Srinagar, November 14
The valley’s colleges have not bothered to make adequate heating arrangements for tens of hundreds of students taking their annual BA, BSc and BCom final year examinations. A majority of students are being made to take the exams in the biting cold.

Sources said none of the colleges have made adequate arrangements for providing heating facilities to the students. In some of the colleges, students are being asked to sit outside the classrooms, making them shiver while they write their papers.

Chilly winds have added to the cold weather conditions across the valley, and as such, use of heating appliances has become all the more necessary.

However, the valley’s colleges have clearly not taken any note of this and are making students suffer in the extreme cold.

The higher education department has stated in its recently tabled report in the autumn session of the state Legislative Assembly that crores of rupees are being provided as funds to all the valley’s colleges for upgradation of their infrastructure, but the reality remains far removed from the claims made.

“It is ultimately a student who suffers, due to non-seriousness on the part of the authorities. We don’t know where these crores of rupees go. They are certainly not being utilised for the benefit of students,” an agitated student stated.

Sources said in many colleges, due to non-teaching staff strike, the students were asked to make classroom arrangements too, with the teaching staff refusing to do the work of striking college employees.

“It is very unfortunate that there is complete chaos and mismanagement in colleges at the crucial time of examinations. This will take a toll on students’ performance,” Imaad Khan, an educationist said.

Meanwhile, Director Colleges Prof Nalini Kohli could not be reached for her comments.

Srinagar, November 14
Kashmir valley is shivering. The mercury in Srinagar dipped to freezing point even though the weather during the day provided respite as the autumn sun shone brightly over the region. The state weather department has forecast snow and rainfall in the region over the next two days.

The minimum temperature in the city fell to 0.2 degrees Celsius, an official at the state Meteorological department said, thus marking the coldest night this season so far.

The mercury is expected to breach the zero degree mark tonight in Srinagar city as the weather department forecast that the minimum temperature would plunge to minus one degree Celsius.

The weather during the day around the city, however, remained warm as the mercury rose to 19.1 degrees Celsius, marking out a temperature difference of nearly 19 degrees between the day and night temperatures around the summer capital.

In Gulmarg resort of North Kashmir, night temperature fell to a freezing minus 2.2 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam resort in South Kashmir recorded a chilling minus 2.6 degrees Celsius during the night, the official said.

The frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir also recorded a cold night, with mercury falling to minus 1.1 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature in South Kashmir’s Qazigund town being recorded as minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, the official added.

Kashmir valley is gearing up for a harsh winter, which is set to officially begin next month. Residents have already switched to winter wear in order to deal with the biting evening cold.

The state meteorological department said the weather will remain dry over the next 24 hours. It issued a forecast warning rain and snowfall will occur at isolated places in the state in the next two days, as western disturbances are approaching the region.

Srinagar, November 14
A man died in the city after he fell from the school building’s roof which he was repairing, police said today.

Muhammad Ashraf Sheikh, a resident of Malangpora village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district and a welder by profession, suffered serious injuries when he fell from a school building’s roof at Pantha chowk on the city’s outskirts.

Sheikh was shifted to a Srinagar hospital where he breathed his last, a police spokesman said.

The body of the deceased has been handed over to the next of his kin for last rites, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, November 14
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed all sections of society to work together to save the young generation of Kashmir from illicit use of drugs. Stating that children in the Valley had suffered the most during militancy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described drug-abuse among them as more dangerous than militancy.

“It is being observed that notorious elements induce drug addiction in children and use them for their vested interests”, Abdullah said while speaking at a function in Sumbal, Bandipore district, today.

The function was organised by National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to mark National Children’s Day.

Describing drug abuse as the worst enemy of civilisation and dangerous than militancy, he termed inducing children to drugs as the ‘highest crime against humanity’ and called for a unified approach against this menace. He said religious, political, social and non-governmental organisations should jointly work to eradicate this evil and save the future of the state from falling prey to the designs of unscrupulous elements.

He said his government had enhanced its vigil over the misuse of drugs and measures had been taken to rehabilitate and reform the drug addicts. He also asked for people’s support in this regard.

“The children’s education, health and social fabric got tarnished during militancy and they had to live in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty”, Omar said, adding that this had put them under stress and spoiled their process of development.

While measures put in place by the government had brought improvement in the situation, the march towards achieving the final goal in this direction had to be carried on with commitment, Abdullah added. Describing education as the key to nurture and develop children and upgrade their skills, he said his government was focusing on the education sector.

Srinagar, November 14
Kashmir valley has paid 38 per cent extra power tariff this year as compared to last year, according to Power Development Department (PDD) officials.

This came to light in a provincial officers' meeting held in Srinagar which was chaired by Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan, who assured adequate electricity supply to the valley during winter months.

He said directions have been issued to Power Development Department (PDD) for streamlining power distribution system in the valley.

The minister was informed in the meeting that at present, the consumers are being provided 1,000 to 1,100 MW electricity every day, which is 10 per cent more than the supply last year in the valley.

He was further informed that during the current fiscal, up to the month of October, Rs 290 crore were realised as electricity tariff from the consumers, which is 38 per cent more then last year. Besides, 4,000 damaged electric transformers were repaired at different workshops so that the areas concerned would not suffer on account of power supply.

The minister urged officers to bring about a change in the power supply system so that the consumers across the length and breadth of the state are provided adequate power supply. Later, the minister inspected Data Centre, Bemina, which is under construction at a cost of Rs 8.50 crore, out of which, Rs 6 crore have been spent.

The centre, upon its completion, is expected to provide information about meter reading, load consumption and number of damaged electric transformers.

The meeting was, among others, attended by Secretary Technical Systems, PDD, Asgar Ali, Chief Engineer Systems and Operations, Ayaz Gul, Chief Engineer Electricity and Maintenance, Muzaffar Ahmad Mattoo besides others officers of PDD.

Anantnag, November 14
The residents of Kadlabal area in Pampore town rue that the ear-splitting sound of generators, installed by the HDFC bank in their locality, is driving them crazy. The HDFC bank branch here has rented space in, what locals say, is a residential area.

“The sound of these generators is making us deaf. The children of our locality are affected the most with the deafening sound of these gen-sets,” said Abdul Rahman, a local.

He said the bank had installed the machines on the third floor of the building, making the noise even more resounding and harmful for the people living in the area.

The locals said they had approached all the officials of the area regarding the matter, however, no cognizance had been taken so far.

“We have lodged a complaint with the Pollution Control Board, the tehsildar and the Municipal Committee but apart from hollow promises, we have got nothing,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, another resident.

The authorities maintain that action will be taken soon, “we have submitted a report to the regional director and are waiting for instructions from the office,” said District Officer, Pollution Control Board, Pulwama, Khursheed Ahmad.

The municipal authorities say they had served a notice to the bank in this regard and will further look into the matter. “I will visit the spot again and see what can be done,” said Muhammad Amin, Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Pampore.

Meanwhile, the bank officials remain adamant that they have got the necessary permission from the Pollution Control Board.

“The noise level of our generators is within permissible levels and we have got the necessary permission from the Pollution Control Board. However, the positioning of the generator is directed by the landlord and we have nothing to do with that,” said Faisal Habib, Project Manager Infrastructure, HDFC Bank.

Srinagar, November 14
Two houses and two shops were damaged in different overnight fire incidents across the Kashmir valley, a police spokesman said here today.

Fire broke out in the house of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh at Pahalgam in south Kashmir, resulting in damage to the house. Fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and locals people. Police has registered a case in this regard.

Due to LPG leakage, fire broke out in the joint residential house of Shabir Hussain Dar and Nisar Hussain at Mirgund in Baramulla district, resulting in complete damage to the upper storey of the house. Fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and the police.

In another incident, fire broke out in two shops at Natipora here. The shops were completely damaged. Fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and the police. A case has been registered.

Srinagar, November 14
For the very first time, a Kashmiri family has taken to online forum for seeking the release of their son, Muhammad Rafiq Shah, an ex-Kashmir University student who has been languishing in Tihar Jail for the past seven years owing to his alleged involvement in pre-Diwali blasts in 2005, with an online petition being addressed to PM Manmohan Singh.

The online campaign has been started by Mehmooda Begum on an online petition website, change.org, an international petition platform being supported by Human rights watchdog Amnesty International.

Mehmooda, in her petition addressed to the Prime Minister, is appealing for help to secure the release of her son.

The petition which reads “Honourable Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh: Release Kashmir University student-Muhammad Rafiq Shah”,which was first signed by Shah’s mother Mehmooda Begum, is gradually gathering momentum with national and international human rights activists pledging their support for the cause, having garnered around 350 online signatures till now.

Claiming innocence of her son, Mehmooda said he is being falsely framed in the case as all evidence has been shown supporting his innocence.

“Police says he carried out bomb blasts in Delhi, but howcome he when he was in his classroom at the university when the blasts in Delhi took place?” Mehmooda, who is bed-ridden, said.

The online petition states that during 2005, when her son was a postgraduate student of Islamic Sciences at Kashmir University, he was arrested by police on November 21, 2005 and taken to Delhi. It says that the then Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University supported the family’s claims by confirming that he was present in the campus when Delhi blasts took place.

Muhammad Yaseen Shah, Rafiq’s father, stated that Delhi police had implicated some other people in the case after it was reported by the media that the outfit Indian Mujahideen was responsible for the blasts.

Yaseen has in his possession various newspapers reporting police claims of cracking the cases after admission by Indian Mujahideen operatives.

Meanwhile, ailing parents of Rafiq made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well to help in the struggle for seeking justice for their son.

“Three years ago, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah came to our area for campaigning during the Parliamentary elections. I met him and produced all the documents including the university certificate and newspaper copies. The people in the rally also told him that my son was innocent. He is aware of the case; we appeal to him to help us out,” says Yaseen.

Mehmooda, stating her helplessness in the online petition, appeals, “Despite all evidence confirming my son's innocence, he is still languishing in jail. During the past 7 years, I have gone from pillar to post with evidence proving his innocence, but to no avail. My cries have fallen on deaf ears. After trying all possible means to seek my innocent son's release, I have filed a petition to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, to seek my son's release. I appeal to everyone around the world and especially in Kashmir to sign this petition and help me secure the release of my son. Please stand with this helpless mother.”

Srinagar, November 14
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said comprehensive city development was the focus of the government policy and attention had been given to upgrade the basic amenities and address urban problems in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

Inaugurating the Rs 69.50 crore Rawalpora-Tengpora Storm Water Drainage Scheme here, Abdullah said focus was on creating better drainage and sewerage systems, besides improving and expanding road communication network in Jammu and Srinagar.

“While schemes for construction of flyovers and setting up of sewerage treatment plants are being implemented in the twin cities, widening of roads, management of transport, creation of parking lots and facilities to cater to modern urban needs are being attended to on scientific lines”, he added.

Abdullah said the restoration of a peaceful situation in the state had helped to upgrade the pace of development works and reach out to every area in the process of progress. He added that more than 11 lakh visitors visited the Valley and helped generate wide-ranging economic activities for the people.

The Rawalpora-Tengpora Storm Water Drainage Scheme, executed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is one of the major drainage packages to be completed under the urban component of the ongoing multi-sector Project for Infrastructure Rehabilitation, funded by Asian Development Bank.

The scheme involved construction of 23.50 km of storm water drainage network spread over an area of 3.50 sq km, consisting of 18.60 km of sub-main drain, 3.26 km of trunk drain, 1.6 km of main drain and pumping station near Tengpora bridge, having the discharge capacity of 68 cusecs during storm conditions. The construction of the Rawalpora-Tengpora Storm Water Drainage Scheme will provide relief to the residents from frequent flooding during winters and rainy seasons. — TNS