|
|
|
|
|
Rain leaves city roads inundated
Flash floods flatten crops in north Kashmir
1,320 Forest Department posts referred to agencies for recruitment
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Probe report pending before govt since April
16 injured in four road accidents
KBC win ensures migrant’s return to Valley
More land may come under saffron cultivation in Valley
Dialogue welcome but not enough: Mufti
Hardline Hurriyat not keen on ‘meaningless’ talk
Comedy drama festival begins at SKICC
Rs 8.35 lakh provided under rehab scheme
Rashid slams Farooq’s remark over K-issue
Government preparing new irrigation schemes: Minister
Child development programme held at Kashmir University
Rs 1.25 crore to be
spent on road works
Rather visits road accident victims
|
|
Rain leaves city roads inundated
Srinagar, September 9 As it continued to rain during the day, the traffic was disrupted at several places, forcing diversion through the main city centre, Lal Chowk, which was also inundated. Most of the busy roads in the city have not been repaired for several years. The public departments concerned are busy playing the blame game instead of finding a solution to the problem. A Roads and Buildings Department official said the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department did not consult it before starting any construction work for drainage and often dug roads for carrying out repairs, leaving the roads in a bad shape. But the macdamisation work undertaken by the Roads and Buildings Department at several places in the city had been left incomplete, thus aggravating the problem. The local municipal authorities had not bothered to repair the potholed portions. As a result, the number of potholes in the city had only gone up over the recent years. Though the Valley has not received sufficient rain this year, the dilapidated state of roads has only added to the woes of the people. “Every year, crores of rupees are funded under various Central schemes for the road repair work but nothing has been achieved so far. While the Chief Minister talks about providing world class facilities to the city, the same cannot be possible if the basic infrastructure is in a shambles,” said Muhammad Tanveer, a local businessman. |
|||
|
Flash floods flatten crops in north Kashmir
Kupwara, September 9
The rain has, however, come as a blessing in disguise for fruit growers. Horticulture experts say the rain will help the growth of fruit and formation of juice content in north Kashmir. Earlier, crops had been wilting in north Kashmir due to drought-like conditions. Farmers in Kalaroose said crops spread over thousands of kanals had been affected by the flash floods. “The floods flattened the standing paddy and maize crops. The vegetable fields spread over a vast area of land had also been washed away,” said Muzzafar Ahmad, a farmer. The worst-hit areas include Wadipora, Bakiakhar, Detipora, Badarkali, Lachipora, Arkpora, in Handwara and Magam, Monbal, Baoun, Shelal, Sodul in Rajwar. The district administration has sent teams of agriculture experts to the affected areas to assess the loss caused by the floods. Incessant rain over the past two days has raised the water level in nullahs, including Tramkhani, Sarkoli and Munwali, in Kalaroose. “The water level rose in rain-fed nullahs drastically and swept away standing crop. Flash floods damage crops just before the harvesting season begins in Kalaroose every year,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a farmer. The worst-hit areas in Kalaroose include Lashtiyal, Madmaddu, Kanipora and Thayan. “The farmers have very little to salvage from the damaged fields. The damage was caused just a few days before the start of the harvesting season,” said the sarpanch of Kalaroose. RL Raina, Chief Horticulture Officer, said: “The fruit is maturing and rain at this point should help in the overall development of fruit. It will also help in the formation of juice content in fruit.” Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Hafeez said: “Teams of agriculture experts have been sent to the affected areas to ascertain the loss caused by flash floods.”
|
|||
|
1,320 Forest Department posts referred to agencies for recruitment
Srinagar, September 9 This was stated during a high-level meeting of forest officials, which was chaired by Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf on Saturday evening. The minister reviewed the functioning of various wings and status of vacant posts in the department and its allied wings. “The minister was informed that against the total vacancy of 1,624 posts of different categories (gazetted /non-gazetted) in allied wings of the Forest Department, 1,320 have already been referred to the PSC and SSB, whereas the rest will be referred soon,” a government spokesperson said in a statement issued here. The minister has directed the officials to refer all vacancies to the recruitment agencies concerned for filling these posts on a fast-track basis. “He exhorted the officers to monitor the process of recruitment to overcome the deficiency of manpower,” the statement read. During the meeting, the minister also directed heads of the J&K Pollution Control Board and the J&K Forest Protection Force to accomplish the process of recruitment rules “to ensure transparency in their organisations” in a time-bound manner. “He asked the officers to fix the responsibility for any delay in the framing of rules, adding that no organisation can accomplish its legitimate task without proper rules and regulations,” the spokesman added.
|
|||
|
Probe report pending before govt since April
Srinagar, September 9 The Divisional Commissioner, however, remained silent about the kind of action the government had taken since then against the jail authorities indicted by the magisterial inquiry. “The deponent (Divisional Commissioner) has forwarded the said inquiry report (forwarded by the Kupwara Deputy Commissioner on April 2) to the Chief Secretary, J&K, on April 23 for favour of information and necessary action,” the Divisional Commissioner submitted in his status report filed on August 30 before the High Court. In the report, the court had on August 25 asked the Divisional Commissioner to explain the action taken on the magisterial inquiry furnished to his office by the inquiry magistrate concerned. The report of the magisterial inquiry, which was ordered by the Kupwara District Magistrate on March 30 had held the Kupwara sub-jail authorities and the jail medical staff guilty of “negligence” in youth’s death. Based on the findings of the magisterial inquiry report, the deceased’s family had been demanding action against the Kupwara jail authorities. Besides, the family had also been demanding the registration of an FIR against the authorities for “causing Sajjad’s death due to negligence”. |
|||
|
16 injured in four road accidents
Srinagar, Sept3ember 9 In Anantnag district of south Kashmir, a mini-bus overturned on the KP Road, resulting in injuries to nine passengers, a police spokesperson said. He said the passengers were shifted to the Sub-District Hospital for treatment. One of them was later referred for specialised treatment to a Srinagar hospital. In Anantnag district, a vehicle hit and injured a woman, who was later admitted to a Srinagar hospital for treatment, the spokesperson said. In Budgam district of north Kashmir, a truck skidded off the road, resulting in injuries to three persons. They were admitted to a local hospital for treatment, he said. Also, three passengers were injured when a passenger cab skidded off the road near Neeta post in the Karnah area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. All three injured were shifted to a hospital.
|
|||
|
KBC win ensures migrant’s return to Valley
Jammu, September 9 An employee of the Indian Railways, Raina currently lives in Paloura, Jammu. Though well settled, he always cherished rebuilding his house in this hometown. His win, in the presence of his favourite actor Amitabh Bachchan, has brought him a step closer to realising his dream. “It is a very proud moment for Manoj to win such a huge money. He is so attached to his roots that he will first go back to rebuild his house, destroyed by militants during the turmoil, in Kashmir,” said a friend of Manoj. “He wants to share his success and happiness with everyone in the state but the contract restrains him from giving any statement till the programme is telecast,” he added. Manoj has visited the Valley thrice since his family moved out but then he was just a visitor. His house in the Valley was destroyed during militancy and like other members of his community was forced to leave the place in 1990. Manoj who was on the set of KBC along with his family, hugged his idol after he announced him the winner of Rs 1 crore. He is the first from the state to win such a huge sum of money in a reality TV show. A diehard fan of Amitabh Bachchan, Raina took his first shot at the KBC in 2000 when the show began. But he could not go through. He had been trying to make it to the show ever since and his dream finally came true this year. |
|||
|
More land may come under saffron cultivation in Valley
Srinagar, September 9 Saffron is currently grown on around 300 hectare in the central Budgam district in the tradition saffron belts like Chadoora, Hayatpora, BK Pora, Nagam, Khanda and Hafro villages. “In Budgam district, around 300 hectares are under saffron cultivation and during the current year, 125 hectares more will be brought under rejuvenation/replanting of saffron corms under the National Saffron Mission,” said a government spokesperson who quoted MA Parray, chief agriculture officer, Budgam. The officer stated this while interacting with saffron farmers during a field visit to these areas today. The National Saffron Mission is a Centrally-aided pilot project being implemented by the state government to preserve and boost saffron cultivation in Kashmir. Parray along with the monitoring team members was accompanying Director Law Enforcement MS Katoo during the visit to the traditional saffron growing areas of Budgam district, where rejuvenation and replanting of saffron corms under the National Mission on Saffron is in progress. The spokesperson said saffron growers seemed quite enthusiastic about the project. He said: “The digging of corms, grading and chemical treatment with recommended fungicides and replanting of the corms as per the latest technology was in full swing.” While interacting with farmers at various places, the Director, Law Enforcement, impressed upon the farmers to adopt modern and scientific technology to boost production and productivity of saffron. “The farmers were advised to strictly adhere to the technical advice disseminated by the field functionaries of the Agriculture Department,” he said. Under the National Saffron Mission, the Agriculture Department is supposed to provide vermin-compost, chemical fertilisers and fungicide for the treatment of saffron corms to saffron farmers of the Valley. |
|||
|
Dialogue welcome but not enough: Mufti
Srinagar, September 9 “Unless the peace process is redirected to J&K, as had happened in 2003, the dialogue will lack meaning for the people of the state who are the main stakeholders of the reconciliation between the two countries,” said Mufti Mohammad while addressing a public meeting at Hanjoora in Budgam district yesterday. He said J&K had been looking forward to the implementation of decisions taken during the last year’s talk between the two Foreign Ministers on cross-LoC trade and travel. “Though it is a welcome move to ease the general visa regime between the two countries to allow investment in each other’s business ventures, the inability to implement decisions pertaining to J&K has come as a huge disappointment,” he said. Referring to the earlier decisions taken by the two countries, Mufti Mohammad said it would immensely benefit the region if the travel and trade across LoC was taken to the next level. He said the expansion of travel facility to people beyond the divided families, increasing the frequency of bus service and opening of new routes like the Skardu Kargil could take us nearer to the ultimate goal of having a hurdle less border. He said the long pending decisions on these crucial matters need immediate implementation. Mufti Mohammad said reopening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in 2005 was a historic step. It was taken for the first time as sense of participation was given to the people of the state whose aspirations had positively been responded to by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. The bus service and the ceasefire ordered then were the only CBMs that survived many bad moments like the 26/11 incident. The durability of these initiatives came from the fact that they had originated from the people of the state whose sentiment for peace and resolution was channelised by PDP and its coalition government,” said Mufti. He urged the people to help him bring back same spirit to resolve the Kashmir issue once and for all. “The resolution of political problem and implementation of a visionary developmental plan can materialise only through democratic methods as had been established post 2002 and for that we need to use our vote with care, caution and wisdom,” he said.
|
|||
|
Hardline Hurriyat not keen on ‘meaningless’ talk
Srinagar, September 9 The hawkish separatist faction was responding to Union Minister Farooq Abdullah’s Saturday comment in which he had said the separatist should take the initiative if they wanted to talk, as the Centre would not come begging before them. The faction ridiculed Abdullah for being a “fourth-class employee” of New Delhi. The Hurriyat said Abdullah was trying to “prove his loyalty” by making such statements.
|
|||
|
Comedy drama festival begins at SKICC
Srinagar, September 9 He said this during the inaugural function of 11-day Comedy Drama Festival 2012, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Film Makers and Artists Cooperative Ltd (JKFMAC) in collaboration with the State Information Department and J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, SKICC, Srinagar. He also released a book ‘Television Production Takneek Aur Tarseel’ written by Ashok Jailkhani, Additional Director General, Doordarshan, on this occasion. The festival, comprising of plays in Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri and Ladakhi, will depict the glorious cultural heritage of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. These plays have been written and directed by well known writers and theatrics. The governor, who was chief guest on the occasion, observed that television, radio, theatre and other forms of mass media are very powerful means to create awareness among the people about the various development and welfare schemes launched by the government. He said through the visual media even semi literate and uneducated person living in the remote areas can information about the programmes and schemes being implemented for their welfare. “Well considered communication strategies can help the policy planners and administrators to secure the best possible results through the implementation of various human development programmes,” he said. Referring to Jailkhani’s book, ‘Television Production Takneek Aur Tarseel’, he said it was beneficial that this volume has now been translated into four languages. He congratulated Jailkhani for the useful book. Professor Shafi Shauq, former head of the Kashmiri department, University of Kashmir, presented review of the book. Shabbir Hyder, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the JKFMAC, in his welcome address, gave details of the second edition of the festival as the first was organised last year. |
|||
|
Rs 8.35 lakh provided under rehab scheme
Srinagar, September 9 This was stated by the social welfare department officials during a legal awareness workshop organised by the department in collaboration with the state rehabilitation council on Saturday in which MLA Bandipora and PDP leader Nizam-ud-Din Bhat were also present. While addressing the workshop, the MLA stressed upon the officer to work for the correct documentation of militancy victims so that no deserving widow, orphan or any helpless father remains without financial aid. “Bhat also called for government’s attention to increase monthly pension of Rs 750 in favour of militancy victims. He also stressed on imams and community leaders to work wholeheartedly for the rehabilitation of the poor and deserving people,” said a government spokesperson. |
|||
|
Rashid slams Farooq’s remark over K-issue
Srinagar, September 9 Addressing a public meeting in Handwara today, Rashid said had NC and its leadership performed its duties towards Kashmiri people, situation and history would have been different. He reminded Farooq of the failures of NC leadership which it played since 1947 till date. The MLA said it was due to these failures that Kashmiris had to take arm struggle. He alleged that the Centre had been trying to buy time and no serious and sincere effort had been made to resolve the Kashmir issue. — TNS
|
|||
|
Government preparing new irrigation schemes: Minister
Srinagar, September 9 The minister said, “Horticulture is a major source of employment in the state. The government is seized by the problem of unemployment.” “Every youth cannot be given a government job. Industry and private sector needs to be encouraged. Horticulture sector has the potential of providing job avenues at massive scale once developed properly,” said Mohiuddin. He said, “Once the orchard irrigation scheme is executed on the ground, it would open huge employment avenues for youth and would strengthen the state economy in a big way.” The minister said the present government has taken a number of steps for the socio-economic development of the state and was keen to seek development of all regions benefiting people across all shades. |
|||
|
Child development programme held at Kashmir University
Srinagar, September 9 During the event, NSS volunteers, teachers and students from various schools, experts and trainers of skill and mental development emphasised on the need of promoting pupil’s personal and social development through personality development programs. Director CORE Academy Tariq Margoob said, “The existing models and policies of elementary education limit the scope of a child`s creativity. It is a time for us to realise that grades alone do not make a child competent enough to face the challenges ahead in life but it is the comprehensive development of both mind and body.” While elaborating the five important factors of comprehensive child development program, He said, “Mnemonics which means memorisation , Neurobics which means brain sharpening , Abacus involving techniques which make calculation faster and easier, acupressure and overall personality development are the five important courses of comprehensive child development program which reflect a child`s character, individuality, thoughts, dreams , aspirations and brings out his hidden potential and creative instinct which at times is more important than just getting the right answers to a written test.” Professor AG Madhosh, a renowned educationist and psychologist, said: “It is the teacher who first imparts the latest and innovative pedagogic skills to its students. Life skills training program of six months should be incorporated in the BEd training course and once the teachers understand the importance of these life skill tools and techniques the whole process of teaching-learning will become creative and interesting. Teachers can then pass on their expertise to their pupils.” Dr Subhash Chauhan, Chairman, Gurukul group of schools Kurukshetra and Haryana, said that as an administrator of schools he understood the importance of comprehensive child development program and the introduction of this programme in the schools have proven to be highly beneficial both for the students and the teachers.
|
|||
|
Rs 1.25 crore to be
spent on road works
Srinagar, September 9 In a meeting held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah, various road construction projects were discussed. An official said, “The Roads and Buildings Department has blacktopped 94 km up to August 2012. The construction work of culverts, lanes, drains, running walls are also under progress in the district.” A road of 50 Km has been blacktopped and out of 220 km targeted road length, 170 Km road length has been made. The District Development Commissioner asked the engineers to achieve the targets in the given time frame so that no liabilities are created for the next financial year. He directed the engineers to sort out the land acquisition disputes and bottlenecks in the completion of many projects. The engineers were directed to consult the Additional District Development Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Revenue and Tehsildars in clearing the disputes.
|
|||
|
Rather visits road accident victims
Srinagar, September 9 The minister conveyed his condolences to the family members of deceased. “He also inspected the site where the accident occurred. Later, he went to the SKIMS and SMHS hospitals where 26 injured passengers are getting treatment,” said the spokesperson. He asked the authorities of these hospitals to provide every possible medical facility to these injured persons on priority basis.— TNS
|
|||
|
| HOME PAGE |
| Punjab |
Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
A fresh spell of rain in the Valley left all major roads in the city and its outskirts waterlogged, causing damage to the roads.
The bad condition of roads in the city is proving to be a nightmare for motorists as well as pedestrians.
Jammu, September 9
Governor NN Vohra today stressed on setting up a culture centre in the state which remains active throughout the year, organising drama and art festivals so that the artistic talents of the budding artists from the state are groomed, the cultural traditions are revived and those visiting the state gets to know more about the glorious cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.
Heavy rain since Saturday evening also damaged standing crops in the Handwara and Rajwar areas, sources said.
Sajjad (22) from Sangrampora, Sopore, in north Kashmir had died in the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, on March 22 while serving detention under the Public Safety Act at the Kupwara sub-jail.
