|
|
|
|
|
Heavy rain damages foundation of Balole railway bridge
Centre’s peace initiatives will lead to positive outcome: Governor
Omar asks separatists to join process of finding solution
Governor hails smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2 Vaishno Devi pilgrims killed, 6 hurt in landslide
Rs 5 crore for drought-hit families of Poonch
President’s Police Medal for 22 personnel
Army personnel honoured
|
|
Heavy rain damages foundation of Balole railway bridge
Jammu, August 14 Though major repair work to save the bridge was carried out last year, its foundation has again been damaged. The bridge links Jammu with other railway stations of the country, except Udhampur, and the commuters faced a lot of difficulties last year when the bridge was closed after its foundation was washed away. “The engineering wing of the department has started the repair work, as the foundation of the bridge has been partially damaged. So far, it had no affect on the rail traffic,” RN Meena, Divisional Traffic Manager, Jammu, said. He said the bridge was safe and both tracks were being used. Meanwhile, a number of houses collapsed due to heavy rain in which many people received injuries. The water level in the seasonal rivulets and culverts also increased. The rain, which lasted for almost four hours, disrupted the normal life and hampered the road-opening work at the remote and hilly areas of the region. A number of link-roads were still closed due to the landslides. The residents of the remote villages in Kathua district were the worst hit, as the Bani-Basohli and Basohli-Katli roads were still not open for the vehicular movement. Officials in the Indian Meteorological Department, Srinagar, have predicted more showers in the coming hours. |
||
|
Centre’s peace initiatives will lead to positive outcome: Governor
Srinagar, August 14 He observed that in so far as issues relating to the internal dimension were concerned,the time had come for all those who held contrary convictions to step forward for talks and discussions to pave the way for a peaceful resolution. In his message on the eve of Independence Day, the Governor said “our liberal democratic framework provides ample space for the expression of contrary and divergent views without there being any need for resorting to hartals and agitations which cause severe losses on so many fronts”. He added that the growth and development of Jammu and Kashmir had been adversely affected by the difficult situations,which had been faced in the past years and to make up for the lost opportunities, the political leadership of the state, the public services and the people shall need to work hard. The Governor said the disturbances in the preceding three summers contributed to enormous human and economic losses and irreparable disruption of the educational schedules, adding the people were yearning for peace and the environment of normalcy which had prevailed this year had been a welcome development. He said in the past seven months, the Valley had attracted a large number of tourists from within the country and abroad and happily, this traffic was continuing. The Governor hailed the concerted efforts of the security forces to ensure a progressive decline in the number of militancy-related incidents in the past three years. “However, we cannot let down our guard as the adversary agencies operating from across the borders remain committed to perpetrating terrorist and subversive activities in the state,” he said. Saluting the brave officers and men of the security forces, who had laid down their lives in the continuing battle against terrorism, the Governor hoped that while carrying out their operations, the security forces shall ensure against any violation of the rights and liberties of the people. Referring to the recently concluded panchayat elections, the Governor observed the massive participation of the people in the poll had yet again demonstrated that the people of the state had a deep commitment to democracy. He added the projected elections to the urban local bodies, alongside the emergence and empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions, would lead to the establishment of grass-root democracy and boost the entire development process in the state. |
||
|
Omar asks separatists to join process of finding solution
Srinagar, August 14 “Talks between India and Pakistan have resumed and the internal dialogue process is also moving ahead,” he said. “Under the changed political scenario in the subcontinent, you have to render your role in a positive manner and be associated with the strategy of peaceful resolution of issues,” Omar, referring to the separatists, said in his Independence Day message here. He appealed to the separatists to be a part of the process of finding a solution to political issues of the state transcending the policy of confrontation and urged them to join in a “positive manner” the process for finding a lasting solution to the political issues in the state. Omar expressed confidence that the ties between India and Pakistan would improve further and all the issues confronting the two nations would be addressed in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere. “My government is endeavouring to help strengthen the Jammu and Kashmir-centric CBMs (confidence building measures) put in place by the two countries. We are vehemently advocating more CBMs and new initiatives for wider and closer cross-border relationship,” he said. The Chief Minister said his government was stressing on converting the present cross-LoC barter trade into a real business supported by banking and communication facilities. “I have stated as the Chief Minister and before taking over the chair of power that development issues cannot wait political resolution of political problems. We have to deal with the two aspects separately and concurrently,” he said. “I am not the Chief Minister who will forget the basic political issues while sitting on the chair. I am also not of that grain who will shield the culprits of human rights violations nor will I hide the facts. My position and actions itself vindicate my firm commitment for zero tolerance against human rights violations,” he said, assuring stern action against violators of human rights. Underlining the need for peace and tranquillity for development and political resolution of political issues, the Chief Minister said he had asked for a peaceful summer from the people to show results on both fronts. “You have contributed in this direction positively during this summer, and I conducted successful panchayat elections in the state to empower you,” he said. |
||
|
Governor hails smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra
Srinagar, August 14 A record number of 6.35 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in south Kashmir. The 45-day-long yatra concluded on the occasion of Shravan Purnima, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, yesterday. Before the commencement of the pilgrimage on June 29, the Governor had undertaken an aerial reconnaissance of both the yatra routes and visited all the camps on several occasions. As the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), the Governor had been monitoring all the important aspects of the yatra management on a daily basis and personally reviewing the arrangements for the pilgrimage by visiting the base camps, the camps en route and the holy cave.He had earlier issued strict instructions for launching a time-bound post-yatra cleanliness drive at all these places for ensuring absolute cleanliness of the yatra area.In this context,the Governor visited the Panjtarni and Sheshnag camps yesterday to review the results of the cleanliness drive launched in the yatra area. Expressing satisfaction over the implementation of the sanitation measures, the Governor asked the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the SASB,R.K Goyal, to ensure the disposal of all the garbage by August 20, so that the entire yatra area was free from all the solid wastes before the onset of the winter. Referring to various initiatives taken during the yatra this year, the CEO said the shrine board had accorded high priority to the implementation of sanitation and related measures for the preservation of the environment at the base camps and at all the locations en route the cave shrine. He said two Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs), based on eco-friendly technology, at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps, had yielded encouraging results. The toilet and bath facilities were augmented at Sheshnag, Panjtarni and holy cave camps with an additional 250 toilets. The CEO disclosed that like last year, all the registered pilgrims were provided an accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh free of cost this year also. He said the insurance cover was also provided, with the support of the state government, to all the registered labourers, deployed during the yatra, and to pony owners, in case their horse or pony was involved in an accidental death. The scheme was for the benefit of about 20,000 labourers and 7,000 pony owners, almost all of whom belonged to the economically weaker sections of the society. The CEO stated that helicopter services were made available on both the Baltan-Panjtarni and Pahalgam-Panjtarni routes at reasonables fares. Meanwhile, a day after the successful and peaceful conclusion of the Amarnath yatra, Governor NN Vohra today visited the Baltal camp to review the status of the ongoing special sanitation drive to clean up the entire yatra area. The Governor reviewed the progress of the extensive sanitation drive launched to clean up the camp site and the Baltal-Sangam track with a view to ensuring effective disposal of the garbage. He asked the CEO of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to monitor the progress of the sanitation drive so that the post-yatra task was completed by August 20. The Governor gave on-the-spot instructions for preparing detailed sanitation plans in respect of next year’s yatra for all the base camps, and en route transit camps , for bringing about further improvements in the yatra facilities.
|
||
|
2 Vaishno Devi pilgrims killed, 6 hurt in landslide
Udhampur, August 14 The deceased have been identified as Aditi Pathania of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, and Bhupinder Kumar Jha of Bihar. The injured included Shashi Kanta and Aditya Pathania, both residents of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh; Vivek Kumar and Jasbir Singh of Gaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; Rinku Singh and Amardeep Singh of Punjab. Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said since all the pilgrims on the yatra track were covered under the accidental insurance scheme as per the policy of the board, next of kin of the deceased were given Rs 3 lakh each as insurance claims. The incident took place at 10.30 am on the new yatra track near Himkoti. The rescue team of the board reached the spot immediately and evacuated the victims. The injured were given first aid at the board’s dispensary at Adhkuwari. Bhandari added that the two injured were discharged after the first aid and the remaining four were shifted to the government hospital,
Katra. |
||
|
Rs 5 crore for drought-hit families of Poonch
Jammu, August 14 On a visit to Poonch, the minister distributed cheques of Rs 82,440 among 36 affected families. Haveli Ejaz Ahmed Jan, MLA, Poonch; Ajeet Kumar Sahu, District Development Commissioner (DDC), and other senior officials of the Revenue and Relief Department were present on the occasion. Bhalla asked the DDC to prepare a list of the leftout drought-hit families of the district and submit the same after assessing the loss to their crops.
|
||
|
Man quits job to make people aware of ‘efficient governance’
Jammu, August 14 Puneet Sachdeva, who started his mission on August 9 from Chandigarh, is on the first phase of the expedition and plans to cover Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Addressing mediapersons after his arrival here today, Puneet said the motorcycle ride across India was to promote e-governance, environmental friendliness, freedom from drugs and protection of the country’s culture and heritage. “I am riding to cities to share best practices of the e-governance for municipal bodies and the traffic police on Facebook and to villages to spread the message of freedom from drugs, besides promoting India’s cultural heritage,” he added. From Jammu, Puneet will now travel to Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amballa and parts of Himachal Pradesh. |
||
|
President’s Police Medal for 22 personnel
Srinagar, August 14 According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home affairs, 20 other officers of the state police had been awarded the President’s Medal for meritorious services, a police spokesman said. Those awarded include Abdul Ghani Mir, DIG of Police, Central Kashmir Range, Srinagar; Kailash Chander, Superintendent of Police, Principal, STC Talwara; Saif Din Shah, SP/Commandant, Aux 1st Bn, Srinagar; Ranjit Kanwar Manhas, SP/ Commandant, IRP-19th Bn; Abdul Rashid Bhat, SP, AHJ, Airport, Srinagar; Ashok Kumar Sharma, SP, Principal, PTS, Kathua; Mohan Lal Kaith, Deputy Superintendent of Police, South Jammu, Gandhi Nagar; Gul Mir, DSP, HQ, Crime Branch, Kashmir and Bashir Ahmad Khan, DSP, Dar Budgam. — TNS |
||
|
Army personnel honoured
Udhampur, August 14 The Northern Command was awarded with the highest number of gallantry awards on the eve of the Independence Day. Major Abhishek Chakrabarty of 23 RR of the Army was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for meticulous planning and flawless execution of an operation in which three hardcore HM militants were eliminated without any casualty to the troops and collateral damage.
— TNS
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Srinagar, August 14
Asserting that his government would continue its efforts to facilitate consistent internal and external dialogue processes, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said endeavours made by his government during the last two-and-a-half years had yielded encouraging results.
Governor NN Vohra has hailed the smooth conduct of this year’s Amarnath yatra and complimented all the government agencies, the security forces and the people of the state.
