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Ambulance service yet to take off
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Dwindling saffron production: Scientists develop ways to increase output
A woman plucks saffron flowers at a farm in Pampore. Tribune photo: Amin War
One dead, four injured in clash over sand mining
Power crisis worsens in north Kashmir
Drug de-addiction
Police Martyrs’ Commemoration Day observed
Mother-child hospital construction likely to start soon in Bemina
Drug de-addiction
Lawyers’ first duty to uphold court’s dignity: Justice Mir
'Introduce semester system in colleges'
Annual matriculation exams conclude
PDP pay tributes to GR
Gayoor
Mountaineering body honours climbers
Teenaged boy injured in Sopore colony firing
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Ambulance service yet to take off
Srinagar, October 21 The prestigious project is in limbo ever since the government had announced in March to deploy ambulances equipped with critical care systems along the national highways in the state under a special helpline service number 108 to minimise accidental deaths. “Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), procurement of 25 critical care ambulances and 11 medical mobile units for high focus districts are under process. After the procurement is finalised, one each of the critical care and medical mobile unit will be deployed in districts, including erstwhile Doda district,” the official data revealed, which was presented during the Autumn Session of the Assembly which concluded recently. Sources in the Health Department said medical mobile units were gathering dust at the Nagrota yard due to “apparent delay in the tendering process for equipping the ambulances” with the critical care medical aids. Sources said due to varied reasons, including, including bureaucratic hurdles, the special highway ambulance service announced by the state government could not take off. Accepting that there were some “unreasonable delays”, J&K Health Secretary MK Divedi said tenders would be opened up this month. “There have been some delays, but we have already started the process for the procurement of the equipment by e-tendering. We are about to open the tenders by this month. And, we hope to get a proper response, so that the project takes off quickly,” Divedi said, adding that he too was anxious about the project keeping in view the rise in road accidents. In March, the government had stated in the Assembly that it had procured around 50 ambulances under the NRHM for deployment on the national highway in the state under 104 and 108 helpline services. The decision of the state government had come in the wake of high court directions, wherein the government had been directed to arrange for critical care ambulances along the highways besides putting up warning signages and other basic amenities. The high court had issued orders on August 29, 2011, in response to a public interest litigation filed by Sajid Iqbal Foundation, a non-governmental organisation dedicated for promoting human rights education. Mishaps on the rise
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Dwindling saffron production: Scientists develop ways to increase output
Srinagar, October 21 The golden crop is mainly cultivated at villages in the Pampore area on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway and its production has decreased from 16 tonnes annually to 6.5 tonnes. The land under saffron cultivation has also decreased from 5,707 hectares in 1997 to 3,010 hectares. Through a series of experiments and trials, a team of SKUAST scientists has developed a package of practices for increasing the production of saffron to nearly 5 kg per hectare. “University has developed indigenous hot air and solar dryers which ensure high quality saffron and at the same time reduces the drying time from 50 hours to four hours. The SKUAST has also established a research centre at Konbal, Pampore, where growers are being taught about modern technology to cultivate saffron. This centre regularly issues adviseries and weather updates to farmers,” said Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, a scientist at the SKUAST. The scientist said cement dust around the saffron fields and lack of irrigation facilities were responsible for the declining production of the crop. “In the rest of the world, per hectare yield of saffron is six to seven kg, while in Kashmir, it is less than a kg,” said another scientist. Growers blamed the government for failing to provide facilities for irrigation and also stopping the ‘illegal’ import of saffron from Iran. “The production of saffron has been going down every year. Also, the illegal import of saffron from Iran has badly hit the Kashmiri saffron,” said Mohammad Yunus, a saffron trader from Pampore. “The Kashmiri saffron sells anywhere between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per kg, while the Iranian saffron sells for a mere Rs 50,000,” he added. Apart from SKUAST, the National Mission on Saffron was also providing help to the farmers and also strengthening the irrigation system for supply of water to the crop during the critical period. |
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One dead, four injured in clash over sand mining
Bandipora, October 21 The incident took place this morning when residents of Baniyari and Laherwalpora villages under Sonawari tehsil clashed over extraction of sand from the Jhelum river near Baniyari village. Sources said residents of Baniyari village attacked residents of Laherwalpora when the latter objected to extraction of sand from the river. “The incident took place when some residents of Baniyari village were extracting sand from the river near the village. Laherwalpora residents reached there and asked them not to extract sand or allow them to extract sand as well from the site,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Laherwalpora. They attacked each other with stones and sticks and in the ensuing clash, Nigar Ahmad was seriously wounded, said a witness. The wounded boy jumped into the river to save his life when he was being chased by some youths from Baniyari village, but got drowned, said a resident of Laherwalpora village. He said the boy had sustained serious head injuries and was bleeding profusely. Panic gripped Baniyari village following the incident. A police team rushed to the spot soon after the incident. Divers from the Navy were called in to retrieve the body but could not do so till late in the evening. “The Navy divers assisted by the police are on the job. They could not fished out the body till 5 pm,” said a police official. Sources said the police had cordoned off Baniyari village and started a manhunt to arrest the culprits. |
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Power crisis worsens in north Kashmir
Kupwara, October 21 Residents said the electricity was not supplied to them in accordance with the curtailment schedule in place. “Power is playing hide and seek since Monday. It goes off for hours together. Most of the times, we have to light our houses with candles and chimneys,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of Ticker, near Kupwara. The power scenario is no better in metered areas of Handwara and Kupwara. Consumers complained that there were unscheduled power cuts and at times, the supply was snapped for hours together. “Unscheduled power cuts have become a routine affair. Power supply becomes more erratic during night hours,” a delegation led by Mohammad Ramzan of Kupwara told The Tribune. Students preparing for their examinations said their preparations were affected due to erratic power scenario. “We are facing difficulties in preparing for our examinations due to erratic power supply for the past several days,” said Javid Ahmad, a BA 1II year student. Reports from Watergam and Rafiabad in Baramulla stated that many areas were facing unscheduled power cuts for the past several days. “The electricity is not supplied according to the schedule. We are forced to spend evening hours most of the times without power,” said a resident of Rafiabad Baramulla. Residents of Charwari Gulgam, Bhat Mohalla, Sogam, Kalaroose, Marhama Gujjar Pati and Andurgbugh villages in Kupwara district said their villages were reeling under darkness as the power supply had been snapped for the past several days. Residents of Magam Handwara said their transformers developed a snag on Thursday but not been taken for repair.
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Omar proposes Metro for capital cities
Srinagar, October 21 “To provide employment to the locals, to meet demands of the growing population and considering the fact that people want better services, the Chief Minister has proposed the introduction of Metro services in the twin capitals,” NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said. Sadiq said RITES group has been engaged to prepare a comprehensive mobility plan of the Metro train service for the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. “(They will) then to approach the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) for a detailed project report that will include the feasibility and financial requirements,” the spokesman said. The spokesman said the party was committed to the “holistic development” of the Srinagar city and the Chief Minister was taking every step to upgrade the basic facilities of the city. “Traffic lights, flyovers, bridges, newly proposed Tahzeeb Mehal, cleaning and revival of Dal and Nigeen lakes, museums, cultural centres, amusement parks, TRC, river transport in the Jhelum and construction of stadiums are some of many works in this direction,” Sadiq said. Sadiq said during the last three years of the NC rule in the state, Srinagar city had got a “well connected” drainage system. “When the NC led government came to power in 2009, the drainage system of the city was defunct due to which most the city remained waterlogged during rainy season. In the last three and a half years, well-connected drainage system has been constructed to overcome this problem, including a majority of the roads in the city has been macadamised,” Tanvir said. He said the party legislators had done a commendable job by developing their constituencies to the “satisfaction of the electorate”.
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Every centre gets 8 patients a week
M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 21 “Six to eight new patients report at each drug de-addiction centre (in J&K) every week. However, no official survey has been conducted to ascertain the causes of this menace and the total number of youths involved in drug addiction,” revealed official documents tabled in the recently concluded autumn session of the Assembly. While the documents admitted that a huge chunk of youths was involved in drug addiction, experts said more youths would be approaching the de-addiction centres as drug abuse was not a taboo in the Valley. “Nowadays, more youth are approaching de-addiction centres but due to certain taboos present in our society, many others do not come forward to seek rehabilitation,” said Dr Waqar Bashir, who has been treating drug addicts in the Valley for the past over five years. “Many addicts and their parents do no want to seek treatment and counselling fearing hostile response from the society,” he added. While there is no official data available over the exact number of drug addicts in the Valley, a United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNIDCP) report in 2008 had stated that there were more than 60,000 drug addicts. Another independent study conducted in 2008 by an expert on disaster psychiatry, Dr Mushtaq Margoob, had stated that the Valley had 2.11 lakh drug abusers. However, no major survey was conducted after these two research works. Meanwhile, Dr Waqar said the majority of the drugs addicts in the Valley were medicinal opioids and prescription anxiolytics. While free availability of drugs without prescriptions is said to be a major reason behind the abuse of drugs in Kashmir, police sources say the main drug hubs of the Valley are the backwaters of Dal Lake, Boulevard Road and Chanapora in Srinagar besides Sangam in Anantnag district, Sopore town in north Kashmir and Shopian town in south Kashmir.
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Police Martyrs’ Commemoration Day observed
Srinagar, October 21 The Chief Minister laid a flower wreath at the martyrs’ memorial, praising the police for safeguarding the future of others. Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) K Rajendra Kumar and the entire police force was present on the commemoration event held at the Armed Police complex in Zewan here. “The spirit of sacrificing today to safeguard the future of others is an act of high standard principles and is worthy of a salute,” Omar said while addressing hundreds of policemen and officers. Omar lauded the state police’s role in maintaining the law and order and fighting militancy at the same time. He said the state police had played an important role in the process of restoring peace and tranquility and its sacrifices had yielded results. “The state police personnel have to keep a gun in one hand and a stick in the other to deal with different situations. This is a
peculiar phenomenon in the state,” he said, adding that despite many difficulties and challenges, the state police force has proved itself to be the best in the country. Omar also announced enhancement of ex-gratia assistance for next of the kin of police martyrs, increase in uniform and kit maintenance allowance and two sets of uniforms for traffic police annually. The Chief Minister said that the state government was determined to provide all help to the families of police martyrs’. DGP Ashok Prasad presented a resume of welfare measures taken by the department for families of police martyrs’. He said over Rs 75 lakh had been provided to the families as assistance during last year, besides ex-gratia relief worth Rs 1.50 crore to next of kin of martyrs’. He said Rs 12 lakh was provided as the scholarship to 440 children of the martyrs, besides providing employment to over 780 and the daughters of the martyrs’ were provided Rs 50,000 for bearing expenses of marriage. The DGP expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his keen interest in the welfare of families of the police martyrs and strengthening of the state police force. |
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Mother-child hospital construction likely to start soon in Bemina
Srinagar, October 21 This was disclosed by the Health commissioner secretary and Medical Education Department MK Dwivedi, while chairing the officers’ meeting with an NGO at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. Dwivedi said the process formulation of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) was nearing completion and the state government had released Rs 5 crore as mobilisation fund for the said project to the chief engineer PWD. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Mission director National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Dr Yashpal Sharma, principal GMCH, Srinagar, Dr Rafiq Pampori, controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, Satish Gupta, director, planning and representatives of deputy director, Health Services director, general secretary and other members of the civil society. It was informed during the meeting that soil testing process was started by the chief engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Kashmir for the construction of the MCH in Bemina and the tendering for the civil structure has been done and process was being completed for the allotment of the works. The construction of paediatrics hospital was to be taken up besides the maternity hospital on the land identified at Bemina. Both the hospitals would share common facilities, including parking and
other support services, said Dwivedi. A proposal was being initiated for banning of private practice among the teaching faculty of the Government Medical Colleges, he said. On implementing Drug Policy, Dwivedi directed Drug and Food Control Department director and Health Services director to implement various provisions under the policy. He said, “A team was recently sent to Rajasthan to study the functioning of generic drug stores. The team shall be putting up their recommendations soon with us.” He said the drug procurement corporation and the required drug committees were working to streamline the system of procurement and availability of generic drugs. The civil society members expressed gratitude to the officers for attending to their various issues and also assured whole hearted cooperation to the health and medical education department in improving healthcare of the state. |
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Geeelani unaware of ground realities: Omar
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 21 “They see facts from their home. If they have the facts, let them show us the pictures of the road. I don’t know what they see while sitting at home. They rejected the helicopter ride offer because they know the reality is different from the ground reality.” Omar told reporters in reply to a question over a recent controversy surrounding construction of roads on the Amarnath Yatra route. Geelani, had earlier this week, addressed a press conference at his residence where he released pictures, which the separatist leader claimed showed material for construction of macadamised road along the Amarnath Yatra track. Omar, who earlier spoke at Police Commemoration Day function, in his address said some people were trying to create disturbances in the state by resorting to different means. “They try to use both the gun and their voice to develop fear in the minds of people and drag the state back into the darkness from which it is coming out steadily,” Omar said in his address. Meanwhile, the hardline Hurriyat in a statement termed Omar’s helicopter ride offer as political trickery. The group said Omar has not yet responded to the pictures it released of the construction material being dumped for construction of the roads, adding that Geelani’s helicopter ride was no solution to the issue. Omar yesterday said he will keep the two state helicopters at Geelani’s disposal so he can fly over the Pahalgam-Amarnath track to see the reality himself.
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Lawyers’ first duty to uphold court’s dignity: Justice Mir
Srinagar, October 21 He said this while welcoming the newly enrolled advocates during a function organised by the State Judicial Academy today. The new entrants administered oath and were given licenses on the occasion. “The function was presided over by Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, Judge in-charge State Judicial Academy. Before the delivery of enrolment certificates (Advocate licenses) to the advocates of the Jammu Province, they were administered oath by Abdul Wahid, director, State Judicial Academy,” the spokesman said. Justice Mansoor congratulated the newly enrolled advocates and welcomed them to the fraternity of legal profession. He enlightened them on the professional ethics and conduct, court craft and art of advocacy. Mansoor said the first duty, which the counsel owes to the court, was to maintain its honour and dignity. A conduct therefore, which was unworthy of him as an officer of justice cannot be justified by stating that he did it as the agent of his client, he said. The spokesperson said, “The lawyers’ status as an officer of justice does not mean he is subordinate to the judge. It only means that he is an integral
part of the machinery for the administration of the justice. The first duty, which advocates and judges owe to each other, is of co-operation.” State Judicial Academy director Abdul Wahid thanked Justice Mansoor Mir for en-lighting the newly enrolled advocates on the professional ethics and conduct. |
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'Introduce semester system in colleges'
Srinagar, October 21 The workshop, which concluded here at Kashmir University this week, has sought full academic control of the colleges by University, including periodical inspections and rationalisation of the academic calendar. The workshop recommendations compiled from the 15 workgroups on various themes pertaining to the school and the higher education have strongly suggested the introduction of 1+2+1 subject system at the college levels which means general English , two co-related subjects and one purely job oriented subject. The workshop has also recommended continuous and internal assessment of the colleges on the pattern of the post-graduate courses at the University and it has also recommended the introduction of at least one honours course in each of the prominent colleges of the Valley. The workshop recommended the status of deemed University for two of the Srinagar colleges. The working groups deliberated during two days on the assessment and evaluation, information and communication technology (ICT)/special needs, quality of teacher training and professional development, innovations in teaching-learning, life long learning. In the school groups, the themes discussed were curriculum and instruction, assessment and evaluation, vocationalisation of courses, early childhood care and education, universalisation of elementary education ,secondary education, ict /special needs, quality of teacher training and professional development and innovations in teaching learning. |
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Annual matriculation exams conclude
Srinagar, October 21 As many as 51, 569 candidates from all over the Valley appeared in the examinations across 529 examination
centres, said Pervez Ahmad, official spokesperson, BoSE. He said the examinations were conducted with a strict surveillance from the board authorities and the police with phone helplines made available for the queries of parents and teachers. The candidates appeared in a total of five compulsory subjects, including Mathematics, Sciences, Social Sciences, English, Urdu/Hindi and an additional/optional subject. “The results are most likely to be declared by December-January,” the official said. After the BoSE revived its policy in tandem with the Central Board of School Education
(CBSE) pattern exams of making it possible for the students to score 100 percentile in every subject, the average pass percentage as well as the number of successful students in the exams every year has increased. |
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PDP pay tributes to GR
Gayoor
Srinagar, October 21 A PDP spokesman said a condolence meeting was held at the PDP headquarters headed by party
General Secretary Mohammed Dilawar Mir in which rich tributes were paid to Gayoor. “Gayoor was very gentle and noble politician whose tireless services would be remembered for long,” the spokesman said. Senior party leaders Muzaffar Hussain beig, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Tariq Hammed Karra ,chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Mohammad Sartaj Madni, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Khalil Bandh,
Zahoor Ahmed Mir, Mohammad Rafi Mir and others also paid rich tributes to late
Gayoor. |
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Mountaineering body honours climbers
Jammu, October 21 S
Bhattacharjee, chairman of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, North Zone Committee, was also honoured for his outstanding contribution to adventure sports in India. Meanwhile in climber’s category, Lovish Kumar, who bagged gold medal in the 1st Junior North Zone Sport Climbing Championship held at MNDP School, R S Pura, along with bronze medallists of 18th North Zone Sport Climbing competition namely Ria Choudhary and Akshay Kumar were also felicitated.
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Teenaged boy injured in Sopore colony firing
Srinagar, October 21 |
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Srinagar, October 21
