Rains lash region

* The Kashmir valley has been lashed with intermittent rains since Monday evening

* The maximum temperature in Srinagar city was recorded at 17.4 degrees Celsius, five degrees below seasonal average

* The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 8.2 degrees Celsius

* Srinagar city also received 10.6 mm rainfall since last night

Srinagar, October 16
The onset of winter is an ominous sign for the city traffic. Reason: traffic lights across Srinagar city may not function properly due to the absence of round-the-clock power.

The government spends around Rs 3 crore in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar for operating the traffic lights.

Sources said the traffic lights will be worst affected when there will be just six-hour power backup. The Power Development Department enforces scheduled power cuts during the winter season.

As per revised schedules furnished by the PDD, a majority of the power cuts will occur during evenings (from 6 pm to 10 pm) in both metered and non-metered areas of Srinagar.

Besides, due to extreme climatic conditions, especially during snowfall, landslides and avalanches, the electricity supply in the Valley gets snapped for days together. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is entrusted with the responsibility of operating the traffic lights in the city. Interestingly, the civic body is oblivious about this.

“We have entered into a contract with a company Onnyx electronics for two years and they have to ensure 24-hour power supply,” said Fayaz Ahmad, Joint Commissioner, SMC. The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) said the matter has been taken up with the PDD for providing the supply through special feeder system. A HUD report says Onnyx is only responsible for repairing the faults or defects that occur in the traffic signals. 

Srinagar, October 16
An amalgam of various employees’ bodies today threatened to launch an agitation against the “privatisation” of power sector in the state.

“The recent Cabinet decision to unbundle the Power Development Department (PDD) and formation of the State Transmission Company has been done to pave the way for privatisation of the power sector. We will resist any such move and will launch an agitation if the government decides to go ahead with its plans,” J&K Power Employees and Workers United Front (JKPEWUF) general secretary Mohammad Maqbool said while addressing a press conference here.

He claimed that the entire power sector in the state would be privatised by the end of 2013.

Alleging that the state government was following “these retrograde policies” at the behest of the Centre to help multinational companies like Wipro and Tata, Maqbool said the privatisation of the power sector would hit the employees as well as the common man hard.

“The state government has failed miserably to tap huge water resources and has handed over the same to the Centre thus enabling them to exploit these resources…privatisation of power sector will only cater to the vested interests of the ruling class and bureaucrats,” he added.

When asked how the privatisation was going to hit the common man, Maqbool said the tariffs would increase “enormously” and there would be “no electricity” for the un-electrified rural areas. He said they were not against reforms in the power sector but the same should be done within the public sector.

JKPEWUF president Rafiq Ahmad Khanyari said the amalgam would hold a convention on Saturday to build consensus over the issue and to launch a “struggle”.

The JKPEWUF appealed the political parties and civil society to oppose the decision of privatising the power sector in the state.

Srinagar, October 16
Even as commuters for long have been complaining of getting fleeced by the private taxi operators, the government has got no plans of installing meters to keep a check on fares.

“For the present, there is no proposal to introduce meters in the taxis,” the Transport Department has said in a written reply that was submitted during the recently concluded session of the Legislative Assembly.

The reply has pointed out that only the radio taxis, which had started plying on the city roads earlier this year, were metered.

Snow cabs - the metered radio taxis equipped with global positioning system (GPS) for passengers’ safety - had started plying within the municipal limits of Srinagar city in July. The cabs, which are available through phone calls, have a control room set up at the Nowgam Tourist Centre on the outskirts of the city.

The Transport Department has also stated that it intended to start radio taxi service in Jammu city as well.

Meanwhile, locals complain that there was no check on the fares charged by private taxi operators apart from radio taxi service.

“Sumo drivers and others charge at will, especially if one wants to book these vehicles personally for a day. There should be a mechanism to regulate prices as is done by radio taxis,” said Abdul Majeed, a resident of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

“While people in Srinagar can avail radio taxis, they are left at the mercy of Sumo operators in other districts. We face a lot of problems if we need to hire a vehicle for taking a patient to a hospital or during emergencies,” he added.

Srinagar, October 16
J&K Legislative Council chairman has constituted a five-member House Committee to probe allegations against senior Congress Minister Taj Mohiuddin for encroaching on forest land in south Kashmir.

“The issue has raised a controversy inside and outside the House and prime facie the case warrants a thorough investigation by a committee of this House,” the Chairman of State Legislative Council, Amit Malhotra, said in the order.

The five-member Committee constituted by the chairman would be headed by Murtaza Ahmed Khan, a PDP Legislator, and other member of the Committee included Panthers Party legislator Syed Rafiq Shah, who had accused the Congress leader and the Minister for Public Health Engineering and Irrigation Taj Mohiuddin, of grabbing 13 kanals of forest land in Shopian in south Kashmir.

The other three members include two National Conference legislators Bashir Ahmed Shah Veeri and Khalid Najeeb Suharwardi and Bashir Ahmed Margrey, also a Congress legislator.

“The Committee shall submit its findings in the House by or before the next session of the state legislature i.e. budget session 2013,” the order said.

The chairman said it was important for him to order a probe into the allegations against the minister.

“In the contemporary political environment, failure to constitute a Committee to investigate the matter and establish the facts will be interpreted as an attempt on my part to cover up and shield those whose probity has been challenged,” the order read. Soon after the allegations about forest land grabbing surfaced in the upper House of State Legislature, the minister had termed it as a part of a deep conspiracy against him.

Srinagar, October 16
A woman died and a boy was injured when they were struck by lightning in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. The two were in their house when the lightning hit them, a police spokesman said.

“Lightning struck the house of Bashir Ahmad Kalas of Nasarpora village of Shopian. His aged mother Haseena Bibi died on the spot while his son Mohammad Arif received injuries,” the spokesman said.

The house was completely gutted in the incident, the spokesman added.

The 9-year-old injured boy has been shifted to a hospital here in the city. A bull was also killed by the lightning, the spokesman said.

Kupwara, October 16
Early chill this year has forced the people in north Kashmir to stock firewood ahead of winter season. Womenfolk in villages have started venturing into forests for collecting the firewood. Most of them collect the remains of deodar and kiel trees and stock it for winter season. Most of the people in north Kashmir make use of hearth for cooking and warmth during the winter season.

The coal obtained from firewood is used in firepots, locally called kangris, for warmth. Women also burn leaves of walnut and chinar trees to make coal for firepots. “Winter in villages is usually harsh and long. Early chill this year is an indication of a harsh winter ahead. Every year, we stock the firewood in abundance and use the same for cooking and warmth during the winter season,” said Asha of Gushi village, 12 km for Kupwara.

Locals said the shortage of LPG and kerosene was likely to worsen in winters and they needed to stock enough firewood to fight the biting chill, especially in December and January.

“LPG crisis has already hit consumers in the Valley and shortage of kerosene in north Kashmir has left the people high and dry. To sustain the harsh winter ahead, people here have no option but to stock enough firewood,” said Reyaz Ahmad, an elderly.

Reports from Handwara and Baramulla said groups of women were seen collecting firewood from the forests. To fight the biting chill in winter season, most of people prefer to use kangris and bukharis. “Firepot is the only mobile heating device and affordable for a common man. The biggest advantage of a firepot is it can be carried along when you go on a stroll,” said Abdul Ahad. The erratic power supply during the winter season makes the firepot a matchless heating device in north Kashmir. The cost of a kangri varies from Rs 70 to Rs 150 depending upon its size, quality of wicker and earthen pot used in making it. “Electrical heating gadgets like room heaters are not preferred by people in north Kashmir due to erratic power supply in winters. This makes kangri more relevant and widely used heating device in north Kashmir,” said Ghulam Hassan, a Handwara resident.

Srinagar, October 16
The District Magistrate, Rajouri, has filed his report on the presence of unmarked graves in his district to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which is hearing a petition calling for investigation into the presence of such graves in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu province.

Rajouri DM Saugat Biswas had on September 16 sought time to file his report, following which the SHRC had granted him time till October 16 for submission of the report.

“DM Rajouri has furnished his report dated October 1, 2012, which is taken on record. Copy be provided to the complainant for filing rejoinder or further presentation,” SHRC double Bench said in its orders today, before whom the petition was listed for hearing. The case has been listed for further hearing on November 27.

The state government and the police have already filed their reports to the Commission in this regard.

During an earlier hearing, the SHRC had asked the government to carry out investigations about the presence of unmarked graves in Rajouri and Poonch after a rejoinder was submitted by the two NGOs, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and the International Peoples Tribunal for Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir before the commission.

In the rejoinder, it was claimed that there were around 2,717 graves in 90 graveyards in Poonch and 1,127 graves in 118 graveyards in Rajouri.

The state government in its Action Taken Report (ATR) to the SHRC about its recommendations made last year on the presence of unmarked graves in the Valley has rejected the DNA testing of the unmarked graves on several grounds.

In 2011, a Division Bench of the SHRC had suggested that means such as DNA profiling be used to identify the bodies buried at 38 places in north Kashmir. The Bench had made six recommendations to address the issue and linked it to cases of disappearances in the state. 

Tracing the missing ones

* In 2011, a Division Bench of the SHRC had suggested that means such as DNA profiling be used to identify the bodies buried at 38 places in north Kashmir

* The Bench had made six recommendations to address the issue and linked it to cases of disappearances in the state

Srinagar, October 16
J&K Governor NN Vohra, today stressed on the need for taking the activities of bharat scouts and guides to the remote areas of the state to bring the maximum possible number of youth under its orbit.

The Governor and the Chief Minister Omar Abddullah interacted with scouts and guides, their Instructors and the functionaries of the J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides, at the 8th Rajya Puraskar Award Ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here this afternoon.

The Governor, who is the patron of the J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides, presented Rajya Puraskar to 88 successful scouts and guides of the Kashmir valley at the award presentation ceremony. He also presented the President’s award to a guide, Deba Nazir, on the occasion.

The Chief Minister lauded the good work being done by the functionaries of the J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides and congratulated the recipients of the Awards. Earlier, the Governor unfolded the scouts and guides flag. The scouts and guides presented prayer and the flag song.

The Governor, Chief Minister and other dignitaries were also presented the scout scarf and bouquets on the occasion. 

Carpet design software developed

* The IICT, director, Zubair Ahmed, said the institute has locally developed Carpet Design Software wherein carpet designs are automatically converted into Taleem scripts and the designs thus created are preserved forever

* A design bank for carpet craft in the digital format has been created where 280 traditional carpet designs have been digitised x

Srinagar, October 16
One person died and eight others sustained injures in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley.

A police spokesperson said a tipper bearing registration number JK03A/7857 collided with a Scorpio bearing registration number JK05B/0155 near Ranji, Baramulla on Srinagar Baramulla highway resulting in injuries to six passengers. “Among the injured 70- year-old Ghulam Rasool Raina, a resident of Salamabad, Uri, succumbed to his injures on way to the hospital,” he said.

All the injured persons were shifted to hospital for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard.

In another accident, a car bearing registration number JK09/5195 on way from Handwara to Baramulla collided with a tractor without number plate at Ladoora, Rafiabad, Sopore, resulting in injuries to a pedestrian Mugli, a resident of Ladoora.

She was then shifted to the Baramulla District Hospital for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard.

In another accident, police said a motorcycle bearing registration number JK05/7115 hit Haja Begum, a resident of Fatehgarh, Baramulla. She was shifted to hospital for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard.

The spokesperson said a tipper bearing registration number JK01F/2919 hit Abdul Rashid Wani, a resident of Sarbagi Ramsoo, Ramban near Zanatrag Khrew, Awantipora. The injured was shifted to Bone and Joints Hospital, Srinagar, for treatment. 

Baramulla, October 16
The 9th North Kashmir Sports Festival organised by the Jammu and Kashmir police was inaugurated today by Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) Irrigation and Flood control Taj Mohi-u-din at Showkat Ali Stadium, Baramulla.

A large number of people from different walks of life were present on the occasion. Cultural programme and a dare devil show by police personnel enthralled the audience. Director General of police Ashok Prasad and Minister of State for Roads and Buildings (R&B) Javid Ahmad Dar were also present on the ocassion. The 20-day long sports festival will showcase a number of indoor and outdoor games.

Srinagar, October 16
The J&K government today rescheduled office timings in the Valley from November 1.

According to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, the working hours in all government offices and institutions in Kashmir valley except in case of educational institutions located within Srinagar Municipal limits shall be from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.

"These timings shall be implemented with effect from November 1 and shall remain operative upto March 31, 2013," said an official spokesperson. "All heads of departments have been directed to ensure strict adherence to the office timings," he said .

Srinagar, October 16
The J-K Police Chief today reviewed the security arrangements for the annual darbar move and Eid-ul-Zuha celebrations at a high level meeting.

“The meeting discussed various arrangements for the annual darbar move and it was informed that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure the security of employees and records, their transportation from Srinagar to Jammu,” said an official spokesperson.

Addressing the meeting, the DGP stressed upon the officers present in the meeting to work in close coordination to make all required arrangements in a befitting manner. “The arrangements should be finalised well in advance and stake holders should be consulted while making the arrangements. Joint efforts by the agencies concerned will ensure security and safety of the employees besides smooth transportation of records,” said the DGP.

“While making arrangements it should be kept in mind that the common commuters are not put to any inconvenience during their travel on the highway,” said the DGP. Prasad emphasised for ensuring all required security and other arrangements throughout the Valley during the eid celebrations.

The DGP asked for ensuring sufficient police force at all the religious places where congregations would took place so that the celebrations ends peacefully, besides maintaining law and order during the celebrations.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Armed Law and Order K Rajendra Kumar and ADGP Security Dr Ram Lubhaya briefed the meeting about the deployment of man power and security gadgets at Srinagar and Jammu, besides the National Highway. They said that sufficient manpower would be deployed en route national highway for the security of the employees and records.

IGP Kashmir Zone SM Sahai informed the meeting about arrangements made at different places where eid prayers would be held.

IGP Traffic J&K Muneer Ahmed Khan also briefed the meeting about the arrangements made for the smooth flow of traffic on the national highway on the scheduled dates. “Flying squads have been constituted to monitor the movement of the traffic and ensure its smooth flow. Special traffic control room would be established at Ramban to maintain coordination among the cops deployed at various locations on the highway,” said Khan.

Jammu, October 16
Tamojit Chakraborty of West Bengal clinched the title trophy of the Patnitop Open FIDE Rating All India Chess Championship organised by the All J&K Chess Association under the banner of All India Chess Federation, at Patnitop.

Yogesh Gautam of Haryana and Deep Kapoor of New Delhi had to settle for the second and third positions, respectively in the tournament.

Cash prizes worth Rs 90,000 were distributed among the winners and participants of the tournament by Atul Kumar Gupta, joint secretary, All India Chess Federation and President, All J&K Chess Association, in the presence of Baldev Raj, secretary of the association.

In all, 73 players drawn from 16 states participated in the championship wherein Yashpal Arora of MP was the Chief Arbiter. Trophies were also presented to MS Rathore of Rajasthan, Niklesh Jain and Dheeraj Dubey of MP, Piyush Manuja of Chandigarh, Atul Kumar of J&K, Mohd Khaja Abdul Latheef of AP, Mughaho Awomi of Nagaland, Dhruvik Shah of Gujarat, Ajit Singh of J&K, Nitul Khare of MP, Jitender Rawat of Delhi, Shishir Kumar of Delhi, Basha Rabbani of AP, Nishi Iyer of West Bengal, Ravi Sharma of J&K, Jatinder Singh of J&K and PK Salih of Kerala.

The participants from the host state namely Adil Ashraf, Rohit Bhardwaj, Arvindu, Chetanya Sharma and Puneet were also awarded special trophies.

The best woman of the tournament award was presented to Meenal Gupta of J&K whereas young player award was presented to Dewang Gupta.