Jammu, May 20
The arrest of a patwari for allegedly changing the ownership of a piece of land in revenue records has exposed irregularities in the Revenue Department. As most of the revenue record is manual, the patwari with the help of a former revenue official had taken the whole record home where he changed the ownership rights to help land mafia.

It is being alleged that in the wake of manual revenue records, the land mafia with the help of officials is getting the title of land transferred in their name.

The Revenue Department is in the process of computerising the records, but due to the pressure of corrupt officials, the work is going on at a snail's pace and is not likely to be completed soon.

According to an official document, the process of computerising land records was started way back in 1998 by the Settlement Organisation, but the process has been going very slowly allegedly to benefit land grabbers.

In 2005, the Settlement Organisation had developed in-house software for the automatic generation of record of rights through computers. Till date, only eight computers have been installed by the organisation at Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Srinagar, Pulwama, Sopore, Kargil and Leh for the generation of cadastral maps and record of rights.

Meanwhile, the department has claimed to have taken steps for making the employees computer literate with the aim to ensuring quick delivery of computerised data on demand. The department has also taken up a capacity development programme of its staff at a cost of Rs 3.93 crore with the Union Government.

The government also claims that steps have been taken for the computerisation of all records in the DC offices of different districts under the National Land Records Management Programme (NLRMP). It claims that revenue records pertaining to 600 villages of Jammu region and 759 villages of Kashmir region have been computerised.

It further claims that steps have been taken for making employees of DC offices across the state computer literate by imparting basic/advanced training in computers. Officials have been trained at revenue training schools in Jammu and Srinagar.

Despite all such claims, the process of computerisation, which was started in 1998, is still incomplete. Officials, who are hand in glove with the land mafia, are deliberately creating hurdles in the process because after computerisation it would not be possible for them to manipulate the record. 

Srinagar, May 20
The Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar, Air Commodore Upkarjit Singh, called on Governor NN Vohra here yesterday.

During the meeting the two discussed various security related issues. The Governor lauded the crucial role the Indian Air Force (IAF) was playing in the state, an official spokesman said.

Besides air defence, the IAF has been assisting the state in tackling problems arising out of emergencies and natural calamities. It has also been helping the people, especially those living in far-flung and inaccessible areas, by carrying out rescue, relief and evacuation operations. The Air Commodore briefed the Governor about the IAF’s recent initiatives in securing the frontiers.

Jammu, May 20
Concerned over unabated anti-India propaganda from across the border, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has devised a long-term strategic plan as a roadmap to attain certain key objectives during the next six years.

As per the plan, to be implemented between 2011 and 2017, besides other things, the Ministry proposes to strengthen its television and radio network mainly in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North East states.

The strategic plan was unveiled by the Ministry recently. The Ministry observed that since India was sharing border with a number of countries, Pakistani TV signals were available in almost all parts of the Kashmir Valley and some parts of the Jammu region. Similarly, Chinese TV signals were being received in Arunachal Pradesh, while Bangladesh TV signals were easily available in some parts of West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram.

“Therefore, good quality Doordarshan and AIR signals were needed to check the impact of foreign TV signals,” the Ministry report said.

In the backdrop of it, Doordarshan is being expanded by improving its coverage in the border areas. “Special packages for the expansion and improvement of Doordarshan services in NE and J&K have also been implemented,” the report said.

At present, 273 transmitters of varying power are operating in the border areas. For the further improvement of TV coverage in J&K, five HPTs have been approved and their implementation has been taken up in this border state. The Ministry said it proposed to establish one HPT each in Kashmir, Jammu and Leh regions and two in Rajouri by 2013.

The report said: “A number of existing transmitters in border districts have served their useful life and require replacement to ensure good quality transmission. In addition, some transmitters require upgradation to strengthen the coverage, while some new analogue transmitters will also have to be setup in the border areas of NE states, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and West Bengal to check the propaganda from across the border”.

The Ministry Plan said analog transmitters in the border areas would have to be continued for a longer period as compared to the rest of the country as the strata of people in such areas might not like to purchase additional system (STB) required for receiving digital signals. “This is equally true for the population living across the border,” it said.

In the 12th plan, there is also a provision for upgrading certain LPTs in the border areas to HPTs and the replacement of old transmitters, which have served their life, the Ministry website said.

It revealed that the external services of AIR would be strengthened so as to enhance the quality of AIR broadcasts through the digitalisation of shortwave transmitters. The plan stated that the digitalisation of 98 studios would be achieved in the 11th Plan, while the remaining studios were proposed to be digitalised during the next five years and target to be achieved by 2017. These studios would have a provision for stereo recording, production and transmission, all in the digital domain.

Also, in order to enhance the news coverage in the border areas, the Ministry has a strategic plan to augment 44 existing regional news units and to create seven new such units. Similarly, DD Kashir channel also needed constant support keeping in view the strategic concerns of the J&K region. “Efforts have been taken to revamp DD Kashir to ensure increased and sustained viewership in the Valley by broadcasting new programmes which reflect the cultural ethos of the state,” the report said.

Jammu, May 20
As incidents of fire in agricultural fields have been increasing with the rise in temperature, the Agriculture Department has come up with an advisory for the farmers.

Though no concrete solution to this problem has been devised so far, the department claims that their advisory would definitely help check the problem to some extent.

"Keeping the fire incidents in mind, we have some suggestions for the farmers which will definitely reduce the chances of spark," said Ajay Khajuria, director, agriculture.

He added, "A small spark can reduce the ripe and mature crop to ashes. We have been spreading awareness among the farmers by giving them knowledge in fields and are also planning to publish advertisements in newspapers".

Khajuria said they had suggested some dos and don't for this purpose.

Speaking further about these suggestions, he said, "It has been learnt from the past incidents that farmers stack their crop under electricity wires, which is the major reason of fire. So, they should avoid this practice to save their crop".

"The farmers should not make heaps more than 6 m in height and keep a distance of minimum 20 ft between two heaps."

During the harvesting time, the farmers should store water in the fields so that in case of fire, they can have something in their hand to douse the flames, he added.

Besides, in case of fire, the farmers should immediately call 101 for calling fire emergency.

He further maintained that some incidents of fire also happened due to the burning of the crop residue in the fields. "So, the farmers should shun this practice as it is very harmful for their fields," said Khajuria. 

Dos

n Keep sufficient gap between two stacks, at least 20 ft

n Keep night vigil

n Store adequate water in fields to douse the flames

n Immediatly call "101' or '100', in case of an emergency

n Keep green branches available in fields to douse the flames

Don’ts

n Smoke near mature crops in the fields

n Operate any chullah near stacks or dry grass

n Carry any inflammable material in fields

Jammu, May 20
After it lost its top commanders recently, the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is trying hard to revive its cadres in the mountainous districts of the Jammu region, particularly Doda and Kishtwar.

“Yes, the LeT is desperate and has been looking for new recruits in Doda and Kishtwar districts where the terror outfit still has some influence,” sources in the Army told The Tribune.

The outfit had been applying all sorts of tactics like intimidation and money via its overground workers’ network to lure youth into militancy, but the response had not been good, they added.

An Army officer said the LeT had established a strong network of overground workers in Kishtwar and Doda districts.

An incident where a villager was kidnapped and subsequently found murdered by LeT ultras a few days ago proved the fact that the terror group desperately wanted to replenish its cadres, he added.

The Army sources also referred to the arrest of 10 overground workers of the LeT in Kishtwar district yesterday. “Though they were arrested in connection with LeT terrorist Salman, who had escaped a trap a few days back in Kishtwar district, the fact cannot be denied that the LeT has been asked to replenish its cadres via local recruitment,” they said.

“The Army is keeping a watch on overground workers in these two districts. Since these workers are not directly involved in terror activities, we carefully monitor their activities to establish their involvement in militancy-related activities, so as to prove their involvement before the court,” added the sources.

“Intelligence inputs and messages intercepted by us revealed that the LeT on the other side of the LoC have asked their cadres to lure youth into the outfit in the name of freedom struggle,” they said.

In the past, the outfit had adopted various strategies like issuing diktats to the local youth via posters, asking them not to join the police force, besides announcing a unilateral ceasefire in a bid to buy time from the security forces. 

With the onset of summer, different sections in Kashmir undergo a shift from one area to another. While the seat of the government shifts from Jammu to Srinagar, the nomadic Gujjars with their cattle start their movement from the hot environs of Jammu region to the meadows in the upper reaches of Kashmir. Every year around this season, the nomadic Gujjars lead their sheep and cattle to the colder region on Kashmir. They have their selected paths through the high mountains which they follow to reach the Valley despite the occasional bad weather conditions. After reaching the Valley, they have to move along the main roads before reaching their destination, which leads to slow down of vehicular movement.

Srinagar, May 20
In a specially organised session, a book, “Freeze Frame: Glimpses from Kashmir” was released by vice-chancellor of University of Kashmir Riyaz Punjabi at Ibn-i-Khaldun auditorium of the varsity.

Eminent educationist Agha Ashraf Ali was the guest of honour while academician and writer Neerja Mattoo and senior journalist Mohammad Syed Malik were among the panelists.

While reviewing the book, Prof Mattoo said, “The writer has intelligently commented on the passing events in the state”. Referring to a Turkish writer, she described “Hazoon” (a kind of perpetual sadness) as a distinguishing feature of “Freeze Frame” and said, “The book articulates effectively the mood of loss and a constant despondency and melancholy”.

Malik described the book as a laudable attempt aimed at throwing light on the bottom of many heaps that Kashmir finds itself in. He said, “Commitment to the values, quality of the work and credibility of the writer are the three important facets of good writers”.

Ashraf Ali described Syeda Afshana as “an original creative mind in the university”. He further added, “The impression I have after having read the anthology of essays by Afshana on a hundred different subjects, equally lucid and crystal clear, is that she is a brave writer with a fearless heart”.

Appreciating the efforts of the writer, Dr Riyaz Punjabi remarked, “We are trying to build an intellectual ambiance in the university where we can discuss, agree and disagree”. He asked the young scholars to come forward and “enrich our culture, history and literature”.

Syeda Afshana explained the genesis of her writings, quoting a passage from the book. She said, “The book is a sincere attempt to respond to the evolving situation wherein a sense of reality evades us. Our song writers have become wordless and singers seem to be voiceless,” she said.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Riyaz Rufai, chief librarian, gave an overview of International Resource Cell (IRC) of Kashmir University.

“It is our endeavour to promote intellectual discourse on the campus,” he said.

Srinagar, May 20
On the International Museum Day, which was celebrated on May 18, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums organised special exhibitions at two major museums in Srinagar and Jammu.

The exhibitions drew a large number of people, especially schoolgoing children, who evinced keen interest in the objects displayed at the museums.

This year’s theme of the International Museum Day was “Museum and Memory: Objects Tell Your Story”.

Khalid Bashir Ahmad, director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, launched the special exhibition on Terracotta Art of Kashmir at SPS Museum, here recently.

The objects displayed in the exhibition include findings from different archaeological sites of Kashmir, including Hoinar, Letpora, Kotabal, Ushkar, Harwan, Hutmura and Madeen Sahab, representing the period from the 2nd century A.D. to the 17th century A.D.

Khalid highlighted the need for creating awareness among public about the rich collection of the state’s museums.

SPS Museum is the oldest museum in the state which was established in 1898 A.D. The government is constructing a magnificent museum building adjacent to the existing museum. The project is at an advanced stage of completion at a cost of Rs 30.74 crore.

In Jammu, the exhibition on Painting Art of Jammu was thrown open for public at Dogra Art Museum. The highlight of the exhibition was the world famous Basohli paintings. Students of various educational institutions in their school uniforms were allowed free entry to the exhibitions as a measure to generate interest in the youth about their heritage and history. Deputy directors MS Zahid and Perzada Muhammad Ashraf were also present on the occasion.

The catchphrase of the exhibitions was “Visit Your Heritage”. A stream of schoolchildren from various educational institutions of the two capital cities, accompanied by their teachers, visited the two museums. They were elaborately briefed about the displayed objects. A number of small enthusiastic children said they had visited a museum for the first time and were delighted. The exhibitions were open from 10 am to 5 pm.

Curator, SPS Museum, Srinagar, said a record number of over 1,300 visitors, mainly students, visited the museum. Similarly, around 400 schoolchildren visited Dogra Art Museum, Jammu, Sangeeta Sharma, curator of the museum, said.

In his message on the International Museum Day, Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said: “The state has distinct cultural heritage which is displayed in its museums. Each of the three regions of the state - Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh - has a treasure trove of its own in the form of rich archaeological, artistic and historical collections”. He said the International Museum Day was the apt occasion to commit ourselves for its preservation.

The minister complimented the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums for holding special exhibitions. He said he was confident that the exhibitions would sensitise people towards the protection of the state’s heritage.

Minister of State for Tourism, Culture, Home and Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani believed that museums tell the story of the evolution of human civilisation and culture. He said: “The International Museum Day also casts upon all of us the responsibility to preserve this treasure for future generations”.