Jammu, January 27
Once known as the lifeline for farmers, the Ranbir Canal and its tributaries have been reduced to mere dumping ground. While the Irrigation Department has stopped regular de-slitting process over the past few years owing to confusion over the extension of NREGA, residents use the water body to dump solid waste and sewerage.

The canal now stands testimony to official apathy. People living around the canal are responsible for the slow decay of the water body, as in many localities particularly in Talab Tillo and Nai Basti areas the canal has turned into a big drain carrying filth dumped by residents. “The water emits bad odour, which is not only harmful for us but also for the environment. The canal passes through several areas of the city but no de-slitting or cleaning process has been started so far,” a resident said.

Mixed with sewage and muck, it usually flows in summers extending from Akhnoor to the tail end of Bhagwati Nagar, Talab Tillo, Gajansoo, Trikuta Nagar, Satwari and other interior areas of the city.

“Apart from the government, residents ignore restrictions against dumping of garbage into the canal. Even during festivals, polythene bags are thrown in it, which leads to it getting choked,” says environmentalist, Bhushan Parimoo.

Chief Engineer, Irrigation Department, KK Sharma, blames non-cooperation of local residents for failure of their efforts to save the water body. “We have been urging residents not to dump waste in the canal, but nobody heeds to the instructions. There has been a delay in the de-slitting process, but it is becoming a challenge for us also to clean the canal”.

Batote, January 27
The 6th Economic Census (EC) will begin in Ramban district from today. Master trainers imparted necessary training to employees deployed to conduct the Census as enumerators.

The Economic Census is the complete count of the establishment or units located within the district. The trainees were educated about the definition, and significance of the Census.

Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir A Bhat, asked the enumerators to complete it in time, as it would form the basis for future policies and planning. 

Jammu, January 27
Angered over the decision of the school authorities not to celebrate and hoist flag on the Republic Day, hundreds of villagers from Jandrah panchayat today protested against the staff of Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Jandrah. The protesters urged the Education Department to initiate legal action against the school authorities.

Angry villagers, accompanied by sarpanches and panches of various panchayats, also passed a resolution in this regard.

They also decided to approach the Minister for School Education, Tara Chand, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, and Director School Education, Jammu, Dev Lata, over the failure of authorities to hoist the Tricolour on the school premises on the Republic Day. Trouble erupted when the villagers came to know that the school authorities had decided not to celebrate the Republic Day. The villagers, mostly youth, marched towards the school and found the building locked. They raised slogans against the Education Department and staged a sit-in for four hours.

“If the school authorities could not hoist the Tricolour on the Republic Day, what will they teach the students,” Anil Sharma, Sarpanch, Panchayat Halqa, Jandrah said. It is unfortunate that the school authorities decided not to hoist the national flag and celebrate Republic Day because they were summoned by the Director School Education to Maulana Azad Stadium. Nobody from school staff was deputed to hoist flag on the Republic Day and the function to mark the which was being held for the last many decades, got cancelled for the first time in the history of the school, he said.

“If they were summoned by the Director School Education at MA Stadium, where the main function was held, they should have deputed someone to unfurl tricolour in the school. The school authorities cannot escape from their responsibility.”

He also flayed the Principal of Government Degree College, Jandrah, for his failure to celebrate the Republic Day.

Ashok Kumar, in charge Principal, GHSS, Jandrah, said the school staff had been called by the Director School Education to be present at the MA Stadium.

“I have no drawing and disbursing powers for funds. There is a shortage of staff in the school. We had to cancel the function because of directions of the Director School Education to the entire staff to report at the MA Stadium,” the Principal said. Dev Lata, Director School Education could not be contacted for comments.

Jammu, January 27
The police has arrested one person for trying to abduct a medical student from Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital late last evening. Two accomplices are absconding.

The accused, Karan Bhagat, a resident of R S Pura, allegedly tried to abduct 
a medical student at 9.30 pm yesterday.

A police officer said Karan along with his two accomplices tried to pull the victim pursuing her internship at the SMGS Hospital into the vehicle but failed as the student raised alarm and fled," sources said.

On the basis of the complaint of the victim, the police registered a case leading to Karan's arrest.

The incident
The accused, Karan Bhagat, a resident of RS Pura, and his two accomplices allegedly tried to abduct a medical student at 9.30 pm on Saturday

Reasi, January 27
The much awaited Udhampur-Katra rail line will become operational from this year. This would enable pilgrims to Vaishno Devi shrine to reach Katra base camp directly.

While the Katra railway station is almost ready, work on the Udhampur-Katra line is underway and is likely to be commissioned soon. Niwang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies, said this in his address on the eve of the Republic Day function held at the Sports Stadium, Reasi.

The 53-km long Jammu-Udhampur rail line is already operational. Once the 25-km-long Udhampur-Katra line, which is part of the Kashmir rail link project, is operational trains can reach Katra directly from anywhere.

Katra in Reasi is the base camp for pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine where an estimated 10 million devotees come to pay obeisance every year.

The Udhampur-Katra rail route, estimated to cost Rs 960 crore, passes through inhospitable terrain making it an extremely challenging engineering project.

The 25-km-long route consists of seven tunnels and 30 small and big bridges, including a bridge taller than the Qutab Minar.

The total length of the seven tunnels is 12 km on the Udhampur-Katra rail route. The construction is in the last leg.

The project got delayed because of a problem in T1 and T3 tunnels.

Katra, January 27
Owing to callous attitude and inefficiency of officials, 60 per cent of the schools in the district lack toilet and drinking water facilities.

Data reveals that despite Centre’s instructions to provide drinking water, toilet and other facilities to students within the school premises, only 40per cent schools have drinking water and toilet (urinal and lavatory) facilities.

Out of 1,118 schools in Reasi, 675 schools lack availability of drinking water facilities within the school premises. Nearly 60 per cent schools still do not have drinking water facility.

Sham Lal, a resident of Dera Bawa village, said students bring drinking water from a tap for public use outside the school. The school has no water supply to even cook mid-day meals and water has to be arranged from outside for the same. There is one toilet for students, and that too needs repair.”

Besides these, dilapidated classrooms, lack of kitchen sheds, sewage backflow and water logging in classrooms are other problems faced by the students and the school staff on a regular basis.

However, the Education Department has no information of how many such schools exist in the district.

KK Gupta, District Education and Planning Officer, Reasi, said, “Drinking water and toilets are in a good shape in the district and there are no such problems.

According to a survey conducted by an NGO, We Care, poor condition of toilets in schools up to Class VIII is one of the major reasons behind high dropout rate among girls in the district. The survey found that 90 per cent of the toilets in schools of the two blocks were closed and used only by teachers. However, the survey suggests that drinking water facilities have improved.

fact file
Out of 1,118 schools in Reasi, 675 schools lack drinking water facilities in the school premises
A survey conducted by an NGO, We Care, holds poor condition of toilets in schools up to Class VIII as major reason for high dropout rate among girls in the district

Jammu, January 27
Various organisations celebrated the Republic Day by hoisting the National Flag across the Jammu region.

Employees of the POWERGRID Northern Region Transmission System-II celebrated the day with their families at their office.

General manager in charge (projects) SK Sharma, who was the chief guest on the occasion, unfurled the Tricolour. Shrishti Mahila Samiti president Meena Sharma was also present on the occasion.

In his address, the general manager gave an account of the fruits reaped by the citizens of India after the country attained the republic status. He highlighted the role of the Indian Constitution in protecting the fundamental rights of citizens. He also talked about the milestones achieved by the POWERGRID. Meanwhile, the members of the Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association (RBBA) hoisted the Tricolour at the Raghunath Mandir Chowk.

The Republic Day was celebrated with great pomp and show at Government Higher Secondary School in Saruinsar. The morning programme commenced with the welcome speech of principal Shailesh Kumari followed by the flag-hoisting ceremony.

Republic Day functions were organised at tehsil, sub-division and niabat level in Udhampur district today. At Chenani, the main function was held in Government Higher Secondary School.

The day was also celebrated at the Government Boys’ Pahari Hostel in Jammu. The warden of the hostel, Imtiaz Bandey, unfurled the flag.

In Katra, the main function was held at Government Higher Secondary School. The additional chief executive officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Dr MK Bhandari, who was the chief guest here, unfurled the National Flag and took salute at the impressive march past of the contingents drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police, the National Cadet Corps and troupes of boys and girls from the town.

Rajouri, January 27
The Republic Day was celebrated with traditional fervour at Rajouri yesterday. Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma unfurled the Tricolour at the main function held at the Police Lines here.

The minister took salute at the march past by contingents of the para-military forces, police, NCC and schoolchildren. The function was witnessed by thousands of people from different walks of life.

On the occasion, schoolchildren presented cultural performances based on national integration and Indian cultures, which enthralled the gathering.

In his address, the minister said the day holds a lot of significance for the countrymen as India adopted its own Constitution this day. He said this was possible due to the struggle of our great leaders and sacrifices by the freedom fighters. He said the real challenge was to strengthen the unity and integrity of the country and to preserve its independence in all respects. He appealed to people, especially youngsters, to work towards promoting communal harmony and brotherhood.

Advocating special measures for the protection of women, he said, “We must honour the dignity of women who are equal partners in the socio-economic development of society. Independence is meaningless unless we give due rights to women.”

Jammu, January 27
Stakeholders of the hospitality and tourism industry in Jammu has welcomed the Centre’s approval for 20 new tourism-related projects in the state and have demanded a major share of the funds for the region. These projects are slated to come up at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore.

In a joint statement issued here today by Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association president Inderjeet Khajuria, Hotels Restaurants and Bars Association president HS Anand, Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal president Kuldeep Wahi and Hoteliers Association president Talab Khadikan, it was stated that the Jammu region did not get its due share in the promotion of tourism in the past so the stress should now be laid on developing the sector in this region.

It was stated that the city and its surrounding areas should jointly come up as an independent tourism destination. The stakeholders demanded that the tourism-related projects in and around city which had already been take up should be expedited.

The projects in question are the face-lift of the Tawi banks, laying of a cable car from the Mubarak Mandi Complex to the Bahu Fort to the Mahamaya hilltop, laying of a light and sound system at Bage Bhau, infrastructure development such as all-weather roads from Chichi Mata to Mansar, a link road between the Mansar and Suinsar lakes and roads to Pramandal, Uttarvahini and Birpur.

It was stated that tourism on the border belt in Kathua and Jammu districts should be speedily developed with the construction of double-lane border roads. It was demanded that the Suchetgarh border post should be developed as a tourism destination on the pattern of the Wagah Border post. 

Jammu, January 27
Stressing the need to increase the Income Tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) president Subash Shastri today urged the Union Finance Minister to make an announcement in this regard when the Union budget for 2013-14 is presented in the budget session of Parliament.

Addressing a rally, Shastri said due to price rise and inflation, the common man was facing a lot of hardships and raising the Income Tax limit would give some relief to the salaried class.

Shastri also demanded an early release of the nine-per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) due from January 1, 2013, in favour of both the Central and state government employees and pensioners.

He demanded an early sanction of 20 per cent interim relief and the merger of 50 per cent DA to their basic pay and pension in view of the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities.

He urged the Central government to provide special package to states for meeting the expenditure on providing interim relief to government employees and pensioners.

Referring to demands of daily-rated workers in the Central and state governments, Shastri said their wages should be raised to 10,000 per month.

Jammu, January 27
Jammu National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana said selfless service to mankind was service to God. He said the path to enlightenment was based on one’s actions and if actions were based on truth and justice, they were likely to take a person nearer to God.

Rana was addressing a congregation at a ‘satsang’ of Guru Ravi Dass here today. He said spiritualism led to peace of mind and all religions showed different paths to reach Him but all preached love, affection, care and selfless service.

He said society should rise above caste considerations and work together for the uplift of the poor and the downtrodden.

He said those who preached hatred in the name of religion were “devils”.

Paying rich tributes to Guru Ravi Dass, Rana said he was an epitome of societal reforms and humanity. He said the Guru worked tirelessly to create a world where all were equals and where love was the only bond of relationship between different human beings.

Rana said the state has passed through difficult times in the past two decades but now, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a new era of peace, progress and prosperity had ushered in.

He said National Conference workers would make efforts to strengthen the secular fabric of the state to ensure that people belonging to different religions and castes live in harmony. 

Jammu, January 27
The Disabled Care Foundation has demanded the implementation of the National Trust Act 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir for the welfare of the physically and visually challenged persons.

Disabled Care Foundation chairman Umesh Sharma during a meeting with National Trust chairperson Poonam Nataranjan apprised her of problems faced by parents of children with autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities.

Seeking the support, the chairperson was appraised that for implementation of National Trust Act 1999 in the state, the association is fighting single handedly for the cause.

Nataranjan assured the implementation of the Act in the state. Natranjan has demanded more facilities for disabled persons, particularly the introduction of a health insurance scheme, during her visit to Jammu.

The association had submitted a copy of the Act to MLAs of different political parties with a request to raise a question in the Assembly for its implementation. However, till date nothing has worked out in favour of differently abled children. 

Reasi, January 27
The Dogri Sahitya Sangam organised a multilingual ‘mushaira’ in Reasi yesterday.

The mushaira was organised at the community hall of the Muncipal Committee office here. Reasi Deputy Commissioner Nirmal Sharma was the chief guest while Katra Cultural Club chairman Shiv Kumar Sharma was the guest of honour.

The poets recited their poems in Hindi, Urdu, Dogri and Punjabi. These were based on various social issues such as female foeticide, corruption, gender disparity, drug addiction and dowry system.

Tariq Bhat, Bansi Lal Thakur, Rajesh Ajanabi, Rajesh Dogra, Kuldeep Mengi, Bram Sroop and Bansi Lal Kerni were among those who recited their poems.

While speaking on the occasion, the chief guest appreciated the efforts of the Dogri Sahitya Sangam to preserve the dying arts. She said people could be encouraged to root out socials evils from society through such programmes.