The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Civil Secretariat reopens in summer capital Darbar Move: Police Headquarters, High Court also resume work M Aamir Khan/TNS Srinagar, May 7 The Civil Secretariat and other darbar offices reopened in the summer capital of the state today. The offices were thrown open after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inspected a guard of honour at the Civil Secretariat in the morning. Later, Omar inaugurated six upgraded clerical halls for industry, revenue, higher education, estates, treasury and CM’s Secretariat. He also inaugurated three digitalised meeting halls in the Civil Secretariat. A new additional block of the Civil Secretariat is being constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation at a cost of Rs 28.75 crore. It will comprise six storeys and is likely to be completed by August, 2013, said Madan Gupta, Managing Director, JKPCC. He said under the instructions of the Chief Minister, the JKPCC had completed the work on the first floor of the additional block in just six months. The block will have six chambers for ministers, six offices for administrative secretaries, committee halls, an IT section, a library, stock rooms and other offices. The Police Headquarters and the High Court also reopened here. DGP Kuldeep Khoda inspected the Police Headquarters where he was presented a guard of honour by a contingent of armed police. Later, the DGP visited other police offices, including Armed, CID, Security, Railways, Crime Headquarters and Police Housing Corporation. Acting Chief Justice Virendar Singh was also presented a guard of honour at the High Court complex. The offices of the Registrar General and Vigilance besides administrative wings also opened here today. Mohammad Akbar Lone, Speaker, Legislative Assembly, inspected various sections of the Assembly Secretariat and took stock of the functioning of various units after the reopening of the offices, while Amrit Malhotra, Chairman, Legislative Council, took stock of the functioning of the Council.
	Local bodies poll by this year, says Omar ‘Panchayats to get more powers within six months’ Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, May 7 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the elections to the local bodies in the state would be held this year. Replying to queries put forth by mediapersons on the opening of “darbar” at the Civil Secretariat today, Omar said he wanted to get these elections conducted as early as possible but due to the early start of the tourist season this year, the decision on the issue had been delayed. “The final decision in this regard will be taken in the next couple of Cabinet meetings,” he said, adding that the conduct of these elections was crucial to initiating urban reforms and obtaining financial assistance under JNNURM and other Centrally-aided schemes for the development of cities and towns. On the empowerment of panchayats, Omar Abdullah said the holding of panchayat elections validated the commitment of the government to reintroduce the panchayat system in the state after a gap of over three decades. “I disagree with those who create doubts regarding the transfer of powers to these grass-root democratic units.... A new generation of politicians has emerged during this period. The working in the new setup has to be streamlined,” he said. Various powers had already been transferred to the panchayats and more were being transferred, he added. He said the constitution of block and district panchayat bodies was also in the pipeline. There would be a significant movement in the transfer of powers to panchayats during the next six months, he added. On the Amarnath Yatra, Omar said the government would provide all facilities for the successful conduct of the yatra. “We have requested the Shrine Board to ensure medical checkup of the yatris so that their health remains sound during the yatra,” he said. The number of yatris visiting the holy cave would be ascertained when the registration got over, he added. On the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, the Chief Minister said besides creating a sense of security among them for their return to the Valley, the government had put in place an economic security programme for their rehabilitation.a“Under the employment package, they are being provided with job opportunities in the Valley and we have been successful in implementing the package,” he said, adding that the state government had taken up the issue of enhancing the assistance for the construction of houses for the Kashmiri migrant families from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 20 lakh with the Centre. Omar-speak * Darbar move is a necessary evil in my opinion * Hope peace persists and people continue to support the government * Government to expedite work on projects at hand * Coalition parties must fulfil commitments made in 2008 elections
	Amarnath Pilgrimage 174 bank branches begin registration for yatra Sumit Hakhoo/TNS Jammu, May 7 At least 174 bank branches across the country today began the registration of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath yatra, which will commence on June 25 from the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The registration for the yatra started simultaneously in 121 designated branches of J&K Bank, 49 of Yes Bank and four District Cooperative Banks in the state. The yatra will culminate on Raksha Bandhan i.e. August 2. OP Sharma, zonal head, J&K Bank, said their bank had been authorised to register 2,54,485 pilgrims. Each J&K Bank branch would be entitled to register 280 pilgrims every day for the yatra. “Of this, 140 each will be registered for Baltal and Pahalgam routes and the registration will be done on a ‘first come, first served’ basis,” Sharma said. For the purpose, the requisite application form (A) and the compulsory health certificate form can be collected from the designated branches or from the website of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. For the first time, 100 post offices across the country will also register pilgrims for the yatra from May 15. Vinod Anand, a pilgrim who got a registration form at Bakshi Nagar branch of J&K Bank, said: “I came here for registration from Samba at 6 am. I have never missed the pilgrimage in the past 14 years.” The registration will be done through a provisional yatra permit, which will be issued on the submission of requisite documents and payment of handling charges of Rs 15 per yatri. The yatris holding the provisional yatra permits will have to submit the prescribed health certificate to the Shrine Board officials at the yatra base camps — Baltal and Nunwan — and get their provisional permits stamped before being allowed to proceed beyond the base camps. Kapil Bali, another applicant, said he hoped the administration would make adequate arrangements so that pilgrims did not face problems en route to the cave shrine. “The Amarnath yatra is an important pilgrimage for the Hindus and the government should ensure that better facilities are provided to the pilgrims,” he added. While the north Kashmir trek from the Baltal base camp to the shrine is 14 kms long, enabling the pilgrims to return the same day after the “darshan”, the south Kashmir trek from Pahalgam base camp is 42 kms long and it takes three days to reach the cave. Fact file * Yatra will commence on June 25 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan i.e. August 2 * 121 designated branches of J&K Bank, 49 of Yes Bank and four District Cooperative Banks begin registration in the state * J&K Bank allotted a quota of carrying out 2,54,485 registrations * Each J&K Bank branch entitled to register 280 pilgrims every day Paperwork for yatra A provisional yatra permit will be issued to the applicants on the submission of requisite documents and payment of handling charges of Rs 15 per yatri. Yatris holding yatra permits will have to submit the prescribed health certificate at the Baltal or Nunwan base camps and get their permits stamped from officials of the Shrine Board before being allowed to proceed beyond the camps
	City roads gridlocked Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 7 City roads witnessed heavy traffic jams despite “adequate” arrangements made by the traffic police to regulate traffic in the wake of the reopening of “darbar” offices here today. The newly installed five traffic lights, which were supposed to become operational today, failed to work. Traffic jams were witnessed on most city roads during the first half of the day, when the Civil Secretariat reopened in the summer capital after a gap six months. The move of the traffic department to deploy more personnel on roads, install dividers and block certain diversions failed to make much impact. “The officials are only worried about keeping the two roads leading to the Civil Secretariat clear. The inconvenience caused to motorists in the city is the last thing on their mind,” said Syed Showkat, a medical employee and a resident of Bemina. “They had put up barricades at the Bemina crossing and prevented vehicles from entering the city from there. We had to take a detour via Tengpora but there too dozens of SUVs had blocked the road in the absence of any police official to regulate traffic,” he added. The situation was similar at Panthachowk, the other major entry point of the city from south Kashmir. “As always, there was chaos at Panthachowk. We had expected things to improve, but the situation had only got worse there,” said Abdul Qayoom, a commuter from Pulwama. As the day progressed, the situation in the heart of the city worsened. Buses were largely to blame for the mess, as these made unscheduled stops to pick and drop passengers. DIG (Traffic) Shafqat Watali said the blocking of the Tengpora bypass was responsible for the worsening traffic scenario in the city.
	Governor’s Sectt reopens in Srinagar Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 7 The Governor’s Secretariat in Raj Bhawan was reopened as part of the annual darbar move to the summer capital today. Governor NN Vohra inspected the newly constructed physically challenged-friendly ramp and a lavatory constructed on his instructions to facilitate the differently abled persons visiting the Raj Bhawan. These deficiencies had been noticed when a group of children were invited to the Raj Bhawan, an official said. The Governor went round the various wings of the secretariat and issued instructions regarding repairs required in certain areas. He stressed the need for maintaining cleanliness, better management of office records and enhanced maintenance of the lawns and gardens and sustained upkeep of the entire Raj Bhawan estate. The Governor also inspected the 20 kW solar power plant and 2,000 LPD capacity solar water heating system installed at Raj Bhawan last year and issued instructions to ensure optimum functioning of both units. Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, and other Raj Bhawan officials were also present. The Secretariat had been closed in Jammu on April 27.
	Chinks emerge within moderate Hurriyat faction Two leaders snub former chairman over UN remark M Aamir Khan/TNS Srinagar, May 7 Differences within the moderate Hurriyat faction, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, came to the fore after two senior leaders of the conglomerate today distanced themselves from the recent statement of former chairman Abdul Gani Bhat. While Bhat, who is also a member of the moderate Hurriyat conglomerate, had recently stated that the UN resolutions regarding the Kashmir issue were not applicable in the present times, National Front chairman Nayeem Khan and Mahaaz-e-Azaadi patron Azam Inquilabi distanced themselves from the statement. “Who says the UN resolutions are not applicable to Kashmir? People are trying to create confusion with their big statements. They have no mandate to speak on behalf of all (conglomerate). They should first take into confidence other groups. I distance myself from the statement,” said Nayeem Khan while addressing a seminar held here to commemorate the 35th foundation of the Mahaaz-e-Azaadi. Khan also flayed another senior moderate Hurriyat leader, Bilal Gani Lone, who had reportedly accused separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah of hypocrisy. Lone had yesterday sharply reacted to Shah’s recent admission that there were differences within the moderate Hurriyat faction over the institutionalising of the conglomerate. Azam Inquilabi, who also distanced himself from Bhat’s UN comments, called for unity within the separatist ranks.
	Power bill of state to cross Rs 3,100 crore by 2014 Sumit Hakhoo Jammu, May 7 With the power purchase bill expected to cross Rs 3,100 crore by 2014, plans of the state government to bring major fiscal reforms could face a major bottleneck. Estimate by the Power Development Department (PDD) has sent alarm bells ringing among officials, as the power bill is proving a major drain on the resources, which has affected the overall development planning of the government in the past few years. Sources in the PDD said the power purchase bill for the last fiscal was around Rs 2,800 crore, which had forced the government to divert some of the plan funds from other sources to meet the rising energy demand. “The demand for electricity is increasing every year while the revenue realisation is not showing much improvement, putting the burden on the government to buy power from the Northern Grid. It affects other sectors, as funds are diverted to meet the requirements,” said an official. A cursory look at the figures reveals that the power import has drastically increased during the recent years. It was around Rs 1,500 crore for 2006-07, Rs 2,000 crore for 2008-09, Rs 2,560 crore for 2009-10, and the purchases had shot up to Rs 2,767.04 crore for 2010-11. The sources claimed that the government was expecting around Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,200 crore revenue collected from consumers during the last fiscal, but the amount collected was about Rs 900 crore. Minister for Revenue Abdul Rahim Rather while admitting that the power bill was a major concern, said some drastic reforms had been initiated to plug the gaps. “We have introduced an Energy Accounting System from this year, which would keep a tab on the distribution of power from sub-stations, besides improve the annual revenue collection,” Rather said. The Minister said the collection was Rs 600 crore during 2008-09, but since 2009 the revenue realisation had increased and would be showing a positive trend in coming years. “It is a slow process, but we are hopeful that Jammu and Kashmir will be able to meet the targets,” he said. The power sector is a major drain on resources of the state. The Planning Commission of India and the Union Power Ministry have repeatedly been asking the government to bring major reforms in the state, including bringing down the power bill and transmission and distribution losses, which were currently around 60 to 65 per cent. A wide gap in the bill and revenue generation is being attributed to the failure of the PDD to collect tariffs from different category of consumers, including domestic, commercial and government offices.
	Former ‘spy’ Sawhney ends fast-unto-death Allowed to set up kiosk at Hari Market Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, May 7 After 17 days, the state government today brought its “act” together and allowed former ‘spy’ Vinod Sawhney to set up a stationary kiosk at Hari Market here, thus paving way for his dignified rehabilitation. However, the administration officials, who offered juice to the former ‘spy’ at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, today afternoon, didn’t give any formal order to him. “Today around 12.30 pm Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma and Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), KL Khajuria visited me at the GMCH and conceded to my demand to rehabilitate me properly,” Sawhney told The Tribune. “The Deputy Commissioner and the JMC Commissioner offered me a glass of juice and following their assurance I ended my fast-unto-death,” he added. “Both the officials permitted me to set up a kiosk at Hari Market on a permanent basis. They also assured me that no one will remove me from there.” Vivek, Vinod Sawhney’s son, said that since the JMC officials, including the Commissioner, remained busy in a meeting at the Civil Secretariat here with Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, the JMC Commissioner had asked him to come to his office tomorrow morning to collect the order. When contacted, Jammu Deputy Commissioner said a permanent space had been given to the former ‘spy’. He claimed that an order was also given to Sawhney. The JMC Commissioner said, “Sawhney was convinced and that is why he ended his fast. We have agreed upon a stationary kiosk on a space in Hari Market, provided his venture doesn’t cause any problem to the people.” The former ‘spy’ has also agreed to it and he will not be removed from that space unless required in a pressing situation, he added. The Commissioner also maintained that a written order had been given to him in this regard. Sawhney had started his hunger strike outside Press Club here on April 20, seeking his rehabilitation from the state government. Fettered in chains with a Tricolour in his hand, the former secret agent had claimed that he had languished in different Pakistani jails for 11 years after being caught on an espionage mission. The former ‘spy’ also claimed that he had been assured rehabilitation by the then Chief Secretary SS Kapoor.
	BSP for trifurcation of state Tribune News Service Jammu, May 7 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today batted strongly for re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir by carving out two separate states and a Union Territory from the existing structure. “All the three regions of the state, including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, differ from each other geographically, demographically and in terms of climate. We have resolved to fight for re-organisation of the state to ensure equitable development in these regions,” Narinder Kashyap, BSP national general secretary, told mediapersons here. He said the Kashmir and Jammu regions should be given separate status of states while the Ladakh region, which is the coldest desert in the world, should be given the status of a Union Territory, as it would ensure equitable development and economic activity in each region. The Jammu State Morcha (JSM), too, has been advocating for the trifurcation of the state, with separate state status to Jammu and Kashmir regions and a Union Territory status to the Ladakh region. It also demanded for a Centrally-administered piece of land within the Kashmir valley for the settlement of the Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities. The BSP leader said there was a need for re-organisation of the state for equal opportunity in governance and economic activities. “The people of the Jammu and Ladakh regions feel that the appeasement policy of the Central government towards Kashmiri leadership will not permit a system in which their regions can have their due share in the present political structure. To overcome the problem, time is ripe for carving out separate states from the existing structure,” Kashyap asserted. He said while Srinagar and Jammu enjoy the status of the capitals, the people of Ladakh feel neglected. “Our party will fight for delivering justice to the people of all the three regions and will take all stakeholders into confidence to make re-organisation of the state a reality,” the BSP leader said.
	landslide in Tral Shifted families waiting to return home Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 7 Three days after a landslide struck a village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, families which were shifted from the village to safer places want to return home. “A landslide damaged a kotha in Branpathri, Tral, on the intervening night of May 4 and 5. As a precautionary measure, we shifted nearly a dozen families to safer areas,” said Deputy Inspector General (DIG), south Kashmir, Vijay Kumar. “No one was hurt when the landslide hit the kotha,” the DIG said. The police said a team of geological experts also visited the village and had advised the police to shift the villagers. “There was panic in the area and after the advise from the experts we shifted the families on Saturday. We are examining the situation and the families will be allowed to return after the experts tell us that there was no possibility of more landslides,” said a police officer in Tral. He added that the mountain was still very dangerous and small stones were coming down after the landslide. An official of the district administration in Pulwama said the families were being taken care of by them. “We have provided ration to the families which were shifted from the village,” he said.
	Traffic police to put curbs on driving by minors Srinagar, May 7 The Traffic police will soon launch a drive to stop schoolchildren from driving in the city. Apart from issuing challans, owner of the vehicle would also be booked for allowing his child to drive. “We have decided to be very tough with traffic violators, especially underage drivers,” said Deputy Inspector General, Traffic, Shafqat Watali. “We will also book the vehicle owner, who will be equally responsible for the violation.” Children can be seen driving on the roads and the Traffic police has been a mute spectator so far. The schoolchildren these days can be seen riding two-wheelers in the city. “Any child stopped for violation of traffic rules is allowed to go later,” said High Court advocate Ghulam Nabi. “There is a provision in the Motor Vehicles Act that parents can be also imprisoned, if the child is found driving. The police has always been lenient with the underage drivers.” He said the Traffic Department should launch an awareness campaign about the traffic laws and strictly enforce them. “The drives against traffic violators shoul be a regular feature and should not fizzle out in a few days,” the HC lawyer said. — TNS
	12 persons injured in road mishap Our Correspondent Katra, May 7 Twelve persons were injured in a head on collision between two vehicles on the Reasi-Katra road near Asia Chowk today morning. The police said a bus, which was on its way from Reasi to Jammu, collided with a tempo near Asia Chowk, 1 km from Bus Stand, Katra. The tempo was going from Jammu to Mahore. The injured were immediately shifted to Emergency Hospital, Katra, by the local police with the assistance of locals. The seriously injured have been identified as Gulam Fatima (55), Sharif Begam (35), both residents of Lancha, Mahore. A case has been registered at the Katra police station.
	APHC delegation to visit PoK, Pak Mirwaiz for resolution of Kashmir issue through talks Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, May 7 Seven years after its first visit to Pakistan, a delegation of the separatist APHC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, will visit PoK and Pakistan to hold talks with people and leadership over the resolution of the Kashmir issue. This was announced by the APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while addressing a recent public meeting in Bandipore town of north Kashmir. The Mirwaiz had led a five-member delegation to PoK and Pakistan via the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in May, 2005, weeks after the road was thrown open. He said the Hurriyat Conference was ready to support the Indo-Pak dialogue on the resolution of the Kashmir issue, provided the Kashmir leadership (separatists) was involved in the process. Indo-Pak talks could move forward only when the basic issue was addressed with a serious approach by taking people into confidence, he asserted. The Mirwaiz said the APHC would visit various parts of PoK and Pakistan shortly on the latter’s invitation. Urging the Centre to avoid “dual policy”, the Mirwaiz held that while the government was claiming to resolve the Kashmir issue, the security forces were being deployed in large numbers across the state and no steps were being taken to revoke AFSPA. He urged the government to take “sincere and positive steps” to resolve the Kashmir issue. The Mirwaiz demanded the withdrawal of troops and revocation of various laws granting special powers to the security forces. Referring to the recent statement of the UN Secretary-General, the Mirwaiz pointed out that the international community was concerned about the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He added that European countries, including Britain and OIC nations, were in favour of resolution of the issue to ensure peace in South Asia. He added that the Afghanistan issue could be solved only when a solution was found to the Kashmir issue.
	Smuggling bid foiled, 3 arrested Our Correspondent Rajouri, May 7 The police has foiled a smuggling bid by arresting three persons, who were allegedly involved in the illegal trade of the government cement in district Rajouri here on Saturday. According to reports, a police party seized a cement truck, which was on its way from a government store in Jammu to Rajouri. The cement was to be sold to a local trader. On a tip-off, the police team had laid a naka near Salani Bridge in Rajouri city and arrested three persons identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Seria, Ranjit Singh and Mohammad Ikhlaq of Chingus for selling the government cement illegally, the police said. The truck loaded with 180 bags of government cement was seized by the police. Station House Officer, Rajouri, Varinder Gupta said, “The police has arrested the three persons in connection with the illegal sale of the government cement. We have lodged an FIR and started the investigations.”
	Dilip Arora is new VC of SKUAST Srinagar, May 7 Director, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Kusmaur, Maunath Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh, Dr Dilip K Arora has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu. “Governor NN Vohra, who also is the Chancellor of the SKUAST, Jammu, in consultation with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the university, appointed Dr Arora from among a panel recommended by a search committee headed by Dr Mangala Rai, former Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research,” an official said here. Dr Arora was born in Allahabad in 1952. He did his M. Sc. botany in 1974 and Ph.D in microbiology in 1978 from Banaras Hindu University. He has previously worked in various foreign institutions for 13 years. He is the recipient of many national and international awards and honours. He has 34 years of experience in teaching and research at Banaras Hindu University and seven years of research experience in laboratories in USA, UK, France, Japan and Sweden. Dr Arora has published 21 books, 121 research papers, reviews and other publications. He has also participated in various national and international seminars, conferences and meetings and served as the chairman and member of several research advisory, scientific advisory and selection committees. — TNS
	J-K tweed, pashmina to hit world market State handloom corporation signs pacts with MNCs Dinesh Manhotra /TNS Jammu, May 7 Fabrics manufactured in the state will hit the international market as many reputed national and multinational companies have struck agreements with Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation. After signing an agreement with Reid and Taylor company to supply Kashmiri tweed, the corporation is in touch with a reputed Australian firm for supplying handwoven pashmina shawls of Basholi. “The samples sent to the Australian firm have been approved,” said Shoukat Ali, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation. He said hand-woven pashmina shawls of Basholi were unique and would hit the international market soon. Fab India, a reputed company which deals with cotton clothing, has also signed an agreement with the Corporation to purchase fine quality cotton fabric from the Samba area of Jammu district. The handloom centre at Samba produces world-class cotton fabrics, including dusuti, crewal dusuti, khaddar and majri. Reid & Taylor company has already started purchasing tweed produced in Kashmir. Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjit Singh Slathia exuded confidence that products of the state would soon dominate international markets. “We have been continuously getting queries from reputed national and international firms about the supply of fabrics being produced in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Slathia. A record production of 14.85 million metres of fabric valued at Rs 3,372.30 lakh was produced in the state during 2011-12. The state handicrafts are already popular in different parts of world. Handicraft items worth Rs 1,100 crore were exported in 2011-12.