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Tribune Impact
CENSUS 2011 FINDINGS |
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Pak nixing return of Kashmiri youths: CM
Five LeT militants killed in Kupwara encounters
Army Chief reviews security in Valley
Teachers given premature transfers
JE appointments condemned
NC, PDP legislators in war of words over corruption
Rajoana’s Hanging
Sikhs protest Balwant Singh Rajoana’s proposed hanging in the Gadigarh area in Jammu on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph
230 women commit suicide in 2 years: Minister
Efforts on to get SC nod for Patnitop ropeway project
Katra MC launches anti-mosquito drive
Entrepreneurial skills imparted to students
Tulip Garden ready to greet tourists in Valley
Farmers demand water for irrigation
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Tribune Impact
Jammu, March 28 Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, who was replying on behalf of Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin, said a step-by-step approach to save the river and beautify it was being followed. Not satisfied with the reply, legislators of the Panthers Party, Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress asked the government about the reasons for the delay in execution of decades-old waste management projects, and the status of government’s comprehensive plan to preserve the Tawi which was okayed during the last session of the Council. The Tribune Tawi trail |
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CENSUS 2011 FINDINGS
Srinagar, March 28 “The findings should serve as an eye-opener for NGOs as well as the policy-makers,” Saproo added. As per the findings, night soil in 1,78,572 households is still removed by people as there are no drainage facilities. The findings have revealed that 63.9 per cent of the households get tap water out of which only 34.7 per cent get treated (clean) water. While 29.2 per cent of the households get untreated tap water, 6.7 per cent fetch water from rivers and canals. Similarly, 1.9, 4.7, 11.4, 1.5 and 6.2 per cent of the households get water from covered wells, uncovered wells, hand pumps, tube wells and springs, respectively. Moreover, only 9,70,643 households have got water available on their premises. While the findings reveal that 11,94,854 cellular phones are used across the state, on the other hand, only 85.14 per cent of the households use electricity as the main source of lighting. Firewood continues to be the main source of fuel in the households. A total of 11,87,122 households use firewood as fuel while cow dung is used by 84,509. “Use of firewood is one of the main cause of respiratory diseases among women of the state,” Saproo said. Only 6,35,867 households use LPG as fuel. The census was carried out by 27,000 enumerators under the supervision of deputy commissioners of the respective districts of the state and has the findings of the data collected till September 2010. |
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Pak nixing return of Kashmiri youths: CM
Jammu, March 28 Omar said 1,022 applications had been received under the rehabilitation policy announced by the government for the return of the youth who had been living in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “We have given clearance to 67 such applications but not even a single youth has returned because this does not suit our neighbour. For years together our neighbour has been exploiting the sentiments of Kashmiri youth,” the Chief Minister said, adding that he had also approached the Union government on bringing back the youth who had crossed over to the other side of border in the early 1990s. Claiming that the menace of militancy had been eradicated from most parts of the state, Omar today once again reiterated his demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from some parts of the state in a phased manner. Winding up the debate in the Assembly on grants for departments under his purview, Omar Abdullah said militancy had reduced sharply during last year. Quoting figures, he said in 2010, 65 security personnel had lost their lives in militancy-related incidents but this number came down to 18 in 2011. Arguing that laws which were implemented when militancy was at its peak must roll back, Omar said his government was committed to withdrawing the AFSPA. “The AFSPA is implemented in the state not to deal with the law and order problem but to deal with militancy,” he maintained, adding that militancy was ebbing so there was a need to withdraw the Act. “Efforts are on and I am hopeful that the process of withdrawing the AFSPA will start this year. This law should be withdrawn from those areas where the Army has not done any operations for years together,” Omar said. Omarspeak *
We have given clearance to 67 such applications but not even a single youth has returned because this does not suit our neighbour (Pakistan). |
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Five LeT militants killed in Kupwara encounters
Srinagar, March 28 The two separate encounters took place simultaneously in the Panjwani forests and Laribal village of Handwara this morning, the police here said. Acting on specific information, the 21 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army, 92 Bn of the CRPF and the police cordoned off the Panjwani forests and Laribal village in the Zachaldara area near Handwara. “The cordon and search ensued into an encounter, in which three militants were killed in the Panjwani forests and two militants were killed in Peer Mohalla, Laribal,” a police spokesman said here. The bodies of slain militants were recovered from the encounter sites and their identity is yet to be ascertained. Five AK 47 rifles and 17 AK magazines were recovered from the encounter site. According to Defence spokesman Lt Col JS Brar, the hiding militants were asked to surrender, but they opened fire, leading to a gunfight. Five militants hiding in the area were gunned down, the spokesman added. “Most of the terrorists are likely to be foreigners and belong to the LeT,” Lt Col Brar said. Three of the five militants killed in the encounters have been identified as Aali Bhai, Abu Bakr and Zabiullah. Abu Bakr had been active in the area for the last five years. Senior officers, including the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, S M Sahai, and the IGP (Admn), CRPF, Ravi Prakash, supervised the encounter, a police spokesman said. This is the first major encounter this year so far after the snow level along the Line of Control (LoC) passing through high mountains has started melting down. However, it was not yet clear whether the group of militants killed today in two separate encounters had infiltrated recently from across the LoC. |
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Army Chief reviews security in Valley
Srinagar, March 28 During his visit to the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps headquarters of the Army today, Gen VK Singh was briefed in detail about the operational preparedness of the Corps on the LoC and also about the prevailing security scenario in the Kashmir valley. A Defence spokesman said the Army Chief interacted with officers and all ranks of the Chinar Corps and complimented them for their outstanding vigilance, state of preparedness and maintenance of high moral values and principles. The Army Chief was appreciative of the initiatives undertaken by the Northern Command and in particular the Chinar Corps, which has led to a peaceful environment in the Valley. Earlier, on his arrival here yesterday, Gen VK Singh and his wife Bharti Singh, president of the Army Wives Welfare Organistion (AWWA), were received by Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Anagha Parnaik, regional president of the AWWA, Command, and Lt Gen SA Hasnain, GOC of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. |
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Teachers given premature transfers
Jammu, March 28 These transfers were made in violation of the transfer policy that makes it mandatory for all government employees to serve on a post for a minimum period of two years. The teachers, who are supposed to be “the favourites of politicians”, have been given prized postings. The Minister for School Education, in a written reply to a question of National Conference legislator Ajaz Ahmed Jan, today told the Legislative Assembly that 67 headmasters or headmasters in charge and 68 lecturers were transferred before their tenure during the last two years. “A total of 61 masters (27 in 2010 and 34 in 2011) were transferred prematurely in the Jammu region, while 53 masters were transferred before the completion of two years’ service in one school in the Kashmir valley during the last two years,” the minister maintained. Seventeen teachers were either attached with ministers or were adjusted in their favourite places. Other teachers were attached with vice-chairmen of different boards. |
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jammu, March 28 Talking to mediapersons here today, the members of the association alleged that the two selected persons had used forged mark sheets to secure the appointments. They have also demanded a high-level probe into the entire issue. |
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NC, PDP legislators in war of words over corruption
Jammu, March 28 While as members of these parties levelled charges and counter-charges against each other, legislators of other political parties, including the Congress, watched the war of words as mute spectators. During the debate on grants under the purview of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP members charged the government with patronising corruption in the state. Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh took charge on behalf of the PDP to corner the government. Mir Saifullah from the NC “exposed” all claims of the PDP. He alleged that PDP ministers were involved in corrupt practices, backdoor appointments, massacres and human rights violation. Saifullah told the Assembly that in the Horticulture, Marketing and Planning Department, thousands of backdoor appointments had been made, particularly from one constituency. While countering the allegations of the former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, Saifullah said instead of raising fingers at him, the fact is that backdoor appointments were made during the PDP regime and clear proofs are available for that. Saifullah raised the Kundal Commission issue in the Assembly and said that the Commission appointed by the then government had indicted two ministers in the forest scandal, but instead of punishing them they were shielded by the PDP. He also revealed that a government official, who was dismissed from his service, on account of the rural development scandal was honoured and made an MLC by the PDP. He alleged that the PDP for their political interests was directly responsible for provocation so that they could make political capital from the bloodshed. While NC and PDP members were levelling charges against each other, BJP members pointed out that the Assembly had become a battleground for two families. BJP member Choudhary Sukhnandan trooped towards the Well of the House and asked the Speaker to give chance to members of other parties also. BJP members Ashok Khajuria, Jugal Kishore and Choudhary Sham Lal also joined their colleague. |
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Rajoana’s Hanging
Srinagar, March 28 Members of the Sikh community in the Valley gathered at a local gurdwara in the Lal Chowk area to protest the proposed hanging of Rajoana, which is scheduled for Saturday. Protesters raised slogans against the Centre, alleging that those, who had “committed crimes” against the Sikh community in 1984 after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were now ruling the country. “Those who committed crimes against the Sikhs in 1984 are roaming freely and ruling the country. While justice still eludes the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana is being expedited,” a protester said. As soon as they tried to take out a procession, police personnel on duty detained at least a dozen Sikh protesters. Meanwhile, the police is keeping a close watch on the Sikh dominated areas to prevent such protests. The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, which is the main Sikh body in the Kashmir valley, has already demanded amnesty for Rajoana. JAMMU: Various Sikh organisations today took to the streets in the Jammu region, demanding clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana who has been awarded death penalty in the assassination case of former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh. The protesters blocked the Jammu-Pathankot national highway at Rajbagh for over an hour. They urged the President to grant clemency to Rajoana who was awaiting execution on March 31 as per the orders of the Chandigarh Sessions Court. There were also reports of protests from various other places in the region. |
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230 women commit suicide in 2 years: Minister
Jammu, March 28 Responding to queries of Congress and National Conference members during Question Hour in the Upper House yesterday, the Social Welfare Minister said her department and the police regularly organised awareness camps on moral values among women at the district level to reduce the number of suicide cases. “Appropriate action under the law is taken against those found responsible for inciting victims to take such an extreme step,” Itoo said. However, she sought the cooperation of people to contribute his bit in reversing the trend. The Women Commission also provides counselling to such women and it is a continuous process, the Minister said. Earlier, MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta expressed concern over the rising number of suicides by women of the state. He also wanted to know whether the government had any plans to come up with reformation centres to help women in distress. Responding to the queries of Congress MLC Subhash Gupta and NC MLC Ghulam Qadir Pardesi over pendency of the old age pension scheme, Sakina said, under the scheme 5 lakh beneficiaries were being covered in the state, but at the same time there was a pendency of 1.50 lakh cases. “To bring the beneficiaries under the purview of the old age pension scheme, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already constituted a panel under the Chief Secretary. I am confident that the pendency will be covered in due course of time,” Itoo said. |
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Efforts on to get SC nod for Patnitop ropeway project
Udhampur, March 28 The project has been lying in limbo for about four years due to a PIL filed in the Supreme Court against it and other such projects in the country on environmental grounds. Incidentally, this project was conceived three years ago, after the filing of the said PIL by a Goa-based NGO. The proposed ropeway will be the first of its kind in the Jammu province. There is already the Gulmarg ropeway in the Kashmir valley. “We have recently got the permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests but the same is also required from the J&K State Forests Advisory Committee, which has deferred the case to the apex court for clearance. We have started the process of filing the case before the Central Empowered Committee of the apex court set up to deal with such cases,” said the Chief Executive Officer, PDA, Dr Raman Kesar. Pending environmental clearances, the PDA authorities as well as the district administration, Udhampur, have been conducting other formalities so that the execution of this Rs 53-crore project could be started without any delay. The cost of the project is likely to escalate to Rs 65 crore due to the delay in its execution, say sources. The proposed ropeway would cover a distance of about 3 km from Kud on the National Highway to Karlah in Patnitop. An intermediate terminal has also been proposed at Sangot. In October 2010, the project got a push as the district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board held the mandatory public hearing. Fed up with the procedural delays, residents of the area, including public representatives at the panchayat level, haven’t raised any objections. “The entire area actually wants an early execution of the project due to its economic value for the people who fear a major cut in the tourist footfall due to the coming up of a tunnel between Chenani and Nashri aimed at reducing the distance between Jammu and Srinagar by bypassing Patnitop,” said Tilak Raj, a chemist shop owner at Kud. PDA officials said the design of the project was complete and would take about 18 months to complete after it gets the clearance. When operational, the 7 km surface distance between Kud and Karlah could be covered in 15 minutes. Moreover, it has the potential of generating employment for about 150 persons. The executing agency has reportedly assured that locals would be employed not only during construction but also after the ropeway becomes operational. |
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Katra MC launches anti-mosquito drive
Katra, March 28 Surveys are on in the holy town and a 10-day programme is also organised every month to check mosquito breeding sites. During this programme, workers go door to door and distribute pamphlets providing information on mosquito breeding. “The Health Department and the Muncipal Committee, Katra, have been directed to identify low-lying areas and check waterlogging there,” said Subash Chander, Sanitary Inspector, MC, Katra. Construction sites, where mosquito breeding is common, are also being surveyed and blood samples of migrant labourers are being taken. The department has also decided to impose a fine of upto Rs 5,000 on owners of construction sites where mosquitoes are found breeding. |
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Entrepreneurial skills imparted to students
Katra, March 28 The programme was held in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) of India and the College of Management, SMVDU. This was the first such programme organised by the EDI, Ahmedabad, in the state. A total of 20 participants from nine states took part in the programme. The programme was designed to train and develop professionals in entrepreneurship development so that they could act as resource persons in guiding and motivating youth, especially students to take up entrepreneurship as a career option. Prof RNK Bamezai, Vice-Chancellor of the SMVDU, said there was a need for such programmes and asked all participants to utilise the two weeks in such a manner so that they are able to organise more programmes on entrepreneurship at their respective institutions for students and faculty. He said entrepreneurship should not be taken only in the context of producing successful business, but we should be able to inculcate entrepreneurial values and behaviour among student community. The event was attended by Prof V Verma, Dean, College of Sciences; Prof D Mukhopadhyay, Dean, College of Management; Shri Raman Gujral, senior faculty and head, Central Regional office of the EDI, Bhopal, and Dr SK Wanchoo, in charge Director, SICD. A special session on “role of achievement motivation in self development” was also conducted by Prof BB Siddiqui for faculty and staff members of the university. |
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Tulip Garden ready to greet tourists in Valley
Srinagar, March 28 Spread over 35 hectares, the garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan hill range here has become a major tourist destination of the Kashmir valley since 2007, and this year it will display eight new varieties of tulips. “This year we have acquired eight new varieties of tulips. The garden will have around 3.30 lakh flowers this season as more than 70 varieties of tulips will be put on display,” said Javed Ahmad Shah, in charge of Tulip Garden. On public demand, the tulips have been arranged in straight-line beds this year. “Putting in place these straight-line beds requires a lot of efforts but it will provide a visual treat for visitors as well as enable good camera angles,” Shah added. Stating that the straight-line beds would also attract Bollywood to shoot films at the garden, he said: “People still remember the song of Silsila movie (dekha ek khwab) that was shot at a tulip garden in Holland. When people especially visitors from outside the state visit this garden, they except to see similar scenes and the straight-line beds will definitely give them that experience this time.” In 2008, a song of Bollywood movie Sadiyaan was shot at Tulip Garden. Later, a few scenes of a Tamil film were also shot at the picturesque garden. The garden was earlier known as Siraj Bagh and was named Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in 2007 by then Chief Minister of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad. The main aim of setting up the garden was extending the duration of the tourist season that usually starts in the Valley by April-end. The garden would be inaugurated this year by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on March 29 and would be opened to the public on the same day. |
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Farmers demand water for irrigation
Katra, March 28 Sharma said inspite of heavy losses suffered by farmers, no attention was given by the administration to assess the losses and compensate farmers. Protesters demanded that the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, should personally visit the area and constitute teams of revenue officers to assess the loss and suitably compensate the farmers. |
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The Save Tawi campaign launched by Jammu Tribune on the rising pollution level in the river rocked the Legislative Council today.
A number of legislators, cutting across party lines, brandished copies of Jammu Tribune and asked the government to initiate measures on a war footing to save the religious and historic river from further degradation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said Pakistan was creating hurdles in the return of those Kashmiri youth who had crossed over to other side of the border but now wanted to lead peaceful lives.
Srinagar, March 28
Srinagar, March 28
With over 70 varieties of tulips in vibrant colours, Tulip Garden is all set to woo tourists as its doors will be thrown open to the public on Thursday.
Spread over 35 hectares, the garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan hill range here has become a major tourist destination of the Kashmir valley since 2007, and this year it will display eight new varieties of tulips. “This year we have acquired eight new varieties of tulips.
Residents of various villages across Reasi district, including women, held a protest rally against absence of canal water for irrigating the wheat crop in Reasi today. The protest was held under the chairmanship of Sohan Lal Sharma.
Sharma said inspite of heavy losses suffered by farmers, no attention was given by the administration to assess the losses and compensate farmers.
The river, which is also known as Suryaputri, largely caters to the water needs of the winter capital. National Conference legislature Ajay Sadotra raised the issue by questioning the progress in beautification of the Tawi. 
Addressing a press conference here, Joint Chief Principal Census Officer CS Saproo, while presenting the findings of the census, said out of 20,15,088 households in the state, 9,83,791 did not have toilet facilities on their premises. According to Census 2001, 7,27,166 lacked toilet facilities and the number has increased by 25.07 per cent over the past decade.
