Srinagar, June 30
In another setback to the Jehangir Chowk-Natipora flyover project, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed an order regarding dispossession of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) of its land at Rambagh in Srinagar.

The court has also issued notices to the government and other respondents.

The land, measuring 8.11 kanals, was being used by the government to rehabilitate shopkeepers affected by the proposed Jehangir Chowk-Natipora flyover project.

The work on the much delayed Rs 350 crore flyover began earlier this month, which is being executed by the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).

The government had issued a notification in 2010 for acquisition of the land belonging to BSNL at Rambagh in Srinagar under the Land Acquisition Act. The land was being acquired to construct a shopping complex for rehabilitating the shopkeepers affected by the flyover project.

However, the BSNL decided to challenge the notification by filing a writ petition before the high court. As an interim relief, the BSNL had sought that it should not be disposed of the land in question and prayed for the stay.

However, while admitting the petition, a single bench of the high court had dismissed the miscellaneous application without granting any interim relief, as was sought by the BSNL.

Subsequently, the BSNL authorities chose to file an appeal against the dismissal of an interim application before a division bench, which has now stayed the government order dispossessing the BSNL of its land at Rambagh.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, which admitted the BSNL appeal on Saturday, also issued notice to the government and other authorities directing them to file their objections by next hearing.

The Jehangir-Chowk Natipora flyover project, which had already been way behind its schedule, was announced in July 2009, and was to be completed in three years. However, since then it has hit many roadblocks and numerous litigations are pending before various courts in Srinagar, including many filed by traders and shopkeepers affected by the project.

Srinagar, June 30
The government has directed the departments concerned to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply and to launch sanitation drive around mosques and shrines ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

An official said the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department had been directed to provide uninterrupted drinking water facilities to the people during the holy month while the Power Development Department (PDD) had been directed to ensure uninterrupted power supply especially at Sehri and Iftaar times.

He said directions were issued by the Advisor to the Chief Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon, after chairing a high-level meeting of the divisional administration here yesterday to take stock of the arrangements made for ensuing holy month of Ramadan that will begin in the second week of July.

The official said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was directed to launch a special sanitation drive around the mosques, shrines and other religious places besides all city roads. The SMC had also been directed to press additional men and machinery into service and ensure lifting of garbage on daily basis from all over the city.

The Advisor also directed the authorities of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) to ensure availability and essential commodities including sugar and flour at their sale centres ahead of the fasting month. He also directed them to intensify market checking and ensure that consumers were not cheated by black marketers and profiteers.

Srinagar, June 30
A day after issuing a notice urging the public to get permission for visiting Sonamarg and Pahalgam, the authorities today said the locals and tourists were free to visit the tourist spots.

“Locals and tourists are free to visit Pahalgam and Sonamarg and no passes or permissions are required for any of the two places,” said Kashmir Tourism Director Talat Parvez.

Yesterday’s notice had been issued a day after the start of the Shri Amarnath yatra as the pilgrims have to pass through Sonamarg and Pahalgam before embarking on the yatra. The notice of the Tourism Department had stated that the locals and tourists would require "on spot permission" at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) before visiting Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

However, Parvez said some tour operators, tourists as well locals had complained to the Department of Tourism, Kashmir that they were not being allowed to cross check points meant for Amaranth yatris en route Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

He said the police and administrative authorities had been informed that there would be no restrictions on visits to Sonamarg and Pahalgam now. “The restrictions are in place for unregistered Amaranth yatris only. In case of any difficulty at check points, the desired tourists/locals can contact the tourism department officials on helpline number 18001031060 or TRC phone number 0194-2452691 for assistance. No passes or permissions are required by locals/ tourists to visit Sonamarg or Pahalgam,” he added.

The “restrictions” on picnics to Sonamarg and Pahalgam had sparked a controversy earlier this month as well. The Joint Director, School Education, Kashmir, in a statement issued on June 21, had said: “In view of the ensuing Amarnath yatra, the heads of government and private educational institutions are put to strict instructions that they should desist from sending students on excursion and picnic to Pahalgam and Sonamarg.”

However, the next day, the Director of School Education had said there was no ban on excursions to Sonamarg and Pahalgam while adding that an inquiry had been initiated as to how the statement issued by the Joint Director of the department had come to the fore. Pertinently, "restrictions" on picnics to Sonamarg and Pahalgam had become a topic of debate on the social networking sites while several quarters including the separatists had objected to the same.

Kupwara, June 30
Residents of Doolipora village are forced to cover a distance of nearly 2 km on foot in the absence of a motorable road from Trehgam town in Kupwara district.

The villagers, most of them Pahari speaking, said they had to carry the essential items, including ration and cooking gas, on their heads.

They said they had been ignored by the successive governments and politicians make hollow promises of providing all facilities including road to the village, when elections are round the corner.

"As if we are not governed and do not belong to the state. In spite of repeated representations to officials of the Roads and Buildings Department, the road has not been constructed for the past more than two decades. We are forced to carry essential items, including ration and cooking gas, on our heads," said Majib-ur-Rehman Ahmad, a local resident.

The residents said in emergency, like that of a patient or an expecting mother, their problems became worse. "We are forced to ferry patients on stretchers to the Trehgam hospital, which often causes delay in treatment and risks the life of the patient. For the past years, we have been making repeated representations to the officials concerned to make the road motorable, but to no avail," said Sajad Anwar, a local resident.

Students and the employees said they were the worst sufferers due to non-availability of the road and transport. "Though we leave our homes early in the morning, but often get late in reaching our offices. In the absence of a motorable road, we cover a distance of at least 6 km every day to our offices and back home," said Naseer Ahmad, a health department worker.

Students said they got exhausted while covering the distance on foot. "We reach our homes tired and physical exertion affects our studies. After arduous journey on a stretch full of slopes till Trehgam, we are left with no energy to do the home work," said Azra Rashid, a BA first-year student.

The road was constructed in 1992 and never taken up for repair. For a few years, Sumo vehicles ferried passengers on the road, but the drivers suspended the service following deplorable condition of the road.

Kupwara, June 30
Hundreds of devotees, including from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, thronged the shrine of Pir Mohammad Maqbool Naqashbandi at Awoora Zurhama in Kupwara district to observe a three-day annual Urs, which began yesterday.

Amid special prayers and a religious procession from the shrine to Zurhama, the 116th annual Urs will conclude tomorrow. The devotees will also offer “fateh” at the grave of the holy saint tomorrow.

The district administration in coordination with the management committee of the shrine has made adequate arrangements of water, power and health care for devotees. Interestingly, the Urs unites people of different religions including Sikhs and Pandits.

“Large number of devotees pay obeisance at the shrine every year. The Urs unites people of minority community with Muslims. The shrine management provides free food and shelter to the devotees and also ensures other facilities,” said advocate Showkat Hussian Naqashbandi, secretary, management committee.

Great Islamic scholar Raj Pir Wali Naqashbandi who hailed from Hazaran district of Pakistan spoke Pahari and Punjabi and spent most of his times in tribal areas to spread the message of peace, love and brotherhood.

“The great Islamic scholar is known for spreading the message of peace and brotherhood among people of all faiths. He devoted his life in spreading peace and brotherhood among different faiths,” said Pir Mohammad Maqbool, caretaker of the shrine.

Local residents demanded that the road connecting the village with Kupwara town should be repaired and widened to ensure smooth flow of traffic. They said frequent traffic jams waste time of devotees especially during the Urs days.

“The road leading to the shrine has not been repaired for the past many years. We appeal the authorities to repair and widen the road to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” said Mohammad Aslam, a local resident.

Srinagar, June 30
The Public Undertaking Committee (PUC) of the J&K Legislative Assembly, which was on a three-day visit to Kargil, has reviewed the power scenario in the remote region.

During the visit, the committee was informed that work on five power sub-stations was going on in full swing and the power production in the district had improved considerably, though the transmission lines and other infrastructure needed upgradation.

A spokesman here said during the three-day visit, members of the committee inspected different power projects of the district. The committee is headed by MLA Mohammad Sharief Niaz.

The members of the committee also held deliberations with the members of council and officials of the district administration about various on-going development works, he said.

During a meeting with the district officials, the District Development Commissioner (DDC) gave a power point presentation about the annual plan of the district beside status of various Centrally sponsored schemes including PMGSY, MGNREGA and Special Task Force.

“The meeting was informed that power production in the district has improved considerably but transmission lines and other related infrastructure need to be upgraded so that people of the district could avail benefits of the increased power production. It was stated that work on five power sub-stations is in full swing,” the spokesman said.

The chairman of the committee asked the engineers and officers to use the surplus energy for lift irrigation purpose so that agriculture production in the district is given further boost, he said.

“The chairman expressed satisfaction over the pace of various developmental activities and asked the officer to work with added zeal and zest,” he added.

The chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, Kachoo Ahmad Khan, Executive Councillor Haji Ghulam Amir, members of the PUC Sayed Basharat Bukhari, Peer Afaq, Jugal Kishore, Dr Mohammad Shafi, Indu Pawar, Nabi Monga, Ali Mohammad Dar, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Fida Hussain, Superintendent of Police, Kargil, Sujit Kumar and officials concerned attended the meeting.

Srinagar, June 30
In a joint rescue operation launched by the Air Force, divisional administration, police, fire service, the Army and local civilians, four boys have been rescued from Kausar Nag in south Kashmir where they were trapped on a portion of a glacier, an official spokesman said.

The spokesman said a group of five boys had gone for trekking, 26 km south of Aharbal falls, when a portion of the glacier fell into the freezing waters of the lake.

While one of the boy managed to save himself, four were trapped.

DC Kulgam Jehangir Mir launched a joint rescue operation with the help of SP Kulgam Mohammed Shafi and deputed joint teams of the Army, police, fire services and locals on foot. In the meantime, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, requisitioned chopper of Air Force for immediate rescue.

“On a very short notice, a Cheetah helicopter of the Air force, under the command of Wing Commander Saxena and Flight Lt Raja, flew to the location and rescued all four children with the help of ropes,” the official spokesman said.

Kupwara, June 30
Residents of Lolab valley in Kupwara district are facing problems due to incomplete Kupwara-Lolab bypass road. The construction of the road was started in 2009, but suspended in 2010 following floods. Since then, the construction work has not been resumed.

The road will connect Lolab with Kupwara and rest of the Valley. At present, the road connecting Lolab with Kupwara passes through Army’s 28 infantry division at Zangli. Residents said they were unable to travel during night hours due to the Army camp en-route Lolab valley.

MLA Lolab Abdul Haq Khan, led by hundreds of people, held a protest march in Kupwara last year demanding completion of the road on time. “The Governor assured me that he would take up the matter with the state government. I am hopeful that the construction of important surface link would resume in the near future,” the MLA said.

The Army’s cantonment at Zangli near Kupwara is the gateway to enter the Lolab valley and residents of the Valley had been protesting to press the authorities to complete the alternate road to Lolab for hassle-free travel. The residents said the traffic movement to Lolab comes to a halt after 8pm as drivers suspend their services.

The bypass road will lessen the heavy traffic flow on the busy Kupwara-Lolab road. “Travelling during the night hours becomes cumbersome as vehicles pass through the Army cantonment at Zangli, which is the only gateway to Lolab. We have to register our vehicles at the entry and exit points. The alternate Lolab-Kupwara bypass road is a must to ensure a hassle-free travel and will save enough time,” said Javid Ahmad, a driver.

Srinagar, June 30
The Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) president and MLA, Langate, Abdul Rashid, was detained by the police at Watlab in north Kashmir when he was on the way to attend the funeral of the two civilians killed in Markundal village of Bandipora district.

Party spokesman Showkat Ahmad Nadvi said Rashid was detained at Watlab near Sopore town in north Kashmir.

After his detention at Watlab, Rashid was shifted to the Handwara police station, the spokesman said, while describing the legislator’s detention as illegal, undemocratic and suppressive.

“Reaching out to people is not a criminal act. In fact, it is the duty of an elected representative of the state. By this arrest, they are criminalising the act of helping Kashmiri people at the time of tragedy,” the party spokesman said.

Srinagar, June 30
Authorities of Budgam district have ordered a time-bound inquiry into the death of a child, who died after being administered a vaccine at a local government hospital.

A government spokesman said Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather, accompanied by the District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Khurshid Shah, on Saturday visited Tilsara village in Chadoora tehsil where a baby died due to adverse effect of the liquid pentavalent vaccine immunisation.

The baby has been identified as Wasiqa, daughter of Mushtaq Ahmad Hurra.

The minister and officials went to the residence of the deceased and conveyed their sympathies to the bereaved family.

While condemning the death of the child, Rather assured the gathering of people that the DC Budgam would conduct a thorough and time-bound inquiry into the unfortunate incident so that the defaulters, if any, are dealt with law.

Rather also assured the people that the existing medical facilities in the local primary health centre would be upgraded to provide best possible treatment to the people.

Srinagar, June 30
Diplomats, national and international academicians participated in four interactive sessions on the second day of the international conference on “Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in central Asia-Challenges and Prospects” at the University of Kashmir.

The participants discussed various issues, including situation in Afghanistan in the wake of troops’ withdrawal during 2014, and the political scenario in that trouble-torn country. The scholars also discussed the possible impact of the political scenario in Afghanistan on the central Asian countries ahead of withdrawal of troops. The scholars sought India to come out with a resolution for ensuring peace in the entire region. Members asked the Ministry of External Affairs to create separate desks for different central Asian nations. “That would help in developing further relations with the Central Asian countries,” it was observed.

Those who chaired different sessions included former Ambassador to Kazakhistan, Ashok Sajjanhar, Prof Bakytzhan Abdyraim, President of Military Strategic Studies Centre, Kazakhistan, Mushtaq A Kawa, Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir and, GM Mir, Director, Area Study Centre of the University of Kashmir. They chaired different sessions on “Foreign Policy Dimensions and Afghanistan Conundrum”, “Transition and Development Concerns” and “Connecting with Central Asia: Social and economic Implications”.

A former Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, P Stobdon, will be presiding on the interactive session “Regional Organisations and Role of External Actors” on the third and concluding session tomorrow. Experts and scholars from various institutions, including the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi and from the central Asian countries, are participating in the sessions. Mohammad Akbar Lone, Higher Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir will be the chief guest at the valedictory function tomorrow.

The three-day conference is being organised jointly by the Centre of Central Asian Studies (CCAS), University of Kashmir, and Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh. The meet was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister, Salman Khursheed in presence of the Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Gandhi Bhawan in the Hazratbal campus of the University of Kashmir yesterday. Introductory remarks were given by Rashpal Malhotra, Executive Vice Chairman, CRRID and backgrounder of the CRRID was given by SS Gill, Director General of CRRID, Chandigarh at the inaugural function.