The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Adopt 73rd amendment to empower panchayats: Soz
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Hiranagar (Kathua), October 11
Notwithstanding opposition from the coalition partner NC, the Congress said today that the state government should incorporate the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution into the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act to empower the panchayats.

“The Congress is committed to empowering the panchayats and without extending the 73rd amendment to the state, it is not possible to make the panchayati raj institutions functional in the region,” Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Saifuddin Soz said while addressing a public meeting at the border town of Hiranagar. He added the Congress would force the government to extend the 73rd amendment to the state for fulfilling the dream of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. “Not only the 73rd amendment, the Congress is even committed to extending the 74th amendment to the state to empower the local bodies, as has been done in other parts of the country,” Soz said and made it clear that the party would not compromise on the issue.

Despite repeated demands by the Congress, the NC had been opposing the extension of 73rd and 74th amendments to the state, citing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

A number of sarpanches and panches demanded the adoption of the 73rd amendment, saying this was necessary to strengthen panchayati raj institutions in the state.

Adopting an aggressive posture, Soz said he had received a number of complaints regarding discrimination against Congress workers in different areas of the state. “Complaints about discrimination against Congress workers are genuine. I have asked the party workers to raise the issue effectively at the party forums and not publicly,” he said.

Soz told the gathering that their demands like resolving the problems of refugees, designating Hiranagar as a modern railway station and removing difficulties in the implementation of the Roshni Act would be addressed on the principle of justice and equity.

He said the recent visit of Rahul Gandhi, general secretary of the AICC, to the state had a good impact on the political situation here, particularly on the functioning of the Congress.

Later interacting with mediapersons, Soz refused to comment on the controversy over the alleged custodial death of an NC worker. Asked about the rotation of chief ministership, he said the Congress high command would take a decision in this regard.

The Congress is committed to empowering panchayats and without extending the 73rd amendment to the state, it is not possible to make the panchayati raj institutions functional in the region. — Saifuddin Soz, PCC chief

Centre urged for Rs 1,775 crore to settle refugees’ cases: Bhalla
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Hiranagar (Kathua), October 11
As the state government has submitted a proposal for a Rs 1,775 crore package to the Centre for the one-time settlement of the cases of refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971, a high-level team of the Union Home Ministry is visiting Jammu on October 18 and 19 to assess the ground situation.

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said this while addressing a public meeting at Hiranagar today.

Bhalla said the Central government had been seriously considering the proposal of the state government for the one-time settlement of the refugees’ cases. “It is due to the seriousness of the Union government that a high-level team of the Union Home Ministry is visiting Jammu on October 18 and 19,” he said. The Central and state governments were fully aware of the problems of the refugees and were making all out efforts to mitigate them in a phased manner, he added.

The minister said for improving the socio-economic condition of the displaced people, the Centre had approved a Rs 49 crore package for the distribution of land deficiency compensation. “Of this amount, Rs 27 crore has been distributed among the refugees as compensation at public darbars in their respective colonies,” he added.

Regarding the pending cases under the Roshni Act, Bhalla said his department had received 18,530 applications from Kathua district and of which 11,642 applications had been cleared. The remaining cases were pending for verification while 2,333 applications had been rejected. “At Hiranagar, 4,878 applications have been received and of these 4,352 have been cleared. The remaining 486 cases are pending for verification while 232 applications have been rejected,” he said.

The minister said the government had identified 39 unauthorised colonies in Kathua district and of these 23 had been regularised. He said the remaining colonies would be regularised within one month. He added the mutation of 15,872 kanals had already been done.

Regarding compensation to drought-hit families, Bhalla said the Central government had approved Rs 156 crore for distribution as relief to the drought-hit families of the state and instructions had been issued to the District Development Commissioners to disburse relief according to the norms.

Later, Soz and Bhalla visited the house of Lt Sushil Khajuria, who laid down his life while fighting militants in the Kupwara sector recently. Both leaders consoled the bereaved parents and paid tributes to the martyr.

State intends to buy back Uri-I power project from NHPC
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 11
The state government has said it intended to buy back the Uri-I power project from the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) for an estimated Rs 2,100 crore within two years.

“The government intends to buy back the Uri-I project, valued at Rs 2,100 crore, from the NHPC within two years, which is expected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore for the state,” Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Taj Mohiuddin said at a seminar here yesterday.

Mohiuddin said the government intended to draw on water usage charges, levied on power generating companies to strengthen the power infrastructure in the state.

He said the water resources belonged to the people of the state and they had the first right over these projects.

Giving the background of the hydel projects in the state and the interaction the government has had with the NHPC, Mohiuddin said the Salal hydel project was initially conceived by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1922 and in 1969 the Centre had offered to build it.

“In 1975, the state entered into an agreement with the Centre about the project execution, which was to be built by the state. About 50 per cent of power was to be given to the state free of cost and the remaining power was to be shared equally between the state and the Centre,” he said.

However, the agreement was not adhered to by the company, the minister added.

On other projects, Mohiuddin said the portion of the Ravi canal, upstream at Basantpur in Kathua district, would be completed in three years, which would facilitate irrigation of 1.33 lakh acres in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.

This, he said, would usher in green revolution in Jammu and Kashmir, making it a food-sufficient, from a food-deficient, state.

The minister also mentioned the non-implementation of the agreement on the Ranjit Sagar Dam by the Punjab government. He said Jammu and Kashmir had contributed 1.12 lakh acres to the dam, including 22 villages of Kathua district, but it was yet to get its share from it, including 120 MW of balance electric power.

He said the Presidential reference on the issue remained pending without a hearing for 30 years.

“Since my taking over as the minister in charge, I pursued the issue and now the state has framed its reply on it,” Mohiuddin added.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig suggested the strengthening of the Power Development Corporation in the state, by making it a listed company and issuing power generating licences through it.

Beig called for bringing in a legislation in the Assembly, seeking a share of the profit from the NHPC on account of the spaces it had been occupying without any lease deed or agreement with the state government.

He also urged the Centre to allow the state to take loans for power generation from foreign financial institutions in view of low interest rates.

Governor takes stock of restoration works in Leh
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 11
Governor NN Vohra took stock of the restoration works and the rehabilitation of people affected by the last year’s flash floods in Leh district of the Ladakh region today.

The Governor drove straight from the airport to the Solar Colony, where about 150 families affected by the flash floods had been rehabilitated. Rigzin Spalbar, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Tsering Sonam, councillor of the area, T Angchok, Deputy Commissioner, Leh, and other officials briefed him about the facilities provided to the people in the colony.

The Governor visited the tenements of two residents and interacted with a number of people in the colony and inquired about their problems.

He emphasised the need for creating well-planned and time-bound facilities, including the completion of circular and inner roads, a drainage system, toilet blocks, drinking water, power supply and healthcare services, at the colony. Sonam apprised the Governor about the demands of the colony residents. These demands included the opening of an LPG outlet, a shopping centre and a bus to the town for schoolchildren.

Earlier, the Governor, on his arrival at the Leh airport this morning, was given a traditional welcome. The First Lady, Usha Vohra, and RK Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Governor, accompanied him during the visit, an official spokesman said.

At a meeting at the Conference Hall, Leh, Rigzin briefed the Governor about the pace of the relief and rehabilitation works in the flood-affected villages. The Deputy Commissioner, Leh, made a power point presentation regarding the status of the restoration works, including the reclamation of agriculture land, restoration of roads, drinking water, irrigation and educational infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Governor visited the 14 Corps Headquarters here today. Lt-Gen R Dastane, GOC of 14 Corps, briefed him about the issues relating to security management at the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Ladakh region.

Governor apprised of potential for apparel exports

Srinagar, October 11
Darli Koshi, Director General, Apparel Export Promotion Council, met Governor NN Vohra here last evening.

During the meeting, Koshi briefed the Governor about the initiatives required to be taken for exploiting the high potential for the promotion of exports of apparels and other garments from the state to various parts of the country and the world.

He also referred to the proposal for establishing an Apparel Development Training Centre in Kashmir, which had received the required clearances.

The Governor promised Koshi that he would take up the issue with Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia, an official spokesman said. — TNS

Lok adalat settles 14 cases, awards Rs 15.65 lakh compensation
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 11
To reduce the backlog of cases, a lok adalat, under the chairmanship of Brij Mohan Gupta, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur, was organised today. Gupta is also the chairman of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA). It settled 14 cases and awarded a compensation of Rs 15.65 lakh.

Two Benches were constituted to deal with the cases referred to the lok adalat by different courts of Udhampur. The first Bench comprising BM Gupta, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur, and Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur, was constituted to deal with matrimonial and motor accident claim tribunal (MACT) cases. The second Bench comprising Surjeet Singh Bali, Sub-Judge, Udhampur, and Amit Sharma, Munsiff, Udhampur, dealt with civil and criminal cases.

A total of 14 MACT cases and 25 criminal and civil cases were taken up. While four MACT cases were settled and a compensation of Rs 15.65 lakh was granted, 10 civil and criminal cases were settled.

Speaking on the occasion, BM Gupta appreciated the pragmatic approach of the Bar and the litigant public in settling the cases. He said the next lok adalat would be held on November 9. Judicial officers of Udhampur, litigants and members of the District Bar Association attended the lok adalat.

No proof Yousuf was poisoned in custody: Forensic report

Srinagar, October 11
There is no evidence to suggest that National Conference (NC) worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf was poisoned in police custody, a forensic examination report has said.

The forensic report said no traces of any poison had been found in the blood and food samples taken from the body during the post-mortem, official sources said here today.

The report was handed over to Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Akbar by the State Forensic Department last evening, the sources said.

Yousuf died on September 30 and it is mandatory under Section 176 of the CrPC to hold a magisterial inquiry into any death in police custody.

While the final autopsy report of Yousuf was expected soon from the Government Medical College and Hospital, which was conducting other tests, including of viscera, the preliminary post-mortem report had suggested that he died due to a cardio-respiratory arrest and had no external injuries to suggest any torture as alleged by his family.

The board of doctors, in its preliminary post-mortem report, had certified that no external injuries were found on Yousuf’s body. The report had been submitted to the Magistrate, who would be giving his opinion after receiving the final post-mortem report.

The magisterial inquiry may shape the future course of action to decide whether the death was natural or whether it needed any further probe, the sources said.

All relevant documents, including the videography of the post-mortem, had been submitted to the Magistrate, including the report of ECG conducted on Yusuf at 8.23 pm on September 29. Omar had also ordered an inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court and said all facts will be placed before it.

The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police registered an FIR under Section 420 of the Ranbir Penal Code. — PTI

Punjab Roadways releases 3 impounded SRTC buses
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 11
The State Roads Transport Corporation (SRTC) has accused the Punjab Roadways of not respecting the tenets of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between them. Though the Punjab roadways today released the three buses, which were impounded at Pathankot yesterday, the SRTC lodged a protest with its counterpart in Punjab for allegedly harassing the passengers and the bus drivers, besides taking up the matter with the Transport Commissioner.

According to SRTC officials, a team of the Punjab Roadways was likely to visit them tomorrow to iron out differences, which had crept up lately.

“The Punjab Roadways buses are not following their schedule. As many as 15 buses have been plying on the Katra route illegally, causing a huge loss to the SRTC,” said Manager, Passenger Services, Abdul Hamid. He added earlier the department had impounded some Punjab buses for flouting norms.

Hamid said, “Our buses were impounded illegally by the Punjab Roadways at Pathankot yesterday. It caused inconvenience to the passengers, besides a loss of Rs 60,000 to the SRTC.”

“If the MoU is not acceptable to them, they should discuss all the issues on the table. Such a hostile behaviour shall not serve the purpose to any party,” he added.

Jammu varsity to organise science congress
Tribune News Service

Officials of the State Council of Science and Technology address mediapersons in Jammu on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Jammu, October 11
The University of Jammu will organise the 7th JK Science Congress (JKSC-11) in collaboration with the J&K State Council of Science and Technology, other universities of the state, the IIIM and the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences here from October 13 to 15.

The theme of the JKSC-11 is “Science and Technology: Inspiring Innovation”. The science congress will be organised under the chairmanship of Prof Varun Sahni, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu.

Prof Rajive Gupta, Dean, Faculty of Science, and Prof Kuldeep Sharma, Head, Department of Zoology, are organising secretary and co-organising secretary of the congress, respectively.

Minister for Science and Technology and Information Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi would be the chief guest of the inaugural session to be held at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium here at 10 am on October 13.

More than 750 participants from different universities, colleges and other academic and research institutions are expected to participate in the event. About 600 abstracts have been received for oral and poster presentations.

Maj Gen Pama takes over as Chief of Staff, Northern Command
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 11
Maj Gen Balbir Pama, an alumnus of the Officer Training Academy, Chennai, took over as the Chief of Staff of Northern Command here yesterday. According to a press note, Maj Gen Pama, on his arrival here, laid a wreath at the Dhruva Shaheed Samark and thereafter met all the officers posted at the Northern Command headquarters.

Maj Gen Pama was commissioned into the 2/3 Gorkha Rifles in September, 1974. After early years of regimental service and staff appointments, he graduated from the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington.

He has a vast experience in counter-insurgency operations and high-altitude warfare. He commanded 3/3 Gorkha Rifles, an Infantry Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir and an Infantry Division in Punjab.

He had been an instructor at Infantry School at Mhow and a United Nations Observer.

Before taking over as the Chief of Staff of Northern Command, Maj Gen Pama was the Additional Director General of Perspective Planning at the Army Headquarters. The officer stood approved for the rank of Lieutenant General, which he would assume shortly, said the press note.

Missing teenage boys traced to Uttar Pradesh
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 11
Two teenage brothers and a domestic help, who went missing from their home in the Nanak Nagar area here on October 9, have been traced to Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, bordering Nepal.

The police said today that the two missing boys, Kartik (11) and Dhruv (10), sons of Jatinder Sharma, are with the Rampur police.

“A special team from Jammu has been dispatched to Rampur to bring them back. The two brothers and their domestic help will be back soon,” said a senior police officer.

The parents of the missing children said they (the boys) called them up last night from Rampur and told them that they were alright.

According to the police, the trio boarded a train to Uttar Pradesh and were staying in a hotel at Rampur. But after they exhausted the money they wanted their parents to take them back.

Meanwhile, the Sharmas waited anxiously at their home today for their sons to return.

Darbar move offices to close in Srinagar on October 28
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 11
The state government offices will close here on October 28 and reopen in Jammu on November 7 for the next six months as part of the Darbar move. A government order said here yesterday that the offices observing a five-day week would close in Srinagar on October 28 after the office hours, while the offices observing a six-day week would close on October 29 after the office hours. These would reopen in Jammu on November 7, and in case November 7 was a holiday, the date of the opening of offices would be the next working day, it said.

The move offices include the Civil Secretariat housing the offices of the Chief Minister, ministers and Commissioner-cum-Secretaries, Raj Bhawan housing the Governor’s office, the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the office of DGP.

According to an official spokesman, the Darbar move order stated that the offices moving in camp would carry only 33 per cent of the strength of the staff in a particular office or 10 officials, whichever was less.

All departments had been asked to send their advance parties on October 24 consisting of one gazetted officer and four to five non-gazetted employees, who would receive the records in Jammu. The departments would ensure that the boxes were properly locked and their keys reached the advance parties in Srinagar well in time. The SP, Security, Civil Secretariat, would furnish a list of defaulting departments in this regard to the General Administration Department.

The State Road Transport Corporation had been asked to make available a sufficient number of buses in good condition for the transportation of Jammu-based employees on October 29 and 30 and Kashmir-based employees on November 5 and 6. It would also make available trucks for shifting the records.

MAM College remembers Lt Sushil Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Students of MAM College pay tributes to Lt Sushil Khajuria in Jammu on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Jammu, October 11
Government MAM College today announced to hold an Inter College Debate Competition in the memory of martyr Lt Sushil Khajuria on September 28 every year.

Lt Khajuria, who sacrificed his life while fighting militants in the Kupwara sector on September 28, was a student of the college from 2003-06.

At a function organised in the memory of Lt Khajuria, a number of NCC cadets, students and teachers paid tributes to the martyr.

The parents of Lt Khajuria were also present at the function.

Ajeet Angral, principal of the college, said, “Students like Lt Khajuria will be remembered as heroes in the history of colleges. It is a matter of pride for all of us that he is an alumnus of our college.”

Govt flayed over delay in artificial lake project

Jammu, October 11
The All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA) today expressed serious concern over the delay in the work on the artificial lake project in the Tawi. The work on the project was suspended four months ago due to the monsoons, but it had not been restarted, the association alleged.

At a meeting today, Inderjeet Khajuria, president of the association, demanded that the suspended work be restarted immediately and completed within stipulated time.

The AJHLA also expressed concern over waste and sewage being continuously dumped into the Tawi. The other office-bearers of the association, who attended the meeting, were Ajay Gupta, senior vice-president, BS Manhas, vice-president, Pawan Gupta, general secretary, Baldev, treasurer, Anil Suri and Vikramjeet Singh, joint secretaries. — TNS

CRPF sponsors Doda cricket team
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, October 11
The Young Star Cricket Club (YSCC), Doda, which has taken upon itself the task of promoting cricket in the Chenab valley region, has got 79 Bn CRPF as the sponsor at the local level.

Commanding Officer (CO), 76 Bn CRPF, RK Thakur and SSP, Doda, Varinder Sharma today formally flagged off the YSCC team from the SSP, Doda, office to participate in the T-20 cricket tournament being held in Kishtwar from tomorrow.

The CRPF unit at Doda provided cricket kits to all the YSCC team. The club led by its patron Manzoor Batt had approached the CRPF authorities for sponsorship.

Speaking on the occasion, the SSP lauded the efforts of 76 Bn CRPF for holding and sponsoring sports activities, which would benefit the youth of the area. Thakur also wished the team members success in the tournament.

Assistant Commandant, 76 Bn CRPF, K Venkateshan, District Immunisation Officer Dr Tariq Masood, chairman of the YSCC Naseer Khora, and president of the Doda Welfare Society Mohammad Iqbal Balwan were present on the occasion.

Officials review conservation of Dal, Nigeen lakes
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 11
Union Environment and Forests Secretary T Chatterjee along with a team of officials and scientists of the ministry took an extensive review of the conservation and management of the Dal and Nigeen lakes here today.

The secretary was informed that substantial progress had been achieved on the activities like catchment area development, sewage and sewerage treatment works, hydraulic works, restoration and development works etc.

PDP protests power tariff hike

Jammu, October 11
The PDP held a protest against the steep hike in power tariffs at Parade Chowk here today. Activists of the PDP shouted slogans against the state government for having an “indifferent attitude” towards the common man and increasing the power tariffs by 17 per cent.

PDP leader Vikram Singh said, “The recent hike in power tariffs is an anti-people decision, which will directly affect the budget of the common man in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Those present during the protest included Girish Sharma, Pankaj Gupta, Sachin Sharma, Sonu Saini, Puneet Jamwal, Dimple Kumar, Chaman Angral, Rajat Gupta, Sanjeev Khajuria, Pervesh Bali and Rohit Badyal. — TNS