The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Step up drive against polybags: Experts
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, March 23
On World Forest Day yesterday, a number of scholars and forest experts urged the government to intensify its anti-polythene campaign. During a seminar organised by the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) here on World Forest Day, speakers, including Principal of Government Degree College, Bemina, Prof GM Tibetbakal and Principal of the DIET Aijaz Qalandar, collectively urged the authorities concerned to step up the campaign against polythene use in the Kashmir valley, as it caused a lot of damage to the environment.

The speakers said the anti-polythene campaign should be carried out with the same vigour and seriousness, as was carried out two years ago, when officials were regularly seen cracking down on those using polythene.

On the occasion, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon planted a deodar sapling at the DIET premises and urged all experts and members concerned of the civil society to play a vital role in the protection of forests and restore the glory of the Valley by planting a maximum number of trees.

“The city and towns of the Valley are required to be decorated by deodar trees, as they can play a pro-environment role and also enhance the beauty of an area. Adequate steps are required to be taken to save the existing chinar trees. Strict orders have already been issued for the protection of the chinar trees,” he added.

Director of Information Khawaja Farooq Renzushah, who also spoke on the occasion, pointed out that the Russian poplar trees, which can be found in abundance across the Valley, were a threat to the environment as “they caused more environmental hazards than any benefit to society”.

Renzushah said the departments concerned were now playing a “very positive role” by encouraging plantation of the deodar and conifer trees rather than the Russian poplars.

He also gave away prizes to students, who participated in a debate competition during the seminar.

Navaratras begin with religious fervour in Rajouri
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, March 23
The Navaratras festival began with religious fervour in Rajouri district today. A huge rush of devotees was witnessed in all the temples since early morning. The authorities have strengthened security arrangements in Rajouri town, especially at places where main Navaratras functions would be held. The state police and CRPF have been deployed in all sensitive places in the town to avert any untoward incident.

Dinesh Sharma, president, Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Rajouri, said, “The Navaratras festival began with a religious fervour in the town. This year we cannot organise jagrans because of the recent turmoil in Rajouri.”

He added that Ramnavmi arrangements were also going on smoothly, which marked the end of the nine-day long Navaratras festival.

SHO, Rajouri, Davinder Singh Katoch said more policemen had been deployed in all the sensitive places to avert any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, a huge rush of local consumers is being witnessed in bazaars buying household and other necessary items on the first day of Navaratras.

20 tourists hurt as bus skids off road
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 23
At least 20 tourists were injured, four of them critically, when a speeding minibus, in which they were travelling, skidded off the Jammu-Pathankot national highway at Jakh, near Vijaypur town, today.

Police said the tourists hailing from Uttar Pradesh were on their way to Jammu from Amritsar when their vehicle met with an accident around 11 am.

“The tourists were returning from Amritsar after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple and visiting the Wagah border. The driver of the minibus lost control of the vehicle, which skidded off the highway at Jakh,” sources said.

The sources further said local residents rushed to the scene and evacuated the injured.

“The injured were taken to a hospital in Vijaypur, from where the critically injured were referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu,” a source said.

Police said the tourists, who had earlier visited the Vaishno Devi shrine, had hired a minibus from here to visit Amritsar a few days ago.

They were returning from Amritsar to board a train from the Jammu railway station, the police added. The condition of the critically injured was stated to be stable.

Mother, child killed in road accident

Jammu: A woman and her two-year-old child were on Friday killed and five others received injuries in a road mishap near the Supwal area on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Kathua district this evening. The police said a car collided with a General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) vehicle near Supwal on the highway that led to the death of a mother and her child on the spot. Five critically injured persons were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu.

Omar feels he is ‘getting old’
M Aamir Khan

The photograph posted by Omar Abdullah on Twitter

Srinagar, March 23
Days after losing the “youngest serving Chief Minister” tag to Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday said he was “getting old” as he had started using reading glasses.

“:-(I’m getting old. I now need to start using glasses to read,” Omar tweeted on the micro-blogging website, Twitter.

He also posted his latest photograph on the website where he can be seen wearing a pair of glasses.

After Akhilesh had taken over as the head of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, Omar had congratulated him on the website, admitting that he was no longer the youngest serving Chief Minister of the country.

“Yey, I’m no longer going to be the youngest Chief Minister in the country.... Congratulations Akhilesh & all the best for the next five years,” he had tweeted.

Meanwhile, Omar’s latest tweet and bespectacled photograph did not impress many of his followers.

“Looking not so kool,” tweeted Shakoor Wani, while another follower said: “Lol, you’ve also developed a double chin Sir! Time to get back into shape!”

However, some liked Omar’s new look. “Old? Nebbbaarr evveerrr! Intellectual type total. Nice it looks! :-),” tweeted Priyanka.

Export to touch Rs 1,100 cr this fiscal: Minister
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 23
Handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir have been gaining popularity across the globe, with export sales touching Rs 1,004 crore last fiscal. The sales are expected to touch Rs 1,100 crore by the end of this financial year.

Minister of Industries and Commerce Surjeet Singh Slathia, while speaking in the Assembly yesterday, said the state had witnessed record production in the sector. The export of handcraft goods had been on a steady rise, he said.

The total handcraft production capacity of the state is Rs 1,650. 30 crore, out of which products worth Rs 1,100 crore, nearly 70 per cent of the goods produced in the state, would be exported by the end of this fiscal.

On incentives being given to encourage the production of handicrafts, the minister said: “Loan ceiling under the Handicraft Micro Enterprises Scheme has been enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Also, interest subvention has been enhanced from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. Further, the money for the state award to handicraft artisans and craftsmen has been enhanced from Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000,” he said.

“As regards the supply of looms, Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation Limited is in the process of manufacturing 2,000 modern carpet looms,” he said.

“The Government of India has initially sanctioned a grant of Rs 3.20 crore. The balance amount will be released subsequently for 8,000 looms.”

The minister said 10,000 artisans were being covered under the skill upgrade initiative.

“A component of the mega carpet cluster and carpet production centres are being established in Bandipora, Anantnag, Kulgam and Budgam districts for the benefit of carpet artisans on the recommendations of the expert group on employment in Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister stated.

He added that the state had sought an extension of 10 years in the package of incentives sanctioned by the Centre in June, 2002, including exemptions from income tax and refund of Central excise incentives. The package is scheduled to expire in June 2012.

Wife, paramour held for killing husband
Devinder Thakur

Katra, March 23
A 45-year-old woman, Zambhi Begum, and her neighbour Abdul Rashid have been arrested by the Reasi police for killing her husband. The incident took place in Mahore, about 80 km from the Reasi district headquarters, on the intervening night of March 21 and 22.

On receiving information about the crime, a police team from Mahore police station rushed to the spot. The body of the woman’s husband Nazir Ahmed (55) was brought to the Primary Health Centre in Mahore for a post-mortem.

The SSP, Reasi, Atul Goel, said today that the evidence collected from the scene suggested that the murder had been committed by Zambhi Begum and her paramour Abdul Rashid, both residents of the same village.

Both the accused were arrested by the police. An inquiry conducted by the police suggested that Zambhi Begum was having an affair with her neighbour for the past four years and that was the motive for the murder.

River rafting to give boost to tourism
Our Correspondent

Katra, March 23
The two-day Chenab Challenge -- a river rafting championship organised by the Tourism Department -- concluded here yesterday. Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora, who was the chief guest on the concluding ceremony, flagged off the 150m-long sprint rafting event at Bharadari in Reasi.

While speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the government had taken several steps for the exploration of new tourism destinations and conservation of the cultural heritage for the growth of tourism in the state.

Jora added that the main motive to organise the rafting event was to divert the rush of pilgrim tourists visiting the shrines of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Shiv Khori to the area to help uplift and strengthen the tourism infrastructure in the region for the socio-economic improvement of the district.

The Minister also said tourism was one of the fast growing sectors in the country and people must come forward, particularly unemployed youth of the district to avail of the benefits of various schemes and opt for tourism sector as a prospective career. The Minister directed the officials of the Tourism Department to organise camps in order to train local residents and acquaint them with various tourism-related activities so that they become self-employed.

The Indian Army Blue clinched both the trophies of the marathon and the sprint rafting events. Trophies and certificates were presented to participants and winners of both the events by the chief guest. A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion, which mesmerised the audience.

Later, the Minister also visited Bhim Ghar Fort, Reasi, and inspected the ongoing restoration work. He issued instructions to the officials concerned and asked them to speed up the construction work for timely completion.

Advisory issued for Haj pilgrims
List of approved tour operators taken out
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, March 23
In view of several reports of fleecing of pilgrims that had triggered widespread protests in the Kashmir valley last year, the government has issued guidelines for pilgrims who would be undertaking the annual Haj to Mecca this year. The Haj pilgrims have been urged not to get swayed by unauthorised advertisements and a list of approved tour operators has also been issued.

“The prospective pilgrims are told to be cautious and not to get swayed by false, frivolous and unauthorised notices which are off and on published in newspapers so that they may not get duped or exploited,” an official of the Jammu and Kashmir State Haj Committee said here.

Locals had taken to the streets last year after some private operators had duped several pilgrims. The protests had forced the police to arrest the manager of a private tour operator, Hajeej India Hospitality, for allegedly duping around 500 Haj pilgrims. Some other private operators too had come under the scanner of the government.

While some locals were not able to perform Haj after being duped, many others who had undertaken the pilgrimage had accused tour operators of not providing the promised services during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Despite last year’s episode, many unregistered tour operators were still found issuing advertisements in local newspapers offering attractive Haj packages.

The official of the J&K Haj Committee said only nine local private operators had been registered and the public had been told to avoid booking pilgrimages with unregistered companies.

“The Haj Committee of India, Mumbai, has registered nine private tour operators of the Kashmir valley with Union Ministry of External Affairs. The registered tour operators include Al-Khuddam Haj and Umrah Services, Al-Huda Travel, Universe Travel Corporation, Al-Hayat Haj and Omrah Travel Services, Labaika Haj and Umrah Services, Rohani Tours and Travels, Sahar Tours and Travels, Gazi Tours and Travel and Bahreen Travel,” the official said.

Money counter at Vaishno Devi Shrine
Our Correspondent

Katra March 23
The business unit of J&K Bank Ltd at Vaishno Devi Bhawan has started the “note exchange counter”. The counter will provide fresh currency notes to facilitate the devotees coming here from across the country.

The note exchange counter was inaugurated by Navin Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). M K Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board also attended the function.

Navin lauded the relentless efforts of the bank for the uplift of the weaker sections of society. He also conveyed his thanks to the bank management and the RBI for facilitating the devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi by providing a special counter for issuing fresh currency on the eve of Navaratras.

Handloom sector can empower entrepreneurs, says Minister
Our Correspondent

Katra, March 23
Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia today called for organising micro-industrial sector in rural areas in a big way through effective implementation of the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). He said the Khadi and Village Industries and Handloom sector played a vital role in the development of economy and ensuring generation of rural employment.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a seven-day state level exhibition-cum-sale of khadi village products and five-day district handloom mela organised at the spiritual Growth Centre, Katra, Slathia said owing to a vast potential, the handlooms, including the khadi and village industries could prove a drawing force to empower first generation entrepreneurs for setting up of micro-enterprise both in rural and urban areas.

“The launching ceremony of the exhibition-cum-sale events coincides with the beginning of Navrataras,” Slathia said. He hoped that the events would prove as a harbinger for the growth of state’s economy, its progress, prosperity and development.

The Industries Minister stressed the need for opening up of new marketing channels to showcase the world famous handloom and khadi village products. He added that organising the exhibition-cum-sale events at the pilgrim tourism destinations like Katra would go a long way in this direction. He appreciated the KVIB and the Handlooms Department for organising the events at Katra. “Pilgrims tourists should be our target, who will buy the handmade products and enable artisans to sell their products at remunerated prices,” the Minister said.

Minister for Higher Education and Employment Abdul Gani Malik and Reasi MLA Baldev Raj Sharma were also present on the occasion.

Malik underscored the need for an optimum utilisation of PMEGP for generating employment for youth. He said organising the exhibition-cum-sale melas provided platform to artisans to sell their products without any middleman. He asked the youth to avail the benefits of various self-employment schemes to earn a dignified livelihood.

The function was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Umang Narula; Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sheetal Nanda; Director, Industries, Dua; Director, Handicrafts, Chandra Gupta; MD, SICOP, VK Razdhan; MD, JKI, Javid Iqbal; MD, HDC, Showkat Ali; MD, JKML, BC Sharma and Secretary, KVIB, Ravinder Singh.

Kashmiri play staged

Jammu, March 23
The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages yesterday staged a Kashmiri play, “Premnath vs Premnath” at the Abhinav Theatre. Written by Makhan Lal Saraf, the play roughly follows the main events of a property transfer affair, though certainly in no slavish manner. The sequence and timing of events are at times compressed or altered, and characters are a mixture of everyday life experiences, mostly invented.

Several characters, including that of Shadilal Koul as Premnath, and that of Makhan Lal Saraf as Premnath’s namesake, playing the character of Arundhati’s husband, are entirely fictional and echo the same in a pronounced manner. — TNS

Rs 7 crore demanded for windstorm-hit in Valley
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 23
While the government has declared the devastating windstorm that struck most parts of the Kashmir valley on Tuesday as a natural calamity, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has sought an immediate release of Rs 7 crore to compensate victims of the windstorm.

The Divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, made this request while submitting a detailed preliminary report at a meeting held by Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla along with Minister of State for Home and Revenue Nasir Aslam Wani at Srinagar yesterday.

Earlier, the Ministers visited Poonch, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora and Srinagar districts to take stock of the damage caused due to the windstorm, resulting in widespread damage to life and property across the state.

The Divisional Commissioner said the administration was making efforts for the arrangement of timber from the Forest Department to compensate those whose roof-tops had been shattered by strong winds. Samoon informed the Ministers that three persons had died and 30 were injured in the Kashmir valley due to the windstorm while 235 residential houses were fully damaged and 6,321 severely damaged. About 9,214 residential houses across the Kashmir valley were partially damaged while 32 school buildings were also damaged in the cyclonic winds that swept the Valley on Tuesday.

While taking stock of the preparedness of the government departments to face the challenges thrown by the natural calamity, the Ministers assured the Divisional Administration of additional funds to meet the requirements of affected people. “In case of fully damaged and partially damaged houses, we will try to provide relief as per norms. We will explore the possibility of enhanced relief so that people are adequately compensated,” the Ministers said.

Sufi saint passes away
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, March 23
A Sufi saint of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Ama Sahab Goshbug, who had a huge following across the Valley, has passed away. The saint died yesterday after a brief illness. His followers say Ama Sahab had stayed in a state of meditation for 12 years and had “guided his devotees to the righteous path of love and tolerance” while preaching brotherhood and communal harmony.

Mufti Bashir-ud-Din Ahmad, in his condolence message, described Ama Sahab as one of the legendary Sufi personalities of the Valley. During the period of meditation, he had survived merely on water, he said. As the news of his passing away spread, condolence messages started pouring in from all quarters.

In a statement issued here, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have expressed profound sorrow and shock over the death of Ama Sahab.

His death was also condoled by Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Public Enterprise Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin, Minister for Medical Education RS Chib, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmed, Adviser to Chief Minister Mubark Gul, Minister of State for Haj and Aquaf Ajaz Ahmed Khan, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan.