trading and the allotment of land at Poonch for setting up a mandi to sell items imported from the PoK.

Jammu, April 27
Government schools in Jammu district have been successful in enrolling a large number of students, but most of these schools are facing a shortage of teachers, which is badly affecting studies.

Sources told The Tribune that primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools of the district were facing the shortage of teachers. Moreover, some of the schools did not even have headmasters/headmistresses to run the institutions properly, they added.

“Due to the shortage of teachers, the existing staff are being forced to take additional classes despite the fact that they are not well versed in teaching different subjects. As a result students are not being taught properly,” said a teacher on the condition of anonymity.

Government documents procured by The Tribune revealed that of the total 8,460 sanctioned posts of teacher in Jammu district, 1,546 posts were lying vacant. It added that there were 1,11,531 students enrolled in the government schools in the district, but these schools did not have the requisite number of teachers.

“A total of 1,546 posts, including 1,139 of teacher, 126 of master, 48 of lecturer and 204 posts of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT), are lying vacant in the district,” the documents stated.

Even Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed accepted the fact that a large number of posts were lying vacant. He said, “We are aware about the shortage of teachers and steps are being taken to fill vacant posts so that the students get better education”.

A senior official of the Education Department said, “We have referred 608 posts of teacher in Jammu district to the Staff Selection Board (SSB) for the selection of suitable candidates. Besides, a total of 289 posts of lecturer have also been referred to the Public Service Commission”.

He added that, “Steps are being taken to recruit ReT teachers also, but due to court cases there is little progress”.

Jammu, April 27
Against the backdrop of the ensuing Darbar Move, Amarnath yatra, ongoing panchayat elections and the possibility of a spurt in militancy, the core group held a meeting to review the security scenario at the headquarters of the Army’s Cross Swords Division at Akhnoor, near here, yesterday.

Lt-Gen JP Nehra, GOC of the White Knight Corps and the security adviser to the Jammu and Kashmir government, chaired the meeting.

The General Officers Commanding of various formations affiliated to the 16 Corps of the Army and the GOC Tiger Division were present during the meeting. Lt-Gen Nehra complimented the security forces, intelligence agencies and the civil administration for achieving the highest degree of synergy and coordination and efficiently handling the internal security situation in the Jammu region during winter.

He stated that there was need to be more vigilant in view of the possibility of terrorists attempting to disrupt peace in the region, especially during summer. All efforts should be made to maintain peace and communal harmony in the region and ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining phases of the panchayat elections, he said. Lt-Gen Nehra reiterated that the decline in terrorism was attributed to a high degree of dedication and cohesiveness among all security agencies in the state.

Jammu, April 27
A 10-member delegation of the representatives of Shri Amarnath Barfani Langar Organisation (SABLO) met the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), RK Goyal, here today and discussed the modalities for setting up langars for the pilgrims during the yatra.

The pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on June 29 from Baltal and Nunwan base camps simultaneously.

During the meeting, the delegation assured the CEO of its support to the initiatives of the shrine board for bringing improvement in the yatra-related facilities. The SABLO reiterated its commitment to supporting the initiatives of the SASB with regard to sanitation in the yatra area.

The organisation informed Goyal that it had advised all members of the langar organisations against the use of polythene bags. It added that it would distribute jute and cotton handbags free of cost to the yatris.

The delegation requested Goyal to notify the date for the registration of the yatris so that the pilgrims could plan their journey timely. The CEO said to secure greater synergy among all stakeholders, he would hold regular coordination meetings with the langar organisations in the coming weeks.

Jammu, April 27
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the arrangements for Haj-2011 at the second meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir State Haj Committee, of which he is the chairman, here today.

Taking stock of the conduct of the Haj pilgrimage, Omar was briefed about various aspects of the pilgrimage, including transportation, issuance of passports, availability of flights and other facilities provided to the pilgrims.

Omar was informed that the state Haj Committee had received 18,900 applications from the intending pilgrims this year. Various arrangements on account of boarding and lodging and other aspects were being made to complete the work on the residential block at the Haj House in Srinagar.

It was stated at the meeting that 6,887 pilgrims performed the Haj last year. The selection of pilgrims was made through a draw of lots.

However, 854 dropouts of 2007, 2008 and 2009 were allowed to go on pilgrimage without the draw of lots.

An officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary was deputed as a member of the Building Selection Committee while 23 eligible persons were deputed as Khudam-ul-Hujaj.

The committee was informed that as per a communication from the Haj Committee of India, the date of the draw of lots for Haj 2011 had been fixed as May 14, 2011, while the last date for the submission of passports by the selected pilgrims was June 15, 2011.

In addition to a quota for the dropouts of the last three consecutive years and those who could not proceed on the Haj for the non-submission of passports, the Haj seats would be confirmed without the draw of lots for the intending pilgrims, who are above 70 years of age as on March 31, 2011.

However, a pilgrim has to be accompanied by one companion on a condition that both of them are in possession of valid international passports on the last date of the receipt of the Haj application forms, which is April 30, 2011.

Jammu, April 27
Justice Sunil Hali of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, after hearing a battery of lawyers, today allowed two appeals filed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and M/S Global Vectra Helicorps Ltd. against the order of the District Judge, Reasi, passed on March 31, 2011. The third appeal filed by Deccan Charters Ltd against Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and M/S Global Vectra Helicorps Ltd was dismissed.

The shrine board had invited tenders from registered aviation companies having a fleet of minimum two airworthy light helicopters endorsed on its non-scheduled operator permit for flight operation in the airspace of Jammu and Kashmir from Katra to Sanjichhat and back, utilising the helicopters at Katra and Sanjichhat on the leave and licence basis for a period of three consecutive years from April 2011 to March 31, 2014.

The tenders were invited for turnkey operations in two bids, including technical and financial formats. The condition in the notice inviting tender (NIT) that the bidder company must fulfil the eligibility conditions of having the mandatory minimum flying experience of five years with each of flying pilots possessing a minimum mountain flying experience of 1,500 hours as on March 1, 2011, and it must a have minimum fleet of two airworthy helicopters on its NSOP for Katra to Sanjichhat. At the time of the evaluation of the technical bid, Deccan Charters Ltd was found to be ineligible. However, Deccan Charters filed a civil suit before the District Judge, Reasi, which was decided on March 31, 2011, and against that order these three appeals were filed.

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by Deccan Charters Ltd. Justice Sunil allowed the appeal of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and directed the trial court to hear injunctions applications afresh after considering all issues.

The order further provided that M/S Global Vectra Helicorps Ltd and M/S Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd shall be permitted to operate the services in pursuance to their allotments. It shall, however, be subjected to the outcome of the directions, which may be passed by the trial court after hearing the parties.

It further provided that the trial court would proceed in the matter uninfluenced by any observations made in these appeals. The High Court directed the parties to appear before the trial court on May 5, 2011.

Jammu, April 27
Contrary to the claims of the Power Development Department (PDD) that the power scenario has improved in the state, unscheduled power cuts have started to haunt the people with the onset of summer, especially when the temperature is hovering around 40°C and giving sleepless nights to people. The power cuts in metered and non-metered areas across the state have already started, yet the authorities concerned seem to be in deep slumber, as there is hardly any difference in the power scenario as compared to that of last year.

Though every year the state government claims to have solved the problem, it has in fact been aggravating.

For the past few days, all major cities across the state have been reeling under power cuts, which not only affected the day-to-day life but also hit the industries. “Frequent unscheduled power cuts have already become the order of the day and we fear what will happen in the coming days. Summer has just started and power cuts up to four hours have been imposed,” said Munish Sharma, an industrialist of the Gangyal area here.

Recalling the last year’s situation, Sharma added, “Earlier the department had said there would be no power cuts in the metered areas this year, but there had hardly been any difference as compared to last year. The cuts are still continuing”. Similarly, villagers alleged that the PDD had started imposing night cuts too. “The department has not informed us about the schedule of power cuts but has started cuts for four to six hours,” said Amar Singh of Dharamsal village in Rajouri district.

Though the consumers are expecting a better summer this year, it seems the prevailing power scenario is not going to improve, as the officials concerned have failed to address the issue adequately.

“The state government purchases a large quantity of power from other states, Central and other agencies so the deficit in power generation from our own power projects hardly matters,” said Shalin Kabra, Managing Director, J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC). He added that they were generating the maximum power from their own projects.

Kabra said, “At present only the Baglihar-II is being repaired, as a technical snag hit it 10 days ago. But the 450 MW power project is at present generating 300 MW and the experts are trying to restore it. Besides, all our power projects are functioning well”. Similarly, the Commissioner of the PDD, Manzoor Ahmad, said, “We are trying our best and have adopted a number of policies in this regard”. However, he did not speak about the gap between the current demand and supply of power across the state. But government documents procured by The Tribune revealed that the gap between the demand and supply of power was almost 40 per cent.

Jammu, April 27
A deputation of the Mubarak Mandi Bachao Andolan met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today and presented a memorandum of demands to him. The six-member deputation led by Narsingh Dev Singh Jamwal, convener of the organisation, demanded that the Mubarak Mandi complex be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for its restoration and preservation as a heritage complex.

He urged the Governor not to allow the use of this heritage building for commercial purposes. The deputation put forth its suggestions for the restoration and preservation of the Mubarak Mandi complex and had discussions with the Governor in this regard.

The Governor gave a patient hearing to the deputation, which comprised Dr Jatinder Udhampuri, Mohan Singh Slathia, Gianeshwar Sharma, Udey Chand and Hari Chand Jalmeria. He said he would convey its concern to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Meanwhile, a deputation of the Shaheed Major Rohit Sharma Memorial Trust, Mandi, Poonch, also called on the Governor last evening and presented to him a number of development-centric demands of their area. The deputation led by president of the trust Ali Mohammad Mir thanked the Governor for providing 50 sewing machines to the NGO for their distribution among widows of the area to enable them to earn their livelihood.

Udhampur, April 27
A deputation of the Batote Development Committee called on Mubarak Gul, Adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, today and demanded that Batote be given the tehsil status, besides other things.

Members of the committee, led by their president Ravinder Singh, demanded the grant of the tehsil status to Batote, which is part of Ramban district. The residents of the town, about 12 km from Patnitop, have been raising the demand for long.

Although Batote had ample potential for the promotion of tourism, successive state governments had done nothing in this regard and as a result the area lagged miserably in development, they said.

Ravinder Singh said Gul assured them that he would take up their demands with the Chief Minister.

Other important demands included the opening of a government degree college and an industrial training institute in the area, upgrade of the local primary health centre and the Baghlihar Hydro Electric Project for the promotion of tourism.

Udhampur, April 27
Wrestler Pamma from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab and Soni from Ludhiana were declared the joint winners of the Annual Katra Kundrorian Kesri Vishal Dangal 2011 organised by the Kundrorian Dangal Committee, Katra, at Shri Hanuman Akhara at Kundrorian in Reasi district yesterday.

The wrestling competition was organised under the aegis of the Jammu and Kashmir Indian Style wrestling Association. Wrestlers from Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua, Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, the state police and the BSF played more than 40 bouts. The general secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Rakesh Wazir, who was the chief guest, gave away prizes to the winners.

President of the Jammu and Kashmir Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma, presided over the prize distribution function. A large number of wrestling enthusiasts from Katra and adjoining areas were present on the occasion.

The first main bout was fought between Pamma and Soni, which ended in a draw after a tough contest lasting for 40 minutes. Both wrestlers were declared joint winners and awarded Rs 21,000 each. In the second main bout, wrestler Palla from Himachal Pradesh defeated Sona from Amritsar. The bouts between Shinda from Ludhiana and Mohammad Akram from Jammu, Ballu from Dera Baba Nanak and Bobri from the Shiv Mandir Akhara, Jammu, also ended in a draw.

Wazir complimented the organising committee for the successful conduct of a popular event being organised annually for the last nine years. The members of the organising committee and technical officials were also felicitated on the occasion.