Jammu, July 25
Till the time the administration comes up with any concrete policy, residents have to bear the noise of engines, their emissions and other effluents from various illegally run automobile repair workshops in the city.

The city has witnessed the mushrooming of automobile repair workshops in the past few years. These workshops aggravate the problem of traffic jams and the traffic police, too, can’t do much considering the fact that the workshop owners have to earn their livelihood.

However, waste generated by them has become a major source of air and water pollution, but the officials of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Pollution Control Board (PCB) seem to ignore the menace.

Recently, the JMC had sealed one of the workshops after receiving complaints from the people, but there are hundreds of such workshops in the city and there is no definite policy to deal with them.

“We fail to understand who gave them permissions to open such shops in the residential areas. They create lots of problems and pour their waste, including oil, near the open land in our area,” said Subash Gupta, a resident of Bantalab.

No doubt, owners of such workshops were earning their livelihoods, but the authorities concerned should not overlook the problems and the health hazard being posed to residents, said Subash.

The city has witnessed a rapid expansion in population since 1990 when militancy erupted in Kashmir, but not much has been done to deal with different levels of pollution, which have become a part of the city life.

“The JMC is trying to beautify and decongest the city, but at the same time such workshops add to the problem of congestion,” he said, adding that the JMC alone could not do much.

Lal Chand, chairman, Pollution Control Board, said from time to time they had taken action against polluting units, be it industries or workshops. “There are some people who are running them illegally and we have decided to take action against them with the support of other civil bodies,” he said.

Noise pollution is already a major threat to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. “The major causes of sound pollution are industrial and construction activities, generator sets, loudspeakers, music systems, blowing of horns and other mechanical devices, which have adverse affects on the health of the people,” said Dr Tanvir Ahmed.

Jammu, July 25
At a time when the weather experts were giving hopes of an early shower, last night’s rainfall came as a blessing for the farming community who were worried about the harvest output in the absence of rains.

Last night the Metrological Department recorded 37.58 mm rainfall, which, according to the weather experts, is an adequate boost to the cultivation efforts of the farmers.

M. Khushu, an official with the Met Department in Jammu, said: “ With the rains showing up so late in the region, at last there is a reason to be relieved as all the crops and fruit harvests require rains. There is a turf in the monsoon season causing the delay and fluctuation in rainfall but we are expecting this turf to dissipatesoon”.

This year in the wake of low rainfall, the farming community of RS Pura is concerned about the output of basmati rice, which could be a low produce this year in comparison to other years as the rainfall was not adequate enough. Close to 2.5 lakh families around RS Pura, Bishnah and Marh depend on basmati rice’s cultivation for their livelihood.

The farmers are unhappy with the current state of affairs of the irrigation and electricity supply to their farm lands and are hoping that their fortunes will change if the rainfall becomes persistent during the last leg of monsoon this year which is expected to withdraw by mid September.

With the vegetable and fruit prices already on the rise due to the failing monsoon, the recent showers could bring respite to consumers who are already reeling under inflated rates of food items in the market.

Jammu, July 25
The state unit of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust today extended full support to “anti-corruption crusade” launched by social activist Anna Hazare in favour of his demand for setting up of a special investigation team to probe corruption allegations against Union Ministers.

Talking to mediapersons here, Bansi Lal Sharma, state president of the Trust, said corruption and black money had badly affected the economy of the country.

“We extend full support to the anti-corruption campaign launched by Team Anna. It is high time for the government to pass the Lokpal Bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Parliament beginning from August 8,” he said.

Speaking on the FDI issue, Sharma said Yog Guru Swami Ramdev was fighting against the biggest assault on the Indian economy and appealed to all the parties, including the present ruling UPA government, to oppose this anti-social measure because it would affect the retail sector adversely.

He said Swami Ramdev would start his nationwide protest against corruption and black money stashed abroad from August 9 in New Delhi.

Jammu, July 25
Various organisations of Jammu today staged a dharna on the premises of the Exhibition Ground in support of the call given by Anna Hazare for indefinite fast against corruption. The organisations who were sitting on the dharna included Vichar Kranti Manch International, Rural Women Foundation, Dogra Liberation Front, Rajput Sabha, Khatri Sabha, Panun Kashmir, Sikh Intellectual Forum, Kashyap Rajput Sabha and others.

The members appealed to the general public to unite against the tactics adopted by the government to delay the Lokpal Bill as advocated by the Team Anna and Yog Guru Baba Ramdev. The government has even failed to bring back black money stashed abroad. The speakers stressed upon the government to immediately bring a strong Lokpal Bill to curb the corruption and take necessary measures to bring back black money stashed abroad.

Jammu, July 25
Jammu Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF) activists today staged a demonstration against the Power Development Department (PDD) for imposing unscheduled and unannounced power cuts amid sultry and humid conditions.

The activists, led by Anil Gupta, chairman of the front, assembled at the Chief Engineer, PDD office, Bhagwati Nagar, and raised anti-government slogans.

They accused the ruling coalition of adopting double standards vis-a-vis redressal of genuine grievances of the people living in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

“Power is being curtailed for several hours that, too, without any schedule or notice. This has made the life of people miserable, especially during this humid summer. Students are the worst sufferers as they cannot concentrate on studies due to power curtailments, which had affected their studies,” Gupta said.

He said water supply was being affected, besides huge losses to the business and industry of Jammu. “Despite receiving huge revenue from this region, Jammuites are the worst sufferers of power crisis,” he said.

Castigating Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the portfolio of the Power Department, the JKDF chairman said a gas turbine at Pampore had been established by the government with the help of J&K Power Development Corporation to generate electricity for Kashmir during the acute winters of 100 days.

“This gas turbine is producing total 100MW power. The cost of production of power per unit at Pampore Gas Turbine is Rs 20 as compared to normal power generation cost of Rs 3.50 per unit. The cost of supplying power to households in Kashmir during three months of winters is Rs 35 lakh per day. When the government is supplying power to Kashmir at such a high cost during acute winters, then why it is reluctant to supply electricity to Jammu during hot summers on such pattern?” he questioned.

Gupta further said the consumption of power in Jammu was 40 per cent only against the revenue generation of 66 per cent. “In Kashmir, there is 60 per cent power consumption against the 33 per cent revenue generation,” he said.

Later, they also met Sehnaz Goni, chief engineer (M&RE), Jammu, and demanded immediate improvement in power supply.

Jammu, July 25
After contractual coaches/ instructors expressed disappointment over the outcome of the recently concluded Standing Committee meeting of the J&K State Sports Council regarding their regularisation, the officer cadre is now pinning its hopes on the much-awaited Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting, the date of which is likely to be finalised soon.

According to sources, officials of the Sports Council are alleging stagnation in the department due to the non-conduct of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting. The sources said the newly appointed J&K State Sports Council secretary Dalip Thusoo had taken a serious note of the prolonged delay and issued instructions for completing Annual Progress Reports (APRs).

The officer cadre of the Sports Council has welcomed this initiative taken by the secretary to start the DPC process. “We had recently interacted with the secretary of the Sports Council and he seems to be employee-friendly,” said one of the officials.

“The last DPC meeting was conducted several years ago under Manoj Pant’s stint as the secretary, State Sports Council. There has not been a single DPC meeting since then,” he said.

“Apart from the issue of promotion, there are other important matters pertaining to the employees that also need to be taken up at the upcoming DPC meeting,” said another officer.

The sources further claimed that officers of the State Sports Council working at various positions have not been promoted due to alleged inordinate delay in the DPC meeting. Interestingly, the issue was also taken up during the previously held Standing Committee meeting of the Sports Council held under the chairmanship of Sports Minister RS Chib, which was attended by the former secretary, State Sports Council, Kiran Wattal, but nothing concrete came out of it so far.

The sources said during Manoj Pant’s tenure as the secretary, Sports Council, in 2003 when a State Sports Council order No. 438 of 2003 dated 10-7-2003 was issued regarding transfers, postings and adjustments, the officers posted as in charge were transferred without being elevated as in charge managers who then expressed strong resentment claiming that during Sheikh Fazal’s stint as the secretary, Sports Council, in 2000, six Grade-II coaches in different disciplines were elevated to the post of in charge managers.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the State Sports Council said: “No date has been fixed for conducting DPC meeting yet, but after the Standing Committee meeting, efforts are on to hold this much-delayed meet.”

Jammu, July 25
The Kathua police claimed to have arrested a person, along with a ‘desi’ weapon “toka”, during a patrolling at Gali Ariya Samaj last night.

Reports said the police intercepted one youth during the patrolling at Gali Aryia Samaj, Kathua. The police arrested him, along with “toka”, after a chase. The accused was identified as Lovely Mehra of Kathua.

A case, FIR No. 282/2012 U/S 4/25 Arms Act, has been registered at Kathua Police Station. — TNS

Katra, July 25
With a view to ensuring proper implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act - 2006, the Department of Food Safety, Reasi, organised a one-day awareness programme at the DC office today.

The aim of the awareness programme was to enhance the skills of all functionaries responsible for the proper implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Speaking on the occasion, Lotika Khajuria, Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety and Standards, Jammu, said: “A massive awareness programme has been launched to educate the general masses at different levels about the food safety and preventive measures”.

She emphasised on the need for coordinated efforts with the active involvement of various associations of the area to change the mindset of people and to generate awareness about the safe food habits.

Khajuria appealed to all the food business operators to get their business registered and licenced before August 4, 2012.

An interactive session was also held during the programme, which was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Food Safety and Standards, Assistant Controller Food Safety (HQ), Designated Officer of Food Safety, Reasi.

The designated officer of the Food Safety, Reasi, Madan Lal Mangotra, food safety officers of the area and other functionaries associated with food safety in the district were present on the occasion.

Jammu, July 25
Charging the coalition regime with meting out step-motherly treatment to the farmers of the Jammu region, the state unit of the BJP today threatened to come on streets in support of the demands of the farming community of this region.

Interacting with people from different areas of the Jammu province, Choudhary Sukhnandan, BJP MLA from Marh, said the farmers of the Jammu province were once again subjected to gross discrimination and total neglect by the state government.

“On one hand no rains and on the other non-availability and supply of electricity is going to badly hit the crop this season,” he said.

Choudhary said the farmers in every part of Jammu were facing acute shortage of water for irrigation as the monsoon till now has not been up to the required level.

“Water in canals, too, is not meeting the needs for irrigation. Due to long power cuts, farmers are not in a position to even run their water pumping machines. A farmer is totally dependent on his seasonal crop and to get good crop, there is need of seeds, fertilizers and adequate water for irrigation,” he said.

He said farmers were finding it difficult to sow crop in the absence of fertilisers, rains and adequate water in canals for irrigation.

He regretted that the state government had no concern for the farmers and the same was clear from the fact that despite repeated representations and even direct talks with the Chief Minister, the Agriculture Minister and senior-most officials of the Agriculture Department, no effective steps had been ever taken to resolve the problems of the farmers.

Jammu, July 25
As the Jammu region is facing 45 per cent deficit in rainfall, the Sher-e-Kashmir University has issued an advisory to the farmers to change the cropping system for kharif crop for fruitful results.

“With the delay in the rainfall, the Jammu region has experienced around 45 per cent deficit, which is not at all a good sign for kharif crop. It is advisable to replace the crop, as the intercropping of maize, cowpea, wheat and oilseed can be replaced by maize and moong or mash or cowpea,” said Dr MK Khushu, chief scientist and head of the Department of Agronomy at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences.

It was also advised that the farmers should replace fertilisers by “pora” for oilseeds crops. Sesam and mash should be intercropped with 1:1 ratio.

For the cultivation of groundnut and wheat, groundnut should be wowed with row-to-row 30 cm and seed-to-seed 22.5 cm and sowing of wheat by the “kera” method should be replaced by the “pora” method.

Jammu, July 25
BSF School, Ploura, celebrated Vanmahotsava on its campus today. Over 12 saplings were planted on the occasion.

The chief guest DIG/PSO, BSF, NS Jamwal, and DIG BS Patiyal, along with the principal Dr SS Khokhar and other dignitaries, planted a few saplings.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamwal stressed the need for preserving the environment.

Apart from tree plantation, an environmental rally of more than 500 students with teachers was also taken out on the BSF campus.

A signature campaign, a slogan writing competition and chanting of mantras also marked the occasion.

Jammu, July 25
The National Secular Forum (NSF) elected Ahmed Malik as the new president for its Poonch office, today. He was the general secretary for Poonch district before his current appointment.

NSF president Vikas Sharma said his party was secular without distinctions based on any social classification.

He said: “The authorities concerned should become active in building the base for the Central University, Jammu campus, which is still not working to its full capacity”.

He expressed concern over the lack of attention by the administration towards the youth of the city, who were left without a fully functional Central University. According to sources, despite new courses being introduced in the Central University, the admissions have been abysmally low this year as students prefer Jammu or Srinagar University over the two Central Universities present in the state.

Jammu, July 25
A minor girl of class 10th, Kalakote area, Rajouri district committed suicide after she was allegedly gang-raped by her two teachers identified as Zaffar Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed with two other persons.

Although the police claimed to have arrested four persons including a father-son duo for allegedly raping a minor girl, there is wide spread allegations that it was all due to the negligence of the police that the alleged rape victim had committed suicide. People alleged that some persons had informed the cops that a group of youth had abducted a girl in a vehicle but no action was taken by the police to trace the girl.

“Had the police acted swiftly on the information received, they could have saved the life of a minor girl,” said Vinod Sharma, a local social activist.

Jammu, July 25
S. Choudhary and SK Sarkar of ER-II have achieved top spot with 49 points in pair event in bridge on the inaugural day of POWERGRID Inter-Regional Carrom and Bridge Championship being held at Panchkula today. The duo of E. Shameem and S. Karmakar of ER-I had to be contended with the second slot. The third position was secured by RC Dey and BK Dey of POSCO.

Meanwhile, in carrom quarterfinals, SR-I defeated NR-II by 2-0. WR-I thrashed SR-II by 2-1. WR-II defeated CC by an identical margin of 2-1. In the singles event, G Narsing Rao (SR-I) defeated BT Gopal Hola (ER-II) by 2-0.

In other matches played, MG Ravichandran (SR-II) beat Ajit Sharma (NER), KVNSV Prasad (SR-I) beat Ashok Banik (ER-II), I Nathan (POSCO) beat HB Chouksi (WR-II), S. Dayanand (SR-I) beat Tawinder Kumar (NR-II), Anil D. Doorode (WR-I) beat Arun Kumar (CC), Rajnt Nath (NER) beat MK Swamy (NR-I), R. Sridharan (SR-II) beat Choudhary Randhir (NR-II) and SB Haidar (NR-I) beat R. Sentil Kumar (SR-II).

Jammu, July 25
Sultanpur Cricket Club (SCC) clinched the 5th Night Cricket Tournament by defeating Dabbar Cricket Club (DCC) in the summit clash played at Government Degree College Ground, Bishnah.

Earlier, batting first, after winning the toss, DCC was skittled out for 85 runs in 12 overs. Jimmy was the top scorer with 21-ball 22 runs, while Karan also chipped in with a handy knock of 22 runs off just 10 deliveries.

In reply, SCC did the needful with consummate ease. Minkal played a match-winning knock for the victorious club with a whirlwind 8-ball 22. Later, he was declared the man of the match. The man of the series trophy went to Rahul Sandhu.

Ramesh Gupta, managing director, Cooperative Society, was the chief guest on the occasion who gave away winner and runner-up trophies.

The winning team was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5,000, while Dabbar Club pocketed a sum of Rs 2,000 as prize money.