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Country’s longest tunnel ready
Transfer norms given a go-by by state govt
‘Pampered’ bureaucrats never retire in J&K
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Legislative Council Results
Prof Hari Om resigns from Cong
PDP now a publicly defeated party: NC
Forest land scam
Taj Mohi-ud-Din
Army rebuts NGOs’ report
State postal dept makes a giant leap
IED detected, defused along NH
Imtiaz captures Kashmiri boatman’s life
in his first ever short film
NC’s Central Working Committee meeting today
Youth’s disappearance
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Country’s longest tunnel ready
Srinagar, December 7 “The 17.5-km railway line from Qazigund to Banihal that includes a 11-km-long tunnel is ready and the engine trial will be held on December 31,” the executive director of
IRCON, Anand Parkash, told The Tribune. He said after the trial run, an inspection would be conducted by officials of the Railway Safety Board who will decide as to when the train will actually ply between Qazigund in Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu. “It will be only after the inspection of the track, railway station and the tunnel that the train will be allowed to ply,” Prakash said. “However, it will not ply before March next year,” he added. Yesterday, Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Srikant Kumar had told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line would now be completed by December 2017 at a cost of Rs 8,000
crore. While it will take five more years before the train from the Valley gets connected to the countrywide railway network, the railway officials claim that the rail track between Qazigund to Banihal is a key step towards the larger project of 345-km-long Baramulla-Udhampur railway line. “This longest tunnel
will be covered by the train in six minutes”, said a railway official. The work from Qazigund to Banihal was awarded to Hindustan Construction Company
(HCC) in August 2005. The trains in Kashmir ply between Baramulla in north Kashmir and Qazigund in south and cover a distance of 119 km. Railways say as many as 7,000 passengers travel everyday during the autumn season and in summers, 9,000 passengers travel by trains. The first phase of railway service between Anantnag and Budgam districts was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 11, 2008. The second phase of the train between Budgam and Baramulla was flagged off by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on February 14, 2009, followed by the third phase between Anantnag to Qazigund by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 28, 2009. |
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Transfer norms given a go-by by state govt
Jammu, December 7 Out of a total seven IAS officers, two were transferred within seven months since their last postings. The government claimed that the transfers were made in the interest of administration with a prior approval of the minister concerned. Two senior IAS officers, namely Gazanfar Hussain, secretary, Higher Education Department, and KB Agarwal, Financial Commissioner (Revenue), were transferred and posted as secretary, Social Welfare Department, and principal secretary, Higher Education Department, respectively. Both the officers were transferred and given their previous posting on May 10, almost seven months ago. Pointing fingers at premature transfers, a senior official posted at the civil secretariat said “political linkages” were one of the “top eligibility criteria” for premature transfer and “overstay” of any officer. According to the state government’s transfer policy, any official posted at a particular post can be transferred after serving for a minimum two years and maximum three years. Postings shall be made on rotational basis to “sensitive and non-sensitive” postings, which would be identified by the department, the policy says, adding that in the interest of project, the official’s tenure could be extended up to five years. Yesterday, the state Cabinet had approved the transfers and postings of seven IAS officers. Arun Kumar, who was awaiting orders of adjustment was posted as Financial Commissioner, Revenue, while BR Sharma, principal secretary, Home Department, was transferred and posted as principal secretary, Planning and Development Department. Suresh Kumar, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, was transferred and posted as principal secretary, Home Department. Arun Kumar Mehta, on his repatriation to the state government, was posted as Commissioner Secretary, PDD. In March this year, the state government had admitted the violation of transfer policy by awarding premature transfers of at least 38 IAS and 84 KAS officers in the past three years. Around 12 senior officers were not transferred for more than five years from one department. Madhav Lal, chief secretary, said both the officers were transferred prematurely by the Cabinet and it was the prerogative of the Cabinet to transfer or retain any officer on a particular position. Transfer policy As per the state government’s transfer policy, any official posted at a particular post can be transferred after serving for a minimum two years and maximum three years. Postings shall be made on rotational basis to “sensitive and non-sensitive” postings, which would be identified by the department |
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‘Pampered’ bureaucrats never retire in J&K
Jammu, December 7 His appointment was approved by the state Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. According to an official spokesperson, Peer would conduct tests for recruitment to non-gazetted and Class IV posts to speed up the recruitment process. Peer, who had earlier been holding the post of chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE), was given two extensions by the state government. “The state government had earlier given two months’ extension to Peer for the coveted and sensitive position of JKBOPEE chairman, which had drawn flak from the state bureaucracy for violating service rules. Senior officials had questioned, though anonymously, the rationale behind the government’s intentions to give an extension after extension to the former chairman,” a senior officer said. On June 20, the state government had re-appointed Peer as chairman of the BOPEE for a period of two months on the existing norms and conditions. Peer’s one-year extension had expired on June 17. The government had appointed RD Sharma, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu, as chairman BOPEE on deputation for a period of two years with effect from August 18, 2012. Sharma was directed to work as Officer on Special Duty alongside the president chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Peer till the expiry of his term. Madhav Lal, chief secretary, however, justified the appointment of Peer, saying the government wanted an experienced person for the post of a consultant regarding IT applications and computerisation to fast-tract the recruitment process. |
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Legislative Council Results
Jammu, December 7 The party has performed badly even in the areas which have been considered as citadel of the BJP and erstwhile Jan Sangh and Praja Parishad. Similarly, the main opposition PDP, which has secured second position in all the four seats, has lost ground in its strongholds like south Kashmir in the Valley and twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. The party has, however, managed to make inroads into new areas in Jammu district. Elections for the four seats of the Legislative Council were held on December 3 and results were declared yesterday. For two seats from the Kashmir valley, the National Conference and Congress candidates who emerged victorious have secured 53.44 per cent and 53.59 per cent votes, respectively. Similarly, the Congress and the NC candidates secured 61.33 per cent and 61.23 per cent votes, respectively, from two seats of the Jammu province. PDP candidates Peer Mohammad Hussain and Yasir Reshi got 36.50 per cent and 37.59 per cent votes, respectively, from two seats of the Kashmir valley whereas party candidates namely Ved Parkash and Gurmeet Singh Bajwa secured 14.53 per cent and 14.04 per cent votes, respectively, from two seats of the Jammu province. Performance of the BJP is worse in the elections because party candidates Rashpal Verma and Uttam Singh got only 10.94 per cent and 8.06 per cent votes, respectively. Although BJP leaders have been accusing the government of misusing official machinery in the LC elections, it is alleged that the party has deliberately fielded weak candidates to help coalition nominees by entering into “undeclared” alliance with the government. A senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity said the BJP’s causal approach towards contesting these elections can be gauged from the fact that one of the party candidates, Rashpal Verma, had lost election of sarpanch but he was fielded as for the LC election from the quota of panchayats. The BJP failed to even retain its position in its strongholds like Nagorta and Marh assembly segment where coalition candidates have secured more than double votes as compared to the BJP candidates. Out of a total 66 blocks, BJP candidate Rashpal Verma managed to get lead against his NC rival in Ghagwal block, which is his hometown. As far as the PDP is concerned, the party has lost ground in its strongholds but created space in new areas. Besides the RS Pura, the party candidates have secured good number of votes in the Bishnah segment. The results were a morale booster for the coalition partners because both the parties have further consolidated positions in the strongholds besides making inroads into the areas considered as citadels of the opposition. |
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Prof Hari Om resigns from Cong
Jammu, December 7 “With a deep sense of responsibility to my conscience, political beliefs, people of Jammu and the nation at large, I hereby resign from the primary membership of the Congress, which I had joined on October 8, 2008. I have no hesitation in saying that I am feeling a great sense of relief while doing so”, Hari Om said in a statement issued here today. “I had joined Congress in 2008 with three things in mind. One, the Congress will play a role in defeating communal, semi-secessionist and hegemonic politics practised by parties like the National Conference and the PDP. Two, the Congress would further strengthen the process of full integration of the state with the Union of India and put a halt to the policies of neglect and discrimination against the Jammu province”, he said and regretted that the party had failed to oppose communal forces in the state. “The Congress’ joining an alliance with the National Conference and then tamely toeing its line on almost all issues concerning national security and integrity, remaining a mute partner to the National Conference in its relentless campaign for the removal of AFPSA and consequently removal of the Army from the state and becoming an active accomplice in further marginalisation of Jammu has convinced me that the Congress has chosen to be merely an extension of the National conference. I don’t think I can play any role while being a member of this party”, he observed. “People in Jammu province are a witness to what I have written or said during these few years while I was a member of the party. They will bear a witness to the fact that I stood up unflinchingly and relentlessly to the causes which I have espoused during the past more than two decades even as a worker of the Congress. I will continue to do the same till my last breath but not as a worker of the Congress”, he asserted. |
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PDP now a publicly defeated party: NC
Srinagar, December 7 The ruling party said the clean sweep in the elections was a sign of “better coordination and stronger bond” between the coalition partners and asked the opposition party to “introspect and shun the path and politics of deception, slur and division”. The elections for the four Legislative Council seats were jointly contested by the National Conference and the Congress. “When a party, whose existence is because of south Kashmir, gets a humiliating defeat and its founders, papa (and) daughter, are rejected in Wachi and Anantnag, they should understand that their doom is certain,” National Conference spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said. “People have turned the PDP into a publicly defeated party,” he said. The PDP has been believed to have a strong base in south Kashmir. “South Kashmir, which they claim is their stronghold, defeated them. The Jammu region, where they claim they have made inroads in, have routed them (out),” Sadiq said. “These elections should teach the opposition party two lessons--- one, they should stop their politics of division and two, they should be ready for their doom in 2014,” he added. |
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Forest land scam
Jammu, December 7 The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (JKSAC) — an autonomous anti-graft panel — after a thorough counter check of its official records in Srinagar and Jammu offices, today issued a contempt notice against the minister asking him to appear in person on December 17 to show cause as to why contempt proceedings in terms of Section 20 of the JKSAC Act be not initiated against him. Taj, who had been accused of grabbing forest land in Shopian district of Kashmir, had issued a letter to the media on November 26 addressed to Forest Minister Mian Altaf that he had been given a clean chit by the JKSAC and the Vigilance Organisation, another autonomous anti-graft panel. Taking cognisance of his statement in the media and after a thorough check of its official records in Srinagar and Jammu offices, the panel headed by its Justice (retd) YP Nargotra and member Justice (retd) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain issued a contempt notice against Taj. Following news reports carrying the statement of Taj Mohi-ud-Din, reports from the SAC’s Deputy Registrar in Srinagar and Assistant Registrar in Jammu were sought to verify factual correctness of his statement. “Relevant records for the month of September 2005 available in the Commission’s office at Srinagar have been checked and consequently no matter pertaining to the subject (clean chit by the SAC to the minister in September 2005) was found to have been disposed of by the Commission at its Srinagar wing,” reads response of the SAC’s Deputy Registrar in Srinagar. Consequently, the panel in its notice observed that statement made by the minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din prima facie appears to be false which may amount to contempt of the Commission under the provisions of the J&K Contempt of Courts Act 1997. |
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Army rebuts NGOs’ report
New Delhi, December 7 “The culpability of the Army persons listed has not been established in any of the cases. The above named NGOs have stated clearly that they do not have conclusive evidence against any of the Army personnel mentioned in their report. It is thus evident that the report is merely a collation of unsubstantiated allegations aimed at maligning the Army,’ Col Jagdeep Dahiya, spokesperson for the Army, said today. “Allegations of human rights abuse by Army personnel are investigated and action is initiated against defaulters. Since 1990, only 36 cases out of 1,519 cases of alleged human rights violations against the Army in the state have been found to be true,” the statement said.
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State postal dept makes a giant leap
Srinagar, December 7 "The J&K circle revenue has grown by 42 per cent during the first half of the year ending September as compared to 24 per cent during the corresponding period last year. This is the highest revenue generated so far among all the postal circles of the country and we are expecting 50 per cent growth by the end of the financial year....it would be a record figure in the country," said J&K circle Chief Postmaster General John Samuel. He said the J&K circle had been witnessing consistent growth in mail and financial services, especially in saving bank accounts. The department has opened over 2.3 lakh saving accounts across the state in the current financial year so far. Even as the department is targeting 100 per cent financial inclusion in Ladakh, 2,737 new saving accounts were opened in the region with the DoP in the current financial year till October 31. Similarly in Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur, Baramulla and Rajouri, a total of 48,008; 74,819; 18,047; 14,636 and 76,085 accounts were opened respectively. "Currently, 12 posts of Gramin Dak Sevaks are being filled in the Baramulla Postal Division. The recruitment process will also provide an opportunity to educated people to earn their livelihood. Posts are being filled at Rohama, Dangiwacha, Mohra, Tangdar, Kupwara, Langate, Handwara, Sopre and Bandipore. A notification in this regard will be issued soon," Samuel said. He said 40 persons would be recruited for other posts in the Srinagar division. Samuel said the department would soon have its own football team. Earlier this year, the summer capital of the state had hosted its first ever All India Postal Football Tournament. |
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IED detected, defused along NH
Anantnag, December 7 Sources said unknown militants had planted the IED device in a paddy field near a passenger shed along the highway. “A patrol party of 9 RR detected the IED at Hanjipora crossing in the jurisdiction of the Mirbazar police station at around 7.30 am,” said a source. Sources said after putting the traffic to a halt, a joint team of the police, 9 RR and 163 Batallion, CRPF, swung into action. “A bomb disposal squad was called on the spot and by 9.30 am, they destroyed the IED without causing any damage,” a source said. — OC
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Imtiaz captures Kashmiri boatman’s life
in his first ever short film
Srinagar, December 7 Shot in just one day, along the length and breadth of the Dal Lake last year, with little expenses and a few crew members, Imtiaz dedicates the fifth film of his career to the simplicity and beauty of Kashmir through the eyes of a ‘shikara waala’ (boatman), Habibullah Bhat. “During the shooting of Rockstar last year, we were strolling in the Nehru Park when the idea of this short film popped up,” says Khawar Jamsheed, the producer of the film. “Habibullah is my man,” says Imtiaz in the trailer of the film, which was released last week and has received rave reviews from the audiences, particularly Kashmiris living outside the state. Leaving aside violence, politics and sorrow, which are synonymous with films on Kashmir, Imtiaz found his muse in the life of a shikara waala. He chose Habibullah from among 50 boatmen, who had auditioned for the lead character of the film. “He just had those perfect looks and an attitude we needed in the film. He sings, he chats with the locals and tourists. He tells us what makes him happy and content in the backdrop of violence and pain, which his eyes have witnessed, in just five minutes,” says Khawar. Imtiaz’ romance with Kashmir is brought to the fore through his camera work in the movie. He is said to have chosen Habibullah to portray Kashmir’s simplicity and beauty as he came across as a simple and a happy man. The movie showcases the Valley’s beauty through simple and mundane things — from early morning, when Habibullah catches up with a middle-aged Sikh couple who had always wanted to visit the Valley for their honeymoon but couldn’t, to evening, when he rides a few local college girls home who request him to sing a latest Bollywood song. Content with his day’s earnings and meetings with new people while on his job, Habibullah sings songs of hope and despair on his way home. “His voice was intense so we did not want to interfere with that. Even those who do not understand Kashmiri find it catchy. One of AR Rahman’s assistant music directors has given the background music to the song towards the end of the film,” Khwara says. The short film has received overwhelming response from local and non-local audiences. “Keeping the short film in its natural form is what makes it the best. Habibullah’ singing, bargaining
for Shikara ride costs, his broken English — everything is superb,” says Binish Gulzar, a bank executive working in Pune, who hails from
Srinagar. Imtiaz’ muse Leaving aside violence, politics and sorrow, which are synonymous with films on Kashmir, Imtiaz found his muse in the life of a shikara waala |
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NC’s Central Working Committee meeting today
Jammu, December 7 Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and the Chief Minister, who is working president of the National Conference, would participate in the meeting. The meeting assumes significance because coalition candidates have swept elections to the four seats of the Legislative Council. Sources in the NC said results of the LC elections were a big morale booster for the ruling coalition and party leadership. The meeting would discuss how to further strengthen the alliance with the Congress. The sources said the results had also authenticated arguments of those party leaders who had been advocating that the party should enter into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the 2014 Assembly elections. All MLAs, MLCs and other senior leaders would attend the meeting in which the party leadership would also devise a strategy on how to continue the ongoing offensive posture against the Opposition parties. — TNS
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Youth’s disappearance
Srinagar, December 7 The directions were passed by the court after the ITBP identified the seven accused personnel and their whereabouts before the court during the proceedings yesterday. Ghulam Hussain Koka, father of the youth Muhammad Asharaf Koka, had filed a petition before the court pleading that the police investigation into the alleged abduction and disappearance case of his son was "tardy" and the warrant issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate Anantnag was not being executed. The youth was allegedly abducted by the ITBP personnel in Verinag area of Anantnag district in 1991. According to the ITBP communication to the high court, then Commandant of 10th battalion Inder Singh Negi is presently posted at Northern Frontier Dehradun as Inspector-General, Dr PS Gunjiyal, then Chief Medical Officer, is currently posted with 31st Battlaion at Yupia in Arunachal Pradesh, head constable Hukum Singh is posted at Leh and head constable Ajeet Kumar is posted at Chandigarh. The then second in command of the unit RS Rana has retired and is currently residing in Himachal Pradesh while Rajinder Singh has also retired and is presently in Uttarak hand and sub-inspector Pratap Singh died on August, 4, 2004. The whereabouts of these personnel were furnished to the high court following directions to this effect on the last date of hearing in the case on November 29. — PTI |
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With the country’s longest tunnel between Qazigund and Banihal ready, the trial run of train between the Kashmir valley and south of Pir Panjal will be conducted by December-end.
Control Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, refuses to die down as another skeleton today tumbled out of the cupboard.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (JKSAC) — an autonomous anti-graft panel — after a thorough counter check of its official records in Srinagar and Jammu offices, today issued a contempt notice against the minister asking him to appear in person on December 17 to show cause as to why contempt proceedings in terms of Section 20 of the JKSAC Act be not initiated against him.
Srinagar, December 7
In an effort to give further boost to the departmental activities, Samuel said they would soon send staff members abroad for various training programmes. Also, to provide efficient services, the department is recruiting more employees across the state.