Jammu, February 23
A heavy rain today disrupted normal life in the winter capital city. Jammu city received 40 mm rain in the last 24 hours.

Several roads were flooded with water leading to traffic snarls. Water level in the Tawi also increased thus forcing the Flood Control Department to monitor the situation.

The weather department said the city received 40 mm rainfall with minimum temperature plummeting to 9.8 degree Celsius while the maximum temperature was recorded at 15 degree Celcius.

The rainfall that continued overnight clogged many roads in the city leading to traffic chaos during the morning rush hours.

The damaged roads further compounded the problems as vehicles were caught in mud.

The rainfall also exposed the poor planning of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and other agencies as drains were overflowing in many localities since garbage had blocked many of them.

There was total chaos on the Janipur Bus Stand road, Canal road in Bohri and Dogra Chowk as waterlogging slowed down the traffic.

The dug up roads at various places created problems for the two wheelers as they found it difficult to drive through many parts of the city. Chaos was also seen at the General Bus stand, Gumat, Chand Nagar, Vinayak Bazar and other surrounding areas.

Vicky Sharma, a resident of Janipur said, “For the last one year, roads here have been dug up. Due to continuous rain since last night, the place has become a water pool.”

Aakshi Arora, a resident of Patoli said, “The dug up roads at various places have created problem for the two wheelers as it is difficult to drive through many parts of the city.”

Rajouri, February 23
The police has busted a fake recruitment gang in the border district.

Reports said the accused also used to issue fake licences and stamps.

The police has arrested Sheraz Ahmed of Saote in Mendhar.

Acting on a tip-off, a police a party from Rajouri arrested Sehraz and recovered bogus stamps, licences, fake recruitment orders and many other vital papers from his procession.

The police has lodged a case against him under relevant sections and started the investigations.

SHO Varidener Gupta said, "We are still investigating the case. We have recovered some vital documents, including ARTO stamps and other fake recruitment orders." — OC

Rajouri, February 22
Two engineering students of the Baba Gulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) University have been booked for ragging two junior students of their hostel last evening. The police has arrested one of them while another fled.

Reports said two junior students of the Engineering and Technology department of BGSBU, Tahir Mohi-ud-Din and Shaheb Nawaz in their written complaint to the police said two senior students called them to an isolated place and started ragging them. The accused students, Sahil Meraz and Sehrab Shokat, have been booked under Section 4 of the Prohibition of Ragging Act-2011.

Sources said the junior and senior students had a fight while playing cricket match in front of university campus over some issue which took an ugly turn.

The senior students reportedly misbehaved with the security in-charged of the varsity Mir Hussain and manhandled him when he tried to pacify the warring groups.

On the complaint of the security in-charge, Sahil was also booked under Section 353 RPC for obstructing him from performing his duty.

Rajouri SHO Varinder Gupta said, “Sahil was also arrested by the police while Sehrab is untraced. The police has launched a manhunt to nab him.”

When reached for a comment on phone, Vice-Chancellor of the university IA Hamal said, “I am out of the station and have no details about the incident. I will talk to the University Registrar.”

University Registrar Rashid Choudhary said, “I have talked to the principal of the Engineering College. You may ask him for details.”

Several calls to the principal of the Engineering College Asgar remain unanswered.

Reports suggest that BTech students have been creating trouble for some time. Some of them were allegedly involved in hacking the password of the heads of the departments of the varsity few months back. Some students were also involved in raising anti-India slogans when Pakistan had entered the semifinals of the T-20 World Cup.

Jammu, February 23
The Crime Branch, Jammu, has registered a criminal case against some people, including officials of the Revenue Department for hatching a criminal conspiracy and preparing fake permanent resident certificate (PRC).

One of the key accused has been identified as Bua Ditta, a resident of Mehlowal village in RS Pura.

A Crime Branch spokesperson said they received a complaint by the J&K State Subject Inquiry Commission alleging therein that Bua Ditta was not a bonafide resident of J&K and he had managed a PRC by resorting to fraudulent means.

After receiving the complaint, an inquiry was initiated by the commission. During probe, Bua Ditta produced a photocopy of PRC before the commission which on verification was found to be fake as there was no such file that had been issued in the records.

It was also found that the State Subject under the given serial number was issued in favour of Des Raj, a resident of Majka Uttam in RS Pura.

The commission finally held that Bua Ditta had tried to mislead it by producing a fake State Subject Certificate to prove that he was a bonafide resident of the state. It has recommended registration of a criminal case.

It was also found that Bua Ditta in connivance with officials of the Revenue Department got prepared fake PRC and produced its photocopy before the State Subject Inquiry Commission.

Investigations are on in the case.

Jammu, February 23
The Jammu Private Schools and ETT Institutes Association (Progressive) said the silence of the police authorities over the alleged involvement of the top officials of J&K State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) in helping the former School Education Minister’s son adopt unfair means was encouraging the violators.

The association said the police had failed in exposing the nexus behind the two-year-old ETT and Class XII paper leakage scam.

The association today held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president Deep Singh to discuss the recent question paper leakage of Class VIII in Poonch district. The association had termed this development as unfortunate and an outcome of the alleged suspicious approach of the coalition government, it said, was responsible for repeated incidents of question paper leakage.

Deep Singh said the state government had failed in punishing the culprits in JKBOSE’s ETT and Class XII question paper leakage scam two years back.

It said in the meeting that on the one hand, the JK board had denied any paper leakage, while on the other, the Jammu police informed that “investigations were complete and challan was ready to produce before the court of law”. The association claimed that there was no further information about any challan so far. — TNS

Rajouri, February 23
Gold and silver ornaments worth lakhs of rupees were stolen from a temple in the old Rajouri city in this border district last night.

Reports said the theft came to light around 9.30 am today when temple priest Krishan Lal came to perform the daily worship rituals. He noticed some changes in the idol of the two deities and it aroused suspicion in his mind. He found that the idols had been robbed of the gold and silver jewellery on them. — OC

Jammu, February 23
The J&K State Sports Council is likely to follow suit after the Sports Ministry issued a fresh deadline to all national sports federations- which have not amended their constitution in accordance with the sports code- to make their position clear by February 28.

Failing this, the government recognition of these federations may stand cancelled.

Sources said the Sports Council had asked all the affiliated associations that the letter it had received from the Union Sports Ministry to adopt the age and tenure provisions of the sports code may be treated immediately and a reply in this regard must be sent soon.

“Like all national sports federations, state sports bodies are also advised that continuation of their recognition by the state government may be impacted if already agreed amendments are not carried out,” sources in the Sports Council said.

“So far, none of the recognised 48 affiliated sports associations in the Sports Council have responded positively to the letter for amending the constitution, incorporating the guidelines relating to age and tenure limits. If the associations fail to respond within stipulated time, the council is likely to issue a fresh letter to all the sports associations to make the required changes to their constitution,” sources added.

“The Union Sports Ministry may have initiated the process to tighten the noose around sports federations across the country because of their ill-functioning but the Sports Council has repeatedly stressed upon the need for bringing necessary changes in the constitution of sports bodies to bring transparency in their functioning,” sources said.

MS Baba, chief sports officer, Sports Council, said, “The Sports Council has received an important communication from the Union Sports Ministry and we have informed all the associations.”

“The new guidelines of the Sports Ministry, if implemented properly, will be of immense help in not only streamlining the functioning but also making the associations more accountable,” MS Baba maintained.

“Though these sports federations may agree to bring necessary amendments in their constitution, it is not binding on the affiliated sports bodies in J&K,” the chief sports officer claimed.

Jammu, February 23
Expressing concern over insufficient infrastructure and lack of facilities at the Jammu Railway Station, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, (CCIJ) today shot a letter to the Union Railway Minister demanding that work on double-laning and immediate electrification of railway track between Jammu to Jalandhar be expedited.

The CCIJ also demanded for creation of new railway division at Jammu on the pattern of Ferozpur and developing Jammu Railway Station as a model station.

In a meeting of office bearers and senior members held under the chairmanship of CCIJ president YV Sharma, the participants discussed various issues relating to augmentation of railway services in the state.

Participants pointed out that Jammu was one of the most important railway stations as more than 1.5 crore commuters were visiting the state through railways.

“The state has a single road entry point and after the completion of rail link from Jammu-Srinagar-Baramulla, Jammu is going to be a rail junction but the infrastructure here is not sufficient as the present Railway Station was build some 40 years ago with two platforms and no up gradation in the infrastructure has been made since then,” they said.

They unanimously decided to send a representation to the Union Railway Minister to apprise him of the factual position and various demands of traders and business community relating to railway services.

The demands included starting up of direct trains between Jammu to Bangalore and Jammu to Chandigarh and vice-versa, provision of two new shatabadi trains from Jammu to Delhi, two more trains on Mumbai route and one train for Ahmedabad to Jaipur, setting up of rail coach factory and rail engine workshop in between Jammu-Kathua to provide employment opportunities to youth of the Jammu region, provision of second entrance to the railway station to manage the rush of the passengers, separate rail line from Jammu to Katra to decongest the Jammu-Udhampur rail link and new rail line from Udhampur to Pull Doda, construction of Foot over Bridge (FOB) from platform number three to circulation area and introduction of trolley system on the pattern of airport for the benefit of the passengers and setting up of rail bridge factory and institute for tunnel and bridge engineering at Jammu as announced in the Budget Speech of 2011, but no action had been initiated till date.

Among the others present in the meeting were Sham Lal Langer, senior vice-president CCI, Anil Gupta, junior vice-president CCI, Arun Gupta, secretary general, CCI, Deepak Aggarwal, secretary CCI and Bharat Bhushan Gupta, treasurer, CCI.

• Creation of new railway division at Jammu
• Develop Jammu Railway Station as a model station
• Direct trains between Jammu to Bangalore and Jammu to Chandigarh
• Provision of two new shatabadi trains from Jammu to Delhi
• Set up rail coach factory and rail engine workshop in between Jammu-Kathua to provide employment opportunities

Katra, February 23
Incessant rains over the past two days has brought life to a virtual standstill, causing widespread damage to roads in the remote areas of Reasi.

Heavy rain at many places caused damage to public and private property and cultivable land.

Heavy rains in Katra affected traffic on the link roads connecting Katra-Udhampur, Domail-Katra, Pouni-Reasi, Mahore-Reasi and Katra-Reasi, as several small bridges were washed away in flash floods.

Massive landslides at Dhaman, Maliyai Krud, situated on the Mahore-Reasi road, resulted in traffic jams lasting more than twelve hours.

Landslides triggered by downpour caused extensive damage to roads at several places in Mahore sub-division, where long traffic jams were witnessed.

The stretch from Sulla park to Simbla Chowa on the Karta-Reasi road was also affected by landslides.

Officials said bulldozers and JCB machines had been pressed into service in landslide-prone areas.

Jammu, February 23
Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani today said the Union Government has approved revision of its core network to include as many as 1,100 left out unconnected habitations with population of 250 persons and above in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

“This is highly significant for our state,” Wani said adding that he had recently taken up the matter with Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and conveyed the urgency and immediate need for revision and extending the scheme to cover left out habitations especially in hilly areas of the state.

“We appreciate the support the Union Government is providing to the coalition government-led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in its endeavour to improve the living standard of the people,” he said, maintaining that with this approval our vision for providing all weather road connectivity to both rural and remote inaccessible hilly areas will receive a significant boost. It will also support our resolve for rapid improvement in road connectivity percentage especially in those districts which have lower road connectivity, he said.

“We are also approaching and keeping constant touch with the Union Ministry of Rural Development for its approval for covering unconnected habitations with population of 100 persons and above in Jammu and Kashmir and we are hopeful of receiving the nod in this regard as well,” Wani informed.

Meanwhile, the minister said the state government had also conveyed approval to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for conducting further geo-technical investigations along the Batote-Doda road and prefeasibility study for construction of proposed Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Goha-Khellani alternate road to Doda district.

Jammu, February 23
The Citizen’s Forum (CF), a local body of senior citizens, have urged the state government to speed up the Chenab water lift project to meet the drinking water needs of the city population.

It has welcomed the proposed project of supplying drinking water to the city from the Chenab, costing Rs 794 crore. Forum president RK Chadha said the water supply from the Chenab to meet the acute water shortage had been the dream project, suggested by forum as back as in 1994.

“The project envisaged construction of canal from the Chenab bank, upto a high level near Roop Nagar and setting up a filtration plant to supply water to the city through gravity,” Chadha said.

However, they have raised a question mark over the project approved by the government which envisages taking water from Ranbir Canal and setting up a filtration plant at Muthi and from their to supply water, which is at higher level, through lift system.

“This will be much more costly and will also need regular recurring expenditure to lift the water from lower level to high level and in case of failure of electric power, it will create problems,” Chadha said.

He has proposed that the authorities should stick to the old project of constructing a canal and supplying water from higher level to the lower level in the city through gravity. It will incur cost only for once and will hardly need recurring cost.

Jammu, February 23
Agri technocrats, engaged under Rehbar-e-Ziarat (ReZ) scheme, today demanded review of the Cabinet decision, which has approved their regularisation in the Agriculture Department. They alleged the government has befooled them.

They have also decided to reschedule their rally on February 25 keeping in view the prevailing weather in the state.

Jammu and Kashmir Agricultural Technocrat Association (JKTA) president Dr Surinder Radotra said seniority should be considered on the years of passing of the ReZ rather than the merit as many of those engaged had been working since 1999 and they would be left out in the process.

“The Cabinet has considered merit-wise selection of the candidates, but it will leave many people behind, despite the fact that they have given more than a decade to the department,” Dr Radotra said.

He further alleged that every time when honorarium is released, the technocrats have to provide declaration certificate from the Court (Bond paper) to their respective officers which should stop as it is very humiliating for them.

After a six-month long agitation in 2011, the state government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather to prepare a comprehensive proposal for absorption of unemployed agriculture technocrats, which was later cleared by the Finance Department, Planning Department and then by the Cabinet on August 4, 2011.

Batote, February 22
In a spree of inaugurations MLA, Ramban, Ashok Kumar, today commissioned 25KVA transformers under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGY), at four remote and backward villages of his constituency which falls in Doda district.

During the first leg of his three-day rigorous trekking tour of six panchayats situated in difficult hilly terrain, Ashok accompanied by the Incharge Block president, Congress (INC) of Dessa and Kastigarh Blocks, Abdul Gani Bhat, sarpanch, upper Munddhar, commissioned a 25KVA transformer each at Draman, Julhant, Seena and Gurmul of Kastigarh, lower and upper Munddhar and Dhandal panchayats, respectively.

These villages have been provided the electricity under the Central government’s nationwide flagship programme of the RGGY at a cost of Rs 10 lakh each that includes the cost of the transformers, poles, wires with earthing facility.

While addressing the villagers at these places, Ashok credited ex Chief Minister, J&K and Union Health Minister, GN Azad, who had got these projects sanctioned from the Union Government under the RGGY. Villagers expressed their gratitude to Azad, PM, Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Srinagar, February 23
Kashmir University is likely to upgrade its Post Graduate Diploma course in Disaster Management to a two-year Masters Degree course in Disaster Management soon.

This was conveyed by Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad while responding to a query at a seminar-cum-workshop on ‘Application of Remote Sensing, Global Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in Resource Management’ organised by the PG Department of Geography and Regional Development, University of Kashmir, varsity campus today.

“We are working on those lines and the present Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management offered by the department will be upgraded to a full-fledged Masters Degree very soon.” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Prof Ahmad highlighted the importance of the GIS, GPS and remote sensing in understanding earth system dynamics like mapping, monitoring and management of various resources, including glaciers, forests, soil and water. He urged the scholars, academicians and researchers from various degree colleges to come forward and avail the opportunities offered by the university in areas of research.

Earlier in his welcome address, TA Kanth, workshop coordinator from the Dept of Geography, said the department had set up a state of the art Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory equipped with about 50 computer systems and related accessories.

“The laboratory has been established with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under their DST-FIST Support Programme,” he said. — TNS