Jammu, April 9
Minister of State for Power (MoS), Vikar Rasool, today said the power crisis was likely to improve over the next few days as the temperature increase will feed rivers with fresh water from melting glaciers.

He admitted that the government did not have money to buy electricity from the Northern Grid. Decreased power generation by the state's own hydropower projects because of low water level in rivers was responsible for the crisis, he said.

Following a series of protests by people across the state due to erratic electricity supply, Rasool said the Power Development Department (PDD) had spent Rs 4,000 crore on power procurement during last fiscal, which had put a huge burden on state's resources.

"During the previous week power supply has been affected in some areas due to lower power availability from the generating units. The average power shortage is 250 MW. Major power projects at Dulhasti, Salal, Baghilar, Naptha Jakhri, Khailgao and Dadri are generating less power because of lower discharge of water," he said.

He said, “The government has taken a note of the situation and has arranged power from short-term purchase through other means like Un-requisitioned Supply (URs). This is expected to mitigate the problems to great extent.”

Maintaining that there was a huge demand for power, minister said during last four years there had been 33 per cent increase in power supply in terms of energy and more than 60 per cent increase in electricity purchase.

“During last year the department added 1.25 lakh new consumers, similarly it has regularised nearly 500 MW load. Very high AT&C losses coupled with cheapest tariff among the state in the country, constraints the ability of the department to buy more power to meet un- restricted demand of the people,” Power Minister said.

He claimed that while the department was making all out efforts to improve the power supply in the state, power deficit in the state was in the order of 35 per cent both interim and energy and power.

In recent weeks, protests have erupted in several areas of the state, especially in Kashmir Valley due to lack of power supply.

The government does not have money to buy electricity from the Northern Grid. Decreased power generation by the state’s own hydropower projects because of low water level in rivers is responsible for the crisis. The PDD spent Rs 4,000 crore on power procurement during last fiscal, which has put a huge burden on state’s resources. The average power shortage is 250 MW. Major power projects at Dulhasti, Salal, Baghilar, Naptha Jakhri, Khailgao and Dadri are generating less power because of lower discharge of water. the power crisis was likely to improve over the next few days as the temperature increase will feed rivers with fresh water from melting glaciers
— vikar rasool, Minister of State for Power 

Batote, April 9
Following death of a safety officer Sanjiv Prasad, 28, a native of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, work on the 9km-Chenani-Nashri (C-N) road tunnel was stopped again at both the portals-Nashri and Chenani Tunnel project today. Workers went on a lightening strike as soon as the news of Prasad’s death spread around noon.

He was reportedly buried under the huge rock debris that fell on him while he was inside the tunnel. Gasping Prasad succumbed to his injuries soon after reaching the hospital.

Following a violent clash between the two rival groups of the workers outside the casualty ward, the police were deployed in large number. His body was kept at the SKME hospital mortuary.

Workers flayed the management of the construction company-Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt Ltd- for poor safety measures.

They alleged that it was a tragedy as Prasad had already reported about this impending danger to geologist Shiv Kumar, who too cautioned tunnel engineer Mohd Salim Wani.

Reportedly, since the beginning of this project two workers have died in harness and more than 14 have been maimed due to injuries only at the Nashri end. A helper was electrocuted at Nashri on January 29 this year. The work on this project had remained suspended for a week from March 28 to April 4 due to strike of the workers.

Jammu, April 9
The Union Minister for Renewable Energy and the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today released a book on ‘Revival of the Silk Route: Growing Role of India’. The book has been written by Dr Mohammad Monir Alam of the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu.

This book focuses upon the Silk Route that refers to a series of trans-continental trade routes crossed Eurasia from first millennium BC and linked the people and traditions of Asia with those of Europe. These historic routes served as a major conduit for the transport of knowledge, information as well as material goods between the East and the West and resulted in the first global exchange of scientific and cultural traditions.

Dr Abdullah said when the Union Government had announced setting up of two universities in the state, everybody was worried about the fate of existing two old universities. But still both Central Universities were unable to cater to the students.

He said the growing positive tendencies and various efforts in the Eurasian region towards revival of the Silk Route had been strongly supported by India. After initiating steps to revive the ancient trade route, India was trying to follow the Silk Route as a metaphor of its economic and trade interests in Central Asia.

India had already took part in various infrastructure development projects in Iran and Afghanistan to tap the economic potentials of the Eurasian states as well as enormous hydrocarbon resources of the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea region.

MLA Dr Shaikh Mustafa Kamal; MLC Vijay Bakaya, HS Anand, Managing Director, Hotel Asia; president of the Forum, Jatinder Bakshi; and the Working resident JS Chouhan were present.

Jammu, April 9
The Centre has sanctioned four more tourism infrastructure development projects worth Rs 16.42 crore for the state. The projects are in addition to 20 projects worth Rs 97.37 crore sanctioned in the last financial year.

This was informed at a high level officers meeting of the Department of Tourism held under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, here today.

The projects include creation of tourist facilities in and around Aharbal at a cost of Rs 4.68 crore, construction of tourist facilitation centre at Hundar Turtuk at a cost of Rs 4.06 crore, development of premises of Hazratbal Khiram Shrine at Bijbehara at a cost of Rs 3.8 crore and developing tourist infrastructure around Wullar Lake by developing a tourist resort at Ningli Wier Haigam and wayside amenities at Nandkhai Kashmir at a cost of Rs 3.88 crore.

The Union Ministry of Tourism has also released Rs 39.79 crore for 35 ongoing tourism projects in the state as the second and third installment in March 2013. 

Jammu, April 9
Displaced Kashmiri Pandits today said the community should boycott the National Conference (NC), Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs for sabotaging the Shrines and Religious Places (Management and Regulation) Bill, which was referred to Select Committee (SC) by the government after introducing it in the Legislative Assembly (LA) on April 5.

At a joint press conference organised by more than a dozen Pandit organisations alleged that political parties were not interested in protecting the heritage of the Kashmiri Hindus and had succumbed to the pressures of some elements allegedly legitimising encroachment of lands belonging to the Hindu shrines and temples.

Representatives said despite assurances by MLAs cutting across party lines, most of them did not support the Bill. “Even Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, who had introduced it as private member Bill as the leader of the Opposition in 2006, did not say anything in its support,” said Dr RL Bhat, senior member, Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust.

Ashwani Chrungoo, who heads one of the factions of the Panun Kashmir alleged, “Our temples and shrines are being vandalised and glorious heritage of Kashmir is being destroyed systematically.”

Taken up for consideration after four years, the Bill was referred to the Select Committee to clear “flaws and lacunae” in the legislation. Pandits allege that the Bill had been dumped deliberately. First, it was not taken up to be passed for four years then it was taken up on the last day of the budget session in the Assembly today and referred to the Select Committee.

Members of the Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust (PNBM) have been pursuing the matter with the government and other institutions. “Since the eruption of militancy, 80 per cent of temples, shrines and holy springs had been damaged or encroached in the Valley, but the pressure of the land mafia has prevented the successive governments from tabling the Bill,” said Agnishekhar, head another faction of the Panun Kashmir (PK).

Jammu, April 9
Built by erstwhile ruler of state Maharaja Gulab Singh in the early 19th Century, devotees find it difficult to reach the historic Mohmaya temple for lack of transportation facility.

The temple is situated on the outskirts of Jammu city. There are no signboards to help devotees locate the temple easily.

Devotees allege negligence on part of the authorities towards the development of the temple. “It is imperative for the authorities to pay attention towards temples of historical importance. Special arrangements should be made for devotees throughout the year and especially during Navratras,” said Raman Sharma, a devotee.

“The temple lacks even basic facilities like electricity fitting, adequate water supply etc because of lack of initiative on part of the authorities,” he added.

Another devotee Suman said, “The administration should install lights on the road side to help devotees. Although the Mohmaya Temple Committee has made some efforts to develop the temple premises but without active support from the administration it is not possible to complete the project.”

“Though a permit has been allotted to the mini-bus operators for the said route but they do not show any interest to ply their vehicles on this route. Being a historic temple, the government should pay attention towards the renovation and decoration of the temple as it is the pride of Jammu,” she said.

“With no transport connectivity to this area, our business has been adversely affected. The administration should make all necessary arrangements for the devotees not only during Navratras but always,” Rattan Lal, a shopkeeper said.

It is said Maharaja Gulab Singh constructed the temple when he dreamt of god asking him to build a temple on the hills of Mohmaya.

Katra, April 9
Youth from the area are learning to dish out delicacies courtesy the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion at Sarh, a remote village in Mahore.

The battalion has launched a three-month course on hospitality management today.

Inaugurating the course, Commander Mahore Garrsion said tourism will be a major industry in the region. A large number of hotels had come up at Katra and Shiv Khori which were looking to recruit youth from this region, he said. He urged the youth to reap maximum benefit from this training to get placements in the hotel industry.

Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, Sarh, said five youths had started training as part of the first batch today. The number of seats would be increased, he said. The youths would be trained in cooking, steward skills, housekeeping and basic accountancy, he added.

Jammu, April 9
As the Department of Youth Services and Sports is all set to honour the medal winners of various disciplines in the recently concluded 58th National School Games, the fate of medal winners of the 57th edition of the coveted games is still uncertain, who are yet to receive the scholarships.

The players of Jammu district have managed to bag a decent haul of 37 medals, including 10 gold, 5 silver and 22 bronze in the coveted National School Games. Naveen Aggarwal, Director General, Youth Services and Sports would disburse scholarships among the top performers in a function to be held on the premises of the Youth Services and Sports office, Gandhi Nagar, tomorrow.

“The Director General, Youth Services and Sports, will disburse scholarships among the medal winners and all the arrangements have been put in place,” a sports department official said. When asked about the outcome of the efforts of the department to disburse scholarships among the medal winners of 57th National School Games, the official claimed that the government had categorically asked the department that it was not in a position to grant additional funds.

“The department has tried its level best to put forth its case before the government in a bid to ensure release additional grant for disbursing of scholarships among the meritorious sportspersons, but in vain,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. It is for the first time that additional grant has not been released by the authorities in favour of the DYSS which otherwise was released every year for providing scholarships to the sportspersons.

Sources said the DYSS had earlier assured the aggrieved sportspersons that their matter would be taken on priority basis with the state government to release an additional grant for disbursing scholarships but an inordinate delay to decide the fate had eventually infuriated the medal winners of the 57th National School Games.

As per the rule, the medalists (outstanding sportspersons) will get a scholarship of Rs 10,000 while the participants in various competitions will get a scholarship worth Rs 1,750. 

Jammu, April 9
The Jammu Private Schools and ETT Institutes Association said the recent exposures related to alleged leakage of question papers and smuggling of answer sheets had created many doubts among the students concerned and their parents.

The association claimed that the culprits identified by the police were either government teachers or the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) employees, who were recruited against handsome salaries.

The association had requested the leaders of the employees unions to publicly condemn such acts and to disassociate such elements from their membership.

While claiming the credit of raising voice for the needed amendments in the existing JK Board Act 1975, members of the association were of the view that it should be the prime duty of the sitting legislatures, including the ministers to go for a broad base exercise for such amendments. The association also expressed its dissatisfaction over the casual work done so for by the School Education Ministry of the state related to the required amendments.

It appealed to the Chief Minister and other legislatures for taking fresh initiatives to give due consideration to the suggestions of Tarigami given during the recently concluded budget session.

Jammu, April 9
The Water Works (PHE) Employees Association today held a protest demonstration at PHE Complex, BC Road. The demonstration was held under the leadership of provincial president Shiv Kumar Sharma wherein the employees raised anti-administration slogans, besides warning them against the alleged anti-worker policies.

While addressing the gathering, Sharma had advised the administration to look after the property of the department. He alleged that the authorities concerned had opted for only temporary arrangements.

He said instead of full-fledged repairs of the rooms, authorities were interested in white wash only. Shiv Kumar Sharma said the fate of genuine representations of the daily wagers was uncertain in most of the cases. He condemned the policy of engaging daily-rated workers in bulk, saying that the payment of already engaged workers was pending from six to 24 months.

Sharma stressed upon the authorities to redress the problems of PHE workers immediately and appealed to the government to withdraw the recently issued order regarding discontinuation of daily wagers. 

Jammu, April 9
The Minister of State for Tourism, Home, Industries and Commerce, Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, yesterday said all possible means would be put in place to tap the pilgrim tourism potential of Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhya Yatra. He said an integrated pilgrim tourism development plan will soon be formulated, envisaging short and long term measures for this purpose.

The minister was chairing a joint meeting of the Tourism Department functionaries and the representatives of the Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhya Yatra Management Committee. The meeting was convened today to review arrangements for a week long Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhya Yatra commencing from July 12.

Kichloo asked the Commissioner/Secretary Tourism, Atul Dulloo, to send a team of experts to assess the requirements to facilitate the devotees and showcase the place as a pilgrim tourist destination. Pointing out that the area lacked road connectivity from Dong Dhuroo to Dachhan, he said development of the area was the need of the hour as many pilgrims from outside the district and the state were visiting these shrines.

The minister said Jammu and Kashmir offered a variety of tourist and pilgrim tourism potential. The state is rich in leisure and adventure tourism, including snow skiing, river rafting and winter sports.

He added that Kishtwar and Doda districts have many pilgrim destinations which are witnessing increasing rush of devotees with every passing year. The minister said tapping of pilgrim tourism would be brought under the focus in future planning and development process.

Briefing about the salient tourism and religious features of the yatra, the president, Shri Hudh Mata Trisandhya Yatra, TC Thakur, said the bhawan was located at a height of about 8,500 feet from the sea level, near the famous Brahama peak in Anant Nallah village of Dachhan, Marwah in Kishtwar district.

Thakur said the yatra would start from Radha Krishan Mandir, Sounder, Dacchan, with night halts at Virat Mata Mandir at Dilgoot, Goukoot and Kaikoot and reach the bhawan on July 18.

Rajouri, April 9
Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan, yesterday directed executing agencies to ensure time-bound completion of core sector projects taken up in the Rajouri district to upgrade the basic amenities. During his extensive tour of the district, the minister took stock of problems of the people. He also inspected the progress on Patarora-Gambair Muglan, Gambair Muglan to Htansari and Gambair Muglan to Baroote roads.

The minister was apprised that these road projects were being constructed at a cumulative cost of Rs 13.84 crore under the PMGSY and after completion would provide road connectivity to over 20,000 people of the border areas. The minister instructed the concerned engineers to redouble their efforts and accelerate the pace on the on-going projects to ensure time-bound completion and utilisation of quality material. During the tour, the minister conducted “Public Darbar” at Gambair Muglan and listened to problems of the people and their developmental needs. He issued on-the-spot instructions to the concerned officials for mitigating genuine problems and developmental needs of the people well in time.

He instructed the officials to conduct frequent visits to remote and border areas for timely redressal of needs of the people besides close monitoring of the developmental projects. He also asked the officials to ensure that the deserving people benefitted from the welfare schemes.

The minister said the government was committed to develop hilly and remote areas at par with urban areas. In this regard several innovative measures are already underway. He informed that the power infrastructure in the area would be upgraded and for the purpose DPRs of Rs 1.10 crore have already been formulated under Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP). He said the government was also considering establishment of more health centres in the state this year with special focus on the hilly and remote areas.

The minister during his visit addressed series of public meetings in the area. He called upon people to take full benefits of government launched welfare schemes and flagship programmes for their socio-economic transformation.

Jammu, April 9
The National Panthers Students Union (NPSU) today alleged that the state government was trying to privatise the education system.

NPSU state president Partap Singh Jamwal, while briefing the media today, said the coaching centres in Jammu were charging a high amount as its coaching fees.

Partap Singh Jamwal alleged that these coaching centres were unauthorised and the fee and faculty system were flouting norms and conditions.

He said as per the Article 370, no outsider was allowed to open any business in the state, but some of the coaching centres were run by outsiders. He alleged that the state government had failed to keep a check on these coaching centres.

The NPSU demanded that the government should frame a policy for establishing better education system in government schools. 

Jammu, April 9
Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone today directed the Public Works Department to immediately start work on the Chak-Balwal road leading to the Government College for Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu.

Chairing a meeting to review facilities available for the students at the GCET, Lone directed the Transport Department to conduct survey and ply SRTC buses on the routes leading to the college for convenience of the students.

Detailed deliberations were also held on augmentation of the BSNL services with the minister directing the BSNL general manager to ensure better internet, mobile and other services in the area by installing additional towers.

The minister asked the Chief Engineer, R&B, to start work on the road to avoid further inconvenience to the students of the college.

The meeting also decided to get e-portal computer connection for the college, besides discussing the proposed SRO to extend the 6th Pay Commission.

The minister directed the Higher Education authorities to prepare comprehensive re-organisation proposal so that the teaching and non-teaching staff of the college gets promotional benefits due to them.

Jammu, April 9
The Kalamkari Centre Society (KCS) College of Education (Women) organised an alumni meet on the college premises here today.

The programme was commenced with the welcome note by Dr Bharti Punj. She presented the progress report of the college wherein she informed that more than 90 percent alumni of MEd have been well placed in the government as well as private sector.

She said from the BEd alumni, 66 per cent have secured good jobs and some of them had gone for higher studies. Chairperson of the college, P Chaudhri motivated the students to excel in the field. Alumni Radhika Salathia and Yasmine shared their experiences regarding their stay in the college. — TNS

Jammu, April 9
The History Department registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the Sanskrit Department in the ongoing Inter-Department Cricket Tournament being played at University of Jammu grounds here today.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Sanskrit Department accumulated 105 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Benory and Nitesh scored 30 and 26 runs, respectively while Parshotam and Vikram contributed 14 and 10 runs, respectively.

For the Sanskrit Department, Moiz and Majid chipped in with two wickets apiece while Waqar and Prince scalped a wicket each. Chasing 106 runs to win, the History Department did the needful in 12.4 overs losing just two wickets in the process. Waqar and Bilal scored 47 and 26 runs, respectively. For the Sanskrit Department, Vikram took one wicket. — TNS