Kupwara, October 15
Two vital bridges at Jetty and Ladoora in Baramulla district, the work on which was started in 2002 and 2005 respectively, are yet to see light of the day.

Residents of Baramulla are demanding completion of construction work on these two bridges at Jetty and Ladoora sites.

The residents say they have been facing numerous problems due to incomplete construction work on these bridges on the Baramulla-Srinagar highway since 2002.

The residents say the bridges will not only streamline the heavy traffic movement in Baramulla but the vital bridge at Jetty will also connect Kupwara district with Srinagar through the Handwara route.

The J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) had in 2002 started the work on the bridge near Jetty but the construction agency suspended the work in 2003 after spending more than Rs 3 crore.

The state government in 2003 had asked the authorities to complete the construction of bridge at Jetty but the latter did not respond which further delayed the construction work, the JKPCC sources said.

The construction on the bridge near Ladoora is going on since 2005. The bridge is supposed to connect many places, including Khawajabagh and Janbazpora to Baramulla. It will also connect Baramulla with Handwara and Kupwara tehsils.

“The construction on the bridge near Ladoora is going on at a snail’s pace. If the construction work is not streamlined, it will take another decade to make the bridge motorable. The construction work on the vital bridge near Jetty was suspended in 2003 and has not been resumed till date,” said Habibullah Mir, a local resident.

The local residents demanded that the construction on the bridge near Jetty should be resumed.

“The bridge will shorten the distance by at least 20 km to Srinagar and Kupwara. It will also ease traffic snarls in Baramulla. In view of an increasing strategic importance of the bridge, we appeal to the authorities concerned to resume construction work soon,” said Abdul Rashid Malik, JKPCC Deputy General Manager. The JKPCC has submitted a report to the government in this regard, he added.

“The work on the vital bridge was suspended due to the paucity of funds. We have already written to the government to provide funds,” Malik said.

“As far as construction on the Ladoora bridge is concerned, the work is going on at a reasonable pace. The fund allocation is sufficient and the bridge will be made motorable by the end of the next year,” he added. 

Srinagar, October 15
A 25-year-old woman hanged herself at her rented accommodation in Budgam district of central Kashmir, police said.

The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, was a resident of Patna in Bihar, a police spokesman said. The woman hanged herself at Dar Mohalla in Rawalpora area. A case under Section 174 of the CrPC has been registered. The police is investigating the matter, the spokesman said. — TNS

Kupwara, October 15
With wedding season at its peak, flower sellers in the Valley are doing a good business these days. Flowers of different varieties are used for decorating houses, lawns and vehicle ferrying the bride and groom.

“Different types of flowers, including petals and ferns, are in great demand. A marriage is incomplete without flowers as they are lavishly used for decoration on such occasions,” said Nazir Khuroo, owner of a floweri shop at Jamia road in Kupwara. Flower sellers are witnessing a good rush of customers in Handwara and Baramulla as well.

“On an average, a groom’s family spends around Rs 12,000-17,000 on decoration alone on the occasion. Colourful lighting system is added to make the mehandi raat enchanting,” said a flower seller in Handwara market.

It takes much time to decorate a bridegroom’s car as it ought to be colorful and most prominent one. Flower shops in Srinagar city are also witnessing good rush in view of the ongoing marriage season.

The Polo View market in Srinagar is known for selling almost all types of artificial and natural flowers. At least three or four vehicles which are part of a groom’s fleet are decorated with special type of flowers for high profile marriages. People in the flower business in Kashmir grow lilies, gladiolus, marigold and tulips. Flowers were selling like hot cakes in south Kashmir as well, reports said. 

Srinagar, October 15
Three people were injured in two road accidents in the Valley, police said. A car hit a motorcyclist on the Boulevard road in Srinagar injuring two men.

The motorcyclist Mohammad Rafiq Chachoo and the pillion rider Muzaffar Ahmad Kaloo, both residents of Buchwara Dalgate, were injured in the accident and have been shifted to hospital for treatment, a police spokesman said.

The driver of the car fled the spot and both the vehicles involved in the accident have been seized by the police. A case has been registered at Ram Munshi Bagh police station, the spokesman added.

In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, a passenger cab turned turtle on the national highway near Highgam resulting in injuries to a 40-year-old woman identified as Sabijan. The injured woman has been shifted to hospital for treatment. — TNS

Srinagar, October 15
The Bar team, which was on a three-day visit to various jails in Jammu region, has claimed that the inmates lodged have complained about the lack of facilities in the jails.

The team said the inmates had demanded to upgrade the medical facilities in the jails, adding that they should be produced before the courts, where their cases were pending, regularly.

The J&K High Court on October 1 allowed the Bar team to visit various jails in Jammu to see the facilities and inquire into the problems faced by the inmates.

The five-member Bar team, led by vice-president Ajaz Bedar, said a detailed report would be presented with regards to their visit to various jails in Jammu.

During the visit to the Udhampur Jail, the team met and interviewed separatist leaders Masarat Alam and Mushtaq-ul-Islam, who were serving their detention under the Public Safety Act.

“The Bar team met the intimates at the Udhampur Jail including, Masarat Alam and Mushtaq-ul-Islam in presence of the Jail Superintendent, Vinod Kumar, and also the intimates at the Kotebalwal jail. The team also visited the Hira Nagar Sub-Jail at Jammu,” said, Bar secretary, M Ashraf Bhat, who was a part of the five-member team.

“The main grievance projected by the intimates to the Bar committee at the Udhampur jail was that they were not being allowed to hold prayers collectively and were compelled to raise certain contentious slogans,” Bhat claimed.

He said the intimates, who were booked under the PSA, were compelled to share barracks with the accused persons facing trial under the heinous offences.

Bhat said former militant commander and Muslim League chairman Mushtaq-ul-Islam, also told the team that he was beaten to pulp by the jail authorities after he had refused to come out of his barrack for a morning drill.

“Mushaq-ul-Islam narrated this in front of the jail superintendent, who denied the allegations but could not explain freshness of the injuries on the body of Mushtaq, who was lodged at the Udhampur jail,” Bhat said.

He said, “The intimates of the Kotebalwal and Hiranagar jail told the committee that the medical facilities should be upgraded and they should be produced before the courts where their cases are pending regularly.”

Srinagar, October 15
A deputation of the J&K Peoples Party (JKPP) and MLA, Lolab, Abdul Haq Khan called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today.

“The issues raised by Khan included taking measures for construction of the Lolab-Bandipore tunnel, availability of funds for the construction of the Lolab bye-pass road and under construction bridges in the area within envisaged timelines,” an official said.

“Other demands put forth by the MLA included setting up of a separate tourism development authority for Lolab, launching a special recruitment drive by the state police for the youth and provision of timber supply to the inhabitants of Lolab on concessional rates,” the official said.

JKPP president Imran Rahi discussed the measures required to be taken to rehabilitate ex-militants. “The Governor gave a patient hearing to the deputation, which included Shahzad Ahmed and Syed Khursheed, and agreed to take up their concerns with the Chief Minister,” the official said

Meanwhile, a deputation of the Imami Association, Karnah, also called on the Governor.

Srinagar, October 15
Governor NN Vohra today greeted people on the commencement of holy Navratras and prayed for communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, progress and prosperity in the state.

The Governor said the navratras has an added significance in Jammu and Kashmir as. He said the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Jammu region attracts a large number of pilgrims from all parts of the country.

The Governor said the commencement of the navratras marks the beginning of a grand festival at Katra, the base town for the commencement of the trek to Vaishno Devi shrine. He said the festival showcased the glorious traditions of the composite cultural ethos of the state.

The Governor also prayed for the well-being of the people on the occasion. 

Srinagar, October 15
Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference (NC) party today said it will vehemently work to seek autonomy for the state, terming it a political resolution for the region which has been hit by a severe political unrest over the last many decades.

“The NC has a defined and well-documented agenda for a socio-economic and political prosperity. The NC will work vehemently to seek political resolution in restoration of the autonomy for the state in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere,” said Tanvir Sadiq, party spokesman.

The spokesman said the ruling party shall not allow anyone to weaken the special status of the state. “Continued political blunders, ignoring people’s democratic aspirations, erosion of constitution, disregarding autonomy report, offering occasional doles, negative role of the PDP are the reasons for the mistrust of the people of the state towards the policy makers of the Centre, including the BJP,” the spokesman said.

The ruling party spokesman said even the separatists were toeing the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s line. “We have been advocating the restoration of the autonomy from the day it was snatched from us even the separatist are toeing Omar’s line because they have understood that the only workable solution for a lasting peace is the restoration of autonomy which is the only constitutional document approved by the state legislature and is acceptable not only to Kashmir (and) Jammu but Ladakh as well,” said Sadiq.

He said the autonomy has to be restored in the state as it will provide an antidote towards the hostility and mistrust that has been created between India and Pakistan over the last six decades.

Tanvir said the ruling party was confident that people would continue to support the government’s peace endeavors enabling the state to emerge as exemplary models of the development, peace and prosperity. 

Srinagar, October 15
For boosting sales in the handloom sector, Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia has asked for involving tour and travel operators at various levels.

The minister has also called for the development and production of the market-driven handloom products of high standard quality that would yield in better returns.

Slathia made these comments while inaugurating a handloom showroom at silk weaving factory at Solina in Srinagar today.

The showroom was a blend of old and modern art works and was considered as a credible and genuine source for handloom products, a spokesman said.

“He urged for adopting modern marketing channels to boost handloom sales in a big way, adding that engaging travel agents and tourists guides on commission basis for promotion campaign could also be beneficial for the purpose,” the spokesman said.

The minister, while inspecting various stalls in the showroom, directed the management to focus on attracting tourists and customers, adding that hoardings about the handloom products should be installed at prominent places and the tourists’ destinations to make them aware about the new blends and latest designs in fabrics.

“Production of quality fabrics in new designs and colour schemes at market competitive price is of vital significance to attract customers in large numbers,” the spokesman said.

He directed the concerned officers to distribute modernised looms to the weavers without any delay as it was imperative to enhance productivity and quality.

Srinagar, October 15
The first flower market, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.22 crore, was thrown open by Minister for Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma at Rajbagh in Srinagar today.

The flower market has been constructed under the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY), a Central government’s flagship programme spread over an area of 10 kanals of land.

Sharma hoped that the flower market would scale up the commercial value of flowers of the Valley and provide a platform for the disposal of the local production in an organised manner.

The minister said floriculture was one of the potential sectors which could help in boosting the state’s economy. “Setting up an exclusive flower market in the centrally located place viz; Rajbagh near the horticulture complex is an attempt to promote the commercial floriculture activities in the Valley in a big way,” he said.

Listing the measures initiated to promote this sector, the minister said the state government had constructed 14 walk-in-cold rooms to preserve flowers in different districts of the Valley. In addition, five refrigeration vans had been procured to facilitate the farmers to carry their products.

The department had also set up a walk-in-cold room at the Srinagar airport, enabling the farmers to preserve their products before their dispatch to different destinations, the minister informed. He appealed the farmers to grow more flowers and avail benefits of various government schemes.

The minister announced construction of 40-room Kissan Ghar in Srinagar and a 50-room accommodation for the native farmers in Delhi. He said the farmers had been facing difficulties when they visit Srinagar and Delhi in connection with their business and the state government has decided to create such facilities for them.

Floriculture director Sunil Misri said the flower market project comprises one 50x30 auction shed, display hall, two bathrooms, two walk-in-cold rooms and other facilities for the farmers. He said more features would be added in the market, including creation of Laboratory block and office space for the traders, a packing-cum-grading chamber, which were expected to cost over Rs 35 lakh.

Srinagar, October 15
A two-day academic workshop on identification of Areas of priority and branches of knowledge necessary for promoting school and college education in the state would kickstart on October 17 at the Kashmir University.

While giving details about the two-day workshop, the Dean and Head, Faculty of Education, Prof Nighat Basu said the workshop would try to identify areas of priority in the school and higher education so as to bring qualitative improvement in the teaching-learning process both at the school and college-level in the state.

She said the objectives of the workshop would be to update and restructure the existing course of study at the school and higher education level and to identify job oriented courses for schools and higher education institutions of the state.

She informed that there would be six working groups for higher education and nine groups for the school education which comprised eminent resource persons, who had been invited from the different prestigious institutions of the country.

The six working groups for the higher education include working group on curriculum and instruction, assessment and evaluation, information and communication technology (ICT)/special needs, quality of teacher training and professional development, innovations in teaching-learning and life-long learning.

The nine working groups constituted for the school education include curriculum and instruction, assessment and evaluation, vocationalisation of the courses, early childhood care and education, universalisation of the elementary education, secondary education, ICT /special needs, quality of teacher training and professional development and innovations in the teaching-learning.

Jammu, October 15
The J&K Power Development Corporation (PDC) B team dispatched the Shaheen Sports football team by 2-0 to move into the next round of the ongoing J&K Bank Annual League Football Tournament organised by the J&K Football Association at Polo Ground in Srinagar.

Aqib drew the first blood for the PDC team in the 30th minute. The Shaheen Sports had their chances in the first half to equalise the lead, but failed to capitalise. The PDC team continued their dominance in the second half as Aqib slammed his second goal in the 60th minute to make it 2-0.