Srinagar, July 3
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today underscored the need of setting up a National Disaster Management Agency. He said states were not equipped well enough to deal with large-scale calamities.

Interacting with a group of probationary IFS officers here, Omar pitched for a ‘resourceful, capable and pragmatic’ National Disaster Management Agency at the Union-Government level that would aid state governments in case of unforeseen natural calamities like tsunamis, earthquakes and cloudbursts.

“The high-capacity agency can help the states, as is the case in United States, during the calamities of huge dimensions of devastation. Individuals states can manage calamities of smaller dimensions but not like those of Uttarakhand, the 2008-earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh cloudburst in 2010,” he said.

He also underlined the importance of balancing development needs of people with environment necessities while adding that unchecked and illegal infrastructure development, particularly in tourist areas, at the cost of environment was fatal and responsible for massive damage and causalities during natural calamities.

He advised the young forest officials to face the modern challenges of carrying forward development in consonance with environment requirements in a meticulous and effective way to satisfy both human beings and the nature.

Referring to the diversity of three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Omar said, “Such a unique feature is perhaps not available in anywhere in the country.” Answering a question on forest cover in the state, he said during the period of militancy, there has been great damage to the forests, particularly in north Kashmir and the Pir Panchal area. However, he said measures had already been put in place to rejuvenate the depleted forest areas.

Srinagar, July 3
In the Tufail Mattoo killing case, the Special Investigation Team, which has already submitted its closure report, has not reached any concrete conclusion.

This was today admitted by Additional Advocate General (AAG) Riyaz Khan before the high court during the course of arguments while representing police in the matter.

The Single Bench of Justice Verinder Singh, before whom the matter was listed today, said, “If the SIT is not reaching any concrete conclusion in the regard, then why not change the hands of investigation for the satisfaction of the complainant family?”

The high court is hearing a petition by the victim’s family, wherein it has challenged a lower court’s order that had accepted the final closure report by the police in the Tufail Mattoo killing case. The case was closed as ‘untraced. The family is also demanding the prosecution of police personnel involved in the incident.

The killing of teenager Tufail Mattoo in 2010 had triggered a cycle of violence in the valley. More than 120 persons were killed in firing by the police and security forces.

Putting forth his arguments in the pre-lunch session, advocate Mian Qayoom, representing the complainant family in the petition, insisted for setting aside the lower court orders which had accepted the SIT closure report in the case.

He demanded reinvestigation of the case by an independent agency or by the Crime Branch headed by an IG-rank official.

While rebutting his arguments, the AAG mainly focused on the conduct of investigation by the SIT, saying the probe conducted was an honest and fair effort. He refuted the charge that there has been any inaction on part of the SIT while investigating the matter.

He, however, accepted that the SIT had not been able to reach any ‘concrete conclusion’ in its investigation.

On Justice Verinder’s observation about changing the hand of investigation, Riyaz Khan said, “We have placed everything we had before the court.”

On being asked by the court whether he was ready to make a statement at the Bar that no policeman was involved in the killing of Tufail, Khan evaded the query. He, however, said there was turmoil in the valley and the murderer could be anyone.

The court also raised numerous questions on various technicalities that were to be followed by the magisterial court while accepting the closure report by the SIT.

The AAG could not provide any satisfactory answers when the court asked why the particular court had not informed the first informant (Tufail’s uncle) before hand while accepting the closure report, on whose insistence the second FIR had been registered.

After hearing both the sides, the court, however, adjourned the matter till July 8 on the insistence of the AAG, who wanted to present a documents dated July 7, 2010, related to the FIR.

Srinagar, July 3
With an aim to preserve the past, the JK Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has so digitised 1.25 lakh folios of important manuscripts of archival value.

The digitisation of the rich collection of manuscripts, paintings and archival photographs was started by the academy on May 22 and it is still on, a statement said.

Till date, 410 manuscripts, comprising 1.25 lakh folios from a total of over 600 manuscripts in the academy’s collection at Srinagar, had been digitised, read the statement.

Some of the rare manuscripts digitised so far include the 12th-century copy of Holy Quran calligraphed by Fateh Ullah Kashmiri.

After completing the digitisation of manuscripts, work would start on the rich collection of paintings, miniatures and archival photographs available with the academy at its Srinagar, Jammu and Leh offices, the statement further said.

After taking a review of the ongoing project here today, secretary, academy, Khalid Bashir Ahmad, said the work was progressing well and described the digitisation project as a significant step towards preservation of state’s rich cultural heritage. 

Srinagar, July 3
Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora today emphasised the need to focus on the early rehabilitation of Dal dwellers and ordered to evolve a fast-track approach to the process of their rehabilitation.

During a comprehensive review of the rehabilitation and relocation of the Dal dwellers here today, Jora stressed the need to achieve a substantial progress by October under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme Project (PMRP) sanctioned by the Government of India, an official spokesperson said.

Jora also reviewed working of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to evaluate the progress of the Dal-Nageen Lake Conservation and Management Project.

He later went on a field visit, said the spokesperson.

Jora inspected the trunk sewer line being laid at the Baba Dawood Khaki bridge. He was informed that out of the 330 m line, 200 m was already laid and the work was expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The minister also visited the Dole Demb area where the water machines are engaged in removing lily pads. 

Leh, July 3
Four passengers were killed while five were injured when the taxi they were travelling in rolled down a gorge near the Lamayuru monastery, 110 km from here.

The injured were taken to the sub-district hospital at Khaltsi.

The Leh Medical Superintendent, Dr P Tsering, said, “One of the injured has sustained multiple fractures in legs. He will be shifted to Srinagar for treatment. A state aircraft has been arranged for the shifting of the patients and special doctor has been deputed to take care of him.”

Leh SHO Tundup Dorje said most of the victims were students who were returning home after applying for admission at a college.

According to the SHO, three victims died on the spot while one passenger died later late night at the hospital.

Srinagar, July 3
A committee on the Public Undertaking (PUC) of the Legislative Assembly headed by chairman Mohammad Sharif Niaz visited Leh in Ladakh region and had an overall inspection of Stakna and Igoo Martselang hydel power projects yesterday.

The project authorities briefed the committee about the present status of these projects, an official spokesman said in a statement issued here today.

Legislators Syed Basharat Bukhari, Peer Afaq, Jugal Kishore, Mohammad Shafi, Indu Pawar, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Ali Mohammad Dar were also present on the occasion.

“The Committee desired that the authority should come up with a detail and comprehensive line-up for overall improvement of these projects, its transmission and distribution system so that the objective of the project is realised and achieved by way of expanding the facilities to all the needy people,” official added. The committee also visited Pangong lake and took stock of the activities undertaken by the Tourism Department to develop the spot. — TNS

Srinagar, July 3
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday described healthcare status as the basic indicator of growth and development of a society and said the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has been a blessing for the state.

“Unless our children are healthy, we cannot think of taking advantage of educational initiatives and developing as capable citizens to lead the country in the future. Similar is the case of our work force, farmers and the general population,” the Chief Minister said.

Omar, who inaugurated a three-day national summit on “Best Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare System” here at the SKICC, said better medical facilities across the state was important for all sectors to grow and ensure development of a healthy society.

The Chief Minister termed the NHRM as a blessing for the state to strengthen its rural healthcare systems.

He said the creation of better infrastructure in the health sector and assuring proper service to people in rural areas was important.

“There are challenges to address this issue in a state like Jammu and Kashmir which presents mosaic of topographical diversities, remoteness of areas and sparse population scattered in mountainous and difficult areas,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the launch of the NRHM has helped in a big way to reach out to people in the rural areas.

Omar said the healthcare sector in the state received ‘huge brunt and hospitals were more or less rendered non-functional’ during militancy.

The Chief Minister also expressed concern on the decline in the female sex ratio in the state. “If the data collected in this regard is genuinely correct, we have to gear up at all levels and reverse the unfortunate trend,” he said.

The Chief Minister hoped that the three-day national summit, in which mission directors and medical experts from all over the country are participating, would prove fruitful for exchanging the expertise and innovations to address various challenges on the account of healthcare requirements and needs in the modern days.

“You can learn from each others’ experiences and replicate the feasible models proven successful in other states resembling each other,” he said.

The inaugural function was attended by Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Commissioner Secretary Health Shaleen Kabra, Union Health Secretary Kashev Desi Raju and Union Additional Secretary Anuradha Gupta. 

Srinagar, July 3
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials held a meeting here today to review arrangements ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan.

During the meeting, SMC commissioner Dr GN Qasba passed directions to all ward officers to carry sanitation works near mosques, shrines and other religious places.

He also directed the officers concerned to identify the issues related to sanitation or any other SMC activity so that same can be addressed at an earliest to avoid inconvenience to the people during the fasting month.

The SMC commissioner also passed orders to ensure proper working of street lights during Ramadhan, which will begin next week. He called for repairing all defunct street lights in the city, particularly near mosques, shrines. He further directed SMC officials concerned to conduct inspection at the spots where the lights had been installed or required installation on priority so that the people do not face any inconvenience. 

Srinagar, July 3
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather on the behalf of state government today handed over a cheque worth Rs 5.10 crore as its capital share to the J&K Grameen Bank under the recapitalisation scheme of the Government of India.

A total of Rs 34 crore are being infused as the capital to the J&K Grameen Bank. Out of this amount, the Government of India will contribute Rs 17 crore, whereas the share of J&K Bank will be Rs 11.90 crore. As on date, the bank had a capital adequacy rate of 11.20 per cent, an official spokesman said.

The capital share cheque was received by Mr SK Bhat on the behalf of the J&K Grameen Bank.

Principal Secretary Finance, BB Vyas who is also the principal secretary to the Chief Minister, president, Finance and Grameen Bank Management, J&K Bank, SK Bhat, who is also the director on J&K Bank Board and consultant, finance, Resham Kashyp were also present on the occasion.

Briefing about the performance, SK Bhat informed that the Grameen Bank was a sponsored bank of J&K Bank. It was established after amalgamations of the Jammu Rural Bank and Kamraz Rural Bank and started functioning as the J&K Grameen Bank on July 1, 2009.

He said, for the past two years, the bank was earning profit and was adequately capitalised. The bank has 201 branches and this year 20 new branches were being opened in rural areas of Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Ladkah and Kargil districts. He said the bank was fully computerised and was working on core banking solution.

Srinagar, July 3
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday inspected a mega education exhibition at SKICC here, an official spokesman said.

The exhibition was organised to give information to the youth of the state about various educational institutions and nature of studies offered by them in the field of science and technology, the spokesman said.

More than 40 stalls had been installed by various reputed educational institutions at the exhibition where necessary literature was made available to the students to learn about these institutions and the subjects taught there.

Srinagar, July 3
Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone has urged the students to adapt and use the e-communication systems for derive maximum benefit.

He was speaking during a day-long inter-college debate on the theme ‘E-communication has actually divided family ties’, which was organised at Sri Pratab College here today.

The minister stressed upon the students to adapt and use the e-communication system in an appropriate manner and take maximum benefit from it without wasting precious time superfluously, besides spare time for human values and relations,” a statement quoted him said.

He emphasised upon the faculty members of the college to deliver their best to the students and exploit talent and experience by adapting modern teaching techniques and methods so that hidden talent of students was given appropriate platform to exhibit their potential.

Among others Principal Secretary to Higher Education Department, KB Agarwal, Director, colleges, Nalini Kohli, principal, SP College, Yaseen Ahmad Shah and principals from various colleges of the Valley, besides participants and a large number of students were also present on the occasion. 

Srinagar, July 3
The Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz, has called for valley-wide protests and shutdown on July 13, which is observed as Martyrs’ Day in the state.

Every year on July 13 , the government observes the Martyrs’ Day by declaring it a general holiday, while the politicians, including the Chief Minister, pay floral tributes at the martyrs’ graveyard at Naqashbandh Sahib shrine in Srinagar.

The Hurriyat spokesman said the amalgam had devised an effective programme to observe a valley-wide strike on July 13. “This is to protest the ceaseless repression, bloodshed and a well-hatched conspiracy to take political revenge against the helpless Kashmiris,” he said. — TNS