Jammu, July 26
As the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has failed to effectively take off in the backward Bani tehsil of Kathua district, the authorities have decided to involve newly-elected sarpanches and panches to make the poverty-alleviation scheme functional in the area.

Earlier officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD) implemented the scheme, which evoked a poor response, as the residents of the Bani area preferred to work as labourers with private contractors in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh due to the indifferent attitude of the officials concerned.

Though senior RDD officials refused to speak about the failure of the scheme in the belt, sources said after facing criticism from different quarters they (officials) decided to rope in the sarpanches and the panches to involve people in the development activities and make the rural job scheme effective in the region. “The panchayat members are also exerting pressure on the officials concerned not to approve or sanction any work without their consent,” they said.

“The authorities are now involving us in the implementation of the rural employment scheme in our respective areas,” Sunil Kumar, newly-elected sarpanch of the Gitti panchayat of Bani tehsil, told The Tribune over the phone. He said earlier the RDD officials were formulating the policies and implementing the scheme in the area. He alleged that it was all due to the indifferent attitude of the officials concerned that the scheme was not properly implemented there.

The sources said the higher RDD officials had also taken notice of the failure of the job scheme in the Bani area. “Officials concerned have been directed to properly implement the scheme,” they said. “Without involving the panchayat members, the scheme cannot be properly implemented in our area,” Master Lal Chand, MLA, Bani, told The Tribune. He admitted that the scheme had failed to take off in Bani. Listing reasons for the scheme’s failure, Lal Chand said it was not implemented in the area as per the set guidelines. “Just for the official record, job cards have been issued to the people but adequate funds have not been allocated to give employment to the card holders,” he said. He added that the scheme failed to take off in Kathua district in general and Bani tehsil in particular.

To authenticate in his charges, the MLA said in the neighbouring Doda district Rs 55 crore was spent under the scheme, but only Rs 9 crore was spent in Kathua district last year.

The Tribune in its July 16 edition had reported that the residents of Bani tehsil preferred to go to Himachal Pradesh to earn their livelhood as the rural job scheme failed to attract them.

z Earlier, officials of the Rural Development Department implemented the scheme

z After facing criticism from different quarters they (officials) decided to rope in the sarpanches and the panches to involve people in the development activities and make the rural job scheme effective

z Residents of the Bani area preferred to work as labourers with private contractors in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh due to the indifferent attitude of the officials concerned

Udhampur, July 26
The Northern Command paid homage to Kargil martyrs on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Kargil War here today. The Army defeated Pakistan in the war in which 527 Indian soldiers laid down their lives for the country.

Lt-Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, led the wreath-laying ceremony, which was attended by other senior Army officers, an Army spokesperson said.

The Army, along with the Air Force, won the Kargil war after 74 days of continuous fight against all odds at the high altitudes. On the occasion, a candlelight vigil was observed at Shardhajanli Park, Udhampur, on the occasion.

Udhampur, July 26
The District Development Board (DDB), Kishtwar, today approved the annual plan 2011-2012 of Rs 67.24 crore for the district, showing a revenue component of Rs 24.48 crore and a capital component Rs 42.76 crore.

The plan was approved at a meeting chaired by Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment Abdul Gani Malik. The minister exhorted the officials concerned to ensure development in the neglected areas, particularly mountainous and far-flung areas of the district.

He added that the decisions taken at the meeting should be implemented in letter and in spirit and directed the officials concerned to function according to the requirements of the people.

Regarding the shortage of staff in various schools in the district, Malik directed the officials to utilise the services of the voluntary service allowance holders.

He said the posting mechanism would also be monitored so that all schools got adequate teaching and non-teaching staff.

On the construction of roads under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojana, the minister directed the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Kishtwar, MH Malik, to examine the bottlenecks in the projects like forest clearance, land acquisition and compensation cases.

The DDC gave a power point presentation on the proposed annual plan and the performance achieved under the previous plan. The plan approved Rs 52.90 lakh for agriculture, Rs 68.56 lakh for animal husbandry, Rs 12.29 crore for roads and building, Rs 18.87 crore for elementary education, Rs 7.30 crore for secondary education, Rs 3.64 crore for health services and Rs 2.96 crore for public health engineering. The plan also proposed 70 hamlets for electrification and 15 new sub-centres and the construction of 24 bridges.

Srinagar, July 26
The state government has issued a notification identifying public services, designated officers and stipulated time frame for providing services, the first appellate authority and the second appellate authority, besides notifying rules to make the Public Services Guarantee Act operational with immediate effect.

The Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act was passed by the state Legislature during the last budget session providing for the delivery of public services to the people of the state within a specified time limit and for matters connected, therewith, and incidental, thereto. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while explaining the objectives of the Act, said it aimed at empowering public to enforce upon the administration their right of receiving a prompt delivery of public services on various fronts.

“This will also reduce the chances of corruption to a great extent and make the administration more responsive,” an official spokesperson said. He added that the Act would also nurture good governance in the state

“The Act provides for right to public service to every eligible person within the specified time limit in a transparent manner. An eligible person can demand the performance of duties and functions in accordance with the Act. He is empowered under the Act to hold the designated officials concerned accountable for any service deficiency,” Omar said. 

Jammu, July 26
At least eight persons were killed and six injured, three of them critically, when the tempo traveller they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell in a gorge in Rajouri district today.

Governor mourns deaths in accident Srinagar, July 26 Governor NN Vohra has expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in a road accident in Rajouri district today. In a message, the Governor conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident. — TNS

SSP, Rajouri district, Vijay Samyal told The Tribune over the phone that six passengers were killed on the spot while two others died at the district hospital, Rajouri.

The three critically injured were shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu, he added.

Samyal said the tempo traveller was on the way to Kandi in Budhal tehsil from Rajouri city. The vehicle was being driven rashly and it skidded off the road and plunged into a 60-ft gorge, near Mandir Kala village in Rajouri, he said.

Overnight rain had made the road slippery and the driver, who was driving rashly, applied brakes suddenly at a sharp curve and the vehicle met with the accident, the SSP added.

He said on receiving information, a police party rushed to the accident site and started rescue operations. The injured were shifted to the district hospital, he added.

However, according to reports, locals retrieved the bodies from the gorge, besides shifting the injured to the district hospital.

Jammu, July 26
The facilities and infrastructure developed by the Army in militancy-hit areas under Operation Sadbhavana have failed to serve the purpose, as these seem to be nobody’s responsibility.

While the facilities like health centres and vocational training centres are in a state of utter neglect, the Army claims that the public utilities are normally developed under its goodwill mission on the demand of local people. Thereafter, it says, the civil administration is responsible for the management and maintenance of these facilities.

On the contrary, the civil administration cites limited resources and manpower and blames the Army for working in an unplanned way without taking it into confidence. Consequently, the lack of cooperation and coordination between the two has resulted in a huge waste of public money.

For instance, the Public Health Centre at Khardi Karmarda in Poonch, which was set up in 2005 by the Army, is barely 2 km from a well-furbished government health centre in an adjoining village.

Villagers say the health centre could not remain functional beyond three to four months after its inauguration as the staff provided by the government’s Health Department stopped visiting it.

“When the Army procured land from me for the health centre, I was promised that one member of my family would be provided a job there. But the promise was not fulfilled,” said Sher Khan. He added that, “After the staff deputed at the health centre stopped coming here, I took back the possession of my land.”

Sher Khan lives near the health centre’s building and has been using it for storing fodder and agricultural implements.

Locals say there are many other health centres constructed by the Army in the area which are also in a state of neglect. There are computer centres and vocational training centres, which are non-functional. There are complaints that equipment have been stolen from many centres. Also, the micro hydroelectric projects set up by the Army on traditional watermills are lying defunct.

“We are just facilitators. It is the responsibility of the civil administration to take care of public facilities and infrastructure after the Army builds them,” said a senior Army officer, wishing not to be quoted.

“It is not practically possible for the Army to sustain the infrastructure and public facilities developed under Operation Sadbhavana as the Army cannot take over the functions of the civil administration. It can only help the civil administration in the problem areas,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Ajit Kumar Sahu said, “To construct a building is quite easy, but sustaining it for catering to public demands is a different thing. The second part involves funds, manpower and many other issues. Whenever the Army builds a building or other public facility, it does not take the district administration into confidence.”

“The Army approaches local people or village heads before creating such facilities, but it never approaches us for a no objection certificate. It carries out the entire exercise in a very unplanned manner,” he added. 

Jammu, July 26
After its failure to keep a check on the sale of non-biodegradable polythene bags, the state government has decided to introduce ISO-certified biodegradable bags across the state.

“After the municipal corporation officials failed to enforce the ban on the sale and use of polythene bags, we have decided to introduce biodegradable bags across the state. These bags will be used as an alternative to the banned polythene bags,” said Lal Chand, chairman, J&K State Pollution Control Board, while talking to The Tribune over the phone from Srinagar.

He added that, “A few private bag manufacturers have approached us for approval to sell biodegradable bags in the market. We have sent these bags to the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology for checking their quality before granting approval”.

Terming polythene as the biggest environment hazard, Lal Chand said, “We are committed to providing a clean and green environment, but the pollution due to polythene bags has drastically increased in the twin capital cities of the state. This is proving to be a tough task. We are hopeful that with the introduction of environment-friendly bags, the board will be able to control the rising pollution level”.

He blamed the public for the increase in the pollution level. “We have launched a number of awareness campaigns for the people to dissuade them from using polythene bags, but to no avail. Now, we will have biodegradable bags with a message, “Say no to plastic bags and adopt biodegradable bags”.

Asked if any private firm was supplying biodegradable bags in the state, he said there might be a few companies selling biodegradable bags in the market, but none had the permission from the board. Earlier, the standards were not laid for the sale of the biodegradable bags, but now the ISO certification had been made mandatory and the board had also framed the rules.

Lal Chand added that the biodegradable bags would be costlier than polythene bags. 

Jammu, July 26
The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today caught a Junior Engineer of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, West Sub-Division, Doda, Raja Faisel, red-handed while taking bribe.

The SVO reportedly caught him while taking a bribe of Rs 45,000 from the complainant, Hoshiyar Singh, a resident of Mungdhar, Kashtigarh, Doda.

SVO officials said Hoshiyar Singh, a contractor and proprietor of M/S Shiv Shakti Constructions, Mungdhar at Kashtigarh in Doda, lodged a written complaint with the SVO, Jammu, on July 25, 2011, saying that he was allotted the work of blacktopping a road from Doda to Ganeka. The work was completed in June 2010. He, however, received only 70 per cent of the payment. He also alleged that he had executed the works of walls and back cutting but received only 50 per cent of the total payment, with Rs 2.5 lakh still outstanding with the department.

Similarly, during 2008-09, Hoshiyar Singh had executed the work on the 17 km Doda-Dessa road via Bhopa Pul, for which a bill of Rs 1.7 lakh was still pending. In 2009, he had executed the work on the 13 km Doda-Dessa-Morh road at Shahpur for Rs 2.34 lakh, but the payment for it was still pending.

“Despite the availability of budget with the department’s West Sub-Division, Doda, the complainant was not made payment against the bills,” the officials said.

“The complainant further alleged that Assistant Executive Engineer Sayed Ikhlaq Hussain Peer and Junior Engineer Raja Faisal were the in-charge of the works at the West Sub-Division, Doda, who demanded a bribe of Rs 45,000 from him for the release of payment against the bills,” they added.

Jammu, July 26
A self-styled district commander of the Hizbul-Mujahideen was shot dead in Kishtwar district today.

Acting on specific information about the presence of the top commander in the Thachna-Gokund forests in the Nawapachi belt in the district, troops of the 11 Rashtriya Rifles and the police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, SSP, Kishtwar, Bhim Sen Toti said.

As the troops closed in on the forest hideout, the militant fired at them resulting in a fierce gun battle early this morning, he said.

In the gunfight, the district commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Sajjad Ahmed Mir, alias Rizwan, was killed, the SSP said.

Rizwan was active in the south of the Pir Panchal ranges in the Doda-Kishtwar belt for the past 11 years.

Besides his involvement in the shooting of two jawans of the Territorial Army, Rizwan was also wanted for the killing of a Chanjar resident, Ghulam Mohammad, in 2009 and SPO Bashir Ahmed in 2010. — PTI

Jammu, July 26
In its fight against corruption, the BJP has constituted a committee to investigate the recent scams in the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, national secretary of the BJP Kirit Somaiya said the party had decided to probe into the encroachment upon land around the Srinagar airport.

He said, “Being the most sensitive airport of the country from the security point of view, the authorities cannot afford to be lax and the party has, therefore, taken a serious note of it”.

Launching a campaign against corruption from Jammu, Somaiya said to study and investigate major scams in the state, the BJP had constituted a special committee with Jitendra Singh as its state coordinator and Chander Prakash Ganga, Chander Mohan Sharma, Satish Sharma, Sat Sharma, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sunil Sharma, Balbir Ram, Bansi Lal Bharti and Rajinder Sharma as its members.

Somaiya said the state was the second-most corrupt state, which was ruled by the NC-Congress government. On the occasion, Jitendra Singh said of the 33 major scams identified by the party, 11 were being taken up for immediate follow up. These included the cases relating to the airport, land, Tawi, IWDP, Education Department, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, ETT, forest and recruitment scams.