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Despite SC ban on tinted glass in cars, violations galore on city roads
State government hands over probe to crime branch
Power outages give sleepless nights to residents
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Five booked for duping people
Encomiums for music reality show contestant
Sports dept focuses on tapping talent in rural areas
Modernisation of Raghunath Bazar hangs fire due to delay in release of funds
Minority status sought for Sikh community in state
Special brochure for Amarnath pilgrims
Awareness camp on drug addiction
Sikander Gladiators win cricket tourney
Dancers hone skills at workshop
Educational tour flagged in
Minister pays surprise visit to PHE, Animal Husbandry offices
Oak Hill Institute emerge champion in judo c’ship
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Despite SC ban on tinted glass in cars, violations galore on city roads
Jammu, July 6 However, the drive of the traffic department against the use of black films seems to be dying a slow death. With the temperatures remaining above 40 degrees, many car owners say the tint helps in increasing the efficiency of an air conditioner. “I respect the order of the Supreme Court but there’s no effect of the air conditioner without shades or tint in this scorching heat. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to sit in the car,” a car owner requesting anonymity said. “Something should be allowed as protection from the harsh summer sun for the convenience of car users,” he added. As per the Supreme Court’s directive, there should be 100 per cent visibility from all sides of the vehicle. The traffic police had started a drive against vehicles having black films and tinted glasses in August last year but now, there are violations galore in the city. However, Manmohan Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, said, “Our drive against the tinted glass is on, we are regularly seizing vehicles, both government and private.” “Nothing is allowed on the glass of the vehicle. We are vigilantly checking vehicles using shades or curtains or tint on it,” he added. |
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State government hands over probe to crime branch
Jammu, July 6 The decision in this regard has been taken and the process of the transfer of the case to the crime branch is underway. Sources in the government said irregularities and bungling in the CCDU was an established prima facie case and to get an in-depth report and book people behind these irregularities, the government had decided to hand over the case to the crime branch. “The chairman of the J&K Legislative Council had suggested handing over the case to the crime branch or vigilance organisation so that facts can be unravelled. The government acted on these suggestions and asked the crime branch to initiate probe,” a source said. The departmental inquiry report, which was submitted to both the houses of the J&K legislature on April 17, had suggested an in-depth, independent and a full-time inquiry. It wanted the audit of accounts to arrive at the factual position. The state government had on February 11 constituted an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, KK Gupta to to look into the working of CCDU. The committee comprised superintending engineer, hydraulic circle, Srinagar-Ganderbal, Fida Muhammad Farooqi and the chief accounts officers of the PHE departments of Jammu and Kashmir regions. Apart from other tasks assigned, the inquiry committee was to enquire whether funds allocated to the CCDU had been utilised judiciously. The departmental inquiry committee report had found that the CCDU had not engaged any accounts-knowing person to prepare and check the accounts and advice on financial and other related matters. “The details of the manpower required to be engaged by the NGO for implementation of the support activities of the IEC and the HRD based on the approved pattern have not been verified by the CCDU,” the report reads. For effective functioning, the Communication and Capacity Development Unit was supposed to follow the guidelines suggested by the NRDWP to appoint specialist staff, including a director, a state coordinator and three consultants, but only an executive director and a state coordinator have been appointed by the unit. The inquiry committee further found that a single NGO had been assigned the responsibility of conducting all the activities of the programme in the state, creating a sort of dominance and monopoly. Now, the crime branch will look into these allegations.
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Power outages give sleepless nights to residents
Jammu, July 6 Leave aside unmetered areas, localities where the Power Development Department had installed electronic metres, was also witnessing five to eight hours of power cuts, posing inconvenience to residents. The frequent disruption in the power supply has raised questions over the claims of the state government that people would have a “power-cut free summer” after the installation of electronic metres. “Continuous and long power cuts have hit the normal life of people. Residents are not able to take proper sleep due to long power cuts and frequent tripping of power lines. We could not sleep last night as there was no electricity in the old city and the humidity level was quite high,” said Satya Devi (59), a resident of Pacci Dhaki. Arun Kumar (28), a resident of Pacca Danga, said, “My father, who has been suffering from asthma, fell unconscious amid humid conditions as there was no power supply last night.” He said power outages also had an adverse impact on expensive electronic equipment such as air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators and stabilisers. “Power cuts during night hours have made our lives miserable. My elder brother, who is a government employee, remains tired and irritated as he is not able to take proper sleep due to erratic power supply these days,” Kumar said. A senior officer of electricity department said the state was facing a severe shortage of power. “The power requirement of the state is around 2,400 MW and there is a shortfall of 650 to 700 MW as against the availability of about 1,700 MW of electricity. The Jammu region is being supplied 700 MW to 750 MW of electricity and the shortfall is being met by enforcing power cuts in unmetered as well as metered areas,” he said. “Many residents have got illegal connections through hooking system for the use of air-conditioners, which causes frequent tripping of lines,” he said.
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Five booked for duping people
Jammu, July 6 The SSP, crime branch, said the complaint in this regard was lodged by Babu Ram of Majoor (Kanah) of Akhnoor tehsil in Jammu district. Babu alleged that he had come across an advertisement published in a newspaper regarding installation of an Aircell Company’s 3G tower and that he had contacted the advertisers on phone who provided an bank account number and asked him to deposit Rs 4,200 as a security deposit. The SSP said Babu claimed that he had deposited Rs 50,000 in three instalments later. However, later the complainant realised he had been duped of Rs 5,400. An inquiry was initiated and it was found from the records collected from the cyber cell that the phone numbers of the accused persons were in the name of Reena, Mehmood Mustafa, and Karan Singh Bisht. It was found that these people had made a plan to published a false advertisement in the newspaper with the intention to dupe people. |
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Encomiums for music reality show contestant
Jammu, July 6 Anmol’s family members in Jammu are happy with his performance and the support he is getting from his hometown. “People in Jammu want Anmol to reach the top and support is pouring in from all quarters. Youngsters, specially, are happy with Anmol’s achievement,” said Surpal Jaswal, Anmol’s father. It was in the Chandigarh audition that Anmol and his 12-year-old sister Vidhi Jaswal were recognised by the show’s judges and were taken to Mumbai for the competition. Vidhi could not make it to the gala round but Anmol is being considered as a strong contender for the Indian Idol Junior trophy. During the first week’s performance in the gala round, Anmol bagged the best singer of the day award. Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar made a special mention to Anmol’s singing while applauding all the 11 contestants. “Every singer of the show is brilliant but Anmol is singing with maturity,” Lata tweeted. His fan-following is evident from comments on the Internet. “What a melodious and soulful voice. Anmol, one of the best among the rest. Keep up the effort my favourite,” wrote Deepti Rai on the Indian Idol official web page. However, city residents with pre-paid mobile numbers are not able to vote for him. “Due to the ban on messages from pre-paid mobile numbers in the state, most of the population is not able to vote for Anmol. This is a loss for him as he can’t get votes from his own people,” Surpal Jaswal said. “I request Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to consider revoking the ban
on messages from pre-paid mobile numbers,” Surpal said. Meanwhile, Anmol has become a poster boy in B-town where posters of Indian Idol Junior contestants are seen all over
the city. |
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Sports dept focuses on tapping talent in rural areas
Jammu, July 6 Sources said the sports department had expressed concern over poor participation of sportspersons from far-flung rural areas of the state in the tournaments held at the zonal, district and state levels. Though there was decent participation of rural players in outdoor competitions such as kho-kho, kabaddi, volleyball and cricket, the participation was poor in competitions for indoor sports such as table tennis, badminton, judo and fencing. They said the Director General had asked the district officers to achieve the targets under the Panchayat Yuva Khel Aur Krida Abhiyan (PYKKA). The scheme is sponsored by the Central and state governments on a 90-10 per cent sharing basis, respectively. Sources said after having taken over the reins of the department, Aggarwal had convened various meetings with the officers concerned and emphasised upon 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 has categorically stated that there is a need to improve the overall standard of sports. That is why he is chairing meetings at regular intervals to know about the status of initiatives being taken by the department in this context,” said an official of the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS). “There is no dearth of talent in sportspersons belonging to rural areas but they need proper guidance and opportunities at par with their counterparts in urban areas to prove their worth,” he said. Sources claimed that the PYKKA scheme was launched in the state in 2008 with much fanfare with a motive to strengthen sports at the grassroots level but the department had failed to implement it in letter and spirit. The department then issued clear-cut instructions to its officers that they cannot afford to be complacent in future because if the state failed to miss the deadline, 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. It is mandatory for DYSS to make optimum utilisation of the scheme before its term expires in 2017.
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Modernisation of Raghunath Bazar hangs fire due to delay in release of funds
Jammu, July 6 A deputation of the association, led by its president Baldev Khullar, today called upon the Minister for Housing, Culture and Horticulture, Raman Bhalla, and urged upon him to take up the matter with the authorities concerned to expedite the implementation of the historical Raghunath Bazar for its upgrade and beautification project. Khullar said since the beautification of the historical Raghunath Bazar was associated with the Dogra culture, the project comes under the preview of the Ministry for Culture which was under the minister’s control. He brought to the notice of the minister that out of the total Rs 6.62 crore approved by the state government in 2009-10 for the project, only Rs 3 crore were sanctioned so far. “No further amount has been sanctioned and hence, the pace of work on the project was very slow,” Khullar said. He appealed to the minister to take up the matter with the divisional commissioner and the Director Tourism, Jammu, for expediting the work on the project as well as to take up with the Finance Department and Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, to release the balanced funds. Khullar also requested the minister that the matter in this regard should be taken up in the the Jammu District Development Board meeting. Bhalla assured the deputation that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister and raise the issue in the Jammu District Development Board meeting, so that the project was completed on the 158th anniversary of historical Raghunath Bazaar. Others who were part of the deputation included general secretary Sanjay Sethi, vice-president MM Sharma, senior vice-president Ajesh Rohemetra, treasurer Suresh Gupta, member Amit Ramesh Kapoor and Jammu Heritage Society chairman Om Prakash Gupta and RBBA former president Bhubneshwar Gandotra.
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Minority status sought for Sikh community in state
Jammu, July 6 The SAD (N) alleged that successive state government’s have discriminated against the Sikh community. Addressing a press conference, SAD (N) working president Gurdev Singh said the community was an ethnic minority in the state, but has faced neglect by the successive state administration. They have been denied political representation in the Legislative Assembly and any special economic package for their uplift. He said thousands of refugee families were living in a miserable condition in the state, but no consideration was given to them for providing any relief compensation. The SAD (N) president said states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal had introduced several schemes for the development of minority communities, especially Muslim minorities, and recently the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2007 has also passed Act No-26 of 2007 to provide 4 per cent reservation to the backward Muslim minority, except creamy layers. Dutta, while appreciating the governments of other states for providing reservation to Muslim youth in their respective states, has alleged that no such step was taken here as Sikhs were in minority here. He said Sikhs were scattered throughout the state and continue to be backward, economically, socially and politically and have no representative character in the Legislative Assembly, thereby being denied legitimate rights due to them as per the Article 14, 28 and 30 of the Indian Constitution. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to provide constitutional safeguards to the Sikh community and ensure that developmental schemes were implemented for their uplift. He said because of the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the National Minority Commission had no jurisdiction over the state and minorities were being deprived of every small concession which flows from the Centre to other states of the country.
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Special brochure for Amarnath pilgrims
Jammu, July 6 Nitesh Mahajan, member, Divisional Rail User Consultative Committee (DRUCC) of Ferozepur division (Northern Railway), was also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Meena said the brochure contains all important information related to the Amanath shrine, including district wise police control room numbers, railway protection force numbers and helpline numbers of the civic bodies, which will allow pilgrims to contact in case of any problem. He said the basic information about the climate and clothes needed for the journey to the Himalayan pilgrimage was also given in the brochure. The brochure has been specially designed by the Railways for the benefit of lakh of people who will visit the cave shrine. Meena urged the people to be prepared for the unpredictable weather conditions during their journey to the shrine so that they don’t face any health problems. It is pertinent to mention that the pilgrimage to the shrine started from June 28 this year and so far more than one lakh people have paid obeisance at the cave shrine. The ancient pilgrimage has been going on for the past 150 years, when a Muslim shepherd rediscovered the cave shrine which was almost forgotten for hundreds of years by the people of the Kashmir valley.
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Awareness camp on drug addiction
Rajouri, July 6 Member of Parliament, Jammu-Poonch Constituency, Madan Lal Sharma, was the chief guest on the occasion while Kuldeep Raj Verma, vice-chairman, OBC Board, Danesh Rana, DIG, Rajouri police and Poonch Range along with Mubasir Latifi, SP, Rajouri were the guests of honour. Dr Arun Sharma, superintendent, District Hospital, Rajouri, was the main resource person who sensitised the civil society and target group about the IDU (TI) programme. Dr Sumit Bakshi, programme manager, NDF, conducted the stage. Rajiv Khajuria, chief functionary, NDF, in his address appealed to the society not to neglect the drug users as they were the part and parcel of the society. He informed that the NDF would help the drug users to overcome this problem by supporting them in all possible manners. He termed drug addiction as a social problem and sought the cooperation of the civil society in resolving the same. SSP Mubassir Latifi lauded the role of the NDF for carrying out the activities of utmost importance in various districts for the past 20 years. He said the Police Department was planning to start a drug de-addiction centre at Rajouri. He informed that the centre would run in close coordination with the Health Department and National Development Foundation, Rajouri.
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Sikander Gladiators win cricket tourney
Jammu, July 6 Batting first, Sikander Gladiator accumulated 128 runs for the loss of eight wickets with Jerry playing a fine knock of 52 runs off just 22 balls. Preet and Bhanu also chipped in with handy 29 and 25 runs, respectively. For RGCC, Sunny was the most successful bowler with a four-wicket haul. In reply, RGCC was skittled out for 100 runs and lost the match by 28 runs. Nazim played a gutsy knock of 30 runs, but in vain. Sunny added 16 runs to the total. For Sikander Gladiators, Bake was the chief destroyer with four wickets. Later, Jerry was declared the man of the match as well as man of the series. —
TNS |
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Dancers hone skills at workshop
Jammu, July 6 Kazmi said more such workshops would be organised in future to give exposure to youth of the state. He also appealed to parents to participate as much as possible in such kind of workshops.
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Educational tour flagged in
Poonch, July 6 The aim of the tour was to give exposure to the children to different parts of the country and also give them glimpses of rich cultural heritage of the country. During the ten-day tour, the children visited Amar Mahal museum in Jammu, Golden Temple, Jalliawala Bagh and Wagah Border in Amritsar. The children visited the Technology Park, Rock Garden, Sukhna lake, Alfa Mall, Water Kingdom and watched a movie at PVR Cinema in Chandigarh. In Manali, children got an opportunity of trekking, rock climbing and visited Rohtang pass. Besides, visiting trout breeding centre and Kullu Shawl industry. The high point of the tour was the interaction with Shivraj Patil, Governor, Chandigarh. The children found the interaction extremely motivating. — OC |
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Minister pays surprise visit to PHE, Animal Husbandry offices
Jammu, July 6 The minister, during his inspection, found that 16 officials of the Public Health Engineering Department were absent from the duty and directed strict action against them under rules. He stressed for punctuality of employees and warned that any laxity in duty shall be dealt strenuously. He also called for quick disposal of files and early redressal of problems of the people, adding that any official found resorting to unnecessary delay would be punished. The minister directed the superintending engineer concerned to ensure that the staff and field functionaries perform their duties efficiently so that people do not face any problem. Later, the minister visited the Regional Cattle Development (RCD) centre, Nanak Nagar, Jammu, to review the functioning of the institution and also checked the artificial insemination (AI) register. He also inspected the Veterinary Hospital, Gujjar Colony, Jammu, where all staff members were present and also reviewed the ongoing works of the building being constructed by the NABARD and asked the agencies concerned to complete the project in stipulated period of time. He asked the officers concerned to ensure availability of adequate dressing materials and medicines at the hospital so that people do not face any problem.
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Oak Hill Institute emerge champion in judo c’ship
Jammu, July 6 Senior Congress leader from Srinagar Nisar Khan was the chief guest at the valedictory function. Earlier, the championship was inaugurated by RC Thakur, senior vice-president, J&K Judo Association. Vikas Gupta, secretary, J&K Judo Association, was the guest of honour. A total of 350 judokas drawn from different schools, clubs and institutes participated in the sporting event. The bouts were officiated by Suraj Bhan Singh, Shafi, Dev Raj, Manzoor Ahmad, Umar Hamza, Rahil Shafi, Fazil, Irfan, Rauf and Taweed. Final results: Boys (30kg): Manzoor (1st), Iflaq (2nd) and Ahtisham (3rd). 25kg: Gasif (1st), Miran (2nd) and Zuhaib (3rd). U-15 years (30kg): Afran Latif (1st), Fahad (2nd) and Azhar (3rd). 35kg: Mahsheed (1st), Nawaz (2nd) and Arish (3rd). 40kg: Saqib (1st), Suhail (2nd) and Ishfan (3rd). 45kg: Mehran (1st), Adil (2nd) and Idrees Riyaz (3rd). 50kg: Zubair (1st), Azhar Farooq (2nd) and Qasim (3rd). 55kg: Janisar (1st), Himayun (2nd) and Basit Ali (3rd). Above 55kg: Mumtaz (1st), Himayun (2nd) and Suhaib (3rd).
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Despite the ban on the use of tinted glass in cars by the Supreme Court last year, a lot of violations in this regard can be seen on the city roads.
Support for Jammu boy Anmol Jaswal, a contestant in music reality television show, is pouring in from all quarters of the city and his singing is being widely appreciated.
A 14-year-old boy from Jammu, Anmol has reached the gala round of the Indian Idol Junior, in which 10 other contestants are competing. Judges and visiting guests have given applauded Anmol’s singing.
Jammu, July 6
The Shiromani Akali Dal (National) today demanded minority status for the Sikh community living in Jammu and Kashmir so that separate funds were earmarked for their economic and social uplift.
