|
|
|
|
|
Paddy crop wilts in parched Kupwara
Profiteering rampant, allege shoppers
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
From fasting to festivity Corps Commander, leaders extend greetings 14 injured in different road accidents
|
|
Paddy crop wilts in parched Kupwara
Kupwara, August 19 Light rainfall last week proved insufficient to infuse life into the wilting paddy crop. Many areas in Kupwara, including Kandi, Tarus Nutnoosa, Halmatpora, Charkoote, Darpora and Kralpora, are facing a serious threat of crop failure due to the prolonged dry spell. The situation is no better in some pockets of Handwara. Paddy crop spread over hundreds of kanals in Rajwar and Mawar has wilted for want of water. “Rainwater is the only source of irrigation in Rajwar and
Mawar. The drought-like situation has badly affected our crop, leaving us in a fix,” said Abdul
Gani, who cultivates paddy over a piece of land measuring 15 kanal. Gani urged the district administration to take immediate steps to prevent the failure of crop in the region. The dry spell has rendered cracks in dried-up paddy fields, badly affecting the growth of crop in its peak season. Farmers in the affected areas have been praying for early downpour but rain continues to elude them. The prevailing drought-like situation has also affected water level in major canals and streams, including Lal Koul, Kehmil and Mawar nullah in Kupwara and Handwara. Water bodies are the main source of irrigation in the region. The Churnar nullah, a key source of irrigation in Bakiakar and Braripora villages, is also showing signs of receding water levels. The district administration is assessing the situation in affected areas. “Rain-fed crop has been affected in
Halmatpora, Kandi Khas and some areas of Lolab and Handwara,” said Sarmad Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner,
Kupwara. “Teams of agriculture and irrigation experts are assessing the extent of damage to crops in the affected areas,” he added. Over 90 per cent people cultivate paddy as their main crop in villages across north Kashmir. Dry spell
Many areas in Kupwara, including Kandi, Tarus Nutnoosa, Halmatpora, Charkoote, Darpora, Kralpora and Handwara are facing a serious threat of crop failure due to the prolonged dry spell |
||
|
Profiteering rampant, allege shoppers
Srinagar, August 19 While the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) authorities realised a fine of around Rs 1.5 lakh during the last few days from erring shopkeepers, people continued to complain that shopkeepers were selling goods at arbitrary rates. The locals were also irked by the high mutton prices as Kashmir consumes tonnes of lamb meat during Eid. “Mutton is supposed to officially cost Rs 280 per kg, but one cannot find a single shop where it is being sold below Rs 300 per kg,” claimed Abdul
Hamid, a local reisdent. Another shopper said: “Readymade garment shops outside the state offer huge discounts and massive sales before festivals like
Diwali, but here shopkeepers fleece people by overcharging.” Authorities said they were on job and had realised a fine of Rs 1,52,850 during raids conducted across the Valley over the past few days. An official said Rs 18,700 was realised in fine from erring traders during the market checking at Bandipore in north Kashmir. Similarly, a fine of Rs 28,800 was recovered from erring shopkeepers at Trehgam, Zirhama, Awoora, Kralpora, Lone Harie, Kralgund, Supernaghama, Kalaroos, Rajwar and Handwara in Kupwara district. In Budgam district, around 300 raids were conducted by officials during which Rs 80,000 was realised in fine. Yesterday, Rs 21,000, Rs 3,100 and Rs 1,250 were realised in fine in Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian of south Kashmir, respectively. During these operations, a large quantity of rotten food was also seized and then destroyed. Fine realised
Place Fine (in Rs) Bandipore 18,700 Kupwara 28,800 Budgam 80,000 Srinagar 21,000 Anantnag 3,100 Shopian 1,250 |
||
|
Woman yearns for her ‘missing’ son amid celebration din
Srinagar, August 19 On August 19 in 1990, Parveena’s 17-year-old son Javed Ahmad Ahanger was arrested by NSG commandos and since then he has been missing. Parveena’s attempts to find her son may not have been successful but she has been able to bring together many mothers like her who celebrate Eid consoling each other in the office of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons
(APDP), which she founded in 1994. “I have not seen Javed for 22 years. I don’t even know if he is alive. I have not been able to forget him for a single moment of my life. Days like Eid make me more sad because back home there is no celebration without my son,” say an emotional
Parveena. As other old women in her office comfort her on seeing her burst into tears, Parveena knows that she cannot behave weak in front of other women. “They (other women) see some kind of strength in me. I don’t want to make them cry on
Eid, but sometimes I cannot hold myself back. My son was the dream I had always cherished. He was brilliant in studies. I had great hopes that he would become a doctor. He had nothing to do with militancy,” she says, wiping tears from her face. The members of her association speak of one common tale - some near and dear one gone missing. “Please do not tell anybody here that their son or husband has died. Even if they know it in their hearts, they do not want to hear it on
Eid. Not today, let’s talk about death some other day,” she says as she turns to greet some association members entering the office. |
||
|
Youngsters prefer gadgets to social functions this Eid
Srinagar, August 19 Unlike the Eid of yesteryear, characterised by the bursting of crackers in city playgrounds and swarming of toy and sweets shops by children, the modern-day Eid looks more like a ritual gesture. Oldtimers say the younger generation seems to be turning away from socialising and hooking on to gadgets even on occasions like Eid. “We are living in times when every child has a mobile phone, a computer or a video game in his possession. The addiction towards these gadgets overcomes the spirit of celebrating festivals with the family. Children like to spend more time on
Facebook, Twitter, etc. than being with their families,” laments Muhammad
Shafi, a veteran teacher. Experts feel sedentary lifestyle has taken a toll on the outdoor Eid celebrations. “Children know nothing about socialising with their friends and families. They prefer to watch a wrestling match on the television or play a game on the PSP even while visiting a relative’s house. Eid celebrations have been confined to demanding Eidi from elders and
eating food,” says Dr Nighat, a psychologist. She blames parents and guardians, too, for turning their children into couch potatoes. “If you condition your children in a certain way, they will behave accordingly. You cannot tell your children to go out and play on Eid and lock them up in homes on other days. What option do they have other than turn to these gadgets,” she asks. Kids have their reasoning too. “All of my friends are on
Facebook. It is far more entertaining and less time consuming if we
chat with them on Facebook rather than pay each one of them a visit,” quips
Suha, a class VII student. |
||
|
Garbage disposal
Srinagar, August 19 Dr GN Qasba, MC Commissioner, has issued instructions to keep the helpline (0194-2470465) functional from 9 am to 7 pm during the festive period for the benefit of the general public. Qasba said the city generated extra waste during the festival. “The civic body faces a major problem of handling huge quantities of garbage generated during
Eid. But we have kept our men and machinery on alert to ensure that people do not face inconvenience. We do not want people to suffer due to delay in removal of garbage,” he said. Around 400 metric tonne garbage and high-protein solid waste is generated every day in Srinagar, but the quantity goes up to around 600 metric tonne during Eid. The MC has also pressed fogging machines into service to fumigate the summer capital during the festive period. The officials concerned have been instructed to depute manpower and utilise the fogging machines in their respective wards on a priority basis. The fogging machines act as disinfectants and keep away flies and other insects near garbage dumps and open garbage sheds. |
||
|
From fasting to festivity Srinagar, August 19 Throughout the fasting month, mosques and shrines across Kashmir witnessed more than the usual rush of devotees during the daily five-time namaaz and manqbat, which bids goodbye to Ramadan and is heard frequently from Jummat-ul-Vida (last Friday) onwards. The mosques bears a festive look during iftar (fast breaking). Usually, each household in the locality takes turns in arranging food and drinks for iftar. Muslims in general believe that Ramadan is the time for seeking forgiveness from Allah. They pray during the entire month. Ardent devotees even go for a 10-day-long chilla (retreat) across mosques and shrines and remain engrossed in prayers while cutting themselves off from the rest of the world toward the end of Ramadan. Given the religious relevance of Ramdan, devout Muslims can be seen bidding tearful goodbyes to the holy month through manqabats with a hope that they will remain alive to fast again next year. This year, Kashmir was subjected to 16-hour-long fast amid hot weather conditions but that did not deter people from observing fasts. Ramadan also remained in news for wrong reasons. People hit the roads in protest against power and water shortage, especially during sehri and iftar. The protests forced the Power Development Department to review its curtailment schedule. The debate over the use of loudspeakers, too, remained an issue of debate. The issue even led to the death of a youth earlier this month, when two groups reportedly clashed over the use of loudspeakers at a mosque in Ganderbal district. While the politico-religious organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami, later claimed that the killing was not sectarian in nature, the government maintained that it had been caused over the use of loudspeakers. |
||
|
Bread
makers do brisk business Anantnag, August 19 Dozens of makeshift shops, erected over a week in advance, dot both sides of the highway, while
people from all parts of the Valley, particularly the southern region, come to purchase their favourite breads. “We
have been associated with the business of kulcha making for generations.
We do good business round the year but the period around Eid is a boon
time for us. Eid is incomplete without the kulchas,” says Mukhtar
Ahmad Sofi, a bread maker. This is the not the only place in Kashmir where one can find speciality in bread making, he says. “Almost
every town in the Valley has shops that specialise in this art. But the
bread of this area has its unique flavour and is quite popular,” he
adds. The kulchas from Shopian, Anantnag and Bijbehara are quite famous for their flavour. As Eid approaches, it gets hard for them to keep a regular supply of bread given the surge in the sale of the bread. “The
variety of bread we have in Kashmir is a gift from Central Asia,” says
Zareef Ahmad Zareef, a Kashmiri historian. “People from Iran,
Tehran, Samarkand and many other Central Asian countries swarmed into
Kashmir due to the Silk Route trade. They brought in a line of exotic
bread makers with them. The bread makers were known as nan-wais or
nan-bai’s, wherein ‘nan’ means bread and ‘wai’ or ‘bai’
means a maker,” says Zareef. The most exotic breads in those time
was the “shirmal”, with saffron sprinkled over it to give it a nice
fragrance, colour and flavour. The flavour continues to remain the same
over the years. Unmindful of their history, today’s bread makers
continue to serve people with some of the most outlandish breads. |
||
|
Corps Commander, leaders extend greetings Srinagar, August 19 “With devotion in mind, I send this message of felicitation on the eve of
Eid-ul-Fitr. The day is being celebrated to mark the month of the manifestation of holy
Quran, the blessed guideline that shows the way for a peaceful living with equality,” said Lt Gen
Prakash. Lt Gen Prakash also conveyed greetings to all members of the Defence establishment and their families. Jammu and Kashmir Congress state president Saifuddin Soz in his Eid greeting felicitated the people on
Eid-ul-Fitr. Soz said the festival would be a harbinger of sustained peace, progress, and development of the state. The All-Parties Sikh Coordination Committee
(APSCC), Kashmir, also greeted the people on Eid. “After one full holy month, it’s time for all of us to celebrate Eid with fervour and joy. We also pray to God for those departed souls who laid down their lives for prosperity and peace. Hope this day will bring more joy and happiness in our lives,” said Jagmohan Singh
Raina, chairman, APSCC. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Cabinet ministers, legislators and politicians, yesterday greeted the people of the state on
Eid-ul-Fitr. |
||
|
Dextrose in short supply in south Kashmir hospitals Sources say the hospitals have been running short of dextrose for the past three months and the authorities have failed to take requisite measures despite repeated reminders. “Most hospitals buy dextrose from the open market using the hospital development fund (HDF), which is a costly exercise, putting an extra burden on the hospitals,” a source said. Further, the option is available to only big hospitals having the HDF at their disposal. “There are a large number of SDHs and PHCs and these units do not have much in the name of development funds. So the burden is thrust upon poor patients,” a source said. Sources said most of these patients belonged to the rural areas and the unnecessary burden of buying dextrose from the market was passed on
to them. “The authorities try to ensure that the Srinagar hospitals do not run out of supplies and in the process those in the rural areas are neglected,” said a doctor. He said the demand for dextrose went up during summer due to increased cases of dehydration, gastroenteritis, food poisoning and other related ailments. The authorities, however, claim that the shortage has been overcome at these hospitals. “There was some disagreement with the supplier. We threatened to blacklist him and he agreed to the terms and conditions. He is now supplying dextrose regularly,” said Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director, Department of Health. He added that there was nothing unusual in the procurement of requisite supply of dextrose from the development fund. “If the HDF is not meant to be utilised for the procurement of essential supplies then what is the use of having such a fund? The HDF is not meant solely for construction purposes,” he said. |
||
|
14 injured in different road accidents Srinagar, August 19 The injured included two drivers — Hansraj, a resident of Samba; and Ranjeet Singh of Punjab — and four passengers — Iftikhar Ali, a resident of Leh, Sarbana, PR Chutervedi and Champa Chutervedi, all residents of West Bengal. The injured were admitted to the sub-district hospital at Bijbehara. A case has been registered at the Bijbehara police station. In another accident, a bus (JK 02 AK 1818) on its way from Jammu to Srinagar overturned near Chersoo in Awantipora, leaving four passengers injured. The injured were identified as Punjab Singh (42), a resident of Hartimadi, Anantnag; Shanti Devi (38), Mahveeb (32) and Banari Lal (40), all residents of Rajasthan. The injured were shifted to a local hospital for treatment. Shanti Devi and Mahveeb were later referred to Srinagar for treatment. A case has been registered at the Awantipora police station. Further, a motorcyclist was injured when an Army vehicle hit the motorcycle (JK 01 P 7835) at Zawoora, Srinagar, falling under the jurisdiction of Panthachowk police station. The motorcyclist was identified as Javed Ahmad Gilkar, a resident of Nawakadal. The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment. A case has been registered. In yet another case, two persons were injured when a Tata Sumo (JK 05 B 7710), driven by Fayaz Ahmad Khan, a resident of Nathnosa, Handwara, skidded off the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway near Singhpora, Baramulla, injuring two persons. The injured were identified as Abdul Hamid Dar (40), a resident of of Warpora, and Ghulam Hassan Mir (55), a resident of Lattishat, Sopore. They were shifted to a hospital for treatment. A case has been registered at the Patan police station. Also, a Tata Winger (JK 05 C 5059) on its way from Magam to Kunzar hit and injured a policeman, Abdul Rashid, near Army Camp, Kunzar, Baramulla, falling under the jurisdiction of Kunzar police station. The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment. A case has been registered. |
||
|
| HOME PAGE |
| Punjab |
Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
Anantnag, August 19