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Portion of Assembly complex caves in; inquiry ordered
Anti-graft panel issues notice to Estates Dept
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Panel tells power dept to expedite work on projects
Vaishno Devi pilgrim count crosses 1-cr mark for the second year
Moderate Hurriyat team to leave for Pak on Dec 15
Talk on remote sensing
IED defused in Pulwama
4 IGs cleared for posts of ADGP
4 killed as car rolls down gorge
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Portion of Assembly complex caves in; inquiry ordered
Jammu, December 11 The Assembly building is part of the state legislature complex, which includes the Legislative Council building. The state government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident which apparently took place due to “indiscriminate” digging work by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for constructing the Rs 100-crore new state legislative Assembly complex adjacent to the present Assembly building. Incidentally, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had conducted an inspection of the site and taken stock of the project yesterday. He was learnt to have been assured by the executing agency that there was no immediate threat to the historic building and the protection wall would be constructed in the next couple of days. Official sources told The Tribune that a major portion of the Assembly building, including a side wall and roof, collapsed around 2 am on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the office chambers of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar and the Press Gallery. Speaker of the Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone said the building apparently was not safe and it would not be advisable to convene upcoming budget session inside the existing legislature complex. Lone said a high-level committee headed by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B B Vyas had been constituted to investigate the cause of the collapse. The probe committee would suggest steps required to safeguard the remaining structure of the historic Assembly complex. The members of the committee will include Chief Engineer of the Roads and Building Department and some consultants from Delhi. “The panel will conduct a probe to fix the responsibility and will also find out why the engineering wing couldn’t anticipate the collapse while conducting deep digging adjacent to the existing complex,” the Speaker said. He said the Assembly secretariat had been exploring different sites to shift its base. “We have space available in the secretariat park or we can use some other space for our offices. Pre-fabricated structures will be set up to run our offices there. We are hopeful that it will be done in a month’s time,” Lone said. He, however, assured that there would be no curtailment of the budget session, which would be held in the third week of February. “We will ensure that the budget session will be a full-fledged session.” The Legislative Council building has also developed cracks at several places and official records, computers and furniture were being shifted from the complex. The administrative secretaries and clerical wing staff stayed away from the building apprehending that it could also collapse. Damage Caused
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Anti-graft panel issues notice to Estates Dept
Jammu, December 11 The panel, which got a “half-baked” reply from the Director, Estates Department, in a case pertaining to a former Congress minister, wants to know from the department if the rules entitle former ministers and ex-legislators to continue occupying
government accommodation even after their term was over. Recently, a complaint had been filed against the former Congress minister before the JKSAC. The former Congress minister is one of several former ministers and former legislators who continue to occupy government accommodation ever after their term has ended. The former Congress minister in question ceased to be a minister after the fall of the Congress-PDP regime in July 2008 after the
PDP pulled out of the coalition following a controversy over the Amarnath land row. The panel headed by Justice (retd) YP Nargotra
and member Justice (retd) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain has listed the case for December 20. Taking cognisance of the complaint filed against the former Congress Minister, the JKSAC had sought the comments of the Director, Estates Department. The Director, in his comments, had stated that “the respondent is allegedly continuing to occupy two houses, one at Jammu and the other at Srinagar, the rent of which is also outstanding against him despite the fact that he has ceased to be a minister.” But the JKSAC observed that Estates Department didn’t specifically deal with the question pertaining to the entitlement of the respondent to hold and occupy government accommodation after having ceased to be a minister. Accordingly, the JKSAC, in its notice, wants to know the rules and guidelines constituted by the government that entitle individuals to government accommodation and whether rules entitle former ministers and ex-legislators to continue occupying government accommodations after their term is over. The panel has also sought information on how many persons, who are not entitled under the rules, continue to occupy government accommodation. Besides this, the panel has asked the Estates Department to disclose how many private buildings and at what annual rentals have been hired by the government for accommodating public functionaries and government servants. “Has the rentals of such buildings been revised? If yes, what is the percentage and particulars of increase or decrease?” the panel
has asked. It has also asked the Estates Department to tell whether other former legislators, namely Abdul Aziz Zargar and Peer Mohammed Hussain (both PDP), Abdul Rashid Dar and Qaiser Jamsheed (both NC), Abdul Rehman Tukroo of the CPI, Ghulam Rasool Kar, Yogesh Sawhney, Gharu Ram, Dr Romesh Sharma, Haji Nissar Ali and Mula Ram
(all Congress), are occupying government accommodation in Jammu and Srinagar. “If yes, are they entitled for the same and whether any rent is outstanding against them?” reads
the last query. Eviction Notices
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High Court wants houseboats shifted to another part of Dal Lake
Srinagar, December 11 The high court observed that these houseboats could be shifted to the Doldrum area, which is another location inside the Dal Lake. These observations were made yesterday by a Division Bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar. The high court has been hearing a public interest litigation plea calling for the conservation of the Dal Lake and has been monitoring the efforts of the government in this regard for many years. In a bid to prevent pollution in the lake and to supervise the state government’s efforts to conserve the lake, the HC had on October 29 directed the houseboat owners to shift their anchored houseboats from their existing position at the lake by 300 feet from the Boulevard Road, which forms the outer periphery of the lake. The high court had ordered that the retrieval process of around 230 houseboats should be carried out within 10 days. However, the boat owners have so for shown non-compliance of the court directions, citing many reasons. As the matter came up for hearing in the court yesterday, the court was told that the owners were yet to retreat the houseboats from their current position. This prompted the Bench to observe that the houseboat owners were just “buying time.” Subsequently, the Bench observed that the “government shall now explore the possibility of shifting all houseboats from their current position to another location at the Dal lake, which is known as the Doldrum area”. The court, however, did not specify any time frame, as the matter has been posted for further consideration in February next year. The houseboat owners have so for resisted realignment or shifting of the houseboats, maintaining that realignment or shifting of the houseboats at the lake is a “Herculean task” and may require a lot of “time and effort”. Currently, the Centrally-sponsored Dal Lake Cleaning and Conservation Project, which was started in 2005, is being implemented by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Srinagar, under the court’s supervision. Over the years, the lake water has become polluted as sewage of hundreds of houseboats and hotels and houses on its periphery goes directly into the
lake. |
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Panel tells power dept to expedite work on projects
Jammu, December 11 The committee, which met here, discussed and reviewed the overall working of the PDD, besides government assurances pertaining to the department. Legislators, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah and Ashok Kumar, stressed upon the officials concerned to gear up their field functionaries and speed up the pace of work on all macro and micro power projects under execution in the state. The committee took a serious note of the slow pace of establishment of a receiving station at Chanderkote in Ramban district and directed the Chief Engineer, M&RE, Jammu, to furnish a status report to the committee
for scrutiny. While discussing the ongoing power projects in Tral constituency, the committee said the receiving station at Marhama would be commissioned in March, 2013. The committee suggested for an appropriate budget allocation in the power sector in Gurez tehsil. Earlier, Principle Secretary, PDD, BR Sharma briefed the committee about achievements of the departments. J&K Power Development Corporation Managing Director Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Development Commissioner, Power, Manzoor Salroo, PDD engineers and senior officials of the Assembly Secretariat attended the meeting. |
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Vaishno Devi pilgrim count crosses 1-cr mark for the second year
Reasi, December 11 “The pilgrimage to the cave shrine reached the one crore mark yesterday and is set to break the previous year’s record of 1.02 crore,” said an official source, adding that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) authorities were expecting the pilgrimage to be around 1.05 crore this year. “Around 10,000 to 15,000 pilgrims visit the cave shrine daily. The number is expected to go up after December 20 ahead of Christmas and New Year,” the official source said. The authorities are expecting one crore pilgrims at the shrine every year. The pilgrimage to the cave shrine was 13.95 lakh in 1986 when the SMVDSB had taken over the affairs of the shrine. It was for the first time in 1991 that the pilgrimage crossed a 3 million (31.15 lakh) mark. The yatra reached 50 lakh in 2000 and 60 lakh in 2004. It was in 2007 that the yatra stood at 74.17 lakh. The pilgrimage came down to 67.92 lakh in 2008 due to the Amarnath land agitation but increased to 82 lakh in 2009 and 87.2 lakh in 2010. It was for the first time in 2011 that the yatra stood at 1.02 crore. During January this year, the yatra stood at 4.59 lakh. In February it was 3.92 lakh. However, it was in April when the yatra slightly came down to 9.61 lakh from the previous year’s 10.32 lakh. It was for the first time during the current year that the pilgrimage crossed 10 lakh in three consecutive months. It was 12.3 lakh in May, 12.62 lakh in June and 12.01 lakh in July. |
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Moderate Hurriyat team to leave for Pak on Dec 15
Srinagar, December 11 A six-member delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will be leaving Srinagar for Pakistan on December 15. The leaders are expected to return on December 23 after meeting Pakistan government officials and the Opposition there. While terming its forthcoming visit to the neighboring country “crucial”, the moderate Hurriyat had on December 5 said its three members Moulvi Abbas Hussain Ansari, Mukhtar Waza and Mussadiq Aadil had not been issued passports and other related travel documents by the authorities. However, the government has now issued the passports of “short validity” to two leaders, Hurriyat insiders say. “The passports have
been issued to Moulana Abbas Hussain Ansari and Mussadiq Aadil. However, the travel documents to Mussadiq Aadil are
yet to be issued,” said a Hurriyat leader privy to the developments. The other members of the Pakistan delegation led by Mirwaiz include Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Aga Syed Hassan and Bilal Gani Lone. The passports to these leaders have already been issued. The delegation led by Mirwaiz, he added, will be flying first to New Delhi from Srinagar airport on December 15. From New Delhi, the delegation is scheduled to catch a flight for Pakistan on Saturday. During their stay in Pakistan, sources said, the Hurriyat leaders will meet Pakistan Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan. Besides, the Hurriyat delegation is also scheduled to meet and interact with the chairman and members of the Pakistan parliamentary special committee on Kashmir. While spelling out the agenda of its visit, the Moderate Hurriyat last week had said that the delegation would “take stock of the developments” aimed at reaching a “long-term and permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute”. Meanwhile, sources said another senior Hurriyat leader and head of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabbir Ahmad Shah is planning to travel separately via Kaman Post in Uri on a cross-LoC permit. The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani has already rejected the invite to Pakistan, saying its leaders will not go there merely to “decorate newspapers for a few days and take part in photo sessions.” |
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Habba Kadal locality: A tale of pain, desperation, hope
Srinagar, December 11 Every house here has a story to tell; a story of pain, desperation and hope, enveloped in the glistening heritage of Kashmir. In the annals of Srinagar, Habba Kadal is one of the seven bridges built by 14th century Muslim ruler for expansion of the city, inhabiting people from every religion. The locality later derived its name from the historic bridge. Before the outbreak of militancy in 1989, both Muslims and Hindus lived here in harmony. The Pandit families had to flee fearing for their life in Kashmir, resulting in a bloodiest anti-India uprising. The Pandit families migrated to Jammu and others part of country, leaving behind their Muslim neighbours, friends and property. “Almost 97 per cent Kashmiri pandits have sold their property in Habba Kadal. Now, there are only a few Kashmir Pandit families here,” said Sanjay Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, an organisation of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits. “New houses have come up in place of old structures, but many old structures are still visible in the congested locality,” Tickoo said. Noted historian Prof Mohammad Ishaq Khan said Habba Kadal was not just a prime business centre but a hub of intellectual discourse. “Besides being a business centre, Habba Kadal housed a bookstore known as ‘Mukeh Mazear’. Both Pandits and Muslims used to gather near the store and engage in discussions, irrespective of their ideologies,” Prof Ishaq said. Ghulam Mohammad (60), who runs a cycle mechanic shop here, said Habba Kadal had lost its charm. “I have been running the shop for the past 45 years and have seen the hustle bustle vanishing into the air,” he said. Residents blame urbanisation for the transformation of the locality from a centre of activity to a sleepy locality. “The Kashmiri Pandits migrated in 1990s so did local affluent families who shifted to posh areas of the city,” said Abdul
Rashid, a resident. As a first step, the government has come up with an initiative to revive the lost glory of the locality. The Tourism Department and the Kashmir chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has transformed the dilapidated building of Lal Ded Memorial School at Ganpatyar into the Lal Ded Memorial Cultural Centre, as a tribute to the city’s history and heritage. “The focus is to showcase the cultural excellence of Srinagar city which it has achieved over the years,” said Saleem Beigh, Head of INTACH. Prof Ishaq Khan said the successive governments had “no sense of history” and much had not been done to save the old city’s rich heritage. “During my visit to Vatican city, I found out that even old small lanes have been preserved. They (West) know the value of cultural heritage, but we have not preserved ours,” he said. |
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Talk on remote sensing
Rajouri, December 11 Prof AS Jasrotia, Head of the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, University of Jammu, who was the resource person, threw light on the global positioning system (GPS) and the geographical information system (GIS) and explained in detail the entire phenomenon through a powerpoint presentation. He delivered a comprehensive lecture and stated that remote sensing was a multi-disciplinary subject and was applied in environment, forestry, defence, agriculture, transport, geography and tourism. About 500 students from science and arts stream, besides teaching faculty and members of the civil society were facilitated by the programme.Questions regarding scope, dimension and job opportunities were asked by students in an interactive session. Prof Sharief Chouhan, Principal of the college, highlighted the importance of the awareness programme in the age of globalisation and ultramodern technology.
— OC |
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IED defused in Pulwama
Srinagar, December 11 “After the IED was detected, the bomb disposal squad of the Awantipora police was pressed into service to defuse the IED,” he said. The Tral police has registered a case. The police said the road on which the IED was planted was used by civilians and the security forces. “With the timely detection, a major tragedy was averted,” the police spokesman said. Meanwhile, some pedestrians found a suspicious substance on a roadside in Thajiwara in Anatnag district. The pedestrian suspected it to be an IED. “The police sealed the area and restricted the traffic on the road. The bomb disposal squad of the Anantnag police which was called in later established that the substance was harmless,” the police said. |
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4 IGs cleared for posts of ADGP
Jammu, December 11 Sources said Chief Secretary Madhav Lal had cleared the name of VK Singh, IGP CIV, Training and Inspections, Police Headquarters, who recently returned from him deputation at the Research and Analysis Wing; SM Sahai, IGP, Kashmir; Dilbagh Singh, IGP, Jammu; and Sheikh Owais Ahmad,IGP,Personnel/Training, Police Headquarters/ Technical, at a screening committee meeting held at the civil secretariat here today. The police headquarters had mooted the proposal for promotion of the four IGPs as ADGs, five DIGs as IGPs and 11 SSPs as DIGs. The screening committee comprised Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Home Secretary BR Sharma and Director General of Police Ashok Prasad. VK Singh, SM Sahai and Dilbagh Singh are direct recruits of the 1987-batch while Sheikh Owais Ahmad was a KPS officer, who was conferred with IPS with effect from 1987. |
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4 killed as car rolls down gorge
Batote, December 11 The dead have been identified as Ramesh Kumar, a resident Bijarni in Doda, forest guard Abdul Karim Malik, a resident of Thalela, Fareed Ganai, a resident of Chirala, and forest guard Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Udrana in Bhaderwah. The seriously injured were identified as Parveen Kumar, a resident of Thalela, and Momin Khan, a resident of Green Colony in Bhaderwah. The driver, Vijay Kumar, and Yasir Ahmed, both residents of Chirala, are undergoing treatment at District Hospital, Doda.
— OC |
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