Jammu, February 15
In a perfect example of coordination gap between various agencies, the state administration has failed to identify places to relocate "redundant" traffic signals from eight busy rotaries of the city even after the lapse of more than two months since these lights were rendered non-functional on a "trial basis" to assess the flow of traffic.

Commuters had been facing a harrowing time owing to official apathy as vital rotaries usually remain gridlocked due to the non-functioning traffic lights. At times, the prevailing chaos and the absence of traffic policemen from important roundabouts lead to mishaps.

Sources said the Traffic police, which had made some traffic signals non-functional on an "experimental basis", was yet to identify the points to relocate them. This also led to uncertainty on the proposal to shift redundant traffic signals.

"Former Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, had constituted a committee comprising JMC Commissioner, DIG Traffic Jammu, Deputy Commissioner and officials of the R&B and the PDD to coordinate and remove impediments in the smooth regulation of traffic within the city limits. He had also ordered relocation of some signals as these were installed while ignoring some of the busiest locations in the city. More than two months have lapsed since the constitution of the committee but the authorities are yet to decide on the relocation of these signals," sources said.

KL Khajuria, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) said the JMC had installed traffic signals on the points identified by the Traffic police. "They had provided us the list of places where traffic signals were to be installed and we did it accordingly. As far as the relocation of some signals is concerned, we are yet to receive a communication from the Traffic police in writing," he said.

He said 30 out of the total of 68 points were listed on priority where traffic signals were installed in the first phase. "Out of these 30 traffic signals, 22 are working while eight have been made non-functional on a trial basis. As and when the Traffic police wrote to us, we will relocate these signals too," Khajuria said.

He said the JMC had not paid even a single paisa to the company which had installed the traffic signals. "Against a total of Rs 1.89 crore, the company which had installed the traffic signals had not been paid even a single paisa so far. The company would operate and maintain the traffic signals for at least two years as per the terms of the contract," he said.

The 30 intersections of Jammu city where the traffic signals were installed on a "priority basis" in the first phase included, Satwari Chowk, Main Stop, Gole Market, Green Belt Gandhi Nagar, Chattri Point Gandhi Nagar, Bikram Chowk, Jewel Chowk, KC Crossing, Shakuntla Crossing, Medical College Crossing, Ambphalla Chowk, Canal Head Crossing, Bakshi Nagar Pulli, Talab Tillo Chowk, BSF Paloura Crossing, Library Chowk, Vigilance Rotary, Parade Chowk, Rameshwar Temple, Shalamar Chowk, Indira Chowk, Vivekanand Chowk, Saheedi Chowk, Panama Chowk, Janipur Main Chowk, Janipur-Roop Nagar Crossing, High Court Turning, Kunjwani Chowk, Narwal Chowk and Bathandi by-pass road.

The traffic signals at Panama Chowk, Ambphalla, Panjthirthi, behind Civil Secretariat towards Baskhi Nagar and Paloura rotaries were made non-functional on a trial basis. Muneer Ahmad Khan, IGP (Traffic) and DIG, Traffic, Jammu, Shakeel Beigh, were not available for comments.

On April 11 last year, Jammu Tribune had reported that the project to install traffic signals was likely to end in a fiasco. It was also highlighted that the "planners" had ignored the busiest locations of the city to install traffic signals.

Jammu, February 15
Despite repeated claims of the state government to de-slit Ranbir Canal and its offshoots, the Irrigation Department has only taken up few portions of the canal. Keeping in view the delay in the process of tenders, the department is likely to once again miss the deadline to clear the water body by March 15.

Cleaning work is going on in some portions of the canal, the tenders for other portions across Jammu, which provides much needed water for farms has not been completed due to political interference in inviting tenders leading to the delay.

On the Baisakhi festival last year, the Irrigation Department had released water in the canal and its distributaries without de-sliting it. This led to protests by farmers. “Officials are only buying time, during past few years particularly in the winter months, the cleaning process was done by private contractors engaged by the department, but for last few years, it has been ignored deliberately, as some of the blacklisted contractors are not allowing others to bid for tenders,” a source said.

Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, KK Sharma said the tendering process was in last stage and they will try to complete the cleaning process by mid March. “We are committed to clean the canal and in some portions, where the tendering process has been completed, the work is going on. There will be no delay in the process this year,” Sharma claimed. Source said the canal runs into hundreds of km and not even 20 per cent work has been completed.

Jammu, February 15
To ensure availability of coaches/instructors in morning and evening sessions, the managers, in-charge and assistant managers have started paying surprise visits to their respective coaching centres. The move aims to streamline the functioning of the coaching centres.

The J&K State Sports Council has instructed the heads of its respective coaching centres to conduct surprise checks after it faced criticism for its working at different coaching centres.

Sports Council officials said an officiating in-charge Sports Officer had found coaches absent during a recent visit to a coaching centre in the city. The officer took a serious note and warned them that disciplinary action would be taken against them if they were found absent from their respective coaching centre.

Sources said, “The coaches have been asked to impart coaching in both morning and evening sessions as per the schedule submitted by them. They were also directed to seek permission from a competent authority to take up any assignment outside their coaching centres.”

Sources said the authorities first planned to issue an explanation notice to the absentees but then decided against it and took a decision to give the coaches a chance to put their case before them.

Sources said the Sports Council had also taken a serious note of the delay in the submission of monthly work diary. The coaches have been asked to submit the monthly work diary before the third of every month to the respective manager/in-charge and assistant manager.

Jammu, February 15
The state government today directed its administrative secretaries to ensure that the drawing and disbursing officers make regular deduction of Rs 20 and Rs 10 per month, respectively, from the salaries of gazetted and non-gazetted employees as contribution towards the ‘Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor’.

As per a circular issued here today, the administrative secretaries have been asked to ensure that the drawing and disbursing officers make regular deductions from the employees’ salary.

“In the event of default in deduction in earlier months, and also in case is there is no objection from the employees, the same should now be deducted Rs 240 and Rs 120 or the outstanding due amount, as the case may be, to account for the balance contribution in one go, from the salary for this month as large amounts are required for the treatment of poor cancer patients,” the circular states.

It may be mentioned that the government has to issue these directions once again in view of the fact that the contribution on account of the ‘Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor’ was not being deducted regularly by the drawing and disbursing officers, neither were the Treasury Officers ensuring implementation of the circular issued by the Finance Department.

Jammu, February 15
No breakthrough was achieved in the existing stalemate between Jammu University (JU) administration and non-gazetted employees, including casual workers, as the latter continued their strike for the twelfth consecutive day today.

The striking employees have warned the authorities to intensify their agitation by roping in security personnel and staff of various hostels if the university did not fulfil their demands soon.

The employees had been demanding removal of pay anomalies, regularisation of causal workers and reduction in the period of conducting test for promotion of Class IV employees from five years to three years.

Krishan Chander, president of JU Non-Gazetted and Causal Workers Association alleged that the authorities were forcing them to go on indefinite strike and they would be responsible in case of any untoward incident on the campus.

“We will decide our future course of action on Monday and if the authorities do not consider our demands seriously, we will suspend our services during the upcoming examination of various courses beginning from March 6,” Chander said, adding that the association would also approach the staff deputed in various hostels and security wing to further intensify their agitation.

Yesterday, Professor Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, the Vice-Chancellor of JU said the university was not in a position to regularise all employees in one go.

“We have constituted a committee to hold dialogue with the employees. So far, no breakthrough has been achieved in the deadlock. The employees want that all casual workers are regularised instantly. It is not possible because we do not have financial autonomy,” the V-C said.

He added that there were only 70 to 80 posts against 705 such employees.

Jammu, February 15
Angered over the manhandling of their colleague by some “miscreants” in his office chamber in Samba district, Patwaris in Samba continued their strike for the second consecutive day today. They are demanding that the accused be arrested.

The protestors assembled under the banner of the All J&K Patwar Association. They blamed the administration for its alleged failure to ensure safety of the patwaris working in the district and warned that they would continue their agitation till the arrest of the accused.

“Some miscreants had entered the chamber of the patwari and tried to snatch official record from him. When he resisted, they assaulted him with the chair and thrashed him severely leading to serious injuries. Patwaris are not safe and the administration must ensure their safety,” they said.

Jammu, February 15
Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture, Raman Bhalla, today said the government was committed to provide support to the fruit growers to promote the lucrative activity across the state.

This was stated by Bhalla while addressing a large gathering of farmers, fruit growers, besides sarpanches and panches after inaugurating one-day mega awareness-cum-exposure camp at Maralian Dak Banglow, here today.

MLA Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma, Director of Horticulture JN Sharma, Director of Horticulture (Planning and Marketing) AR Natnoo, Managing Director of Horticulture Planning and Marketing Corporation, Syed Rafiq Ahmed, Joint Director, Sonam Narboo, Chief Horticulture Officers of Jammu division, besides other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.

Bhalla said the state’s economy was primarily rural while horticulture and floriculture were major areas providing livelihood to the farmers and highlighted the significance of these sectors in the overall development of the state. He also exhorted upon the farmer community to come forward and take the benefits of centrally sponsored schemes available under Horticulture Mission launched in North East and Himalayan States (HMNH) for boosting horticulture production. He said under the scheme, government was giving adequate subsidy on purchase of new equipments and establishing new orchards in the state.

Bhalla said attention was required to be focused on the horticulture, floriculture and agriculture productions and its proper export to the terminal and satellite markets and ensure substantial returns to the farmers. He said the production and productivity of horticulture had shown remarkable increase during last four years. Appreciating the efforts of Horticulture Department for making new strides in strengthening the sector, he emphasised the need to increase the per unit productivity and ensure better returns to the growers for their produce.

Jammu, February 15
A delegation of the Durga Nagar Welfare Committee, Jammu, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan, here today and presented to him a memorandum of their demands. The demands presented by the seven-member delegation led by RL Raina, president of the committee, included installation of an electric transformer at Durga Nagar, setting up of a dispensary, construction of a public park and a building for the higher secondary school in the locality and representation of Kashmiri Pandits in the state council of ministers.

Other demands highlighted by the committee included opening of a J&K Bank Branch at Durga Nagar, enhancement of cash relief provided to the migrants, issuance of ration to the new APL ration card holders and increase in ration quota of migrant government employees, pensioners and relief holders and construction of bathrooms in the locality.

The delegation thanked the Governor for providing support for the construction of a community hall in Durga Nagar and for taking interest in their welfare.

The Governor gave them a patient hearing and said if land was available with the committee, support would be provided for the construction of bathrooms. He agreed to take up their other demands with the state government. Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, was present on the occasion.

Jammu, February 15
Minister of State for Power, Vikar Rasool, said power connections of the industrial units which pay their bills regularly and other such consumers would not be snapped.He said this during an interaction with the members of the Bari-Brahmana Industry Association led by Anil Suri here today. Vikar said the government was aware that the industrial sector was dependent on the power supply and all necessary logistic support needs to be provided to the sector.

The deputation members also raised the issue of rationalisation of consumer categories, snapping of power to the industrial units on account of non-payment of the outstanding bills, procurement of key material from local industrial units, R-APDRP scheme, power infrastructure improvement in industrial areas, disconnection notice issued to the industrial units etc. The minister also assured them their demands will be taken up. — TNS

Jammu, February 15
The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department would organise Jammu and Kashmir International Rafting Cup, 2013 on the river Chenab from February 22 to February 28.

District Development Commissioner (DDC), Doda, today convened a meeting of District and Section Officers to review the necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event.

Various arrangements were discussed in the meeting, including boarding and lodging of teams, their stay, security arrangements, uninterrupted power supply, deployment of rescue teams (divers) at the venue, maintenance of normal water level during the event, deployment of medical teams and ambulances, regulation of traffic, maintenance of sanctity of town, road and venue area.

DDC impressed upon the officers to put in place all the arrangements well in time for the smooth and successful conduct of the International event in the district and asked the officers to work in coordination.

DDC further said the event would go a long way in promoting tourism potential of the district. Others who attended the meeting included Additional Deputy Commissioner Doda, Anil Koul, CPO Doda, Dr Yassir Balwan, SSP Doda, Arif Rishu, SDM Bhaderwah, Dr RK Bharti, AD Tourism-Pahalgam Srinagar, Tariq Hussain besides Executive Officer Municipality Doda, Army Officers and District and Section Officers.

Jammu, February 15
Special Judge (Anti-Corruption CBI Cases), Jammu, BL Bhat today awarded one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on PN Koul, then Manager (Claims) DO Cell, LIC Jammu (UPS-1), Urmilla Devi and Param Satbir Singh, then Higher Grade Assistant, LIC Branch Office, Kathua, in a corruption case.

The accused persons entered into a criminal conspiracy and got an insurance policy issued from LIC Kathua in the name of a non-existing person Puran Singh. On November 25, 1999, a bogus insurance claim to the tune of Rs 1,02,530 was paid vide cheque in the name of Urmila Devi on the basis of fake death certificate and other documents attributed to Army Authority, that Puran Singh had died in a bomb blast on October 22, 1998. During the investigation it was found that proposal for insurance in the name of Singh was submitted by LIC Agent Swarn Singh. Particulars of the fictitious proposal mentioned accused Urmila Devi as nominee (mother) and insurance was proposed for Rs 50,000.

Jammu, February 15
The Post Graduate (PG) Department today proved their supremacy by clinching the overall championship in women section in the Inter-Collegiate Athletic Meet, which concluded at University of Jammu (JU) here. The department secured 63 points while Government College for Women (GCW), Parade and Government Degree College (GDC), Samba, had to be contended with second and third place with 33 and 19 points respectively.

In men section too, PG Department stamped their authority by emerging overall champions with a total of 68 points followed by GGM Science College and GDC, Samba with 41 and 18 points respectively. Neeru Manhas and Suchi Devi were adjudged the best athletes in women section. The meet was officiated by Nirmal Singh, Ravish Vaid, Gagan Kumar, Narinder, Gurvachan Singh and students of BPEd and MPEd.

Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included Prof Dhain S Bhau, Director, Physical Education, Dr Sonam Angchok, Assistant Director, Dr Brij Baloria, Romesh Sharma, Romesh Magotra, Jai Bharat and Raj Kumar.

Final Results: 100 mt (men): Sahil Singh (1st), Manoj Singh (2nd) and Amit Sharma (3rd).

200 mt: Kaushal Sharma (1st), Ankit Sharma (2nd) and Ankush Saini (3rd).

500 mt: Rakesh Kumar (1st), Vikas Saini (2nd) and Vijay Sharma (3rd).

High Jump: Rajan Kumar (1st), Aman Sambyal (2nd), Harshdeep Singh, Masood Ahmed and Sahil Singh Chib (3rd).

4x400 mt relay: Aman Sambyal, Jagdev Singh, Gautam Sharma and Vikesh Kumar (1st), Ayaz Ahmed, Rajan Kumar, Anil Kumar and Arun Sharma (2nd), Yasser Ayaz, Naresh Singh, Nandishwar Sharma and Ankit Sharma (3rd).

100 mt (women): Neeru Manhas (1st), Kamaljeet Kaur (2nd) and Pooja Sharma (3rd).

200 mt: Neeru Manhas (1st), Kamaljeet Kaur (2nd) and Pooja Sharma (3rd).

5000 mt: Suchi Devi (1st), Ekta Rani (2nd) and Bhavna Koul (3rd).

High Jump: Suman Lata (1st), Sagita Bhatt (2nd) and Shallu Bala (3rd).

4x100 mt relay: Monica Chalotra, Suman Lata, Kamaljeet Kaur and Mamta Sharma (1st), Shibali Bhau, Neeru Manhas, Pooja Sharma and Khatoon Bibi (2nd), Neetu, Pooja, Priya Koul and Jasvinder Kaur (3rd).