Srinagar, May 24
The Centre has approved Rs 120-crore project for conservation and development of Asia’s largest fresh water lake - “Wular Lake”. The implementation of the project will start soon after the Cabinet’s nod. This was stated by Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmed during his visit to the lake.

The minister called for judicious use of funds and said only need-based works should be taken up, which would have good impact on the development of the lake. He said the project would be implemented by the proposed Wular Development Authority. A sum of Rs 88 crore would be incurred on eco-restoration, water management and wildlife conservation while as Rs 30 lakh for its catchment conservation, he added.

Mian Altaf directed the authorities to complete necessary formalities for early implementation of the project. He instructed them to make use of ingenuity for conservation of the lake so that plans formulated bring desirable results. The minister ordered early demarcation of Wular land, removal of encroachments and cleanliness besides early removal of Willow trees in the lake’s area. He instructed the authorities to work in a transparent manner and ensure employment avenues for the local youths while executing the prestigious project.

The minister also inspected the Nangli Forest Nursery and directed the authorities to ensure plantation of varied plants in the nursery. He said a VIP hut would be constructed in the area for which he directed for formulation of a proposal for approval of the government.

On the demand of MLA Sangrama Basharat Bhukhari, the minister said, “The conservation and preservation of all water bodies in the state is the priority of the government, adding that conservation of the Highgam Wetland is also under active consideration.” He said fencing of the Kandi Nowgam and Chutipathri forest areas would also be taken up.

The minister while reviewing the stock and supply position of timber, said timber supply would start from July this year. He directed the authorities to ensure early extraction and stocking of timber at all forest sale outlets for the purpose.

Jammu, May 24
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla has said a special squad, comprising of revenue and police officers, has been constituted to retrieve government land encroached by land grabbers. He warned that stern action would be taken against those involved in encroaching the government land.

The minister recently inspected the 12-kanal site in Gandhi Nagar where a recreational park is to be set up.

Minister of State for R&B, Floriculture and Health Javed Ahmed Dar besides other senior officers of different departments were also present. Interacting with the locals, Bhalla said the government land would be used for building social infrastructure, including construction of offices, tubewells, roads, schools, parks, parking slots, cremation grounds etc. He asked the land grabbers to vacate state land voluntarily, otherwise they shoud be ready to face action. He said, “It is the duty of every citizen to cooperate with the government in making Jammu and Kashmir a model state”. He further added that several mega projects formulated for the benefit of general masses across the state were in pipeline.

The minister said the government had prepared a comprehensive plan to develop recreational parks with modern facilities besides covering all nallahs and beautification of embankments of canals and nallahs.

To deal with drinking water scarcity, Bhalla said the coalition government had issued directions to the PHE Department to lay water supply pipes in the uncovered areas across the state especially high temperature hit areas so that people do not feel any inconvenience during summers.

Responding to the demand of locals of II Extension, Gandhi Nagar, Bhalla informed that a detailed project report of Rs 1 crore for covering of 100 metre nallah has been submitted under ADB loan-2 to the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), adding that after completing tender formalities, the project could be started for the benefit of locals.

Regarding upgradation of existing 250 KVA transformer up to 400 KVA, the minister asked the PDD to prepare the estimates for upgradation, installation of poles and wires in the uncovered areas so that people could get relief from improved power supply in summers. Earlier, Bhalla also visited Nanak Nagar Sector-1 and kick started blacktopping works of eight internal links lanes for which the government has earmarked Rs 15 lakh. He asked the executing agency to complete it within 3 days.

Rajouri, May 24
Due to depletion in the forest cover, a leopard along with her grown up cubs frequently sneaks into localities in the Tatta Pani area of Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri district. But it has been eluding the Wildlife Department for the past six months.

Villagers in the area have to stay indoors during wee hours and they maintain extra vigil when they step out of their homes, as the beast has repeatedly been spotted in the populated area.

Lately, Ashok Sharma and Ashwani Sharma, both brothers and residents of the Kurrah locality, claimed to have seen the leopard near their cattle shed on Wednesday morning.

The village that is nestled in hilly forests is scared of the presence of a beast and its cubs. Though the leopard has reportedly not attacked any villager so far, it has mauled many cattle, besides killing “almost all” canines in the village.

Many villagers claim to have seen it in the compound of their homes, near cattle sheds, in the fields and on the banks of the small rivulet nearby.

They said when the leopard was first spotted, its cubs were small, but over the months they had also grown. According to them, two months ago one of the cubs was mauled by canines of nomads in the area. “On a complaint, a team of the Wildlife Department visited the village two-three times. What they did here was not very reassuring. They just burst crackers here and there and went away,” said the villagers.

“Our cattle go missing and their carcasses are found after days. In the afternoon, when we graze our cattle in the pastures, the leopard keeps roaming around the herd and sometimes even attacks them,” said a group of Gujjars. “We have not tried to kill the leopard or its cubs, as it is an endangered species. But the department must understand that human life is more precious,” the villagers said.

The in charge of the Wildlife Department, Rajouri, said he got a complaint from the villagers around three months ago and a team from Nowshera was dispatched to the area. “They camped there for 5-6 days and the leopard was warded off in the dense forests,” he said.

Ranger Vijay Singh said, “Our teams have repeatedly visited the site on the complaints of the villagers. The leopard along with two cubs was spotted, but due to topography of the area, it was impossible to catch it. Later, they were not sighted there”.

Udhampur, May 24
The organisers have given final touches to the preparations for the four-day annual “Bhaderwah Tourism-cum-Cultural Festival” starting from May 27 at picturesque Baderwah valley in Doda district.

Since the event has become increasingly popular among people of the state besides a large number of tourists seeking escape from scorching heat of plains during this time, the organisers have taken all care to make the event a grand success with an eye on exploiting tourism potential of the area.

The festival is being organised by the Bhaderwah Development Authority in association with the Department of Tourism, J&K and other line departments. District Development Commissioner (DDC), Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan, yesterday chaired a joint meeting of departments concerned to finalise the arrangements.

Bhaderwah valley has vast tourism potential, which needs to be fully explored so that people can take benefit of the growing tourism business in the region “There are several virgin spots from tourism point of view, which needs to be exposed to the tourists from within the country and abroad. As such the motive behind organising this festival is to explore and boost the tourism activities in the district,” said DDC Khan.

As per the schedule, the inaugural ceremony will be organised at Government Higher Secondary School for Boys (GHSS) followed by a mushaira at Government Degree College and a musical night at the GHSS. A road show showcasing culture and heritage of the valley will be taken out in Bhaderwah town next morning, which will be followed by cultural events organised at Jai tourist resort.

On the third day, sports and cultural events will be held at Gurdanda, water sports competition at Gatha and a musical night at Seeri Bazar, Bhaderwah. On the concluding day, a folk cultural programme featuring local artistes will be organised at Khellani, a musical night at the GHSS, Doda, followed by the closing ceremony at the GHSS, Bhaderwah.

To utilise the opportunity and create awareness among the unemployed educated youth, all government departments have been asked to put up their stalls regarding various state and centrally-sponsored self-employment schemes. 

Jammu, May 24
Even as the seat of power (Darbar Move offices) shifted to summer capital of Srinagar on April 29, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has deputed his ministers on a rotational basis to Jammu so as to ensure hassle- free and effective governance in the region.

In this context, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand was the first to conduct summer secretariat here recently.

“I offered my services for the purpose and for one week from May 19 to May 26, I will be listening to the grievances and other issues of the people at the Civil Secretariat here. After me, other ministers will attend the summer secretariat on rotational basis,” Tara Chand said.

He said the present government had taken a right decision to depute ministers on a rotational basis.

When Darbar Move offices shift to Srinagar during the summers, the government conducts summer secretariat at Jammu and vice versa when Darbar shifts to Jammu during the winters.

“Since summer has started, there are several issues of people like electricity, roads, water, which have to be looked upon. Hence, it becomes imperative for the state government to depute its ministers so as to ensure redressal of their grievances, said Tara Chand.

On dismal power scenario across Jammu, the Deputy Chief Minister attributed rampant cuts to heavy load on the existing infrastructure. “Efforts are on to improve the scenario and the government is trying to improve things,” he said.

He said the government was not only trying to improve power scenario in the Jammu region, but it was also doing everything possible for the equitable development of all three regions of the state and measures were afoot to fulfil the promises made to the people on the development front.

On his first day at the summer secretariat here recently, Tara Chand was available to the people for listening to their grievances.

He gave on-the-spot instructions to officials concerned for speedy redressal of people’s grievances.

Tara Chand said the government was determined to empower grass-roots level democratic institutions and the ongoing Panchayat poll was a giant leap forward in that direction, adding that the focus was to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system and promote area-specific development.

A deputation from Dogra Hall highlighted the demands of their area which included extending various facilities under the JNNURM to the people living in the area. The Deputy Chief Minister issued instructions to officers concerned to look into the matter and submit a proposal for the same.

A deputation of the J&K Pensioners Association brought to the notice of the Deputy Chief Minister various demands and difficulties being faced by them.

Tara Chand assured them that their grievance would be resolved. He gave instructions to the departments concerned to take immediate appropriate steps, so as to address the problems which had been brought up by various representatives of the different areas of Jammu.

Later, a delegation of the party leaders and workers comprising of former minister Gharu Ram, Vinod Sharma, BS Sambyal, Narinder Sharma, Chaman Lal Gupta and others also called on the Deputy Chief Minister and discussed the demands of their respective areas.

Srinagar, May 24
The Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, recently organised an event to mark the International Year of Forests-2011 and the UN Decade of Biodiversity 2011-2020 with the aim of identifying crucial knowledge gaps, work done so far in the state and a synthesis of the existing knowledge about various facets of forest biodiversity.

Prof Riyaz Punjabi, vice-chancellor, Kashmir University, who presided over the event, said the conservation of biodiversity and forests were gradually obtaining the shape of human rights. He asked young scholars and scientists to link their research with the market.

“Our research should be practical, aimed at the development of the state and we have to be partners in the development of the state rather than to be isolated,” he said.

Prof Riyaz said when he looks back to find the reason for the dwindling forest land and threats to biodiversity, he feels greed of the man and ignorance as the main factors contributing to this.

The vice-chancellor was all appreciative the way first policy document on the Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Policy-2011 has come up, which, he said, would go a long way in conservation of our biodiversity and natural habitat through preservation.

Shantmanu, commissioner secretary, Forest Department, Jammu and Kashmir, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural event of the function, said maintaining the rich forest diversity would help us combat climate crisis, alleviate poverty, support human health and leave our children and grandchildren the bountiful and beautiful legacy of living forests.

Shantmanu said: “Though all of us are contributing in this direction, but today we need coordination and collaborations to succeed”. Referring to Kashmir University, he said: “This is the place from where we begin this coordination”.

Talking about the importance of the event, Dr Zafar Rishi, head, Department of Botany, said: “Forests provide shelter to people and habitat to biodiversity. They are a source of food, medicine and clean water. They play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment”.

He said the Department of Botany, KU, had made a monumental contribution towards achieving target in compiling a catalogue of alien flora of India, which is a comprehensive catalogue of all reported alien plant species at different stages of invasion.

Prof Zafar informed that Kashmir University had already forwarded the copies of this document to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. He said they had also prepared a comprehensive database of alien plant species of Kashmir and had identified priority species for control.

Srinagar, May 24
The All India Kashmiri Samaj, an apex body of Kashmiri Pandits in India and abroad, has expressed concern over the lack of requisite facilities for the first batch of employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation package in different parts of the Valley. The organisation has also sought a proper assessment of encroachments upon temple lands and Hindu shrines in the Kashmir valley, as these were the “only living symbols” of the community. It stressed the need to restore the temples to their original forms.

Addressing mediapersons here yesterday, Moti Kaul, president of the samaj, urged the government to become sensitive towards the needs of the employees stationed at different locations in the Valley. He claimed that these newly-appointed employees belonging to the Kashmiri Pandit community, who had returned to the Valley after over two decades, had not been paid salary for the past five months since they joined here.

He said the accommodation provided to them was very poor and many recruits, especially women, were rethinking whether to join the duty or not and some were even thinking of abandoning their jobs. Kaul urged the government to look into the problems being faced by the recently-employed youth on a priority basis.

Besides recently visiting Vessu and Mattan in south Kashmir, where the migrant youth had been accommodated, Kaul also visited various temples and shrines like Nagdandi temple, Hari Parbat, Jeevan Sahib Ladoo, Gosani Gund Ashram, Tri Sandhya, near Kokernag, Sheva Bhagwati Akingam etc. The Pandit leader maintained that the temples and shrines were in a deplorable condition.

He added that the attention of the government towards encroachments and land grabbing by vested interests had been sought in the past also. He lamented that the government was taking no concrete steps to stop encroachments and nothing had been done to improve and repair damaged temples.