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Air traffic resumes, highway still
closed
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Snowed Under
Passengers stranded for fifth consecutive day
Police officers try to pacify angry passengers stranded in Jammu due to blockade of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The passengers were demanding airlift facility in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Avalanches hit Ramban
Cross-LoC
Trade
Crime File
R-Day Parade
Gap between haves & have-nots ‘widest’ in J&K
Left out, Jammu, Ladakh regions feel neglected
Women stagecraft workshop starts
A speaker addresses a gathering during a women stagecraft workshop at Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar, in Jammu on Tuesday.
A Tribune photograph
A blood-stained floor of the GMCH after an XEN jumped off the building in Jammu on Tuesday.
A Tribune photograph
Monastery Heritage
Omar rues lack of policy to tap state’s resources
Magistrates to check hoarding
Governor summons state legislature on Feb 23
Geelani calls for shutdown on R-Day
Jagti migrants
95 officials found absent
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Air traffic resumes, highway still
closed
Srinagar, January 17 The city recorded a maximum temperature of 7.3 °C as compared to yesterday’s 1.5 °C, a MeT official said here. A minimum temperature of -1.2 °C was recorded in the city as compared to yesterday’s -2.2 °C. Other places in the Valley also witnessed an increase in day temperatures. Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a maximum of 5.0 °C and a minimum temperature of -3.8 °. The gateway town of Qazigund recorded a maximum temperature of 6.5 °C and a minimum of -2.2 °C. However, the weatherman has forecast light to moderate rain or snowfall at many places in the Valley during the next 24 hours. Even as the air traffic resumed today at the Srinagar airport, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway continued to remain closed to vehicular traffic for the third consecutive day. The highway is Valley’s only surface link to the rest of the country. The air traffic in the Valley resumed after remaining suspended for two days, as seven additional flights arrived here along with the 13 scheduled flights to meet the rush, after the weather conditions improved. Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway is likely to open by tomorrow evening or early Wednesday, an official spokesperson said. He said the Border Roads Organisation had assured Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon during his visit to Qazigund that the highway would be opened by Wednesday. |
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Snowed Under
Jammu, January 17 While as Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla reached Kashmir on Monday, three ministers Sham Lal Sharma, Taj Mohiuddin and Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed rushed to the Valley this afternoon in a special aircraft of the state government, following directions from Soz. Sources in the Congress said by deputing senior ministers of his party to the Kashmir valley, the JKPCC chief wanted to gain political points by outmatching others. Except Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, all other Congress ministers have been deputed to the Valley to establish contact with the administration to intensify the rescue operation. Although Congress leaders have ruled out any politics in deputing all the party ministers to Kashmir, sources in the party said Soz wanted to show his authority to the coalition partner NC and also give a message to the people of the Valley that the Congress was serious about the problems being faced by them due to natural calamity. “It was the need of the hour to depute all the party ministers to the Kashmir valley. There is no politics in it,” spokesman of the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma told The Tribune. “As the chief of the JKPCC and chairman of the Coordination Committee of the coalition partner NC, Soz has shown his political and administrative acumen,” he said. He added, “Medical and Health Education Minister RS Chib is not in town so he could not reach Kashmir with other Congress ministers.” Soz had directed his party ministers to ensure supply of essential commodities in the Kashmir valley despite the fact that NC Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon is holding the portfolio of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department. On Monday evening, Soz directed Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, Education Minister, and Taj Mohiuddin, PHE Minister, to visit the Kashmir valley immediately and give a helping hand to the state administration in solving the problems of the people of Kashmir caused by the recent snowfall. Soz had explained in a letter to both the ministers to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities like food, cooking gas, kerosene
oil, sugar and medicines in the Valley.
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Passengers stranded for fifth consecutive day
Jammu, January 17 Jaan Begum of Kralpura in Kupwara had gone to Ajmer Shareef, Rajasthan, along with her four family members. She reached Jammu on Saturday morning and was supposed to leave for Srinagar on the same day. But the closure of the road forced her to stay in Jammu. She along with her family members had to stay at the Jammu Bus Stand for four days under the open sky. Like Jaan Begum there are over 2,000 Kashmir-bound passengers, who are waiting to return to Kashmir. The bad condition of the highway does not allow them to go back. Another stranded passenger, Ghulam Mohiuddin of Kupwara, said, “We are here since last Saturday. But the government is making no arrangement to shift us back to Srinagar. It has just started community kitchens and shifted few passengers to the Yatri Niwas. We need a solution and not compensation.” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday had asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and BEACON to redouble their efforts in restoring traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, but the condition of the highway didn’t improve.
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Avalanches hit Ramban
The first avalanche hit the Shatani Nallah area, blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National highway, he
said, adding that the avalanche was 50 metres wide and 7 metres high. Another 45 metre-wide avalanche hit the
Nachalana area of the highway, the SP said. As per another report, an
avalanche also hit the Mohu Mangat area. Officials of the Natural Disaster Management Cell have advised people living in the snow-hit areas
above 7,500 feet not to venture into avalanche-prone areas during the next 24 hours. A major landslide also hit the Digdol, Panthal, Sheri-Bibi, Maroog and Shergarhi areas of the district. Various agencies with the help of the Jammu and Kashmir Police were trying to restore the severed road links and over 250 vehicles laden with essential commodities were being allowed to move slowly towards the Valley. |
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Cross-LoC
Trade
Jammu, January 17 “Around 15 Indian traders from the state and as many from the PoK have defaulted on their cross-LoC trade via Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch. To resolve the issue, we are going to organise a meeting within a week,” Pawan Anand, president of the Cross-LoC Traders’ Association told The Tribune. In fact, lists of such defaulters will be exchanged between the cross-LoC traders associations of the PoK and Poonch within a couple of days to iron out the differences and resolve the issue, he added. “However, if the defaulters from our side fail to turn up at the meeting, which is being mulled by us, the Poonch district administration, including the GM, District Industries Corporation, will be approached to sort out the issue,” he added. If the defaulting traders from this side (Poonch) failed to sort out the issue with their PoK counterparts, the district administration would be approached to initiate legal action against them, he said. The Cross-LoC Traders’ Association in Poonch has amicably resolved contentious issues between the traders of the two sides in the past. “At the last meeting of the traders, we decided to bring on board such defaulters to ensure that the trade went on smoothly, but four traders did not turn up. This time around, we will ensure their presence,” said Anand. At the last meeting, seven such cases were resolved amicably. The problem cropped up when some traders on both sides resorted to unethical practices. They compromised on the quality of their merchandise but charged higher rates, the association president said. “I will ensure that the issue is resolved so that there is no negative impact on the cross-LoC trade between the two countries,” he added. While Director, Industries, Upinder Singh feigned ignorance on the issue, GM, District Industries Centre, Poonch, Abdul Hamid, who acts as trade facilitation officer, could not be reached for comments. The decision to initiate the LoC-trade was the outcome of a meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan in April, 2005. The cross-LoC trade takes place four days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday via Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Baramulla district.
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Crime File
Jammu, January 17 “He left behind fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 50,000 and escaped from the spot,” sources said. They added that the police was ascertaining whether the fake currency was smuggled from the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). An FIR under Section 489-C of the RPC has been registered in the Surankote police station. Racket busted, man held The Rajouri police today busted a fake driving licence and SIM card racket by arresting a person, who was allegedly involved in the fraud. The accused has been identified as Manjeet Singh, a resident of ward number 1 in Rajouri. Reports said on specific information regarding the fake driving licence racket in Rajouri, the police swung into action and apprehended Manjeet and recovered 120 fake driving licences from his possession. The accused was a franchiser of private telecom companies and other agencies. He had been running a shop at Sheema Crossing, Rajouri. “He prepared fake driving licences by scanning the documents of customers on his computer and used the same as identity for issuance of SIM cards to other customers,” the police said. The police also seized one computer along with a scanner and other accessories. 2 housewives commit suicide Two housewives allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents in the Jammu region during the last 24 hours. The police said a woman identified as Anita Sharma, a resident of Sector 2, Roop Nagar, was allegedly found hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence today. Sources close to the family alleged the woman was mentally challenged. In another case, a mother of two, identified as Joginder Kour, a resident of Kailpur in Vijaypur tehsil of Samba district allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the Chenab. Sources said the woman had gone to Akhnoor to pay obeisance at a Gurdwara and jumped into the river there. The police has launched a search to retrieve the body of the woman. Man killed in road mishap A middle-aged man died after he was allegedly hit by a speeding vehicle near MLA hostels, here early this morning. Official sources said the man received grievous injuries when he was hit by a rashly-driven vehicle at around 7 am. A team of police personnel from the police station Bus Stand rushed to the spot and shifted the body to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, where he was declared as brought dead. His body has been kept in the mortuary of the GMCH for autopsy and identification. |
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R-Day Parade
Jammu, January 17 The state tableau, depicting architectural and heritage buildings of
Srinagar, is all set to be rolled out and presented before the gathering on both sides of the Rajpath on January 26. The tableau has been conceived and designed by celebrated artiste Veer
Munshi, who has the distinction of showcasing Jammu and Kashmir at the Republic Day Parades since 1997. The artiste has already been recognised with the best design award for the state tableaux four times in the
past. Haroon Rashid, additional secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Languages and Culture, said the idea of showcasing the particular theme was taken since architecture of the state was an interesting combination of shrines, mosques, gardens, museums and temples that depicted the grandeur of the past kingdoms. Since Srinagar is known for its ancient history, it was decided to present a particular tableau that carried both art and culture, Haroon said. He said the front portion of the tableau depicted the tomb of famous ruler Zain-ul-Abdin’s mother. The tomb is made of baked bricks and studded with blue tiles. “It is a unique five-dome structure with a small enclosed space. It is one of the important parts of the heritage city situated on the banks of the
Jhelum,” he added. He said old houses shown in the tableau are enriched by people from different religions in their traditional attire and engaged in their day-to-day activities, like people playing the “rabab” and the
“sarangi”, weaving shawls, selling vegetables, washing clothes along the banks of the
Jhelum, while others display dry vegetables hanging on the “jarokhas”. The depiction of a “kangri” (fire pot), a “tumbaknari” (musical instrument made of earthenware) and a “namda” (woollen carpet) further enhanced the architectural richness of the city, Haroon
said. Munshi said his special love for Kashmir made him work on such a mega project every year. It took Munshi almost five months to accomplish the work. In September, a committee under the chairmanship of J&K Chief Secretary had approved the theme for the tableau. The tableau was finally approved by the Ministry of Defence under whose charge the Republic Day Parade takes place. |
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Gap between haves & have-nots ‘widest’ in J&K
Jammu, January 17 According to the study “Rural Development in India: State-Level Experiences” by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), the state has seen the highest rise in the monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) of its richest households. The study has exposed the tall claims of the government of implementing flagship programmes to develop rural areas, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) and others. The report also revealed that “Gini Coefficient”, the inequality in income distribution, was the highest for the state i.e. 7.37 per cent, followed by Madhya Pradesh, including Chhattisgarh, at 4.96 per cent and Bihar, including Jharkhand, at 4.9 per cent. At the same time, the coefficient values indicated falling inequalities in Orissa at 5.75 per cent, Maharashtra at 3.85 per cent, Haryana at 2.36 per cent and West Bengal. Rajasthan, Karnataka, northeastern states and union territories, too, had seen some fall in the degree of income inequalities. A “Gini Coefficient” of 0 indicates perfect consumption or income inequality, while a 100 will imply that a single person incurs all consumption expenditure or possesses all income. ASSOCHAM secretary general DS Rawat said reducing income inequalities was necessary for accelerating economic and human development. Therefore, the state governments must play a major role in developing social sectors and critical infrastructure. “Along with achieving higher economic growth, more efforts need to be made to make it more inclusive,” he added. The survey indicated that the inequality in consumption expenditure had aggravated in the rural areas of many states, including the J&K. The aggravation was broadly accompanied by a fall in the consumption expenditure of the bottom 20 per cent population and an increase in the consumption expenditure of the top 20 per cent. The study also stressed that high inequality threatened political stability because more people were dissatisfied with their economic status, which made it harder to reach political consensus among population groups with higher and lower incomes. It limited the use of important market instruments such as charges in prices and fines. Higher business risks and higher costs of contract enforcement impeded economic growth by slowing down all economic transactions, reads the report. |
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Left out, Jammu, Ladakh regions feel neglected
Jammu, January 17 This has not gone down well with writers, poets and litterateurs of the Dogri language here. Dogri language poet Daya Ram said if it was so, it would be wrong on part of those at the helm. “It happens every year. Kashmir is highlighted in the state tableau at the cost of Jammu and Ladakh. If Jammu and Kashmir is one state then all three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir should have been depicted in the tableau,” said the poet. President of the Dogra Liberation Front Dr Rampal Sharma was more acerbic in his observations. “Kashmir is with India because of Jammu but ironically those at the helm are not bothered about Jammu and Ladakh,” he said. “Sops doled out to Kashmir from time to time don’t matter to us but it is painful that no one in the state talks about the honour and integrity of Duggar Pradesh,” he added. Even the Centre was fatally obsessed with Kashmir, he said, adding that indifference towards the Jammu and Ladakh regions was not a new phenomenon. Another Dogri language writer and critic Kapil Anirudh regretted that the Jammu region had been unable to emerge out of the shadow of Kashmir just because of the myopic vision of those at the helm. “For them, Jammu and Kashmir means Kashmir alone. No one has any idea about the rich heritage of Jammu and I will blame politicians for the step-motherly treatment meted out to the region,” said Anirudh. Prof Lalit Magotra, the man who fought for the inclusion of the Dogri language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution, said: “If it is so then it is not the representation of the composite culture of the state. Because of its diversity in art, culture and languages, the state is a mini India and a unique one too. If the state tableau is based on Kashmir alone then it is unfortunate.”
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Women stagecraft workshop starts
Jammu, January 17 Speaking about the idea of holding the event, former secretary of the Cultural Academy Prof Rita Jitender said the stage workshop would introduce young girl students of Jammu to new and emerging trends in stagecraft. Noted stage director Pritam Katoch said for the success of any stage performance the role of people behind the scenes
was paramount and the ongoing workshop would lay focus on this aspect of stagecraft. Earlier, in her welcome address additional secretary of the Academy Savita Bakshi said over the decades the stage scene of the world had undergone several changes and the need of the hour was to introduce the newer generation to this aspect of stagecraft. Principal of Women College Nalini Kohli also spoke on the occasion and said her institution would extend all possible help for the smooth conduct of the seven-day workshop.
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XEN jumps to death at GMCH
Jammu, January 17 The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Kumar Gupta (50), a resident of Channi. Sources said the deceased’s son, who was also an engineer, had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the Chenab eight months ago. “His son’s body was recovered from the river after a month-long search,” they said. “The deceased had been under depression after his son’s death and it could be one of the reasons that forced him to commit suicide,” sources maintained. A senior police officer said a suicide note was recovered from deceased’s pocket diary. “In his suicide note, he didn’t blame anyone for the suicide or cite any reason for taking such an extreme step,” the police officer said. Sources close to the family said the engineer had left his Channi residence in a Maruti car around 1 pm and parked his vehicle on the premises of the GMCH. “He went to the fifth floor and stayed there for a few minutes before jumping off the building. He died on the spot. The hospital staff and patients’ attendants sounded the alarm and informed the police,” sources said. The deceased’s family members, however, remained tightlipped over the incident. Mediapersons had to face their wrath when the former went to the hospital to take photographs. The police has registered a case in this regard and started its investigation.
— TNS |
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Monastery Heritage
Leh, January 17 The biggest hurdle was the dating of the objects, as dates of most artifacts available in their monasteries had not been recorded. The monasteries that had set up museums were Liker, Hemis, Chamday, Stakna, Matho and Thiksay. However, only Hemis Monastery had consulted experts from Bhutan while setting up their museum. To ensure proper upkeep of these museums, monks will now receive a 10-day professional training at the National Museum Institute, New Delhi. Tsering Chosphel, general secretary of the All-Ladakh Gonpa Association, said: “Keeping in view the need to acquire knowledge for the proper upkeep of museums, having centuries-old artifacts and religious objects, one representative from each monastery will receive training in Delhi.” The training will be organised from February 13 to 23 as part of activities planned for the preservation of the Ladakhi cultural heritage by the National Museum Institute, New Delhi, in association with the LAHDC, Leh. |
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Omar rues lack of policy to tap state’s resources
Jammu, January 17 Chairing the first meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Chief Minister (SAC-CM) at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) here, the Chief Minister said the lagging behind of the state in the growth of science and technology, despite having the potential, could be largely attributed to the absence of a befitting policy in the sector. Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir was the highest consumer of mutton in the country and adequate raw material for the leather industry was locally available in the shape of sheepskin. “We are not utilising this advantage for wealth and job generation,” he said.
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Magistrates to check hoarding
Srinagar, January 17 The orders were passed by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan after holding a meeting with the executive magistrates of the
summer capital. Khan also directed the Assistant Director, CAPD,
Srinagar, to furnish the list and quantity of kerosene issued to the dealers so that the magistrates could ensure its distribution in a free and fair manner in the presence of masjid
committees. He also directed the magistrates to oversee the distribution of rationed supply of the LPG to the consumers. They were also instructed to immediately take legal action against any person found indulging in hoarding. “The magistrates would henceforth be the focal points to inspect hotels and restaurants to curb the misuse of domestic cylinders for commercial activities,” Khan added. |
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Governor summons state legislature on Feb 23
Jammu, January 17 The Governor has called upon members of the state Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to assemble at the Central Hall of the Legislature Building in the New Secretariat premises, Jammu, on February 23 at 10.30 am to hear his address to both the Houses of the legislature under the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 55 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. “After the Address, each House will meet as a separate body at the time specified by the Speaker or the Chairman, as the case may be,” the official spokesperson said. |
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Geelani calls for shutdown on R-Day
Srinagar, January 17 In a statement issued here today, Geelani appealed to the people to observe a “complete” shutdown on January 26. “As long as India does not give democratic rights to the people of Kashmir, it has got no moral right to celebrate the Republic Day,” he added. Geelani also appealed to the people to boycott the Republic Day functions that would be held by the government as well as the security forces in the Valley. He appealed to the United Nations to probe into the alleged incidents of human rights violations through the War Crime Tribunal
(WCT). |
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Jagti migrants
Jammu, January 17 While reiterating their demands, including permanent rehabilitation in Kashmir, employment, enhancement of cash assistance, removal of encroachments from their immovable properties in Kashmir, the migrants led by Shadi Lal Pandita, president , Jagti Tenement Committee, held a demonstration outside Raj Bhawan yesterday.
— TNS
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95 officials found absent
Srinagar, January 17 A team, led by Additional Commissioner Abdul Majid Wani, inspected the GB Panth Hospital at Sonawar here and found 65 employees, including 23 doctors, one technician, eight members of the nursing staff, 12 paramedics, 13 class-IV employees, besides eight other
staff members, absent from work. Thirty other officials at the Horticulture Office, Raj Bagh, Rural Development Complex Lal Mandi, Directorate of Sheep Husbandry, Poultry Marketing Officer and Directorate of Agriculture, Lal Mandi, were also found absent. Wani has recommended the deduction of a day’s salary of the erring employees. |
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Jammu, January 17
Known for its scenic beauty, Jammu and Kashmir will showcase its composite culture, elegant architecture and rich heritage at this year’s Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.
The state tableau, depicting architectural and heritage buildings of Srinagar, is all set to be rolled out and presented before the gathering on both sides of the Rajpath on January 26.
A women stagecraft workshop began at Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar, here today.
Jointly organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and the Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu, the event was the first of its kind and would culminate on January 27. About 30 women are participating in the workshop.
Jammu, January 17