Jammu, May 8
With the bi-annual shifting of the Civil Secretariat and government departments to Srinagar, indiscriminate digging has come back to haunt the city. The National Building Construction Company (NBCC) has resumed excavation of the ever-busy Indira Chowk-Gumat road to lay sewer lines.

Traffic snarls have become a routine on the stretch subjecting commuters to great hardships. The traffic authorities, however, have also restricted the two-way entry on the road by diverting vehicles coming from Jewel area towards the bus stand to avoid traffic congestion.

While residents have raised fingers on the "intention" of the executing agencies, experts believe that the pipes being used for sewer lines were faulty and the matter needs to be looked into by the state administration.

“What prompted the executing agency to dig out roads to lay sewer lines immediately after shifting of the Civil Secretariat to Srinagar needs to be answered by the administration. They (executing agencies) didn't undertake digging work for more than six months just to keep VVIPs and political bosses in good humour. It reflects that they are least bothered about the miseries of the common man," Satish Kumar, a commuter on Indira Chowk-Gumat road said.

Former Mayor Narinder Singh Jamwal has also questioned the credibility of the executing agency. “They have kept the citizens on tenterhooks. Why didn't they undertake work after the shifting of the Civil Secretariat to Jammu? They have been undertaking digging work on a pick and choose basis and according to the convenience of their and their political bosses. They are least bothered about the comfort and convenience of a common man for whom these projects were sanctioned by the central government.” He also blamed the executing agencies and the administration for faulty planning vis-à-vis undertaking digging to lay sewer lines. “The project to lay sewer lines was started in 2006-07 but has not been completed so far. Leave aside the main sewer lines, they (executing agencies) are yet to lay pipes in narrow lanes and by-lanes of the city. And the damaged roads remain without repairs sometimes resulting in fatal accidents," Jamwal said. A civil engineer claimed that faulty pipes were being used for sewer lines. “The pipes being used for the main sewer lines on the stretch are of poor quality as these are of short diameter. Such pipes will get choked in the wake of growing population of the city in near future," the engineer said. KL Khajuria, JMC Commissioner did not respond to repeated phone calls. No NBCC official was available for comments.

Why didn't they undertake work after the shifting of the Civil Secretariat to Jammu? They have been undertaking digging work on a pick and choose basis and according to the convenience of their political bosses. The project started in 2006-07 but has not been completed so far. Leave aside the main sewer lines, they (executing agencies) are yet to lay pipes in narrow lanes and by-lanes of the city. Damaged roads result in fatal accidents
— Narinder Singh Jamwal, ex-mayor

The pipes being used for the main sewer lines on the stretch are of poor quality as these are of short diameter. Such pipes will get choked in the wake of growing population of the city in near future
— civil engineer

Poonch, May 8
Inordinate delay by the Roads and Buildings Department in the completion of various developmental projects across the district has put a question mark over its functioning.

Many projects, including the construction of bridges in Poonch district besides construction of mini-secretariat are yet to be completed despite having missed several deadlines.

The work on the prestigious Chajjla Bridge started with the laying of the foundation stone by the then MOS for R&B Javaid Ahmed Dar on December 26, 2011, but the department failed to continue work on the project. The bridge on the stream was scheduled to be completed within a year. The delay on the construction work of the bridge has irked the residents of the villages across Mendher River in Chajjla village.

The villagers criticise the R&B Department and demand early start of the construction work on the bridge.

The locals also accuse the Roads and Buildings department of being hand-in-glove with some unscrupulous contractors.

"Without a bridge over the river, more than 30,000 people living in the villages across the river have to face many hardships especially during monsoon. Heavy flow of water in the river some times leads to loss of life or serious injuries to the villagers," a resident said.

Three persons lost their lives while crossing the river besides many animals have also drowned, he said.

"The most sufferers are patients, women and students who have to cross the river and some times fall in the river, which leads to injuries," said Mohd Sharif. Shabnam Bano, 72, lamented, "I will die crossing the river, but the work on the bridge will not start."

Batote, May 8
The police claims to have solved a blind murder case with the arrest of Rafiqa Begum, 30, and her alleged paramour Niyamatullah, 22, for allegedly killing Abdul Latief Mir, 37, at Bhagwa in Doda today. The victim was murdered at Gadan Bhagwa village in Doda on May 7.

The police said the accused were arrested under Section 302 at Bhagwa after the postmortem examination of the deceased. The police claimed that the accused confessed to the crime during interrogation. The police claimed Rafiqa gave her husband sleeping pills and Niyamatullah strangulated him with her dupatta in the wee hours. The police has recovered the dupatta.

Jammu, May 8
The police today claimed to have solved a theft case with the arrest of Shiv Kumar, a native of Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

The theft took place at Shiv Studio, Bari-Brahmana. The items recovered include, a computer, CPU, scanner, printer, UPS, keyboard, digital camera, video camera, two mobile phones, a mobile repairing machine and other accessories.

Jammu, May 8
On the World Asthma Day, Rashmi Hooda, president, Army Wives Welfare Association, White Knight Corps, paid a visit to the 166 Military Hospital at Satwari today and interacted with asthmatic children and their parents. She was accompanied by Brig Pawan Kapoor, Brig Medical, White Knight Corps.

Sushma Harjai, convener of Family Welfare Organisation, 166 Military Hospital, and Brigadier Man Mohan Harjai, Commandant of the Hospital, welcomed her.

Col Shashi Bhushan and Major Badal, both renowned paediatricians, briefed her on various uses of asthma care related medical equipments.

She met children suffering from asthma and enquired about their wellbeing. The annual event is organised to create awareness about asthma and its care. The theme of the day was, ‘It’s time to control your asthma’. Information on bronchial asthma was provided to the target audience, patients and parents of affected children by way of parent friendly asthma diary.

The patients were evaluated with advanced tests i.e. pulmonary function test and were offered free consultation by specialists. Commandant of the Hospital, Brig Harjai, said 30 crore people across the world were victims of asthma and the cases of acute asthma were increasing day by day due to increasing air pollution due to uncontrolled emission from various sectors and continuous endless construction work across the country.

He also stressed that many patients, once they feel better, stop treatment after a few weeks but this could prove dangerous since it could aggravate the disease and precipitate an acute attack. Proper medication can control asthma, but in India it was found that compliance to asthma medication was very poor and tend to falter after a few months among both children and adults. He said the rate of non-adherence had been estimated to be 50%. This hospital was running a weekly asthma clinic on Wednesdays at the Paediatric OPD and providing comprehensive care, including monitoring of lung functions and motivating children for appropriate use of asthma devices.

A poster making competition was also organised by the Military Hospital today. Rashmi Hooda adjudged the competition and distributed prizes for the best three posters.

Presentations and demonstration of various asthma devices and their correct use were displayed. The exhibition stall catered to perform pulmonary function tests (Spirometry). Various posters on the theme of World Asthma Day were displayed by the Station Health Organisation.

The function was anchored by Maj Deepti.

Poonch, May 8
A project worth Rs 3 crore has been sent to the Centre for approval under the NABARD in social forestry sector for the creation of infrastructure and afforestation. While Rs. 110 crore have been spent on the completion of 32 road projects under the PMGSY, Rs 42 lakh are being incurred under different programmes in Poonch district.

The information was given to Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad during his two-day tour to the district.

Various deputations from a number of villages called on the minister and apprised him of their development needs. Ahmad instructed the engineers to take concrete steps and ensure that road projects taken up under the PMGSY were completed early, besides macadamising and repair of damaged roads in the district. He said roads leading to hilly and remote areas needed to be repaired on priority.

Jammu, May 8
The Gujjar unit of Hope Charities, an NGO, has appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and normalcy in view of the tourist season and Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir valley.

A meeting of the Gujjar unit of the organisation was held here yesterday under the chairmanship of senior Congress leader Naseem Chaudhary and member state advisory board for Gujjars and Bakerwals.

Community members from Kathua, Samba and Jammu district laid stress on peace, prosperity and brotherhood in the state.

The meeting appealed to the civil society and other concerned sections of the people in Kashmir over spurious drug scams to desist from giving strike calls and holding demonstrations, which have the potential to vitiate the atmosphere and peace.

Any such disturbance can lead to untoward situation, scaring away the tourists and adversely affecting the Amarnath Yatra, which in turn will hit the economy of the state. 

Rajouri, May 8
The Army has taken a unique initiative in rural areas of Kalakote in Rajouri district against the menace of copying in local schools with the help of local artistes and their stage plays to spread awareness among people.

Even though a lot of initiatives are being taken by various agencies, the results are not visible as yet. Sensing the need, the Army, in one of its noble initiative towards public awareness, encouraged local artistes of Kalakote to form a street play group named ‘Jan Jagaran Manch’.

The quest continued relentlessly. In the short journey, many members joined and many left. However, with the patience and determination shown by Lucky Sharma, leader of the group, who works as a teacher in Government Girls High School, Kalakote, the group staged its inaugural performance in public on April 30 at a veterans rally organised by the Army at the Kalakote stadium in front of a large audience besides dignitaries like the GOC, White Knight Corps, MLA Kalakote and DC Rajouri.

The group is also thinking of performing on themes like alcoholism, drugs abuse, self-employment, girl education, environment and hygiene.

The members of the group and the Army officials supporting it have expressed hope that in coming days, more and more people will add to the caravan of social reform.

Jammu, May 8
The newly appointed Director General of the Youth Services and Sports Naveen Aggarwal has exhorted the officials to focus on strengthening the sports infrastructure and tapping the hidden potential of youngsters by conducting competitions at zonal, district and state level.

Sources in the Sports Department said the Director General had also asked the officials concerned of their respective districts to achieve the targets under the centrally sponsored scheme Panchayat Yuva Khel Aur Krida Abhiyan (PYKKA).

Pertinently, the PYKKA scheme is based on 90.10 per cent share basis between the Centre and state government to be completed in 10 years. However, there is a special concession for border and hilly states, including Jammu and Kashmir where the scheme can be completed in only five years.

The sources said since taking over the reins of the department, Aggarwal had convened crucial meetings with the officials concerned and emphasised the need to maintain a close coordination at all levels in order to ensure equitable uplift of sports both in urban and rural areas.

“The Director General is very keen on improving the overall standard of sports and that is why he is chairing meetings on regular intervals to know about the status of initiatives being taken by him in this context,” said a DYSS official.

The sources claimed that the PYKKA scheme was launched in the state in 2008 with much fanfare, but the department had allegedly failed to implement it in letter and spirit. “Keeping this in mind, the department has issued clear cut instructions to its officials that they cannot afford to be complacent in future because if the state fails to miss the deadline, it is likely that the department might not be able to avail the benefit of other new sports schemes to be launch by the Union Sports Ministry this year,” said the sources.

The sources said it was mandatory for the DYSS to make optimum utilisation of the scheme before its term expires in 2017. Under this scheme, more than 4,000 panchayats have to be covered.

As per the data available, funds under the Central share to the tune of Rs 475. 98 lakh were received during 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 against the approved action plan of Rs 531.72 lakh by the Government of India for 2008-2009. All panchayats are being provided on time seed capital grant at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per panchyat and Rs 5 lakh per block panchyat for development of playfields. 

Jammu, May 8
Criticising the government for its failure to provide relief to people of the Chenab valley after the recent earthquake, state president of the Samajwadi Party Sheikh Abdul Rehman has asked the government to provide relief to the people on the pattern of Uri and Tangdhar.

Rehman, accompanied by SP state president of the women’s wing Amrit Warsha, yesterday visited the earthquake-affected areas of Bhaderwah and interacted with people.

He assured the people that their cases would be put forth in front of the government.

“People of Bhaderwah are facing hardships due to non-availability of relief and failure of authorities to start proper rehabilitation. The government is not concerned about the problems of the people and the Chief Minister has been giving a step-motherly treatment to this area without any reason,” Rehman told mediapersons.

He said a large number of houses had been affected in the quake and were unsafe for living. “But government is unmoved by such devastation and no step has been taken to provide shelters to the affected people,” he stated.

The SP leader also addressed a public meeting at Dak Bunglow Bhaderwah where he demanded hill development council status for Doda district.

“When no one is accepting us as a part of the state, it is better to get the hill development council status, so that we can deal with such situations on our own,” he added.

Jammu, May 8
Senior Congress leader Karan Bhagat, who is also the member of the Scheduled Caste Advisory and Development Board, has asked people of RS Pura to vote for him in the 2014 Assembly elections.

“Only a young leader can understand the problems of people, particularly the unemployment issue, and can address it accordingly,” said Bhagat, while speaking during a function at Rangpur Sadhery at RS Pura.

He said people had given chance to veteran leaders the state since 1996 but received nothing in return. They now had an option to vote for a candidate who was committed to the betterment of area, he said.

He alleged that previous legislators were indulged in corruption and favouritism after coming to power. “The people who voted for them are running from post to pillar to get their problems addressed, but to no avail,” he said.

Bhagat promised that if he was given a chance, he would perform and try to fill the gap created since 1996.

Villagers gave a warm welcome to the leader and assured him of full support in the Assembly elections.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion were Omparkash , Charanjeet, Natharam, Surjeet Kumar, Shamsher Lal, Ashwani Kumar, Girdhari Lal, Sarpanch Promila Kumari, Rampaul, Ramesh Lal and Janak Raj.

Jammu, May 8
Atinaman Yograj, a class VI student of Heritage School, Sainik Colony, won himself a laptop in The Tribune Cognisance Scrapbook Competition here yesterday.

The Tribune team gave away the prize and consolation and participation certificates to the students. The consolation prizes were won by Riya Gupta, Haninder Singh, Aryan Gupta, Mehak Atri, Asees Kaur Chadha, Panini Sharma, Knupriya Gupta and Sonamdeep Kour.

The participation certificates were given to Matil Nabhadan, Vidhi Tripathi, Approva Magotra, Tanjeet, Ayushi Parmar, Meghali Rajput, Swastik Thappa, Sukhmani, Prkriti Puri, Shivansh Ganjoo, Navjit Singh, Harsh Slathia and Aviral Singh.

Principal of the school Jagdish Singh Dhami and vice-principal Gautam Guha were also present on the occasion. In In his address, the Principal appreciated the efforts of The Tribune team for conducting the competition and hoped that more such informative competitions would be organised by the newspaper in future.

Katra, May 8
Reasi MLA Baldev Raj Sharma yesterday convened a public grievances camp at Reasi.

XEn, PDD xDivision, Reasi, XEn, PHE Division, Reasi and Chief Education Officer, Reasi, besides other district and sectoral officials, sarpanches and panches also attended the public darbar.

People raised various demands, including concession in electricity tariff for rural areas, repair of the Reasi-Katra road, old-age pension to the eligible people and timely payment of pension, augmentation of water supply schemes, supply of high-breed variety seeds, implementation of horticulture, agriculture and allied sectors schemes in the area, posting of adequate field staff of horticulture and agriculture, issuance of ration cards for the divided families, upgrade of various schools and clearance of pending panels in the Education Department.

He asked the officials to make coordinated efforts for the development of backward areas. He also asked the sarpanches and panches to keep eye on various developmental works in their respective areas so that the funds allotted get utilised for the benefit of people.

Regarding upgrading of roads and drinking water schemes, the MLA directed the executing agency concerned to speed up the work and complete it same in time. Sharma said he was committed to the development of every sector in the area. 

Jammu, May 8
The Mountaineering Association of J&K, in collaboration with Sprawling Buds School, Chinore, is going to organise the 13th J&K State Sport Climbing Championship at Tenzing Norgay Sport Climbing Wall at Sprawling Buds School from May 25 to 26.

Prominent climbers of the state, including Shivani Raj Kaith, former national champion, Rajeev Sharma, a former national medalist, and other reigning state champions have already confirmed their participation in the two-day sporting event.

About 200 boys and girls from throughout the state are likely to vie for the top honours in the competition. In case, the participation exceeds 200, the competition may be extended for another day.

The competition will be held in eight categories, including men, women, boys, girls, sub-junior boys/girls and mini boys/girls.Mitra Ghosh from Delhi, a national judge in sport climbing, would be the president of the jury of the competition, while Paras Ram, a national route setter, will be the chief route setter. Both Ghosh and Paras Ram will be assisted by other technical personnel from the IMF North Zone Committee.For further details, climbers interested to participate in the competition may contact organising secretary Shawetica Khajuria at 9906216637 or 75-76, Sarwal Colony (behind Adventure Holidays India), between 11 am and 6 pm. —TNS