Jammu, June 17
The administration may increase the rates of bricks in the wake of repeated pleas by the brick-kiln owners, who have said they are incurring huge losses due to increase in the prices of raw material.

Sources said though the association of brick-kiln owners and the administration had held several rounds of talks on the issue without reaching any conclusion, now there is every likelihood that the administration may give its consent for the same in the next few weeks.

“There is a tug-of-war going on between both sides. Though revised rates were announced by the administration last year, it was rejected by the brick-kiln owners who are fleecing people by charging higher rates in violation of the norms,” said a source.

Recently, the members of the association had met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with demands that there should be a revision of the brick rates keeping in view the increased prices of the raw material, particularly coal, which is a major component in the manufacturing of bricks.

A few months ago, the district administration had notified the rates of various qualities and makes of bricks.

The sale rate of per thousand A grade bricks has been fixed at about Rs 3,500, for B grade Rs 2,990 per thousand and for C grade quality bricks Rs 2,645 per thousand. These rates are against delivery at the kiln site and local tax is to be charged extra. The rate of "tiles" has been fixed at Rs 3,105 per thousand (local tax extra). However, in order to make higher profits, the brick-kiln owners sell the C grade bricks at the rate of A grade bricks.

About two months ago, the administration had directed the police to take action against illegal selling of bricks and a number of trucks were impounded after a crackdown on defaulters. Most of them were selling B and C grade bricks for a price between Rs 8,000 and 10,000 per thousand, which is much higher than the rates fixed by the district administration.

“The owners are adhering to Section 13 of the J&K Brick-kilns (Regulation) Act-2010, which has laid specific norms, and resorting to several malpractices like overcharging and manufacturing of poor quality bricks,” alleged Nadeem Qadri, who runs an NGO.

Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said: “We are looking into the issue but people’s interests will be taken into account. So far no decision has been taken and we will hold talks with the association”.

Janakraj Mahajan, president of the Brick-kiln Owners Association, Jammu, said the revision of the brick rates had become necessary as they were incurring huge losses.

“The prices of the raw material have shot up and we are incurring heavy losses. The administration should take immediate steps to announce new rates,” Mahajan said. 

Jammu, June 17
The Evacuees’ Property Tenants Welfare Society (EPTWS) has reiterated its demand for ownership rights on the evacuees’ property.

Addressing the media here today, Bhim Singh, Patron, EPTWS, condemned the functioning of the department concerned and alleged that it was harassing tenants. He said the department had become a den of corruption and tenants were being harassed by officials on one or another pretext.

“I would fight for the redress of the tenants’ grievances, both on the streets as well as in the court of law. For this, they have to strengthen the movement and be ready to fight to achieve their goal,” he added.

“The Resettlement Act should be abolished immediately as it has been enacted to deprive us from ownership rights. This was a secret agenda of the then government to uproot the tenants from the Jammu region,” he said.

Inder Mohinder Tar Singh, president, EPTWS, said they had suffered a lot and were still suffering.

“We feel that we are still slaves even after 64 years of Independence,” he added.

Our foremost demand is that we should get ownership rights for the evacuees’ property houses. We are ready to pay the cost of the houses (the amount spent at the time of construction plus the administrative charges). The tenants are not supposed to pay as we have already paid exorbitant amounts in the shape of rent.

Jammu, June 17
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said today that the government had earmarked Rs 3.98 crore under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to meet the requirement of drinking water supply in water-deficit areas on the outskirts of Jammu city. He said areas like Chatter, Bernini, Mohra Kut, Mohra Rorian and Mohra Daruni and Rati Sarari of Sunjwan would be especially covered under this scheme.

The minister was addressing a large gathering after laying the foundation stone of a tube-well with a capacity of discharging 83,864 gallon of water per hour at Chatta in Sunjwan here.

Bhalla said the government had issued instructions to the officers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to make efforts to providing adequate potable water to the targeted areas by sinking deep-bore tube-wells and hand pumps. He said there was no constraint of funds for the PHE and ERA projects.

Bhalla said the tube-well would be dedicated to 10,483 residents of the Chatta, Bermini, Rati and Sarari villages in October this year. He said the tube-well project, including the laying of water supply pipes, would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 3.98 crore under the NRDWP.

To set up wayside water facilities from Sunjwan to Chatta village, the minister asked the PHE engineers to construct 35 water reservoirs. He said the funds for the same would be provided from his constituency development fund.

Bhalla said the government had identified 10 kanals for the construction of a primary health centre and a permanent police post at Chatta village. Regarding upgrade of government high school, Bathindi, he said a proposal in this regard had been submitted to the School Education Ministry for its sanction. 

Poonch, June 17
Over 40 per cent population of Arai village in Mandi tehsil of Poonch district is suffering from a disease which renders them physically challenged at any stage of life. Over 7,000 victims of the disease are crying for basic facilities and help, but the administration is in deep slumber. Many villagers are so poor that they have no money to take their physically challenged relatives to hospitals.

“Despite repeated requests and reminders to the government and local administration, we are continuously becoming the victims of an unidentified disease, which renders us physically challenged. More than 7,000 villagers, who are suffering from this disease, may become unable to walk at any stage of life,” said Moulana Fareed, a victim of the disease and social worker in the village.

“Now, we are also becoming the victims of an incurable genetic disease, which renders us deaf,” Said Fareed.

The village is located at a distance of 27 km from Poonch town and is just 5 km from Mandi town.

Mohammad Baki (60), used to weave four or five blankets in a week and sell them in the Poonch and Mandi markets. He had become a victim of the disease at the age of 45. He said: “I earned Rs 1,200 or 1,600 in a week till the age of 45. I suddenly became a victim of the disease. Now, I am unable to walk and eat as my fingers have shrunk”.

Baki said three or five members of every family in Arai village were suffering from the disease. Some are in a pitiable condition and they cannot even come out of their houses. We get pension, but we have to go to Mandi to get it from banks. We have to call labourers who charge Rs 200 a day for carrying us from Arai to Mandi and back. We get Rs 400 per month as pension out of which Rs 200 goes to the labourer. Sometimes we have to go to Mandi twice or thrice a month”.

Mohammed Sadiq, who was carrying his 18-year-old daughter Kaniza, said: “She can’t move due to her disability. She became disabled five months after she was born. “I had taken her to many hospitals for years, but in vain. Kaniza has been deprived of education. We share her pain by shifting her from one room to another.”

The village, with a population of 25,000, sans basic facilities like potable water, primary health centre, high school and proper power supply.

The villagers complained that despite their repeated requests, the administration had never bothered to hold a public ‘darbar’ at the village. Politicians come only on the eve of elections.

The Chief Medical Officer, Poonch, Dr Younis Choudhary, said: “We have conducted a survey of the village and found over 20 per cent population victim of disability. The main causes of their disability, joint pain and weakening of bones, can be attributed to malnutrition and nutritional deficiency. Some of the cases are of post-polio deformity. We are finding ways to implement a balanced diet chart for them.”

“To give them basic health care, we are going to established a primary health centre at the village very shortly. We are also testing water of various springs near the village,” Dr Choudhary said.

Jammu, June 17
After experiencing a power crisis for more than four months, the Kashmiri Pandits living in Jagti township are now reeling under an acute shortage of water, thanks to the non-functional water pumps.

According to the residents of the township, they have not been getting water supply for the last four days. No sanction has been granted for pressing into service water tankers in the area.

A resident, SL Pandita, said: “For 20,000 population, they had installed two water motors here. It is very much obvious that extra burden during the peak summer, these motors develop faults. Now, the people have no water supply at all. The temperature is more that 45 degrees Celsius and we are without any water and electricity”.

“The worst part is that when the government knows that we are not getting water supply, they should have at least provided us water tankers to provide us water for the basic needs. Not even a single water tanker has been sent to the area in the past four days”.

The township was built under the Prime Minister’s package for relief and rehabilitation to provide better living conditions to the Kashmiri Pandits who left their homes in the late 80s due to an upsurge in militancy in Kashmir. And after living for more than 20 years in one-room shanty-like houses, these people were shifted to Jagti township with the aim of providing them better facilities.

The present water requirement of the township is 5,000 gallons per day, which will increase in the coming days as the authorities are planning to shift 700 more families to Jagti in a month’s time.

“Many people have shifted to their relatives’ places as it is impossible to survive without water for more than four days. There are two hand pumps here that throw up dirty water and people are dependent on these hand pumps, which can lead to outbreak of a diseases,” said Shuban Ji, another resident of Jagti.

“The condition was better at the Muthi camp where we were getting 24-hour supply of electricity and water. How can they expect us to live without water and electricity in the peak months of summer? And the irony is that they never created an alternative arrangement,” said Suman Bhat, a house wife.

Relief Commissioner, Jammu, RK Pandita said: “Our people are on work and hopefully the water supply will resume soon. The main problem is that we are handling the water supply scheme of Jagti on our own. We tried to handover it to the PHE department but they had their own limitations. That is why this situation happened, but we are trying our best to handover water supply work to the PHE department as soon as possible”. 

n System not adequate for a population of 20,000

n 700 more families to be shifted to Jagti in a month’s time

n No tanker service arranged by admn

Poonch, June 17
The martyrdom day of Major Rohit Sharma, (Shourya Chakra), was observed today at Government Higher Secondary School, Mandi, with great zeal and enthusiasm.

The programme was organised by an NGO Shaheed Major Rohit Memorial Society in collaboration with the 15 Jat Battalion to keep the people aware of supreme sacrifices made by Major Rohit Sharma, who attained martyrdom in an Army operation against terrorists in Poonch on June 17, 1998.

MLC Jahangir Mir was the chief guest on the occasion, while Brigadier MK Mago, Commander, Poonch Brigade, presided over the function.

The function was attended by Army officers, civil officials and locals in large number. The patriotic fervour of the event reached new high with the scintillating cultural programme presented by the local schoolchildren. A memorial function is organised every year by the NGO to commemorate the martyrdom day.

Jahangir Mir lauded the role of the Army and the NGO in organising such a grand function, which inspired talented youth to join the Army.

Brigadier MK Mago said: “People of Poonch have proved that they are with the Army and can sacrifice their life for the country. During different wars against Pakistan and militancy, the people cooperated with the Army in all manners”. He also lauded the role of the NGO in organising such kind of programmes.

The chief guest distributed blankets among the poor and needy people of Mandi.

ADDC Poonch Anwar Hussain Shah, Deputy Director Employment Ashok Kumar, CO 15 Jat Col Harjit Singh and CO 40 RR Col Dinesh were among the prominent present on the occasion.

Jammu, June 17
This Sunday, “Maa Mujhe Tagore Bana Do”, a play based on a Punjabi Story written by Mohan Bhandari and designed and directed by Lucky Gupta was presented in Natrang’s Sunday Theatre series.

The play was a solo performance and had several dramatic elements in it. The play was presented in intimate style and unconventional setting.

The story of the play revolves around a boy Saleem who strives hard to get education and wants to be like Tagore despite his poverty. He talks about his childhood days when he used to go to school everyday and get praises from his teachers for his intelligence. But due to poverty, he had to assist his father at a brick-kiln. He feels bad about leaving his studies, but takes pledge to complete them by studying at evenings.

He sadly remembers the day when he came back from his school after appearing in class X examination but fears to find a large gathering outside his house. He enquires and finds that his father is dead and his mother is crying. Later, his mother falls ill and he had to sell all his household items for her treatment. After sometime, her mother recuperates and starts working as a domestic help, but is expelled without any salary, which adds much to their misery.

Saleem believes that if education does not make him rich it will definitely turn him into a good human being.

“Maa Mujhe Tagore Bana Do” is a deep philosophical journey of a child whose craving for writing poetry and to become Rabindranath Tagore is broken because of the circumstances. Lucky Gupta played Saleem’s character very beautifully. Ankush Lakhnotra operated lights. Happy Gupta and Deepak Singh Jamwal designed costume and props. Mohammed Yaseen coordinated the show and Sumeet Sharma did the presentations.

Rajouri, June 17
As many as 13 passengers were injured in two different road accidents in the border area of Rajouri district today, when the vehicles in which they were travelling skidded off the track and rolled down, sources said.

While the first accident took place in the early morning in the Badal area of Rajouri in which eight people got injured, another took place at Kotedada in which the driver lost control over the vehicle leaving five people injured.

Immediately after the incident, locals rushed to the spot and informed the police about it. Rescue teams of the administration rushed to the spot and admitted the injured persons to the local district hospital, reports said.

Jammu, June 17
Rotary Foundation distributed 700 desks worth Rs 8 lakh under Signature Project in Focus Area of Basic Education and Literacy.

Minister for Relief, Revenue and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla was the chief guest on the occasion.

Under the same programme, Rotary Foundation has rebuilt a school at Langhar, Uri district, Kashmir, at a cost of over Rs 6 lakh. Last year, Rotary Foundation distributed 900 benches across various schools of the state.

The project committee was headed by PDG Surrender Seth and Arun Jain, whereas the project was executed by the local committee comprising Dr Dushyant Choudhary, Rtn Vikas Mahajan and Adeep Mehta. Prominent among others present were District Governor Sanjiv Sethi, DGE Dr Pawan Gupta, DGN GS Sekhon, PDG GS Bawa, PDG Dr SPS Grover and PDG Surinder Vij.

Jammu, June 17
After the successful hosting of Santosh Trophy National Football Championship in 2008, the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) is now planning to host another coveted tournament, Federation Cup 2012, in the state. Although the date and venue for the prestigious championship is yet to be decided by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), the JKFA has made its mind to submit a proposal to the apex body of football.

Zamir Ahmad Thakur, president, JKFA, confirmed that the association has decided to approach the AIFF to host the coveted football tournament. “With the kind of infrastructure we have, the association is pretty confident about conducting the championship provided the AIFF will respond positively to our proposal which is yet to be sent to the apex body,” JKFA president said. “The JKFA has decided to send a request letter to AIFF whose executive body meeting is expected to be held soon to decide the fate of the championship,” he said.

“Three venues namely GGM Science College Ground in Jammu, Bakshi Stadium and Polo Ground in Srinagar have all the facilities to host a championship of national repute,” Zamir Thakur said. “In 2008, before the hosting of Santosh Trophy, AIFF observers who visited these venues had expressed satisfaction over the facilities which really boosted our morale to host the tournament with grand success,” he said.

“Conduct of any national championship in the state will not only help in improving the image of sports but more importantly, the budding footballers will get an excellent opportunity to interact with the star players representing various prestigious football clubs of the country,” Thakur said. “Participation of star strikers from formidable football clubs of the country like Mohun Bagan, Mohammadan Sporting, Dempo Club, Churchill Brothers and Mumbai Football Club will definitely help the state players to hone their skills while interacting with them,” he said.

The JKFA president said, “There is no dearth of talented footballers in the state but it needs to be channelised in a constructive manner”. 

Jammu, June 17
JKCA (Red) got the better of Samba XI by eight wickets today in the ongoing U-16 Knock-Out Cricket Tournament being played at GGM Science College Hostel Ground here.

The decision of Samba XI to bat first after winning the toss backfired as they suffered a dramatic batting collapse. The team accumulated just 91 runs in 25.3 overs. Kanav and Baljeet contributed 12 runs each. For JKCA (Red), Virtual Bakshi bowled a devastating spell to grab six wickets.

He maintained a nagging line and length thereby not allowing the batsmen to play shots at their will. Reshab Gupta also bowled well by capturing four wickets at crucial junctures.

In reply, JKCA (Red) romped home safely in just 11 overs losing two wickets in the process. Pushpinder and Nipun played fine knocks of 43 runs and 22 runs, respectively.

For Samba XI, Sidarth Khajuria took two wickets.

Jammu, June 17
Kingfisher Cricket Club, Jammu, dispatched Friends Cricket Club, Ghat, by three wickets in a high-scoring tussle today to secure a berth in the final of the ongoing All-India 8th Gufran Memorial T20 Cricket Championship being organised by Young Star Cricket Club at Sports Stadium, Doda.

Now, Kingfisher will take on Combined Cricket Club, Bhaderwah, in the summit clash on June 18.

Earlier batting first, FCC, Ghat, posted a challenging total of 197 runs in the stipulated 20 overs losing five wickets in the process.

Vipin played a fine knock of 88 runs, while Shadab Wani and Sapan contributed 28 runs and 19 runs, respectively. For Kingfisher Club, Rohit chipped in with two wickets, while Raman Dutta and Vishwajeet shared a wicket apiece.

In reply, Kingfisher, Jammu, did the needful in 19.3 overs for the loss of seven wickets. Parveen Singh played a match-winning knock of 53 runs off just 15 balls.

For FCC, Ghat, Sapan was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Bharat scalped two wickets.