The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Shivratri celebrated with fervour
Tribune News Service

Devotees queue up to perform prayers at the historic Aap Shambu Temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri in Jammu on Monday. — PTI

Jammu, February 20
The Shivratri festival was celebrated with fervour across the city today. Thousands of devotees thronged various Shiva temples in Jammu to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva. However, as part of the tradition, the Kashmiri Pandits celebrated Shivratri at their homes.

It is believed that a day of fasting accompanied by Lord Shiva’s worship washes away all sins of a person. The day is celebrated every year on the intervening night of 13th and 14th in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu calendar (the night before and day of the new moon).

The day has special relevance for Kashmiri Pandits, who are Shivaites. They worship earthen pots filled with water and walnuts for three days.

After three days of worship, the earthen pots, which represent various deities are immersed in a nearby river or a water body. Before immersing the earthen pots, the walnuts are removed from them and distributed as ‘prasad’.

Poshkar Nath Pandita, a resident of Jagti Township, said, “It is our first Shivratri at Jagti. There is a difference between the last Shivratri and this one. Last year there was problem of space, but this year we are in our own houses. We still miss the Shivratri celebrations in Kashmir.”

The Kashmiri Pandits cook mutton and fish on the occasion, as the community is Shivaite. But after their mass exodus from the Kashmir valley and with the change in climate and topography many families have stopped consuming non-vegetarian food on the festival.

Meanwhile, many social, spiritual and business organisations held religious processions to mark the Shivratri celebrations in the city. The Brahma Kumaris’ ashram organised a special programme on the occasion, which included hoisting of the ashram flag, lighting of candles and a ‘bhajan sandhya’.

The Indira Chowk Vegetable Market Association also performed a ‘hawan’, ‘kanya poojan’ and ‘bandara’ at the Shiv Mandir, Indira Chowk, in connection with the festival.

Ravi Sharma, an organiser, said, they have been celebrating the festival for the last 30 years.

Over 2 lakh pilgrims visit Shiv Khori
Devinder Thakur

Shiv Khori (Ransoo), February 20
Over two lakh pilgrims have visited Shiv Khori in Reasi district to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva during the first two days of the Shiv Khori mela, which started here yesterday.

Around 3.06 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva at Shiv Khori in Reasi district since January this year.

To help the pilgrims, the Reasi district administration and the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSHSB) have set up two yatri slip counters, waiting rooms for the visiting pilgrims at the Ransoo base camp and at the holy cave.

The parking place for heavy vehicles has been created at Kandha, at a short distance from Ransoo, from where mini buses are being pressed into service to avoid congestion on the road from Kandha to Ransoo.

People from different places of the state have organised langers at Ransoo and en route to the cave.

The Ransoo bazaar is abuzz with activities and gives a festive look. A large number of stalls have been put up at the base camp by different departments for the awareness of the people about various Central and state government schemes.

Centre snubs J&K over power reform project
Slams state for tardy pace of work, unplanned utilisation of funds
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 20
With the state’s power deficit all set to cross a whopping Rs 2,000-crore mark till the end of the current financial year, the Centre has snubbed Jammu and Kashmir for implementing at a slow pace the Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) initiated to bring down transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.

Official sources told The Tribune that the Union government expressed its displeasure over ‘unplanned utilisation’ of funds sanctioned under the R-APDRP to lower the transmission and distribution losses.

“The Centre has conveyed its unhappiness over the slow pace of implementing the programme and diversion of allocated funds to areas other than those identified under the programme,” the sources said, adding that the Central government had also directed the state’s Power Development Department (PDD) to strictly follow guidelines for implementation of the project.

The Central government had launched the APDRP in 2000-01 as a last measure for restoring the commercial viability of the distribution sector after financial health of the State Electricity Boards (SEBs) became a matter of concern considering that their losses had reached an alarming level.

The programme was also aimed at improving the financial viability of state power utilities, reduction of transmission and distribution losses and increasing reliability and quality of power supply.

Sources disclosed that the Centre had recently approved Rs 1,780 crore under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) for upgradation of the power sector in the state, while Rs 3,900 crore had already been given under the APDRP to the state since the launch of the programme.

“A major portion of the amount sanctioned under the scheme was utilised for the purchase of power following growing demand for electricity in the state, while the reform sector was virtually neglected,” said the sources.

The sources said earlier only 30 small towns (11 in Jammu division and 19 in Kashmir division) with a population of more than 10,000 were identified and covered under the scheme.

“Following the growing demand for electricity and increasing T&D losses, the Centre had last year approved the state government’s proposal for upgradation of the power sector by including 288 more towns and cities under the programme. The Centre had fixed a three-year deadline for raising the infrastructure, including grid stations, new transmission lines and feeders, in these cities and towns,” disclosed the sources.

A senior PDD official, who declined to be identified, said the department had prepared the Detail Project Reports (DPRs) of 125 small towns with a population of more than 4,000 of Jammu division thus far, while the DPRs of other towns and villages in the Kashmir and Ladakh regions were being prepared.

“Initially, the state government had faced several hurdles over implementing the programme and a glaring example was the e-metering project. The e-metering project has not been completed even after six long years,” the officer said.

“Now, the department is religiously following the guidelines. We were successful in bringing down the T&D losses by 3 per cent last year,” he added.

The Minister (in charge) for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan, was not available for comments.

10.5 lakh children given polio drops in Kashmir region
Our correspondent

Srinagar, February 20
More than 10.5 lakh children, up to the age group of five, received vaccination against polio under the Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme (PPIP) in the Kashmir valley yesterday.

An official here said 10,53,489 children up to the age of five years were administered polio drops. “The Health Services, Kashmir, established 5,701 vaccination booths across the Valley which were manned by 22,796 paramedics, anganwari workers and volunteers of various NGOs while 302 mobile teams were also deployed to ensure 100 per cent success of the PPIP campaign,” he added.

Giving details of the PPIP across the Valley, the Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, said 1,77,803 children were covered under the programme in Srinagar district while 1,40,000 children were administered anti-polio drops in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

As many as 93,332 children got vaccinated in Kulgam district; 50,927 in Shopian district; 43,828 in Ganderbal district; 1,21,677 in Budgam district; 1,42,176 in Baramulla district; 55,485 children in Bandipora district; and 1,36,137 in Kupwara district.

Meanwhile, in the twin districts of Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region, 761 vaccination booths were set up and 3,044 paramedics deployed for administering anti-polio drops to 29,360 children.

Heavy rain expected in Jammu
Varun Suthra/TNS

Jammu, February 20
Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in the Jammu region, in the next two to three days. The upper reaches received moderate snowfall while rain lashed the region on Sunday and continued to fall today also.

Abdul Rashid Zargar, Assistant Director, Meteorology Department, Srinagar, told The Tribune, “Heavy rain is expected in another two days and there would be a dip in the normal day temperature. The plains would receive heavy rainfall while snowfall is likely to occur in the hilly terrains of the region.”

Zargar said, “The normal day temperature recorded for Jammu city is 21°C. After the rain spell is over there may be a dip of about two degrees in temperature. We are expecting two more cloudy days in the region.”

He added that the western disturbances were responsible for the extended rain spell.

“The western disturbances always influence the weather conditions in the state. More rain is good for the region,” he added.

“A major portion of the state depends on these western disturbances because we receive negligible rain during the monsoons. This extended spell of rain enriches the state and remains stored for the summer and other seasons,” he added.

He also disclosed that the rain spell had also saved the state from the threat of a long dry spell, which was expected due to an excessive delay in rain this winter.

“The delay in rain had posed a threat of an unwarranted dry spell in most of the areas, particularly in the rain-fed areas of Poonch, Rajouri and erstwhile Doda district etc,” said Zargar.

Tejinder Singh Wazir, an agriculture expert, said although the extended rain spell was good for wheat cultivation, but it may affect other vegetation. “The rainfall proved quite fruitful for wheat cultivation last month, but if rain continues for more than a week, it may not prove good for other crops and vegetables,” he added.

He said, “The continuous rainfall also adds to humidity, which could be a reason of trouble for growing vegetables.”

Fresh snowfall hits air travel

Leh, February 20
Fresh snowfall in the Ladakh region today forced the authorities to cancel the flights between Delhi and Leh, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the airports.

Four flights, including three flights from Delhi and one flight from Jammu, were cancelled due to the snowfall and bad weather. Sources said most of the passengers stranded in Delhi were Buddhist pilgrims. Hundreds of pilgrims were returning home after attending the Kalachakara Initiation by the Dalia Lama at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. — OC

Avalanche alert issued as more snow expected in Valley
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, February 20
The government today issued a fresh avalanche warning in the upper reaches of the Kashmir valley as more snow and rainfall is expected during the next few days.

The Divisional Disaster Management Authority has issued a medium danger avalanche warning for the higher reaches of the Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran, Machhil and Gurez areas that are located close to the Line of Control The avalanche warning has also been issued for the Banihal area on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and Drass in the Ladakh region.

“People living in these areas have been advised not to venture into avalanche-prone areas and to take precautions. The avalanche warning is valid for the next 24 hours,” an official said here.

Meanwhile, many parts of the Valley received light to moderate rainfall today while the meteorological department has forecast heavy snowfall and rain at isolated places till February 24. The department has also issued an advisory warning that fresh western disturbances over the state and adjoining areas are likely to affect the weather of the region. Light snowfall is also expected at the Drass, Kargil and Zanskar areas of Ladakh.

Today’s rainfall also led to a slight decrease in the day temperature in the summer capital. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 7°Celsius as compared to yesterday’s 8.1°C. The city received 0.6 mm rainfall today.

Similarly, Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir and the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir received 3.4mm and 4 mm rain, respectively. The border town of Kupwara received 6.4 mm rain.

The maximum temperature recorded at Qazigund and Pahalgam was 9.0°C and 3.4 °C, respectively.

Powerless villagers do without evening marriage ceremonies
Devinder Thakur

Reasi, February 20
Evening or late-night ceremonies are missing from most marriage celebrations at Gadhi-Gaabhar village, 35 km from the district headquarters, Reasi. Reason: Absence of power in the area.

“We can’t perform customary evening ceremonies during marriage functions here due to lack of power supply at our village,” says Moti Ram, a resident of Gadhi village.

Residents of nearby villages do not want to marry off their daughters to youths from the village, as it remains without electricity even after 65 years of independence, say villagers.

“Marriage proposals are rare, as parents of prospective brides are reluctant to marry off their daughters here once they learn that the village doesn’t have electricity,” says Lal Singh, another villager.

“No one wants to send their daughters to our village as brides in the absence of electricity,” says Mohammad Rashid.

Pati Khumba, 45 km from the district headquarters, also shares a similar story. Around 100 families in the village depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. The absence of basic amenities, including electricity, potable water and road connectivity, has added to their woe.

Inhabitants of this village blame successive regimes for the indifference towards their area.

“It seems the government has forgotten our village. Despite living in the 21st century, we have been without power, water, roads and other facilities,” they say.

“Our women folk have to walk 5 km to fetch water from streams,” says Irshad Khan, adding that the exercise becomes troublesome for women during winter.

“There have been instances when women have suffered orthopedic injuries after slipping during winter,” he says.

Centrally sponsored schemes like the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGVY) and the Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojana have proven a damp squib in all hamlets, including Mahal, Sala, Ghabaar, and Patti Khumba, of the area.

“These villages are yet to be provided with electricity and the condition of roads here is appalling,” the inhabitants add.

According to the residents, poverty and lack of facilities have forced many youngsters to drop out of schools and colleges.

Manhar Gupta, Executive Engineer, Power Development Department, Reasi, says: “We have brought several villages under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGVY). However, we have been facing shortage of funds.”

Disqualify Omar-led Cabinet: Panthers Party
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, February 20
The Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party chairman, Bhim Singh, has demanded the disqualification of the state Cabinet while accusing the government of violating the mandate of the Constitution.

Talking to mediapersons here during a JKPP youth convention yesterday, Singh demanded the disqualification of the Cabinet, as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had allegedly violated the constitutional mandate by conferring ministerial status on his political advisers and head of various corporations and boards.

He was referring to the recent State Accountability Commission (SAC) order that had pointed to the alleged conferment of status of Cabinet Minister or Minister of State upon persons who were not actually members of the council of ministers.

The SAC has directed the Chief Minister and others involved to appear before the commission on March 5.

Stating that the law of the state entitled the government to give ministerial portfolios to only 24 legislators, Singh claimed that the state had “indirectly” given ministerial powers to additional eight persons. “If a government violates the Constitution, it is considered disqualified,” he added.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar had on Saturday ruled out the stepping aside of persons indicted by the SAC, saying their appointments were made within the constitutional framework of the state.

“We respect the State Accountability Commission and the state government will clarify its stand as per the law,” Sagar had added.

Police-Public Mela in Jammu on March 4
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 20
The arrangements for the day-long Police-Public Mela which will be organised by the state police in Jammu on March 4 were discussed at a meeting of police officers here recently.

The meeting was held at the Armed Police Headquarters (APHQ) under the chairmanship of ADGP K Rajendra Kumar.

Addressing the meeting, the ADGP said the Police-Public Mela was one of the grand events organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police Wives’ Welfare Association (JKPWWA).

He said the mela had assumed much importance, as the public had shown a large interest in them for years. People from all shades of life visit the mela and avail the opportunity of buying items of their choice. These melas have also brought the police and the public together to work for peace and prosperity of the state, he added.

Rajendra said the 20th Police-Public Mela was being held in Jammu on March 4 at the Police Sports Stadium, Gulshan Ground, here. The mela will be inaugurated at 10 am and will conclude at 5 pm.

He disclosed a raffle draw would take place at the venue at 4 pm. He added that bumper prizes had made the event more attractive and people from all corners of the state wait for months to try their luck in the raffle draws. He said transparency in the raffle draws had strengthened the trust of the people on the organisers.

The sources gained through these melas are utilised for the welfare of the families of the police martyrs and the wards of serving and retired personnel under various welfare schemes adopted by the police.

During the meeting, discussions were held with regard to various arrangements in and around the venue. Various committees headed by senior officers were constituted for this purpose and asked to start the preparations for the grand event. It was decided that the stall holders of different police establishments across the state would be geared up for their massive participation in the mela.

Sufficient space would be provided to them to establish their stalls for exhibition and sale of products. He disclosed that counters for sale of raffle draw tickets had been established at different locations across the state and special counters would also be established in and around the venue on the mela day.

Ranjit Kanwar, Commandant, IR 19th Bn, has been nominated as the Nodal Officer of the mela.

Villagers press for power restoration
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, February 20
A number of villages in Thathri block of Doda district have been without power supply since the first week of January after snowfall in the Chenab Valley region snapped power lines.

Fed up with official assurances, the villagers led by the sarpanch of Chiral, Fazal Alam Wani, today demanded immediate restoration of power supply in several villages, including Bhallara, Bhatole, Batheree, Batogra, Bithola, Chagsoo, Chiralla, Dharyouth, Goila, Hallaran, Jagota, Jia, Joura, Kansoo, Kencha, Mallano, Nandna, Panshai, Upuneja, Rokali and Sunyarthawa.

Mohammad Ashraf, sarpanch of Jangalwar, alleged that the authorities concerned have made no attempt to improve the situation in spite of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s visit to the erstwhile Doda district after the heavy snowfall that had thrown normal life out of gear. The people of remote villages of the area were helpless due to lack of power supply.

Wani said the communication network had been severely hit as people were unable to recharge their mobile phones. The telecommunication system was of utmost importance for people living in this tough terrain.

The panchayat leaders demanded that the district administration should work for restoration of road connectivity and get the losses suffered by the people assessed so that suitable compensation could be given to them.

Empowerment of panchayats demanded

Jammu, February 20
The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (JKPC) today announced to hold a protest at the district headquarters, Rajouri, on February 25 to express resentment against the government for not implementing the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act in totality.

This was decided in a day-long panchayat conference held at Rajouri.

The elected panchayat members criticised the state government for allegedly duping the panchayats.

Demanding the implementation of the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution regarding the Panchayati Raj, sarpanch Shafiq Mir said the empowerment of panchayats was impossible until and unless the act was executed in letter and in spirit.

Sarpanches Fazal Chowhan, Perveiz Malik and Omparkash also spoke on the occasion.

LeT militant arrested
Our correspondent

Srinagar, February 20
A militant of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) was arrested during a joint operation of the Army, police and CRPF in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, the police said today.

Acting on a tip-off, the Anantnag police along with 40 Bn of the CRPF and 3 RR of the Army cordoned off Gund-i-Nowrooz village in Anantnag. During the search operation, the security forces arrested a LeT militant, identified as Aijaz Ahmad sheikh, a resident of Tral Payeen in Pulwama district.

One pistol, one pistol magazine and seven pistol rounds were recovered from his possession. Meanwhile, unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade towards the main gate of the Zadibal police station in Srinagar last night. The grenade exploded outside the police station.

Three held with 900 intoxicant capsules
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 20
The Kathua police has arrested and booked three persons under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after recovering 900 intoxicant capsules from their possession.

The official spokesperson said a police party led by the SHO, Billawar Police Station, laid a naka (checking point) at Dharamkot Morh near Phinter
and intercepted a motorcycle without a registration number.

The motorcycle rider and two pillion passengers were subjected to physical frisking. About 900 capsules of Par-van-Spas were recovered from their possession, the spokesperson said.

The accused were identified as Parvez Alam, Fareed Ahmed and Dev Raj Bhatti, all residents of Dharamkot, Billawar. The drive was conducted under the supervision of the SSP, Kathua, Jia Lal Sharma.

2 killed, 5 injured in road mishap
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, February 20
Two persons, including an IRP jawan, were killed and five others were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a shooting stone near Anokhi Fall, on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district today.

Officials said the incident took place around 1 pm. A total of seven persons were travelling in the Tavera cab, which was going to Srinagar from Jammu. The dead were identified as the IRP constable, Ajaz Ahmed, a resident of Kishtwar, and Anil Kumar (26), a resident of Barmat, Palampur, in Himachal Pradesh. Both Ajaz and Anil were killed on the spot.

Mohammad Khaleel, a head constable of the state police, and a resident of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district, and Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Batote in Ramban district, were critically injured. Both were taken to the district hospital, Ramban.

Student jumps in front of train
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 20
A student allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a goods train near Bari Brahmana on the Jammu-Kathua railway track in the wee hours of Monday. Sources said the train ran over the body of 17-year-old Charanjeet Singh, a resident of Chak Chua in Bishnah. “The case appears to be that of suicide as per the preliminary investigation. The incident took place around 2:30 am at point number 89 near Bari Brahmana,” sources said, adding that the teenager was reportedly under stress after he failed to qualify the Class XII examination. The sources said General Railway Police jawans, with the help of J&K police personnel, shifted the body to hospital for autopsy. “The exact reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained,” a police officer said.

One killed in factory blast

A labourer today was burnt alive and two others were seriously injured after an explosion in the furnace at a steel industry in the Bari Brahmana area of Samba district. Official sources said the labourers were melting iron scrap when an explosion took place in the furnace at the Narmada steel factory this morning. The deceased was identified as Sanjay Kumar (32) of Gurakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The critically injured labourers identified as Surinder Kumar of Himachal Pradesh and Lalit of Banaras were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Two women commit suicide

Two women allegedly committed suicide in the Jammu region during the past 24 hours. The police said a housewife identified as Anju Singh, wife of Jyoti Singh, allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at her residence in Vijaypur. The family members shifted her to the GMCH where she was declared brought dead. In another incident, a 25-year-old woman, identified as Harpreet Kour of Chatta, was allegedly found hanging at her residence. She was shifted to the GMCH for an autopsy.

Legalise appointments to boards: Soz
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 20
Without challenging the authority to the State Accountability Commission to look into complaints of favourtism in the appointment of vice-chairpersons to various boards, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Saifuddin Soz, has stressed the need to examine the possibility of providing legal frame to the proposition.

“I don’t challenge the authority of the State Accountability Commission but it is not the Chief Minister alone who has taken the decision. These things are decided by the Cabinet,” Soz said while reacting to the notices served on the Chief Minister and eight others by the State Accountability Commission for appointing vice-chairpersons to various boards.

“This has not happened for the first time. Similar appointments have been made earlier as well,” he said.

“There is no question of favourtism. I don’t think any favourtism has been done. Let the SAC look into it. It has the right and I cannot challenge it.”