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Education sector on fast track, says Sibal
Tourists flock to partially submerged town
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Contract
Jobs
Omar clarifies on retirement age issue
Radio cabs to hit Srinagar roads on July 27
Police remand for RAW official in graft case
Traffic mess at Panthachowk, HMT crossing
Debate held for all-round development of youth
Vakil vows to expose corruption in govt
Elderly couple found dead in Bemina
85% education funds go to schools in Kashmir, says Ex-Minister
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Education sector on fast track, says Sibal
Srinagar, July 21 He expressed optimism over the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the Valley, saying there was enthusiasm among the youth towards different fields of education. Accompanied by state Congress chief Saifuddin Soz at the party office in the city this afternoon, Sibal told mediapersons that more and more youth of the state were being drawn to the education sector. The minister said the Central universities in Srinagar and Jammu would be inaugurated in a couple of months. The Central University of Kashmir, which will start its third academic session this year, has been functioning from camp offices while land for the university has been demarcated in Ganderbal district. The university currently has around 650 students. The minister said the same number of students was undergoing training at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, which had a placement record of 95 per cent. “So many people are coming to the state from outside as the institutions of higher education are doing well,” he said. He said the NIT would also be inaugurated once land for the construction of a new campus was made available. In order to expand the ambit of education for the economically weaker sections, the Union Minister said the Centre had sanctioned 25,000 scholarships over the past five years. But only 400 applications against 5,000 seats were received in the first year, he said, adding steps were being taken to involve more students under the scheme. Earlier, Sibal and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated Degree College at Dooru in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. Sibal said the Centre had provided enhanced support to the state during the past three years and would continue to do so in the years to come.
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Tourists flock to partially submerged town
Pul Doda, July 21 The abandoned town has partially submerged in the waters of the Chenab ever since the 450 MW Baglihar hydroelectric project
came up over the glacier-fed river in Chanderkote in 2004. “A partially submerged temple and a mosque in the calm-looking river and its shallow waters alongside the road attracted us and we could not resist the temptation,” said Vinod Sathe, a tourist from Pune, who along with his family came to visit Bhaderwah. While we had parked our vehicle on the highway above, locals asked us to visit the abandoned town to have a closer look at the river and the partially submerged temple and mosque, said Sathe. “The cold water of the river gave us a refreshing feeling. Our fatigue has disappeared,” said Pranesh Roy, another tourist, who had come along with his family from Kolkata. Roy felt that the government should develop viewpoints and introduce some aqua activity in the river to attract tourists to the place. “Locals tell us about the deep water and strong currents of the river. The administration should put up caution boards besides developing the place as a tourist hub,” said Roy. He also suggested that the administration should deploy some guards to avoid any untoward incident. “There is no harm in enjoying the natural beauty but safety should be the first priority. To develop the place, the administration has already started raising a viewpoint at a safe place near the new bridge, which leads to Doda town,” Doda Deputy Commissioner Farooq Khan told The Tribune. We have no objections if the tourists visit the place to see the partially submerged temple and mosque, but we would not like them to go close to the river, said Khan. The temple and the mosque will one day
be completely submerged, he said. The administration had plans to introduce boating and some aqua activity in the river, Khan said.
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Shrinking productive land worries Omar
Jammu, July 21 The worrying situation could well be gauged from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reaction on micro-blogging site Twitter after he took an aerial photograph of the fertile land, which had been used for commercial purposes. “Tragic destruction of productive land to feed brick kilns & rampant house construction. Need to find new materials,” Omar tweeted. Sources told The Tribune that over 3.5 lakh kanals of agricultural land in Jammu and in Kashmir division had been used for non-agricultural purposes, particularly for construction of residential houses. “The recent reports suggest that the state has attained a dubious distinction of having the lowest average land holding in the country, which is 0.67 hectares. The conversion of fertile land for non-agricultural purposes has adversely affected the prospects of agricultural sector in the state,” a source said. The state’s total food grain production was about 18 lakh metric tonnes against its requirement of 23 lakh metric tonnes. “The state has been facing a shortage in food grain production by more than 5 lakh metric tonnes. The crisis will further deepen if immediate corrective measures are not put in place keeping in view the growing population,” said a source. Sources attributed the shortage of food grains to rampant conversion of agriculture land, attraction of farmers towards cash crops from traditional food grain crops and weather vagaries. “Though nearly 70 per cent population of the state is involved in agricultural and other allied sectors, yet the sector contributed only 27 per cent to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year.” Also, the fate of the Jammu and Kashmir Prohibition on Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Purposes Act 2011, has been hanging in the balance, as the Select Committee headed by Revenue and Relief Minister Raman Bhalla has failed to bring a consensus among members so far. The Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in the 2011 Budget session. As various political groups differed on the draft of the Bill, Speaker of the Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone referred it to the Select Committee on April 1, 2011, for its final recommendations. “A majority of the Select Committee members are against the Bill, which had been drafted to target poor sections of society. The state has several laws to check shrinking of agricultural land, but it has failed to implement them in letter and in spirit. The Bill will subject the poor to great hardships,” said Kathua MLA Charanjeet Singh, who is also a member of the Select Committee. Bhalla, who is the chairman of the nine-member Select Committee, could not be contacted. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said the government was fully prepared to deal with any situation. “We are geared up to face the drought like situation, if monsoon remains weak,” he said. |
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Contract
Jobs
Jammu, July 21 The organisations say the decision to recruit people on contract smacked of conspiracy, as it was a bid to deprive the youth of the reserved categories of their constitutional rights. The state government has recently recruited a large number of youngsters on contract under different schemes to ensure the smooth functioning of various government departments. Reservation rules were not followed as the authorities claimed that these rules did not apply to recruitment made for temporary jobs. RK Kalsotra, president, Confederation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes Organisation, observed that the recruitment under the contract system had been started to deprive the weaker sections of their constitutional rights. “The staff recruited on a contract basis will be regularised later,” alleged Kalsotra and regretted that authorities were blatantly violating the reservation rules while making contractual appointments. “If the government wants to appoint youngsters through the contract system, it should also implement the reservation rules during the appointment,” he said. “The reservation rules are also being violated during the appointment of Rehbar-e-Talim (ReT) teachers, who are entitled to be regularised after five years of service,” he argued. “We will not remain a mute spectator to the discriminatory policies of the coalition government.” Choudhary Zulfikar, PDP MLA and prominent Gujjar leader, had also raised the issue in the last session of the Assembly. The government in its reply had stated that there was no reservation in the appointment of ReT teachers. Javed Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, said the reservation policy should be strictly followed while making appointments on contract. “The reservation rules are also overlooked during appointments made for various Centrally sponsored schemes like the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM),” he observed and added that the state government was depriving 42 per cent population of its constitutional right by ignoring the reservation rules. |
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NC wants Centre to revoke AFSPA as goodwill gesture
Srinagar, July 21 “We reiterate our stand and appeal to the Centre to restore autonomy and revoke AFSPA as a goodwill gesture to address the mistrust,” said Tanvir Sadiq, a party spokesperson. Sadiq said the elected government had sent a well thought out report passed by both Houses of the legislature to the Union Government, which recommended autonomy for the state. “There is no doubt that our autonomy has been unconstitutionally eroded from time to time and that the Centre has, for all practical purposes, stacked away the report in the cold storage,” he said. “Even then, we have no doubt in the sincerity of the Government of India. The mistrust among the people has to be addressed and the only way to do so is to honour the instrument of accession and restore autonomy,” he added. “Any more delay in restoring autonomy can be disastrous,” he added. The spokesperson said the party was committed to ensuring that AFSPA was revoked in the state. “The holy month of Ramadan has started and what better time for the Centre to withdraw AFSPA from areas not affected by militancy as a goodwill gesture,” the spokesperson said. “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has all along been saying that the implementation of AFSPA should not be equated with the law and order situation. The Act was implemented in the state not to meet the law and order situation but to deal with militancy and one can easily figure out that militancy has declined over the years,” he added. The ruling party spokesman said the Army had done its job but now it was time to address genuine demands like revocation
of AFSPA. |
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Illegal slums pose health hazard
Rajouri, July 21 Over the past two decades, slums have mushroomed illegally near Foot Bridge in the main town and pose a serious threats to the lives of the habitants due to poor living conditions. Inhabitants continue to live under sheds devoid of potable water and proper sanitation. Lack of sanitation poses a serious health hazard. Further, children remain uneducated as parents do not send them to schools. Most inhabitants have migrated from other parts of the country. The dwellers have turned their makeshift sheds into permanent dwelling units right under the nose of the district administration, which has tuned a blind eye to the problem. “Most inhabitants engage in hunting in the forest area during night, thereby posing a threat to the wildlife in the area,” a local resident said. “People usually pollute streams by bathing, cleaning vessels, washing clothes and dumping garbage. The government must provide them with proper shelter,” said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tazim Dar. “Unhygienic conditions prevail in the slums, thus increasing the chances of spread of diseases like cholera, malaria and diarrhoea. Children living in these slums run a high risk of dying from diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and even HIV/AIDS,” said Dr Jatinder Singh, a senior doctor in Jammu. District Development Commissioner Saougat Biswas said: “We will send a medical team to check the sanitary conditions in areas where basic facilities are lacking.” On the problem of illegal slums, he said: “We have taken up the issue with the Urban Development Department, which has proposed a master plant for Rajouri and
Sundarbani.” |
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Omar clarifies on retirement age issue
Srinagar, July 21 Addressing a gathering at Dooru in Anantnag district today, Omar said the government was engaged in a dialogue with employee leaders. — TNS
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Radio cabs to hit Srinagar roads on July 27
Srinagar, July 21 “The radio taxi service will be launched on July 27 and the service will be available round the clock,” said Commissioner (Transport) Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo. “The radio taxi service will revolutionise the transport system in the city,” he added. The service will be provided by Kehwah Xpress Service Limited, a Kashmir-based company, which claims that its cars will be air-conditioned and manned by professional drivers. “The cars will be equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) for the safety of passengers. The GPS will be linked to a control room set up at the Nowgam Tourist Centre on the outskirts of the city. A controller will monitor the location of the cabs at all times,” said a company official. |
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Police remand for RAW official in graft case
Jammu, July 21 Following a complaint by Raj Kumar of Salehar, CBI officials arrested Koul on the evening of July 19 from the Majotra Fast Food on the Dablehar road in the border town. “The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu, sent him (Koul) in five days police remand yesterday,” a senior CBI official, who wished anonymity, told The Tribune. “The complainant had approached us and consequently a trap was laid,” he said, adding that coloured Indian currency notes of Rs 20,000 were recovered from the possession of Koul at the time of the raid. Koul, who has been accused of extorting money from Raj Kumar, was arrested along with his two conduits, Rinku and Sehdev. The RAW official had demanded Rs 1.20 lakh from the complainant (Raj Kumar) and had threatened him to implicate him in a false case of anti-national activities, said CBI sources.
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Traffic mess at Panthachowk, HMT crossing
Srinagar, July 21 “It is a mess on the roads, especially at Panthachowk and HMT crossing. The authorities concerned do not bother to redress the problem,” said Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Pulwama, who commutes between Srinagar and Pulwama daily. Qayoom, a private sector employee, said every day he along with hundreds of other commuters get held up in traffic jam at Panthachowk, as this is the only entry point to the city for those coming from south Kashmir. “The number of vehicles is increasing every day, but the roads are the same, as they used to be two decades ago,” said another commuter from south Kashmir. The HMT crossing, which is the entry point to Srinagar for those coming from north Kashmir, also witnesses frequent traffic jams. Peeved about frequent traffic jams, the sitting legislator from Langate in Kupwara district, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, expressed concern over the traffic mess. “The state government is shutting its eyes towards the important issue and putting the masses to trouble,” the MLA said. The Langate MLA said the traffic jam had become a common problem in Kashmir. He said long queues of vehicles were seen every time on all important roads in Srinagar and elsewhere. “The HMT crossing and Panthachowk are two important spots where the traffic jam has become a daily routine. These two spots are difficult to cross, especially during peak hours. Destinations, which can be reached in minutes, take hours to reach because of traffic jams,” he said. The MLA said while VIPs managed to get the roads cleared for themselves by their police escorts, the common people had no escape route. “The movement of VIPs and the Army are the two major causes of traffic jams in the Valley,” he said. A senior Traffic official said they were trying to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. “Other departments are also responsible for the traffic jams. The roads need to be widened, which can ease the situation,” he said. |
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Debate held for all-round development of youth
Batote, July 21 The debate was organised to improve leadership qualities, communication skills, confidence and competitive spirit of local youth for their all-round and multifaceted development. After the end of the two-day preliminary round yesterday, the first final is being held today and the grand final will be held on July 23. During the competition, 47 participants from Kishtwar will debate in English, Hindi or Urdu on “moral values are fast declining in Indian society”, “whether politics has weakened or strengthened the Indian nation”, “India’s future is safe in the hands of present youth” and “should right to franchise be made compulsory”.
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Vakil vows to expose corruption in govt
Jammu, July 21 “The government decision to accord sanction for prosecuting me for highlighting corruption in the PHE Department has provided me with an opportunity to further expose the misdeeds of the government,” Vakil told The Tribune. “Demanding an inquiry into the allegations of corruption does not amount to defamation. It is the right of every political activist,” he argued. Vakil, however, smelt a conspiracy in the government’s decision to accord sanction for the prosecution. “By according sanction to prosecute me, the ruling National Conference wants to exploit factionalism in the Congress,” he alleged, adding that the National Conference was trying to weaken the Congress in the state. Vakil asserted that he stood by his stand that there was rampant corruption in the PHE Department headed by his party colleague Taj Mohiuddin. He said that he failed to understand the government’s move to initiate proceedings against him when the matter was sub
judice. |
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Elderly couple found dead in Bemina
Srinagar, July 21 The police said the bodies of Abdul Sattar Kundji (85) and his wife Jali (80) were found in suspicious conditions at their residence on Thursday evening. “The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, which will ascertain the cause of the death,” said SHO, Parimpora, Ghulam Mohiuddin. The police said the elderly couple was living alone in the house. “We have initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC and are waiting for the post-mortem report. No one has been arrested so far,” the SHO said.
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85% education funds go to schools in Kashmir, says Ex-Minister
Jammu, July 21 In a statement issued here yesterday, he said the state government had received funds during 2009-10 for strengthening of infrastructure of 40 high schools in the state with Rs 31.31 lakh earmarked for each school. He, however, regretted that when it came to identification of schools for the purpose, the state government opted for 36 schools in the Kashmir region and only four schools in the Jammu region. For the 36 schools in the Kashmir region identified for the purpose, the state government has approved Rs 1,127 lakh; and just Rs 134 lakh has been okayed for schools in the Jammu region. For the financial year 2010-11, too, the state government had received funds for infrastructure of 20 high schools at the rate of Rs 36.86 lakh per school. Then also the state government had identified 18 schools in Kashmir and only two schools from the Jammu region for the infrastructure upgrade, the NPP leader alleged. “In another allocation, the Union Government had approved 19 model schools for the state, sanctioning Rs 3.02 crore per school. Again, the state government played foul by identifying 14 model schools in Kashmir and only five in the Jammu region,” said Singh. The Panthers Party leader alleged that during the last three years more than 85 per cent of the state sector funds had been allotted to schools in Kashmir. Seeking a fair deal for the Jammu region schools, Singh called upon the Chief Minister, who holds the Education portfolio, to refrain from such unjust decisions. He warned of serious ramifications in the form of public unrest and protests if immediate action was not taken to rectify the “highly anomalous and discriminatory acts against the Jammu region”. |
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Arms, ammunition recovered in Reasi
Katra, July 21 They said the cache was hidden in a natural cave near a nullah in the vicinity of Handiwala village in Mahore tehsil of Reasi district. "The cache was lethal and capable of causing a lot of damage to life and property. The arms and ammunition included three UBGL rounds, three hand grenades, one LMG magazine, three Rifle Magazines, 47 rounds of AK-47, 43 rounds of LMG, 26 rounds of pistol with other miscellaneous items," said Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations), Mahore, Gourab Mahajan. Commanding Officer of 61 RR JS Kholi said a number of militant hideouts were busted in the recent past and arms and ammunition were recovered in the area of the Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform). He said this indicated the strong intelligence network of security forces and also the willingness of the locals to cooperate with the Army units in the area. Inputs have revealed that the recoveries have dealt a serious blow to terrorist outfits and their nefarious plans to resuscitate insurgency. |
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Union Minister for Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal today said the education sector was expanding rapidly in the state and to keep pace with the growth, two Central universities for Kashmir and Jammu would be inaugurated soon.
Jammu, July 21
Jammu, July 21
