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‘Get rid of strays before it’s too late’
Kashmir shivers below zero degree; Leh at minus 11°C
Students being made to write exam amid biting cold
This village in Handwara is without electricity, road for over 60 years
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Woman attempts suicide in Baramulla
1 killed, 5 hurt in road mishaps
Badwan cries for attention
MLA leads protest against human rights violations in Valley
Zuljinah processions taken out across Valley
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‘Get rid of strays before it’s too late’
Srinagar, December 10
The government has submitted the report of the committee to the High Court. Sources said the majority of suggestions from the public called for eradication of stray dogs in the city. Many called for exporting the dogs to other places such as forest areas. Some even went to the extent of suggesting to export them to Nagaland. Many said there was an urgent need for bringing down the number of canines or people would take to the streets in protest. “Bring down the number of stray dogs at any cost to avoid a situation or we will come on the streets and start killing them which may become a health hazard,” said Dr Bilquees in her suggestion to the panel. The Expert Committee was constituted in June this year by the state government following the High Court directions. Before finalising its report, the committee had also invited suggestions from the general public as was directed by the court. M Yousuf Darzi, a retired forest officer, suggested the stray dogs be shifted to forest areas. Another person suggested exporting the canines outside the state. “Since Nagas are habitual dog eaters, it will not be any violation of law (sic) if stray dogs are exported to these areas. Dog sterilisation is just a short-term measure,” said advocate Zubair Zameer Zia in his suggestion. One Aamir Ali said via e-mail that some Naga regiments could be posted in Kashmir to bring down the population of stray dogs. One AA Dar, who identified himself as a retired director from the Department of Sericulture said, “Create dog ponds where their male and female are kept separately. It will effectively bring down their population.” Then there were few suggestions which called for poisoning or slaughtering the dogs. “The dog population can be controlled by killing them,” suggested one Ghulam Jeelnai. Fayaz Ahmad Khan from Naseem Bagh Srinagar suggested slaughtering them. “Slaughtering of animals is adopted throughout the world. Why not kill all the dogs which are dangerous to the public at large,” Khan suggested. It was based on these public suggestions and other feedback received by the Expert Committee that a report was formulated. The High Court had taken up the case following a public interest litigation (PIL) about the growing dog menace in Srinagar city. Measures taken so far * After HC direction, the government constituted the Expert Committee to propose ways for controlling the menace of stray dogs in Kashmir * The court had taken up the case following a PIL on growing dog menace in Srinagar * Before finalising its report, the panel invited suggestions from general public as directed by the court
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Kashmir shivers below zero degree; Leh at minus 11°C
Srinagar, December 10 An official of state Meteorological Department confirmed this. The maximum day temperature in the town, which is one of the coldest places in the Kashmir division, was recorded at 6.2 degrees Celsius. In the nearby Kargil district, the mercury overnight fell to minus 8.0 degree Celsius while the maximum temperature was recorded at 4.0 degree Celsius there, the official said. The minimum temperature in Ladakh region usually hovers many degrees below the freezing point during winter months plunging to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius at times. The region remains cut off from rest of the state for most of the winter as heavy snow along the Srinagar-Leh road shuts the access to this vast mountainous region. In Srinagar city, the minimum temperature overnight fell to minus 0.3 degree Celsius while the day temperature was recorded at 9.9 degree Celsius, the official added. The Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir recorded the lowest overnight temperature in the valley with mercury falling to minus 5.0 degree Celsius while at Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 3.8 degree Celsius. The Valley is gearing up for a harsh winter which is set to begin ten days later when Chillai Kalaan- a 40-day-long harsh phase of the season- begins. The minimum temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir was recorded at minus 1.6 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature in the south Kashmir’s Qazigund town was recorded at minus 1.0 degree Celsius, the official added. The weather department forecast said a light rainfall and snowfall would occur at few places in the region in the next 24 hours.
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Students being made to write exam amid biting cold
Srinagar, December 10 It has been a major cause of concern for students and their parents alike. Over 35,000 third year undergraduate-level students currently appearing in their examination have complained of poor or no heating arrangements. Reports said students were even made to write examinations in the open at some centres (degree colleges) in the Valley. An intense cold wave has engulfed the region with both day and night temperatures having plummeted several notches below the normal. Despite doctors issuing strict warnings to take all sorts of preventive measures in the chilling weather, the Department of Higher Education has not taken note of these warnings. “My hands and feet have become numb due to cold. They make us sit without any heating facilities for hours together. It is nearly biting cold inside the classrooms. How can we write our papers? I catch a headache every time I come for examination.
Our preparations have also suffered due to this,” said Bakir, a BCom 3rd year student at Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Hawal. Students said they had paid money for Examination Management Fund (EMF) so that proper facilities could be ensured during the examination time but to no avail. “Our teachers have categorically refused any sort of help when we asked them about heating facilities. The teachers, including the principal, always cite unavailability of funds. We don’t understand where do the fees we pay go to?” asked Saima, a BA final year student at Nawa Kadal Degree College in Srinagar. During the autumn session of the State Legislative Assembly in Srinagar, the Department of Ministry of Higher Education in a written reply to a question had said crores of rupees were being spent on infrastructure upgradation of degree colleges in the state. “Just look at the way students are suffering. Their (ministry) claims prove be far from true,” Muzaffar Ahmad, a parent said. |
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This village in Handwara is without electricity, road for over 60 years
Handwara, December 10 The village, 14 km from Handwara town, does not have proper healthcare and drinking water facilities either. Residents say that in absence of electricity facilities, they illuminate their houses with kerosene chimneys and candles. “We have not seen electricity for past over six decades. During elections, politicians assure that the village will be provided with power facility but their promises never saw the light of day. People elsewhere may be living in an information age but we are still living a primitive life,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a local resident. The villagers say that in absence of road, they are forced to walk for about 6 km to Villgam to board bus. “During winter, our problems get multiplied due to non-availability of road. It becomes very difficult to walk on a snow-bound road and get bus service at Villgam,” said Ishaq Ahmad. “In case of medical exigency, people face great difficulties due to absence of a road,” he added. Local residents said education of children was badly affected due to lack of basic amenities, especially power and road. “The village remains backward
not only educationally but in terms of amenities as well. Most of the children have become school dropouts due to the lack of a proper road as they are forced to cover long distance on foot to reach schools in Villgam,” said Mohd Sayeed, another Dismayed villagers say the successive governments have been testing their patience. “The pathetic situation of our village is a dent on the tall claims of development,” a senior citizen said.
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Woman attempts suicide in Baramulla
Srinagar, December 10 The body of one Mohammad Lateef Dar (45) was recovered from Rampora in Chattabal near the Jehlum. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated in this regard, the police said.
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1 killed, 5 hurt in road mishaps
Srinagar, December 10 In another incident, a passenger bus skidded off the road at Lamad crossing in Kulgam district of south Kashmir south Kashmir as a result of which five persons were injured. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment. A case has been registered, the police said.
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Minister visits fire victims |
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Badwan cries for attention
Anantnag, December 10 They complain that there is no road link between the village and other parts of the state and that they are yet to get a power supply. “It is really unfortunate that in this age, when people in other parts of the Valley are getting every facility at their doorstep, the residents of Badwan village are stuck in dark ages,” said Muhammad Aslam, a resident of
the village. Locals say they have to walk several miles to reach Ganeshpora. They say even though a survey was conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) a long time back, no initiative has been taken to construct
a road. “We have to face a lot of inconvenience to go out of the village. This is especially a matter of concern when someone has to visit a doctor or during other emergency situations,” said Hameedullah, another resident. These residents say that their hardships increase during the winter season, especially after it snows. Another issue, which the
villagers feel strongly about, is the non-availability of power supply in
the village. “What else can be a proof of official apathy? It is 21st century but our village is yet to get electricity,” says a local. “Despite living on the banks of the Lidder river, we crave for clean potable water,” says Hameedullah. Villagers allege that the authorities have been neglecting their village for many years and despite their repeated pleas to the concerned departments, no steps have been taken to make their living conditions better. The Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC), Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah, said he would look into the matter and make sure the villagers get at least the basic amenities. “The next phase of construction under the PMGSY will start soon and hopefully, the village will get connected too. As far as electricity and drinking water are concerned, I will make sure they get both the things sooner than later,” the DDC said. |
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MLA leads protest against human rights violations in Valley
Srinagar, December 10 The memorandum called for the UNMOGIP’s intervention in checking human rights violations in the Valley. It urged the concerned human rights bodies to evolve a consensus to get rid of custodial killings, mass rapes and enforced disappearances in Kashmir. Earlier, the protesters marched from Abi Guzar, Lal Chowk, to Sonwar where a heavy police contingent was deployed to foil the march. The protesters, however, succeeded in reaching the Municipal Park while raising slogans against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA). They demanded the revoking of life imprisonment to alleged Parliament attacker Afzal Guru. Rashid expressed concern over the plight of detainees languishing in jails. He demanded a rollback of life and capital punishments in these cases. Speaking on the occasion, Shabir Ahmad Rather, a sarpanch from north Kashmir, condemned the Central and state governments for imposing restrictions on the protest march. He said if the government wanted to empower these elected representatives, their voices should not be muzzled. During resistance with the police, a protester, Ajaz Ahmad of Sangrama, Baramulla, got injured and was shifted to the SMHS hospital. MEMORANDUM |
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Zuljinah processions taken out across Valley
Srinagar, December 10 The processions are taken out on Muharram 25 to commemorate Imam Zainul Abideen’s martyrdom. Anjuman-e-Shar-e-Shian patron Aga Syed Hassan Mustaffa Alsafvi Almosvi condemned the recent sectarian clashes that erupted in downtown Srinagar. Even as the main Ashura procession that used to pass through Lal Chowk has been banned by the government after the eruption of militancy in the state, the Shias now take out processions in the city interiors. A procession was also taken out near Magam in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The authorities had already announced traffic restrictions to ensure smooth conduct of the procession in the area.
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