Kupwara, May 18
Residents of several villages in Kupwara district have expressed concern over “substandard and expired” eatables, including pulses and biscuits, given to children at anganwadi centres.

Sources said about two dozen children fell ill after consuming substandard eatables in some Handwara villages in the past two weeks.

Residents of Trehgam, Hirri, Kunan Poshpora, Hayan, Kralpora Gugloosa, Shumnag and Goose villages in Kupwara alleged that substandard nutrition supplements were affecting the health of their children and the Department of Social Welfare continued to feed children various supplements without carrying out necessary standard and hygienic checks at regular intervals.

“The department dumps substandard material at centres for years which is given the children. The children are prone to diseases and unhygienic and substandard nutritional supplements make them susceptible to infections like gastroenteritis and stomach pain,” said Abdul Ahad, a parent.

Sources said in May, the Department of Social Welfare dumped ration, including pulses, at each centre for yearly consumption of the children.

Many complained that the edible oil used for preparing pulses and other food items was substandard and caused chest complications. “The oil used is of very poor quality and children develop chest and throat infections due to regular consumption of different food items, mostly kheer, prepared at anganwadi centres. By ignoring the serious matter, the Department of Social Welfare is playing havoc with the health of the children,” a delegation of parents said.

Residents of many Handwara villages also expressed concern over the issue and demanded that no standard nutritional supplements be supplied to the centres.

“Biscuits and pulses fed to the children are of very poor quality. The edible oil too is of very poor quality that affects the health of the children. We make a fervent appeal to the Social Welfare Minister to ensure supply of genuine nutritional items to the centres,” said Javid Ahmad, a parent from Drugmulla.

Srinagar, May 18
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with the the Government of India for $110 million loan for tranche-2 of the Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme (JKUSDIP) being executed by the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (J&KERA).

The project includes upgradation and improvement of basic urban services like water supply, drainage, urban transportation, solid waste management etc in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar and will directly benefit more than two million people living in the two cities.

“The loan agreement to this effect was signed in New Delhi between Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Multilateral Institutions, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, and Hun Kim, Country Director, ADB (India), on behalf of Asian Development Bank. The related project agreements were signed by Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, J&K ERA, on behalf of the Government of J&K and Shaugafta Qazi, Director Finance, J&KERA, on behalf of the J&KERA,” a spokesman for the J&KERA said.

“The project will support the state to increase the availability of per capita safe drinking water from current level of 90 litres/day to 135 litres/day and will also help in reducing inner city traffic congestions thus resulting in positive economic impacts,” Mitash said in a statement after signing the agreement.

Hun Kim, while terming J&KERA as one of the best executing agencies for the ADB funded projects in India, said the project also aimed at providing more efficient and accountable operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage services in the two capital cities and would also include a component for capacity development for the staff and representatives of urban local bodies to enable them to provide better services. 

Srinagar, May 18
Two persons, including a three-year-boy, were killed and five others injured in different road accidents in the Valley in the past 24 hours.

The police said a tractor hit and injured Junaid Rashid Malik (3) near Gole Chakri Bazaar, Kupwara, on Saturday morning. The injured boy was shifted to SKIMS, Soura, where he succumbed to his injuries, the police said.

The body of the victim was handed over to his relatives for the last rites. Meanwhile, the Kupwara police registered a case in this regard.

In another incident, a tractor turned turtle near Harnoo, Kreeri in Baramulla, last night resulting in injuries to three persons who were travelling on it, the police said.

“Among the injured, Abdul Hamid Lone succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital,” police said.

A Tavera hit and injured a boy, Sahil Bashir Sangoo, in Budgam. Sangoo, a resident of Raithan, Khansahib in Budgam, was shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Muneeba (22), a resident of Kokernag, was injured when she was hit by a motorcycle near Harnag Anantag. She was shifted to Srinagar for treatment.

In another accident, pedestrian Mohammad Ismail of Darbal was hit and injured by a motorcycle near Hamdania colony, Bemina. The injured was shifted a hospital for treatment. 

Srinagar, May 18
The state government has decided to develop one village in each ward of the panchayat halqa in the state on the pattern of model villages under the Centrally-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

“The aim is to uplift the rural poor, the provision of providing them with modern facilities become prerequisite and the concept of model villages is a step towards the same,” said Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar.

In fact, the decision to develop one village in each ward of the panchayat halqa was taken recently. The Rural Development Department has also geared up for developing these villages.

“Since the Minister has desired to create rural infrastructure in one village of ward of every panchayat halqa on the pattern of model villages under the MGNREGS, as such, activities which are admissible under the scheme should be taken up,” said a senior government official. "During the current financial year, we have to develop one village in a ward in each panchayat and simultaneously cover other villages of the wards in future so that all the villages can be provided with basic amenities under the scheme," he added.

Srinagar, May 18
Urban Development and Local Bodies Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora today conducted an extensive tour of the city and took stock of various development projects being executed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

During the tour, the Minister visited Zakoora, Ellahi Bagh, Nawa-Kadal and Animal Birth Control Immunisation Centre, Suhama.

While interacting with citizens, Jora said the concept for developing of Citizen Facilitation Centres was to provide space and facilities under one roof to the people of urban areas for organising wedding and other private functions at nominal charges.

“BPL beneficiaries would also be provided these centres at minimal charges,” Jora said. Calling upon the locals for keeping their households neat and clean, the Minister also pleaded for extending helping hand in creating hygienic environ in the city as well.

At Pankachwari, Zakoora, the Minister inspected under-construction Citizen Facilitation Centre coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh. At Ellahi Bagh, the Minister inspected Community Hall which was constructed by utilising Rs 1.23 crore and is ready to dedicate to the people. At Nawa-i-Kadal, Jora inspected an under-ground drainage system from Nawa Kadal to Qamariwari.

Srinagar, May 18
As Kashmir’s first of the season, cherry, is ready, growers have been left high and dry in the absence of “any help” from the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing.

From the past one year, 18 posts of Area Marketing Officers (AMOs) in the department are lying vacant and the immediate sufferers of the staff shortage are the growers who heavily rely on the department for the marketing and transportation of the crop and other fruits to other parts of the country.

“Unlike apple which is mostly transported in trucks and has longer shelf life, cherry has to be ferried through trains because it is highly perishable. But the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing seems to be sleeping over the issue and growers have to manage everything on their own,” said a cherry grower, Ghulam Rasool from Baramulla.

Another grower, Abdul Ahad from Tangmarg, Baramulla, said cherry marketing was very important for them.

"As cherry is the season's first fruit, it is always important for the growers as it brings money which we need later for maintenance of other fruits,” he added.

In fact, over a dozen AMOs of the department who were posted in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and various cities of the country and various districts of the state had retired in 2010 and 2011. Since then these posts have been lying vacant.

The government, however, said they were rendering all help to the growers in helping them market and transport the crop to other parts of the country.

“We are definitely understaffed, but that does not mean that we are not facilitating the growers in marketing and transporting the fruit,” J&K Minister for Horticulture, Raman Bhalla told the Tribune. “ The horticulture is understaffed and we have already expedited the recruitment process,” he added.

Srinagar, May 18
The police today foiled a seminar being organised by Hurriyat Conference and put its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest.

The seminar was being organised by Hurriyat activists in the Khanyar area in downtown Srinagar on Saturday afternoon, however, the police did not allow it, a Hurriyat spokesman said here. The schedule seminar was being organised in memory of Late Molvi Mohammad Farooq. The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is currently observing a week-long programme of seminars and rallies to commemorate the death anniversary of two separatist leaders, Abdul Gani Lone and Molvi Mohammad Farooq.

Molvi Farooq, the father of Mirwaiz Umar, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on May 21, 1990, while Abdul Gani Lone was killed on May 21 in 2002 also by the gunmen. 

Kupwara May 18
Dilapidated roads in some areas of Kupwara district have made travelling a cumbersome affair. Commuters said a stretch of about 2 km from Kupwara to Ticker on Chowkibal road was full of potholes.

“It takes about 20 minutes to cover a distance of about 2 km. The distance could be covered in just five minutes. The stretch has not been taken up for repair in the past few years and it has become nearly non-motorable,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Ticker.

Students and employees said dust emanating from the road was causing severe chest complications. “We are forced to cover our face to avoid dust emanating due to plying of vehicles on the roads. The dilapidated roads also cause delay in reaching schools as vehicles take much more time than anticipated to cover the distance,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a Class XII student.

A majority of schools are located in Kupwara and students from many villages on the Chowkibal-Kupwara road have to go to Kupwara to attend their schools.

Residents of Doolipora demanded that unpaved road be made metallic. They said in the absence of a motorable road, employees and students were facing problems.

“We are forced to leave our homes early in the morning. It takes about two hours to reach our school on foot. Due to exertion, we lose energy and interest,” said Iram Masoodi, a Class VIII student of Government High School, Trehgam.

Shopkeepers in Regipora market said the dust emanating from Kupwara-Chowkibal road was severely affecting their health. Condition of some link roads in Handwara was also no better.Residents said roads, including Shuloora, Mawar, Nowgam, Datipora, Kohipora, Kohipora Vohdpora to Devaspora, Kaslu and Watergam, were in a bad shape. “Vehicles take more than an hour to cover a distance, which could be covered in 30 minutes. Unattended for the past many years, most of the link roads are full of potholes,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a trader.

A senior officer of the Roads and Buildings Department said, “In June, we are planning to take up repair work of some important roads and we have already identified some roads.” 

Anantnag, May 18
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today accused the National Conference (NC) of the recent killings, including that of an imam and a police officer in Pulwama district of South Kashmir, in the valley.

“They (NC) are trying to make fear psychosis prevalent in the valley. This is being done to enforce a poll boycott, which suits them,” Mehbooba said.

The PDP president was interacting with mediapersons on the side lines of a party convention at Dak Bungalow of Anantnag district.

However, she said people were well aware of the evil designs of the National Conference and they would turn up in a large number and bring about a change.

“The NC has been calling us a rural party and have been boasting of wiping us from South Kashmir region in the next elections, but let me make it clear that we will give a befitting reply to them,” Mehbooba said.

“People are disappointed with the present government, even in the NC stronghold. People are seeking answers for misgovernance, corruption and the ill-treatment of Kashmiri people and the government has nothing to say in reply,” she added.

Blaming the government of making Muhammad Afzal Guru a scapegoat in the 2001 Parliament attack, Mehbooba said it was on their behest that the Special Task Force arrested Guru and handed him over to the Delhi Police, who later implicated him in a false case.

“This is what the letter of Muhammad Afzal Guru tells us and I pledge that my party will make the content of the letter reach every household prior to the elections,” she said.

Mehbooba said the cases of Muhammad Afzal Guru and that of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, Liyaqat Shah, are not isolated cases of ill-treatment of Kashmiris.

“Thousands have been implicated in false cases and the youngsters are living in a constant fear. The credit for alienating the youth of Kashmir goes solely to the National Conference,” Mehbooba said. 

Kupwara, May 18
Zoona Begum (46), a native of remote Suddal village in Handwara tehsil, is looking forward to setting up a small poultry farm near her muddy house, thanks to the Rural Backyard Poultry Programme of the Animal Husbandry Department, Kashmir.

She was provided with 20 poultry birds under the scheme and a cheque of Rs 750 to raise a shed for one-month old birds.

“I will work hard to set up a small poultry farm. The department will provide me a total of 45 birds in another few weeks. Birds are healthy and I will provide good nutrition to them for their growth in a stipulated time,” said Zoona.

“The department officials have assured of free vaccination to keep them healthy and free from diseases. I have raised a shed for their protection near my house,” she added.

The programme is aimed at helping the economically deprived families to earn a living and meet their day-to-day needs. Zoona is not the only one who has been got benefited from the scheme.

Till now, 12,000 birds have been provided to economically deprived families in the district.

“We will distribute about 50,000 poultry birds to such families in the border district. We want to ensure free of cost vaccination of these birds. Our teams effectively monitor the process of distribution and the objective of the scheme is to benefit the poor families,” said Dr Hafizullah Dar, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Kupwara.

“In first phase, the families will be provided 20 birds. In the second and third phase 15 and 10 birds will be provided respectively. A total of 45 birds will provided to each the family under the scheme. A total of 552 families have been covered under the scheme in Suddal, Khanpora, Devaspora, Shahla and some other villages of Handwara,” he added.

The scheme was introduced in 2010. Meanwhile, the families are satisfied with the scheme and hope that it will help them in generating self-employment.

“Through this scheme, the department is reaching out to the economically deprived families. Many families will be benefitted by the scheme. The department is taking help of sarpanches and village respectables to identify the beneficiaries,” said Mohd Afzal Khan, sarpanch of Suddal village in Handwara tehsil. 

Srinagar, May 18
Expressing concern over the safety of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir High Court Bar Association has decided to depute a team of lawyers to Delhi’s Tihar jail to enquire about the well-being of various Kashmiri prisoners there.

The bar association has also asked the J&K Government to take steps for ensuring safety and security of such prisoners in other states.

The decision of the bar association to visit the Tihar Jail comes in the wake of unconfirmed reports that the Kashmiri prisoners lodged in the jail have been huddled in “cramped and small” cells, following an attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanullah early this month.

“The bar association is concerned about the safety of Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside the state. The bar executive has decided to depute a team to visit Tihar Jail and thereafter take appropriate steps in view of the report that would be submitted by the team,” bar president advocate Zaffar Qureshi said in a statement here.

The bar association has asked the J&K Government to take every possible step for the safety of the Kashmiris prisoners, he said. After getting injured in an attack in Jammu’s Kotebalwal jail, Sanaullah died in a hospital in Chandigarh. The attack on Sanaullah had come on the day Indian death-row prisoner Sarabjit Singh breathed his last in a Pakistani hospital after being injured in a brutal attack in Kot Lakhpat Jail of Pakistan. 

Kupwara, May 18
The Army is providing assistance to the civil administration for completing the construction of the 140-feet-long Bailey Bridge over the Erin Nullah in Bandipora. The bridge will connect two remote villages of Gamroo and Gund Kesar in Bandipora district.

The assistance is being provided under the aegis of the Chinar Corps. An Army spokesman said the residents had urged the Army to help them in construction of the bridge under the operation “Sadbhavana”.

“The bridge will be completed in a short span of 10 days from May 9,” he added.

Srinagar, May 18
Alleging that the government was insensitive towards various issues concerning contractors, the Jammu and Kashmir Central Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC) threatened to hold a protest march on June 5. The JKCCCC accused the government of not releasing the bills of contractors.

“The withholding of the bills, owing to paucity of funds in the Treasury Department, is hitting us hard. We warn the government to release the pending bills immediately or face the music,” JKCCCC general secretary Farooq Ahmad Dar said. While claiming that the state government owes more than Rs 700 crore to contractors , the contractors’ apex body accused the government of being insensitive to their demands.

“We don’t understand why the government is delaying our payments, even after the completion of work on time. If the government remains insensitive to the demand of 70,000 contractors, it would prove costly to it,” he said.

Dar said as the government had failed to address their grievances, they had decided to march towards Secretariat on June 5.

Handwara, May 18
In a bid to spread awareness about the significance of Chinar trees, Emotions, a voluntary youth group in Handwara tehsil, undertook a signature campaign for the protection and growth of Chinar trees recently and urged people to make efforts in this direction.

Carrying placards and posters, the members of the group took about 2,000 signatures from people of diverse backgrounds, who vowed to make efforts for the protection of these trees.

“Chinars play an important role in the environment but have been ignored by the authorities and unscrupulous people. We urge them to realise the importance of these trees and refrain from doing any harm to them. The trees in Chinar Park, Handwara, have been subjected to pruning and the park has been transformed into a parking yard,” said Tahir Majid Lone, chairman, Kashmir Civil Society Forum.

He said political gatherings, seminars and all other activities were held in the park, which was detrimental for the trees. The forum demanded that the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office, located in the Chinar Park, be shifted from there and no construction be allowed in it.

“On Monday, we will make a representation to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and urge him to take the necessary measures for the protection of Chinar trees in the park and elsewhere in the Valley,” Tahir added.

Srinagar, May 18
A modernised post office was inaugurated at Tangmarg , Kashmir, today. Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir dedicated the Tangmarg post fffice to the prople of Tangmarg area in presence of John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, Jammu and Kashmir. The post office is modernised under the Project Arrow.

On the occasion, the minister expressed the hope that the upgraded post office would serve the people of Tangmarg in a 
better way.

He praised the Chief Postmaster General for modernising post offices and providing better postal services to the people of J&K by introducing new services and engaging adequate staff.

The Minister said Tangmarg, besides being a tourist destination, had considerable business establishments and residential area.

The post office will function from 9 am to 5 pm and will provide all postal facilities like letter post, saving bank accounts and insurance facilities. A post shop has also been provided to facilitate packaging and stationery needs of customers. The post office will also sell high-quality saffron.

John Samuel, Chief Post Master General, J&K Circle said the department was now focussing on modernising post offices in sub- urban areas.

He added that the post office at Kunzer would be upgraded and a new one would also be opened at Dobhiwan.