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Shutdown in Kashmir over power
crisis
A winter of discontent
Jammu-Srinagar highway closed after heavy snow
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State to face
Rs 2,000 crore loss
‘NHPC fulfils its power purchase obligations’
World’s largest solar telescope to be set up in Ladakh
Local Congress leaders miffed over being sidelined by NC
JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz pays homage to MLC Yashpal Khajuria in Jammu on Friday. A Tribune photograph
Jammu Airport runway to be extended by year-end
Rain disrupts chopper service to Vaishno Devi
Bandh call evokes mixed
response in Rajouri
SC transfers gurdwara case to high court’s Jammu Bench
Man charred to death
Vakil, Bhat call on Governor
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BATTLE FOR ‘POWER’ RAGES IN VALLEY
Srinagar, January 6 Most of the shops and business establishments in the city remained closed and the movement of public transport remained thin as the KEA had called for “Kashmir Bandh” against the “acute” power crisis in the Valley this winter. However, private vehicles were seen plying on the city roads. The maximum impact of the shutdown call was felt at Lal Chowk, the city centre, and the adjoining areas like Abi Guzar, Jehangir Chowk and Maisuma. Even though the KEA strike call evoked a partial response from other parts of the Valley, normal life was thrown out of gear as the city centre remained completely closed. The KEA had called for a shutdown earlier this week while contesting the government’s claim that it was supplying 950 MWs of power to the Valley this winter. The alliance had claimed that the Valley was only receiving 350 MWs due to transmission and distribution (T&D) and losses. The KEA had also demanded a rollback of hike in power tariff last year and review of the power curtailment schedule that was recently announced by the Power Development Department (PDD). Incidentally, the government has drawn flak from various quarters, including the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), moderate Hurriyat faction and the civil society over the erratic power supply this winter. People have also been staging street protests against the power crisis and a youth lost his life during protests against the power shortage at Boniyar Uri in Baramulla district earlier this week. |
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A winter of discontent
Srinagar, January 6 Harsh winter months, even otherwise, have been relatively calm in the state. But this time the protests over ‘power’ are already a fortnight old and the loss of a life in Uri, when the CISF opened fire at demonstrators, has further heightened tension. The protests began after the Power Development Department (PDD) issued a power curtailment schedule on December 25. The schedule stated that the non-metered and metered areas of the Valley would face 70 and 17 hours of weekly power cuts respectively. The PDD had pleaded its inability to meet the increase in power demand during winter months due to the steep reduction in water levels of rivers on account of the dry spell. It also blamed ‘hooking of power’ and tampering of meters for the power cuts. The government claimed it was supplying a “record” 950 MW of power this winter in the valley, although the peak hour demand stood at 1600 MW in the state. However, after concerns expressed by almost all quarters including the PDP, the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the civil society, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked the PDD to review the schedule. While the PDD agreed to review the schedule, the government also made operational the gas turbines at Pampore in Pulwama district, which increased the power supply to 1050 MW. Omar has also promised to increase the supply to 1100 MW but that too has not been able to appease the people at large. The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an umbrella organisation of various traders’ bodies, however, claims that the Valley is receiving only 350 MWs, the rest pilfered or lost. It has been claiming that the state has a potential of generating 25,000 MW, if only water resources are properly utilised. The National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) has been painted as the villain and there is a growing clamour for “taking back” the power projects operated by the NHPC. The Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies, a coalition of civil society groups, has accused the state government of adopting delaying tactics for the return of the projects. It has also warned of dire consequences if the government fails to take back the projects by January 31. |
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Jammu-Srinagar highway closed after heavy snow
Udhampur, January 6 Due to the slippery road conditions and snowfall between Patnitop and the Jawahar tunnel area, the highway, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and the rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic early this morning, the police said. Meanwhile, popular hill resort Patnitop in Udhampur district on the highway had a heavy rush of tourists after it received about one and a half feet of snow since last evening. Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir Ahmed Bhat said: “Around 250 vehicles are still stranded at different places between Batote and Banihal areas.” The Border Roads Organisation has pressed snow-clearing machines into service at Patnitop but the road has become slippery due to the snowfall. |
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State to face
Rs 2,000 crore loss
Jammu, January 6 A top PDD official said, “The power purchase bill is expected to touch Rs 3,000 crore by the end of the current financial year. As it is virtually impossible for the department to meet the revised target, the losses on account of electricity are expected to touch Rs 1,800 crore to Rs 2,000 crore.” The official also cited Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reported statement at Katra on December 10 last year that Jammu and Kashmir had to bear over Rs 2,000 crore annual loss in the power sector.” He, however, said the department was expected to realise revenue of Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,400 crore by the end of the current financial year if the Central and state government departments cleared their power bills before the end of the fiscal year. “All major central as well as state government departments had always remained key defaulters in clearing their power bills. Some Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) too have been figured in the list of defaulters and the state government, especially Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the charge of PDD, should take corrective and concrete measures in achieving the revenue collection target,” the official said. Sources said the ruling dispensation wanted to bring down power purchase bill below Rs 2,500 crore during this fiscal year.
‘NHPC fulfils its power purchase obligations’
Udhampur, January 6 Besides the mandatory 12 per cent free power, the NHPC is fulfilling all terms of the power purchase agreements with the Power Development Department (PDD), claimed its officials. In terms of allocation under the power purchase agreement, the NHPC is selling 592 MW to the state. Of this, 515 MW is being sold from its four operative power stations in Jammu and Kashmir, namely Dulhasti (90 MW), Sewa-II (25 MW), Uri-I (163 MW) and Salal (237 MW). The remaining power is sourced from its other power stations outside the state. Officials said of the total installed capacity of all 14 NHPC-run power stations, including two joint ventures, in the country was 5,295 MW and Jammu and Kashmir accounted for 1,680 MW. The company generated bills of Rs 407 crore in 2010-11, Rs 386 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 274 crore in 2008-09 for the power purchased by the state. The total power generation from its four stations in the state in 2010-11 was 8,566 million units against 8,103 million units in 2009-10. Interestingly, none from the government has publicly blamed the NHPC for dithering on its contractual obligations while the PDD itself has attributed the shortfall in power supply to the drastic seasonal reduction in the water level in the snow-fed rivers. “In the absence of factual information, public is being made to believe as if the NHPC is responsible for power shortage. In fact, we have no direct dealing with the people on the supply front. Hence, targeting the NHPC for the failure on the part of the government to fulfil consumption demand to the people is totally misplaced,” said a senior NHPC official. |
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World’s largest solar telescope to be set up in Ladakh
Jammu, January 6 This was stated by Chief Secretary Madhav Lal while chairing a meeting here today. The meeting was convened to discuss the modalities for setting up the solar telescope and chalk out strategies to ensure that the construction as well as operational phases of the project could be undertaken with minimal disturbance to the local flora and fauna. Prof Tushar P Prabhu from the Department of Science and technology at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics said the site was selected after carefully studying various scientific and environmental aspects. It emerged from the studies that the Pangong Lake site at Merak was promising and offered longer sunshine hours. He said the site selected for setting up of the world’s largest solar telescope fitted with a 2m reflector would allow scientists to carry out cutting-edge research to understand the fundamental processes taking place on the sun. The solar telescope will help the scientific community to study the long term changes in the earth’s climate and environment and also provide useful data to carry out research, in order to minimise or remove disruptions to communications network and satellites due to periodic solar winds. |
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Celebrations to mark three years of coalition
Jammu, January 6 Sources in the Congress said resentment was brewing among party leaders over the way they were treated during celebrations for the three-year completion of the coalition regime. “Omar Abdullah is heading the government due to the support of the Congress but local party leaders were not invited to the function which was held to mark completion of the three years of the coalition regime,” a senior Congress leader told The Tribune on condition of anonymity. He said invitations to some Congress legislators were dispatched at the eleventh hour. “We have decided to approach the party high command in this regard because instead of taking the local unit into confidence, the ruling National Conference has established a direct link with the party leadership at Delhi to undermine the local unit,” he said. Veteran Congress and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said he was not invited to the function despite the fact that he was one of the stalwarts of Congress party in the state. “I am not in a position to say why I was not invited to the function which was held to celebrate the completion of the three years of the National Conference-Congress regime in the state,” he said, adding that the Congress was an equal partner in the coalition. Sources in the Congress said party leaders had registered their strong protest before the JKPCC chief. During their meeting with Soz at Gandhi Nagar this afternoon, Congress workers regretted that the ruling National Conference had been taking local Congress leaders for granted. They urged Soz to convey their feelings to the party high command and warned that the party would be wiped out if this attitude of the coalition partner would continue in future also. Meanwhile, Congress leaders today paid rich tributes to former minister and MLC Yashpal Khajuria at a function. The function was organised by the JKPCC and was presided over by Soz. Soz described Khajuria as a dedicated and sincere solider of the party who devoted his entire life to the service of people and the Congress. He was known for his honesty, integrity, commitment and dedication towards the party and the service of people, especially the downtrodden and the poor. |
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Jammu Airport runway to be extended by year-end
Jammu, January 6 With the Tawi flowing on one side of the airport and a seasonal rivulet flowing alongside a densely populated area on the other end, the Jammu Airport is almost a table top airport, considered tricky for landings and take offs. Director, Airport Jammu, M Suresh while talking to The Tribune said, “It was a 10 year old project and following clearances from various quarters we have now been able to implement the first phase. The new runway with a length of 8,000 feet will be ready by December this year. We have a plan to expand it up to 13,000 feet, but that will take some time.” The airport has only three bays. The paucity of bays causes problems for the passengers and the airport authority, he added. With the existing length of the runway being just 6,700 feet, even domestic flights are not able to carry their full capacity, allowing only 150 to 180 passengers on board while bigger aircrafts are not able to land at the airport. However, no international flights operate from the airport. “There will be an addition of four bays, creating parking space for more planes. These bays will be completed by the end of May this year,” said Suresh. He added that additional bays would come up at an estimated cost of about Rs 15 crore. In the final phase the terminal building has to be improved, rather it would be shifted to the Tawi side from its existing place,
he added. The Director of the airport said, “Presently, the terminal has a capacity of accommodating 320 passengers. But we will increase its capacity to
720 passengers.” The project would be completed next year at an estimated cost of around Rs 90 crore, which had already been sanctioned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), said the Director The AAI has a bigger project at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore wherein 136 acres from the Belicharana area would be acquired for further expansion and modernisation of the Jammu Airport, he said. For the final phase of expansion of the airport, the government needs 144 kanals, presently with the Army, besides diverting three irrigation canals and a road, which bisects the existing Army cantonment. |
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Rain disrupts chopper service to Vaishno Devi
Katra, January 6 An official of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said the cave shrine of the Mata Vaishno Devi since Friday morning was witnessing uninterrupted rain, worsening the cold wave conditions. However, the yatra was going on smoothly with over 15,000 pilgrims paying obeisance at the shrine till 6 pm. The helicopter service for the pilgrims had been suspended in view of the continuous snowfall in the Trikuta hills, where the shrine was situated. At the base camp in Katra many pilgrims had preferred to stay in various hotels and guest-houses so that their children and aged family members did not face inconvenience due to cold weather. |
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Communal tension
Jammu, January 6 The administration had made elaborate arrangements, including additional deployment of the police and paramilitary personnel to prevent any untoward incident. The shutdown call, however, evoked a mixed response in the town, with all shops and business establishments, belonging to the Hindu community remaining closed. Various Hindu organisations had threatened to follow the suit by constructing a temple inside the Government Higher Secondary School (Boys), Gujjar Market, where the mosque stood. “The situation is under control and there was no clash or any untoward incident in the town. Members of the Hindu community, however, kept their shops and business establishments closed today,” SSP, Rajouri, Vijay Singh Sambyal told The Tribune over the phone. Hundreds of activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Beopar Mandal, Rajouri, the Bajrang Dal and the Sanatan Dharam Sabha Committee organised a protest and raised anti-administration slogans. They alleged that the Hindu minority community in Rajouri was being harassed by the civil administration and demanded an FIR be registered against those, who broke open the school gate. They also served an ultimatum of one week to the government for conceding their demands, failing which they would call for an indefinite shutdown in the town. Protesters also demanded that the keys of the school be returned to the head of the institution, which were handed over to a Muslim cleric on the orders of the district magistrate. |
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SC transfers gurdwara case to high court’s Jammu Bench
New Delhi, January 6 A Bench comprising Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale directed the Registrar General of the high court to transfer all records pertaining to the case to the Jammu Bench within a week. The apex court also granted liberty to the Jammu DGPC to seek vacation or modification of the order passed by a Division Bench of the HC at Srinagar on December 28, 2011, staying an order of the single Judge of the HC at Jammu. The single Judge had quashed a communication removing the DGPC, but this was stayed by the Division Bench at Srinagar. In the appeal filed in the Supreme Court through advocate DK Garg, the removed DGPC, Jammu, contended that since the matter related to Jammu, the Srinagar Bench could not have entertained it and passed an ex parte order despite the fact that they had filed a caveat before the Jammu Bench. The Jammu and Kashmir Government removed the DGPC and tried to indirectly control its affairs by appointing new members. “All these members have political affiliations with the ruling political party and have been so appointed because of their access to the ruling circle,” the petition said. A majority of the 11 newly appointed members “are affiliated with the ruling party and are believed to have pressurised the government to supersede the earlier committee only for securing pecuniary gains and control the affairs of the DGPC,” it said.
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Jammu, January 6 The deceased has been identified as Roshan Din, a resident of Garore Pul, Rathana Pind. The police said Roshan was burnt alive along with 17 buffaloes when a major fire broke out in his shanty around midnight. “The fire reduced the kullah to ashes, causing extensive damage to adjoining shanties,” sources said. They added the victim’s brother, Hanief Mohammad also received burn injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital. About 10 animals also received serious burn injuries. The police has started investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. Minister for Environment and Forest Mian Altaf Ahmed also visited the spot and handed over relief cheques worth Rs 1.58 lakh to the aggrieved family. The affected family was also given blankets, utensils and ration to meet their immediate needs. — TNS
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Vakil, Bhat call on Governor
Jammu, January 6 |
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Jammu, January 6
“In the first nine months of the current financial year, the PDD authorities have collected about Rs 800 crore as revenue on account of power supply. In the last three months, it will be a daunting task for the department to achieve the revised target of Rs 1,647 crore of revenue,” they said.