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Plan to tackle traffic chaos in Jammu
Badami Bagh Cantt turning eco-friendly
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Four students to participate in national Braille contest
Rs 573 cr spent under NRHM, claims Health Department
Army trains residents to face natural calamities
500 treated at health camp
srinagar DIARY
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Plan to tackle traffic chaos in Jammu
Jammu, March 2 Ajatshatru Singh, MLC, National Conference, has raised the issue of the common concern. He asked whether the government was aware of the gravity of the nuisance that the fast-growing number of motor vehicles was causing to the people in Jammu as a result of frequent traffic jams. The minister, in charge, Home, through a written reply admitted that the government had seriously taken the issue and engaged a private forum to conduct a survey in this regard. The minister said the government through the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) had engaged the forum to prepare a comprehensive mobility plan for Jammu and Srinagar cities and the forum was expected to submit its report shortly. On the other measures taken by the government for the decongestion of the city traffic, he said the construction of additional bridge on the Tawi, widening of the most busy city roads, construction of a flyover and a bypass was underway. He said to curb undisciplined driving, the traffic police had identified 163 minibus stops and submitted to the road engineering wings concerned for proper marking so that minibuses stop at the designated places for picking and dropping passengers rather than stopping suddenly and randomly on roads. “Special anti-encroachment drives are being launched by the Jammu Municipal Corporation and the district police to remove illegal encroachments on roads or footpaths. The Traffic Department provides full support to such drives. However, these drives have to be much more vigorous and more often because the desired results are still far away,” read the reply. Moreover, the awareness campaigns had been launched to educate the masses to inculcate traffic sense, road discipline and avoiding unauthorised parking on the roads, the reply added. The minister said, “The traffic police has purchased and installed delineators, traffic cones and road dividers on various roads of the city to enforce lane driving and discipline among motorist.” He added that cranes had been pressed into service for lifting of vehicles, which were found unevenly parked on the roadsides. Major projects
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Badami Bagh Cantt turning eco-friendly
Srinagar, March 2 The revamped waste disposal management has ensured segregation of biodegradable and non- biodegradable wastes at collection points and employment of eco-friendly methods for waste degradation, a defence spokesperson said. He said the Badami Bagh cantonment has been declared a ‘plastic-free zone’. Awareness campaigns are conducted to educate the populace about harmful effects of non-biodegradable plastic waste on the environment, if not disposed properly. The first-ever endeavour in the state to manage leaf fall in autumn has taken the shape of a ‘leaf compost farm’ developed in the Cantonment. The leaves and other horticulture waste previously being burnt, now undergo natural decomposition into manure without the use of chemicals. It prevents environment pollution and assists in enhancing nutritional value of the soil. In the leaf compost farm, both hot (anaerobic) and cold (aerobic) processes of composting are being used to decompose leaf and
horticultural waste into manure. The natural lakes within the cantonment have been cleaned and de-silted, restoring the natural beauty of bygone years. The effort has brought back the migratory birds visiting these lakes to enjoy the pristine green environment. More projects such as installation of plants to convert garbage and night soil into natural gas are in the pipeline. Brig Kuldeep Singh, the Station Commander Badami Bagh Cantonment, is closely monitoring the progress of these projects.
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Srinagar saffron growers get over
Rs 27 lakh as incentive
Srinagar, March 2 On this occasion, the director, Agriculture, said the National Mission on Saffron was aimed at increasing productivity, maintaining quality and improving the marketing facilities. He urged the farmers to increase productivity and enhance quality saffron crop by exploiting the benefits of the improved package of practices already available for transfer under the mission. He advised the farmers to take the advantage under saffron corm rejuvenation as per the guidelines of the mission, which is pivotal for increasing quality production. Sharief Ahmad Dar, Chief Agriculture Officer, Srinagar, said during the current year, 20.2 hectares of land was covered under the replanting of corms programme and the remaining area of 145 hectares would be covered under the rejuvenation programme in the next two years. Six weeders were provided to saffron growers on 50 per cent subsidy for which Rs 3 lakh were distributed among them and 15 vermicompost units were established by providing Rs 4.50 lakh as subsidy component. He also said the Department of Agriculture was making efforts for the digging of borewells under the mission, which would provide irrigation facilities to saffron fields which was a critical requirement. The participating farmers appreciated the extension efforts of departmental officers and expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the mission.
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Four students to participate in national Braille contest
Jammu, March 2 Rashpal is pursuing MA from Jammu University and has been living in the Home for Blind, Roop Nagar, since 2005. He is participating in the ‘National Competition for Reading and Writing Braile’ to be held from March 13 to 14 in Mount Abu. “I have never been to any place outside Jammu. I am excited about the exposure that we will get there. Students from all the states will participate in the competition. And for the first time, we will interact with other students on such a huge platform,” said Rashpal. Chamandeep Singh (16) from Reasi, Yaqoob Ali (12) and Abdul Haqeem (15) are the other three participants who will be participating in the competition. While talking to The
Tribune, Chamandeep said, “I could see before 2004, but high fever and overdose of medicines affected my brain after which I lost my vision completely in 2005”. “I am excited that after a long time I will come into contact with so many people. I will interact with them, learn something and share my experiences,” he added. Khalida Begum, principal, School for Blind, Roop Nagar, said, “The National Federation for Blind is organising the 11th National Braille Reading and Writing Competition. But our students have never participated before. We took an initiative and applied for it. Winning or losing is not important, but at least they will participate and learn something new from there”.
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Rs 573 cr spent under NRHM, claims Health Department
Jammu, March 2 The Health Department, in response to a written query raised by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) MLA from Samba Yash Paul Kundal said the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare released Rs 592.61 crore since the launch of the NRHM in 2005 and the state government released Rs 87.12 crore as the state share ending January 2012, thus aggregating to 679.73 crore. “Against the released amount, the government utilised Rs 573.02 crore (84 per cent) on various activities ending January 2012,” the department said. As per the official figures, Rs 137.20 crore, including Rs 63.67 crore on RCH Flexipool (Flexipool includes activities like maternal health, child health, trainings and HR), Rs 3.49 crore on immunisation and Rs 70 crore on additionalities (ASHA’s, RKS, AYUSH) was spent in 10 districts of the Jammu region from 2005 to January 2012. Similarly, a total of Rs 167.52 crore, including Rs 73.96 crore on RCH Flexipool, Rs 4 crore on immunisation and Rs 89.54 crore on additionalities was spent in 12 districts of the Kashmir division, comprising Leh and Kargil. Asked about district-wise details of hospitals, trauma centres, accidental hospital and other health institution establishment under the scheme, the government admitted that
no such institution had been established under the NRHM. “Funds for infrastructure are being provided under the NRHM for speeding up the execution of projects,” the department said. It further said 136 doctors were appointed on a contractual basis under the NRHM across the state in 2009-10 and 2010-11. “All contractual engagements under the mission are done at the district level by the District Health Society headed by the District Development Commissioner (DDC). Every year the number of posts in different categories, as approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are conveyed to the district health societies,” the department said. It added that preference was given to candidates belonging to the local areas in order to ensure the availability of doctors and paramedics and other staff in the health institutions so as to provide healthcare services to the people of that area.
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Army trains residents to face natural calamities Gulmarg, March 2 On February 23, an Army post of Sonmarg was severely hit, along with Gurez, where 14 soldiers were killed in the snow-propelled avalanche. Heavy snowfall in the region this year has left locals to bear the brunt of the continuing cold snap as closure of the highway had impeded travel and food supplies. This year’s brutal cold wave and incessant snowfall has severely disrupted power and water supplies.
— ANI
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500 treated at health camp
Srinagar, March 2 The camp was inaugurated by the chief guest on the occasion, Air Commodore D. Choudhury, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar, flanked by President, Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Local), Vyjayanthi Choudhury. The guest of honour was Mohammad Rafi, District Development Commissioner, Budgam. Speaking on the occasion, Air Commodore said the free health camp was organised to provide basic health care to the needy people, adding that the main aim and motive behind this exercise was to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people, particularly in the field of health care. He said a tremendous response was witnessed from the people of the area, particularly women. The District Development Commissioner hailed the efforts of the authorities of the Air Force Station,
Srinagar, for organising the camp. He said this special gesture would help in sustaining good relations between people and forces. The camp was attended by a team of Air Force and civilian specialists , including gynaecologists, paediatrician and general physicians.
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srinagar DIARY Even as the residents of the summer capital keep their households neat and clean, they do not bother much about the cleanliness of the city at large. People are often seen throwing garbage on the streets outside their homes and also on the city roads. While a majority of the locals have not yet developed a proper civic sense, the government, too, cannot escape the blame.
Despite concerns raised from several quarters in the past, the authorities have failed to put up dustbins across Srinagar. In fact, dustbins can hardly be spotted anywhere, even on the main city roads that are frequented by tourists. Even those people, who have a civic sense, are sometimes forced to litter on the roads as dustbins have become a rare sight in Srinagar. Unfortunately, the government has never bothered to look into the matter. Kids’ day out As the higher secondary schools reopened in the Kashmir valley on March 1 after a three-month-long winter vacation, children of all age groups have been thronging the market places for the past one week. Other schools up to class VIII will be reopening on March 12 as winter vacation were extended in their case in view of bad weather conditions recently. These kids are seen everywhere in the markets, especially to purchase school uniforms, bags, shoes, etc. The increasing number of such customers, along with their parents, has given a fresh look to the markets where some of the shopkeepers have started a brisk business after a long lull during the winter months. The junior students have still one week ahead before they go to schools. (Contributed by M Aamir Khan and Ehsan Fazili)
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Unending traffic chaos is bothering everyone in the temple city and with the rapid expansion of the city in the past one decade,
the trouble has been intensified. The issue was also raised in the Upper House during the underway Budget session on Thursday.
Ajatshatru Singh, MLC, National Conference, has raised the issue of the common concern.
