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Four-laning of Lakhanpur-Jammu highway nears completion
Gangster nabbed in Jammu after 27 years
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Revoke orders restricting nomads, say Gujjars
Shab-e-Qadr celebrated in state with fervour
Chamber of Commerce hails ending of Anna’s fast
RITES to make plan to address transport problem: Omar
Army Postal Awards
Hotel association seeks border tourism circuit
Opposition parties call it eyewash
Malik reviews arrangements for Eid in Mahore
Rain causes further damage
CM cancels Iftaar party
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Keeping promise, Omar starts empowering panchayats
Srinagar, August 28 The order would be effective from September 1. “We had promised the transfer of powers to sarpanches and panches and we have fulfilled it,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said at a press conference here today. He said in the first instalment,numerous powers in various sectors had been entrusted to the panchayats. “Many apprehensions had been created by certain elements in the minds of sarpanches and panches with regard to the transfer of powers,” he said, and added that the order had removed all such speculations. The Chief Minister said the transfer of more powers to the panchayats would be deliberated by the Cabinet and subsequently by the legislature to make these institutions more effective and powerful. Omar said the Planning and Rural Development Departments were working jointly for the transfer of financial powers to the panchayats. The Chief Minister, while announcing the powers and functions for the panchayats, said they were empowered to prepare plans for the development of the halqa, undertake measures for the implementation of the development plan, deal with the problems of soil conservation, social forestry, rural industrialisation, agriculture, sheep and animal husbandry, health and implement other welfare programmes. The panchayats were also empowered with regard to regulations of buildings, shops, entertainment houses, checking of offensive or dangerous trades, construction and maintenance of slaughter houses, the regulation of the sale and preservation of meat and the processing of skins and hides, the regulation of the sale and preservation of fish, vegetables and other perishable food items and the regulation of fairs and festivals. The panchayats would also exercise the powers to prepare and implement special development plans for alleviating poverty and generating employment through the Integrated Rural Development Programme, the National Rural Employment Programme, the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme and the housing of the Scheduled Castes and the Backward Classes. In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said panchayat members would be given training through government agencies and NGOs to enhance their capacity and enable them to exercise their powers purposefully and successfully. “I have interected with the panchayat members in 40 Assembly constituencies and found them capable of shouldering responsibilities being given to them,” he said.
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Four-laning of Lakhanpur-Jammu highway nears completion
Lakhanpur/Jammu, August 28 The Central government’s project to reduce traffic snarls on the Lakhanpur-Kathua-Samba-Jammu National Highway, which was started in 2005 by the National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI), has entered the final stage and traffic signals are being installed on the highway. “The
four-laning of the highway is almost complete. Even bridges have been repaired. A large number of vehicles ply on this route, so we don’t want to leave any work incomplete. The entire work will be completed within a month or two,” said MK Jain, in-charge,
NHAI, Jammu and Kashmir. He added that all the new and old bridges, except one or two, had been opened for commuters. Jain added that the road was carpeted right from the main gateway of the state at Lakhanpur to Jammu and dividers were also installed. “We have entered the final stage under which we are installing the traffic signals,” added Jain. No obstructions were found on the highway. However, near the railway overbridge at Samba, the road had not been widened. Replying to a question about the delay in the progress of work on this particular stretch, a senior officer of the NHAI said, “We have taken up the matter with the Railway authorities and are waiting for the clearance. As we get the sanction, the work would be started.” The highway is the only trade link with the rest of the country. Pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and the Shri Amarnath cave shrine also enter the state via the highway. The NHAI officers said a huge amount was spent and now they would focus on the
four-laning of the 312-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
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Gangster nabbed in Jammu after 27 years
Jammu, August 28 In a special drive,the Pucca Danga police arrested the gangster,Mohinder Singh of Makhanpur Gujran in Miran Sahib, absconding since 1984 after committing a crime near Shankuntla
Theatre here. The police said the absconder was arrested from Miran Sahib by a team of the Pucca Danga police on a warrant issued under Section 512 of the CrPC by the City Court, Jammu, on January
19, 1988. On June 23, 1984, two rival gangs of Balraj Singh Bhau of Panjtirthi and Ashok Kumar
alias Binny of Peermitha had an exchange of fire near Shakuntla Theatre, in which the brother of Bhau, namely, Ravinder Singh alias
Guddu, was injured. Bhau had gone near Shakuntla Theatre along with his brother and Mohinder Singh, Choudhary Pehalwan and others when the rival group headed by Ashok Kumar, alias Binny, along with his associates, Mohammad Riaz of Jullaka Mohalla, Girdhari Lal of RS Pura and others, came there and there was a shootout between the two groups. Mohinder Singh was produced in the City Court, Jammu, and remanded in judicial custody. Meanwhile, the arrest of the absconder after 27 years has again exposed the functioning of the police in the state. Mohinder had been working as a property dealer in RS Pura for the past several years right under the nose of
the police. The SSP,Jammu, AK Jain, said there was no laxity on the part of the police and it had executed the court order in the right earnest. “Courts issue such arrest warrants and the police has to execute them. In this case also, we performed our duty,” said the SSP, adding that there was no need for ordering an internal probe into the delay in arresting the absconder. |
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Revoke orders restricting nomads, say Gujjars
Jammu, August 28 In a letter addressed to the Union Minister, the Gujjar community demanded free movement of the nomadic communities to such areas. Giving the details, Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Foundation, said, “We have written to the Union Ministry of Defence to restore all the pastures and dhoks for the tribes located on the LoC, the Indo-Pak border and the Ladakh areas. The letter said in view of the firing on the Indo-Pak border and militancy, the security forces in the state had restricted the entry of the Gujjars and the Bakerwals to certain dhoks and pastures located near the border in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipur, Kargil and Leh. All such orders needed immediate revocation as the Gujjars and the Bakerwals suffered a great loss to their lifestyle, economy and tribal culture, the letter said. It further said since November 25, 2003, when the ceasefire came into force between India and Pakistan, tension had been reduced and now this was the right time to allow the tribals to move freely in the traditional areas located in Ladakh and on the international border. “We have also sent a list of dhoks, pastures and the areas restricted for nomads to the Defence Minister with a copy to the Northern Command and a plea seeking intervention of the Union Minister on the issue of the migratory communities of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Dr
Rahi. |
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Shab-e-Qadr celebrated in state with fervour
Srinagar, August 28 Devotees visited the Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta,Hazratbal and other major shrines and mosques here and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley in large numbers. The biggest congregation was held at the Jamia Masjid, where Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led the special prayers and dwelt upon the religious significance of the auspicious occasion. Special prayers were also offered at all the mosques in Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla,Kupwara, Bandipore, Anantnag,
Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. Meanwhile,nearly 300 miscreants threw stones at Nowhatta police station here,leading to clashes with the police. A police spokesman said the miscreants came to Nowhatta on motorcycles from different parts of the city and threw stones at the police station.They also hurled two petrol bombs, injuring six police men. The police arrested 73 miscreants and seized 10 motorcycles.
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Army constructs community hall at Panchari village
Udhampur, August 28 As part of Operation Sadbhavna, the Dhruva MT Battalion of the Army constructed the community hall at the remote village, about 40 km from the district headquarters. The villagers had approached the Army authorities at the Udhampur sub area for the purpose as there was no such facility to organise functions in their village. As per a spokesperson, the Army undertook the construction and dedicated the building to the villagers. Thanking the Army for the noble gesture, the MLA said this fulfilled a long- pending demand of the villagers. He also exhorted all the villagers to follow the path of peace and thwart the designs of anti-national elements in this remote area. The Commanding officer, Dhruva MT Battalion, Col Munish Gupta, said the Army attached great importance to the development of the remote areas along with the district administration. He reiterated to provide all the possible help to reach out to the people in the remote areas. He also thanked the sarpanch of the village, Rampal, for making the land available for the project. |
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Chamber of Commerce hails ending of Anna’s fast
Jammu, August 28 According to a handout issued here today, a meeting of the CCI was held under the chairmanship of YV Sharma, president of the CCI, Jammu. The meeting observed that the mess and confusion created by the aggressive stances of both the sides created a situation, which was dangerous for the future and security of the nation. “We are the biggest democracy in the world based on the principles of secularism, socialism and equitable distribution of national wealth. But despite the rising economic growth, corruption, unemployment and the rising cost of living have put a question mark on the governance of the country,” the meeting observed. The meeting further pointed out that the suppressed anger of the majority of the masses found a strong rallying point behind Anna Hazare’s fast. “It is heartening to note that the government, which dithered in the beginning ultimately perceived the sense of the country and adopted a conciliatory approach to placate Anna Hazare and agreed to most of his demands for making a strong Jan Lokpal Bill,” the meeting remarked. Speakers at the meeting further said the government had learnt a lesson from whatever had happened during the last 15 days. “It is the duty of the government to prove that the democratic institutions in the country are efficient enough to solve all the problems,” the CCI observed and praised both the government and Team Anna for saving the country from anarchy. |
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RITES to make plan to address transport problem: Omar
Srinagar, August 28 “RITES has been entrusted the task of formulating a holistic and integrated survey report for mass transport infrastructure, including roads, flyovers, separate tracks for light and heavy vehicles, bicycle tracks and feasibility of metro in the two cities,” Omar said, after inaugurating a flyover at Hyderpora. The government was planning to bring Srinagar and Jammu at par with the other metros in the country in regard to transportation and road network. Massive road construction programmes had been launched across the state with a special focus on development and upgrading of roads in Srinagar, Jammu and other towns, he said.
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Army Postal Awards
Udhampur, August 28 Officiating PRO (Defence), Jammu, SN Acharya said the Northern Command got the trophy for the fourth consecutive year. The Army Postal Awards were instituted to commend excellence in service, team-building and spreading financial awareness among the troops. The Army Postal Service has been in the service of the armed forces for more than 150 years. It provides a vital communication link between the jawans and their families. In addition to the Postal Life Insurance awards, the best performing postal units and field post offices (FPOs) were also given the Brig DS Virk and Brig OP Raghava trophies. The Savings Bank trophies were also given to the FPOs and postal units functioning in CI operations and the field and peace areas. The Army Postal Service provided the Postal Life Insurance cover to around 1.25 lakh soldiers during 2010-11 and had an insurance base of more than 10.6
lakh. |
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Hotel association seeks border tourism circuit
Jammu, August 28 The Director had sought suggestions about promoting tourism in the region. The AJHLA has also demanded the setting up of a separate tourism development agency under the Tourism Directorate, Jammu, for border tourism development. The association demanded that border tourism at Suchetgarh be developed on the pattern of the Wagah-Attari border in Amritsar with the ceremonial unfurling of the National Flag in the evening and a parade by the BSF daily. The association also demanded a link road from Suchetgarh to the Chamliyal shrine, planting of decorative shady trees and proper facilities for tourists, like resting places, view points and drinking water. |
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Opposition parties call it eyewash
Jammu, August 28 The parties also decided to launch an aggressive movement next month for the empowerment of the panchayats. “There is nothing substantial in the Chief Minister’s announcement. Mere statements are not going to solve the real issue”, said PDP spokesman Naim Akthar. He said his party was demanding real powers to make the Panchayati Raj institutions functional in the state. State BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas said the empowerment of the panchayats was not possible without extending the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution to the J&K Panchayati Raj Act.He said his party had already launched an agitation in this regard.He said the announcement of the Chief Minister was nothing but a ploy to hoodwink the people. “Ruling elites in Jammu and Kashmir have never allowed the decentralisation of powers”, he observed. Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh said the party would launch an aggressive campaign for the empowerment of the panchayats in the coming days. The party had already announced to launch an agitation to force the coalition regime to delegate sufficient powers to make the Panchayati Raj institutions functional. The party,at its panchayat convention, which was held last month at Srinagar, had indicated to take up the empowerment issue aggressively. The PDP had already sent a delegation of its three legislators to different parts of the country to conduct a study on the functioning of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in other parts. The delegation,which compromised Choudhary Zulfikar, Nizamud Din Bhat and Basharat Bukhari, visited Karnatka and Himachal Pradesh to study the functioning of panchayats in the states. The Congress, a partner in the coalition regime, headed by the National Conference, has already asked the government to incorporate the 73rd Amendment. |
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Malik reviews arrangements for Eid in Mahore
Udhampur, August 28 Addressing a meeting of government officers concerned at Mahore, the minister asked the R&B Department to repair all the roads leading to the shrines where large congregations would be held on the auspicious occasion. He also directed the officers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of water and power to the people. Malik asked the officers to make rations, including rice, sugar, atta, kerosene oil, domestic cooking gas and other commodities of daily use, available at all the sales outlets for the convenience of consumers. The minister instructed the SDM,Mahore, to monitor the regular supply of essential commodities and keep a check over the rates of the same during the festival. Apprising the minister about the arrangements, the SDM, Sher Singh, said foolproof security arrangements had already been made especially at the Eidgah and all other mosques where a large number of people would converge to offer prayers.— TNS
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Rain causes further damage
Jammu, August 28 Recent rain and flash floods in the area have caused huge losses to the public. The rain, which lashed the area late last night caused further damage to a number of shops, the SDPO office and other government offices in the town. The damage to the property aggravated the situation and forced the people to come out on the roads. Later, senior officers of the district administration comprising Deputy Commissioner AK Sahu and SSP Ashkoor Ahmed Wani visited the area and assured the protesters of immediate solution to the problem. Meanwhile, the district administration declared nearly 50 houses unsafe and told the inhabitants to evacuate, as a precautionary measure. |
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Ban entry of sansthan head in state: Sikh organisations
Jammu, August 28 Addressing a joint press conference with representatives of various organisations, Avtar Singh Khalsa, president, United Secular Forum, Jammu, today averred that the entry of Ashutosh Maharaj in the state would spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the region. He said activities of the sansthan had already been banned by Akal Takht all over the country for hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. Representatives of the Bhai Khanahiya Ji Nishkam Seva Society, the Shiromani Youth Akalidal, the All-India Sikh Students Federation,the Sikh Naujawan Sabha, the Sikh-Welfare Society and the Nirbhow Nirver Organisation were also present at the press conference. Khalsa made an appeal to the state government that the entry be banned so that the peaceful atmosphere of the state was not disturbed. Mohinder Singh, Nabir Singh, Paramjit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Gajan Singh, Harjeet Singh, Ramnik Singh, Raja Singh Sarpanch and Rajinder Singh were among the speakers. |
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CM cancels Iftaar party
Jammu, August 28 The Iftaar party was to be held this evening. An official spokesperson said, the MeT Department had forecast heavy rain in the afternoon and thundershowers in the evening. Since the banquet hall at the CM’s residence was not spacious to accommodate between 600 and 700 persons, the Chief Minister cancelled the party. |
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Lakhanpur/Jammu, August 28
