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Pak mum on India’s call for flag meeting
State wants bigger package for Kashmiri Pandits
Amarnath yatra: Community kitchens begin dotting twin tracks
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Rs 96-cr annual outlay for Doda district approved
Artificial climbing wall for adventure sports lovers
Thousands attend Urs of Sufi saint in Kishtwar
Drivers to display licence details on windscreen
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Pak mum on India’s call for flag meeting
Jammu, June 20 “There has been no firing from across the border today. At the same time there has been no response to our message sent to them via hotline to hold a flag meeting to ease the tense situation,” said the Jammu-based Defence PRO, Col RK Palta. Since June 13, two soldiers have been killed and five others injured in Pakistani firing. “While their (Pakistani) guns remained silent today, the situation is still tense but under control,” said an Army officer. Meanwhile, the cross-LoC trade via Chakan-da-Bagh yet again remained suspended for the second day this week. No trade took place today as well and the situation looks bleak, said Pawan Anand, president of the Poonch Cross-LoC Traders’ Association. “This morning I talked to my counterpart in Rawalakote, who informed us that for the time being trade will not take place,” he added. Since June 14, the trade, which takes place four days a week from Tuesday to Friday, has remained suspended. An abrupt halt in the trade has adversely affected 165 cross-LoC traders from Poonch, said Anand, adding that no fresh orders had been placed with the suppliers. “We have already suffered a loss of over Rs 1 crore and now our money has also got stuck with suppliers in the wake of the abrupt halt in trade,” he said. |
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State wants bigger package for Kashmiri Pandits
Srinagar, June 20 The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also asked the State Revenue Department to work out an employment package for those members of the minority community who did not migrate from the Valley. Over 700 families of Kashmiri Pandits, currently living in the Valley, did not migrate when militancy erupted in the state in the 1990s. “The Cabinet recommended enhancement of package of incentives for funding to the Government of India under the Prime Minister’s package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants,” an official spokesman said after the Cabinet meeting. The state government has been working on a comprehensive return and rehabilitation policy of Pandit migrants in Kashmir. The proposal forwarded in today’s meeting, sources said, included enhancing the relief package from the present Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for construction of houses of those migrants returning to the Valley. The recommendations also include increasing the allotment of space to those living in transit camps. The state government has plans to increase the monthly cash assistance to Pandits from the present Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. “We have forwarded the recommendation to the Central government,” said an official. The Cabinet also approved the extension of the Chairman of the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), Mushtaq Ahmed, for a period of two months from June 17, 2012. The appointment of R D Sharma, Dean, Academics, Jammu University, as Chairman, BOPEE, was also approved by the Cabinet. “Sharma will work as Officer on Special Duty in the BOPEE and on the expiry of Mushtaq’s two- month term, he shall take over as the BOPEE Chairman,” the spokesman said. The Cabinet also confirmed the posting of Abdul Qayoom Manhas as Inspector General of Police, Railways. The Cabinet also confirmed the promotion of Showkat Ali Mir, Joint Director, Fisheries, as Director, Fisheries. Sangharsh
Samiti thanks Omar
The Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) has expressed its gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the state Cabinet for deciding to work out an employment package for Kashmiri Pandits, who did not migrate from the Valley. The state Cabinet on Wednesday asked the Revenue Department to work out an employment package for those members of the minority community, who did not leave the Valley. |
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Amarnath yatra: Community kitchens begin dotting twin tracks
Jammu, June 20 “At least 11 trucks carrying food items from New Delhi were sent to Kashmir yesterday and nine trucks from Jaipur were sent to Pahalgam a couple of days ago,” said the president of the Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Surinder Mohan Aggarwal. Another leader of the Niyas, Dineshwar Singh Jamwal, said the process had gained momentum. The community kitchens were being set up in Kathua, Nanak Nagar, Geeta Bhawan, Purani Mandi, Bhagwati Nagar, Nagrota, Patnitop, Nunwan and Chandanwari. Jamwal said the Niyas had also decided to set up community kitchens at Pissu Top, Brari Marg and cave shrine. “But due to the delay this time, we had to drop Sheshnag and Panjtarni from our itinerary,” he added. In all, the Niyas is setting up nearly 20 community kitchens. The Niyas has requested the state administration to issue one-time clearance slips to pilgrims entering the state via Lakhanpur in their own vehicles. “To ensure their hassle-free stay in the state, we have requested the state administration to issue them slips at the gateway itself. In this connection, we also want the Traffic Police to make their stay comfortable during the pilgrimage,” said Jamwal. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has already identified places for setting up community kitchens till the conclusion of the pilgrimage. The SASB has also urged groups setting up community kitchens to provide food as per the diet chart circulated to them. The diet chart takes into account nutritional requirements of the pilgrims, particularly in view of the high altitude and difficult climatic conditions in the Yatra area. Incidentally, without community kitchens, the arduous journey to the cave shrine would be virtually impossible for pilgrims. Meanwhile, security forces have finalised all the arrangements to ensure a foolproof security cover for the pilgrims. Banners displaying necessary information and mobile numbers of the officers concerned have been put up after every two kilometers, said a police officer. An advance party comprising a company of the Indian Reserve Police along with wireless teams has already reached the cave shrine. Besides, 75 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, 19 companies of the Border Security Force and 13 companies of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and the IRP have been deployed on the yatra routes. The police has also deployed mountaineering teams and dog squads for better
surveillance. Pilgrim fare
Shrine SECURITY
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Tourists must dress aptly at Hazratbal, tweets Omar
Srinagar, June 20 He made the comment while responding to a tweet from a local, who had complained that many non-Muslim tourists were seen “running over prayer rugs” at the Hazratbal shrine. “You have a point and while we don't stop people from visiting, they must be suitably dressed and should not be allowed during namaz,” Omar wrote on the micro-blogging website, Twitter. “Visited Hazratbal for Mehraj prayers. During magrib many non-Muslim tourists seen running over prayer rugs,” Saba, a follower of Omar’s Twitter account, had said yesterday. After the complaint, the Chief Minister also raised the issue with the Wakf Board, which looks after the shrine. “Have just spoken to the Vice-Chairman and issued suitable instructions. I trust things will not be repeated now,” Omar tweeted later. The quick response and subsequent action taken by him prompted another local to urge the Chief Minister to take every complaint from the people seriously. |
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Rs 96-cr annual outlay for Doda district approved
Doda, June 20 Speaking on the occasion, Sham Lal Sharma asked the functionaries to adopt a people-friendly approach towards the implementation of developmental and welfare schemes. He said the government was committed to providing better facilities to the people in every nook
and corner of the state for which the Centre was providing liberal funding under various schemes and programmes. Sharma said a road connectivity programme had been launched to accelerate economic activities in hilly areas like Doda district. The present government was tirelessly working for the development of far-flung and hilly areas by improving civic amenities and other social infrastructure, he added. The minister stressed the need for bringing in more accountability and transparency for timely utilisation of funds and completion of the ongoing projects within the stipulated time. The coalition government was fully aware of problems of people living in hilly and remote areas and it was making all-out efforts to address them. The ministers said proper planning and effective implementation of the schemes were vital to ensure that the benefits reached the targeted population. Sharma said the decisions taken in the District Development Board meetings should be implemented in letter and spirit and directed the local administration to prepare plans as per requirements of the public and the particular area. The meeting was attended by Vice-Chairman, Gujjar and Bakerwal Advisory Board, Bashir Ahmed Naaz; Vice-Chairman, OBC, Kuldeep Raj Verma; Member of Parliament Lal Singh; MLA, Bhaderwah, Mohammad Sharief Niaz; MLA, Doda, Abdul Majid Wani, MLA, Ramban, Ashok Kumar; MLA, Inderwal, GM Saroori; MLC Khalid Najib Sohrawardy, MLC Naresh Gupta, District Development Commissioner, Doda, Farooq Ahmed Khan, as well as heads of various departments, chief engineers, district and sectoral officers. |
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Police donates furniture to Doda orphanage
Udhampur, June 20 Commandant of 5th Battalion of the IRP DK Salathia was the chief guest on the occasion. Deputy Commandant, 5th Battalion of the IRP, Abdul Majeed; DSP, 5th Battalion of the IRP, Mohammad Ayoub Zargar; Chairman of the Al-Khair Foundation Shoket Ali Mughal and its patron Aftab Ahmed Khokhar; Principal, Al Hira Public School, Bashir Ahmed Banday; members of the management of the Foundation; prominent citizens and students were present on the occasion. The chief guest said the donation was part of a civic action programme launched by the police under which sports and cultural activities were being promoted across the state. “Quality education to students is our prime concern under the programme. We are providing support to various educational institutions to improve their teaching facilities,” said Salathia. The donated furniture included four lockers, one refrigerator, two ceiling fans and a computer table. The orphanage has 45 inmates, who are being provided free of cost boarding, lodging and education facilities. The patron of the Foundation appreciated the gesture of the police and urged students to work hard in studies. He appealed to the state government, voluntary organisations and business houses to come forward to help the Foundation in looking after the orphans students. |
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Coordination Committee raises block development council poll issue
Srinagar, June 20 The meeting of the ruling coalition partners, the Congress and the National Conference, was held under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz here this evening. Soz and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and the National Conference leaders, including Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar and MLA Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, attended the meeting. “The meeting continued for more than an hour in a congenial atmosphere,” sources said. They said the next meeting would be held soon to take forward the decisions made today. “We are yet to reach any conclusion on the elections to the block development councils,” said Soz after the meeting. He said the members also discussed the issue of elections to four seats of the Legislative Council, which are to be held through panchayat members. The panchayat elections were held after a gap of 33 years in the state last year while the elections to the block development councils by panches and sarpanches are yet to be held. The government, awaiting the decision of the Coordination Committee of the two coalition partners is yet to finalise the schedule for the elections. The meeting held threadbare discussions on various issues, an official spokesman said. The meeting also discussed filling up of vacancies in some important institutions like the state Public Service Commission. A formal statement over the discussions held today would be issued tomorrow, the officials said. |
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Artificial climbing wall for adventure sports lovers
Srinagar, June 20 The artificial climbing wall has been constructed on the outskirts of Srinagar city at the Tourist Reception Centre, Nowgam, and would be commissioned shortly by the Tourism Department. “None of the youth from Kashmir could participate in any national or international event in sport climbing, a competitive sport, due to non-availability of an artificial climbing wall. Now that the Tourism Department has constructed a climbing wall, it will definitely help budding hikers,” said an official of the Tourism Department. “The climbing wall would bring cheer to local climbers, especially foreign rock climbers,” he said. The 15-metre-tall climbing wall, which has come up at a cost of Rs 1 crore, would allow six climbers to climb simultaneously. The Tourism officials said the climbing wall was constructed to diversify activities to promote new facets of tourism. “With Kashmir becoming a favourite destination for tourists, it is important to promote new facets of tourism. The artificial climbing wall would help those tourists, who are interested in adventure sports,” said another Tourism official. He said apart from attracting tourists interested in adventure sports, the climbing wall would also help train local boys and girls interested in rock climbing. “We will hire a professional trainer, who will impart training to boys and girls interested in rock climbing. We have natural rocks at different tourist destinations and before climbing natural rocks the youth would be highly benefited with the facility,” he said. |
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Shopping festival a big draw
Srinagar, June 20 “Hardly 70 people would come here before the festival, but now at least 30,000 people come here every day,” said Sheikh Manzoor, general secretary of the Sangarmal Welfare Traders Association. Owners of showrooms, who wondered whether they had made the right choice by opening their outlets at the mall, are now running out of stock. “Not many customers would visit us before the festival. But on the first day of the festival around 12,000 people came to our shop out of which 1,100 purchased goods from us. There has been no let up ever since. I have to rush to New Delhi to place orders as goods here have run out of stock,” said Rauf Ahmad, owner of Crystal Corner, a crockery shop. Incharge engineer of the Sangarmal City Centre Riyaz Koul said the shopping festival, which started on June 10, had breathed life into the mall. He said more than 3 lakh people had visited the mall and shopkeepers had done a collective business of over Rs 1 crore. The good response has now egged on the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), which looks after the mall, to expedite works at other blocks. Currently, the Block A of the Sangarmal City Centre has 62 shops and 11 offices with up to 70 per cent occupancy. The mall premises also include additional 38 shops at its “Craft Bazaar”, besides 11 kiosks. While bids for unoccupied shops have started pouring in after the recent revival of the mall, Basharat Rasool, who also is an engineer at Sangarmal, said the work has been started on the Block B. “We are now planning to make constructions up to Block E as we have 75 kanals available here,” he said. The SDA is organising regular musical programmes at the shopping festival, which ends tomorrow. These shows too are drawing huge crowds, especially youth. “I have been coming here for the last 10 days with my friends. We stay here till 10.30 pm. Seeing a lot of buzz at night in a city which sleeps early is a welcome development,” said a local youth. Besides musical functions and showrooms, the Meeras Mahal museum, which houses ancient Kashmiri artifacts, too has been attracting a lot of people. |
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Thousands attend Urs of Sufi saint in Kishtwar
Kishtwar, June 20 The day witnessed special prayers and sermons by religious scholars, which were attended by a large number of devotees. The devotees offered prayers and sought the blessings of the revered Sufi saint at the shrine. District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, Saleem Mohammad has enjoined upon officials of the departments concerned to put in place all facilities for devotees. Besides security, elaborate arrangements for uninterrupted power supply, safe drinking water, sanitation, transport were made by the district administration for the annual Urs. The entire township was given a face lift by the Municipal Committee, Kishtwar, besides launching a cleanliness drive, particularly in and around the shrine area. Earlier, in the morning MLA Kishtwar Sajad Ahmed Kichloo; Administrator, Auqaf Islamia, Kishtwar, Tanveer Ahmed Kichloo and officials of the Revenue, police, PDD, KDA, MC and PHE went around the town and took stock of arrangements made by the administration. |
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Drivers to display licence details on windscreen
Srinagar, June 20 “If the drivers fail to display the attested photocopy and details of their driving licences on the windscreen of their vehicles, it will entail appropriate action under law,” said a notice issued by the Transport Commissioner and Chairman of the Transport Authority. The government has also asked the conductors to have a licence. “All the owners and drivers of public service vehicles are hereby advised that henceforth they should not appoint conductors without a valid conductor licence,” the notice said. |
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