Jammu, July 8
With tourist season at its peak, unbearable stench and unhygienic conditions at Jammu railway station that witnesses around 50,000 passengers every day, makes life miserable for tourists and visitors.

Railway tracks and three platforms reflect a dismal picture of poor maintenance and upkeep by the Railway authorities.

Garbage strewn across platforms is a common sight for the visitors.

“It is a common sight. We brave the stench and unhygienic conditions every day,” said Sushil Kumar, a government employee, who shuttles in the DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) between Jammu and Udhampur for his job every day.

“No one seems to be bothered about unhygienic conditions here,” said Swati Sharma, a government teacher, who has to shuttle every day in the DMU for her job.

"The ticket per passenger on DMU from Jammu to Udhampur costs Rs 15. A video coach charges Rs 50 per passenger from Jammu to Udhampur. The ticket cost for a DMU makes us compromise on hygiene and cleanliness," she reasoned.

Sharma said that it being one of the busiest stations, the Railways authorities should not only come up with basic facilities but also make it attractive.

It may be stated here that the majority of Vaishno Devi pilgrims come via train.

The station has also become a haven for rag-pickers and urchins.

“Leave aside cleanliness, no one on the local train or even on the platform demands tickets from the daily commuters,” said Rakesh Mahajan, who travels to Manwal every day.

He said that in the past 30 years, not much has changed at the Jammu railway station.

“Parking lot for cars, mini buses and kiosks within its vicinity continue to give it a shabby look. The station had been attacked by armed militants in January 2004 when four security personnel and 14 others were injured,” he said.

A Railway official, who declined to be named, attributed the unhygienic conditions to huge arrivals and departures of passengers.

“Despite our best efforts, it becomes difficult to maintain hygiene round the clock vis-a-vis huge arrivals and departure of passengers every day,” he reasoned.

Jammu, July 8
Heavy rains lashed Jammu city early Monday morning and brought life to a standstill in the city. Water-logging was witnessed in different parts of the city, causing problem for the masses.

Due to water-logging, the traffic police had to divert traffic on Panama Chowk-Narwal Road, which was filled with small stones and waste coming out of sewerage channels. Till the evening, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) failed to remove the waste from the roads.

When the sun came out, dust made movement of commuters difficult and there was no respite as JMC men were nowhere around.

Water-logging is a daily routine on Jammu roads during monsoons and when heavy rains lash the city, filth and small stones come out of the sewerage channels, making lives of people difficult. Areas like Jewel Chowk, Canal Road near GGM Science College, Panama Chowk, railway crossing on Narwal Road and many other areas witness water-logging, causing traffic jam.

Neither JMC nor district administration has been able to address these concerns.

JMC officials believe that due to encroachment near various sewerage channels, the drainage system has got affected, which causes water-logging.

"In 1972, the Krishna Nagar sewerage channel, near GGM Science College, was 36-feet-wide, but at present, it is only six-feet-wide. The rain water has to move from this channel and when it doesn't get proper space, water-logging occurs," said JMC Commissioner KL Khajuria.

He said that to address the issue, the JMC is planning to divert the Shakti Nagar sewerage channel, which enters Krishna Nagar sewerage channel, towards the Accountant General's office. "This will help in somehow dealing with the water-logging issue," he added.

The JMC Commissioner said that by Tuesday evening, they will be able to clean the roads filled with waste due to heavy rain. "Our men were on the job on Monday and on Tuesday, the cleaning process will continue and we hope that by evening, all roads will be cleaned," said Khajuria.

He said that JMC goes for regular cleaning of various sewerage channels and low-lying areas, but still people throw waste into these channels, which leads to choking and in rainy season, it creates problem for masses.

Batote, July 8
Doctors, paramedical and other staff members of all the hospitals and allopathic dispensaries of Ramban district struck work today in protest against assault on a surgeon, pharmacist, operation theatre technician and an ambulance driver of the Sher-e-Kashmir Memorial Emergency Hospital in Batote on Saturday night.

Except the emergency treatment of the patients, no OPD and other routine works were conducted in the hospitals at Batote, Chanderkot, Ramban, Banihal, Gool and other peripheral or rural hospitals today.

Following a day-long meeting of the ADDC, Pradeep Kumar and CMO, Ramban, Dr Mohd Anwar Bhat with the striking employees, kin of the accused and locals in presence of the Sushil Soodan, President, J&K Medical Employees Federation and other leaders of the Medical and Para-Medical employees unions of the province and the district, the strike was called off till Wednesday for the time being.

“Such misbehaviour against those who have come here thus far to save the lives of the people here, is intolerable. The employees of all the hospitals of Jammu province including those deputed on the Amarnath Yatra would go on strike if all the accused are not rounded up by Wednesday night,” threatened Sushil Soodan, president, J&K Medical Employees’ Federation.

Meanwhile, this reporter was misbehaved with and restrained from performing his duty by one of the hospital employees, Ghulam Mustafa, in presence of the ADDC, Pradeep, CMO, Dr Bhat and other officers.

The cause

The assault on a surgeon, pharmacist, operation theatre technician and an ambulance driver of the Sher-e-Kashmir Memorial Emergency Hospital in Batote by the kin of the injured on Saturday night.

The effect

Except the emergency treatment of the patients, no OPD and other routine works were conducted in the hospitals at Batote, Chanderkot, Ramban, Banihal, Gool and other peripheral or rural hospitals today.

Employees’ threat

"The employees of all the hospitals of the Jammu province including those deputed on the Amarnath Yatra would go on strike if all the accused are not rounded up by Wednesday night,” threatened Sushil Soodan, president, J&K Medical Employees’ Federation.

Jammu, July 8
The Floriculture Department seems to be in a slumber over continuous fleecing of devotees visiting the Bagh-e-Bahu temple, also known as Bawe Wali Mata temple, as parking contractors had been charging at their sweet will.

Official sources don’t rule out a nexus between parking contractors and officials of the department, saying the former are being encouraged (by the officials) to charge pilgrims exorbitantly when they park their vehicles at the main parking lot located at the entrance of the shrine.

“There is a complete mismatch between the rates mentioned at the display board installed at the parking lot and what contractors charge from pilgrims while issuing parking slips. Yesterday, they charged me Rs 20 for three hours when I parked my car there despite the fact that the parking rate mentioned on the display board was just Rs 10 for three hours. Similarly, they charge exorbitantly for other vehicles too,” Vinay Sharma, a city resident, said.

Sharma said he had a heated exchange of words with the contractors when he objected to the arbitrary charging. “The authorities concerned must take strict action against the officials concerned as well as parking contractors,” he said.

Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Janipur, said, “This malpractice has been taking place for long, but the authorities didn’t bother to take concrete measure to stop it. A well-knit nexus between officials concerned and parking contractors has been operating and there is an immediate need to penalise contractors and officials to stop such things.”

Rajouri, July 8
Already under fire for its callous working, Municipal Corporation Rajouri is once again facing serious problems as it has been unable to pay salaries to its ‘safai karamcharis’ and other employees for months as it is said to be reeling under debt by paying a huge amount for carrying garbage from Rajouri to Sundarbani owing to unavailability of a dumping place in the town.

According to figures provided, the civic body had spent Rs 1,06,108 in January, including Rs 10,440 spent on repair of the vehicle which used to carry the city's garbage to the Sundarbani garbage plant, which is 60 kilometres away from Rajouri. In the month of February, this figure was down to Rs 77,182, in March, Rs 24,415, in the month of April, this figure suddenly rose to Rs 1,22,584, in April, MC is supposed to have spent Rs 1,53,620 and in June, this figure was down to 
Rs 44,101.

Astonishingly, “Oil supply for the vehicle which carried garbage to Sundarbani was stopped for a few days by petrol pumps owing to pending dues of the Municipal Corporation,” said sources.

A senior officer of the corporation claimed, "Absence of a dumping plant in the city has become a serious problem over the past few years. It severely affects our budget, as we have hardly any sources of income in the city."

"We have some shops in the old bus stand allotted on a rent of Rs 100 to Rs 200 per month. We collect a nominal tax of Rs 300 from a shopkeeper every year. Apart from this, sanitation tax is the only source of income to the Municipal Corporation Rajouri," he added.

Rafiq Khan, a safai karamchari leader, said, “With the intervention of local leader and Health Minister Shabir Khan, the municipality has released our salary for three months, but three-month salary of ours is still pending with the Corporation."

“A dumpling place is crucial for people of Rajouri. Lakhs of rupees are spent on petrol for the garbage-carrying vehicle, which is unfortunate,” added Khan.

Parveez Mirza, Executive Officer (EO), Rajouri Municipal Committee, said they were trying to streamline the system and to pay the employees' dues. He also took note of the spending on the garbage-carrying vehicle, but hastened to add, “We have no other option owing to absence of a dumping place.”

District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Faqir Chand Bhagat, said the issue was also raised at a recent District Development Board Meeting, adding, “We have identified a place for a dumping garbage in Kalakote, which needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pollution Control Board”. 

Katra, July 8
To redress grievances of the poor living in the far-flung and remote areas of the Reasi district, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma, today convened a public grievance camp at Reasi.

XEN, PDD, Reasi division, and Chief Education Officer, Reasi, District Social Welfare Officer, ARTO, Reasi, besides other district and sectoral officers, sarpanches and panches also attended the public darbar. People raised various demands, including concession in the electricity tariff for rural areas, improvement/upgrade of the Reasi-Katra road, old-age pensions to the eligible people and timely payment of pensions, 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 officers concerned to make coordinated efforts for the development and uplift of backward areas. He asked the sarpanches and panches to keep a close eye on various developmental works in their respective areas so that the funds get utilised on ground for the benefit of the people.

Regarding upgrade of roads and drinking water supply schemes, the MLA directed the executing agency concerned to speed up the work and complete the same on time. Sharma said he was committed to the development of every vital sector in the area and the Central and state governments had launched various schemes for the uplift of weaker sections of the society. He said the people should come forward to avail maximum benefits of these schemes.

Prominent leaders at the gathering assured their full support. Workers who accompanied the leaders included Baldev Raj Sharma, Shambu Nath Tripathia, Capt Kuldeep Singh, Naresh Sharma, Chaman Lal Bhagat and Ashok Kumar Mengi.

Katra, July 8
The Beopar Mandal, Reasi, today donated Rs 1 lakh as a donation to disaster-hit victims of Uttarakhand. The cheque was handed over to Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Reasi.

The Deputy Commissioner had made an appeal to all the citizens, religious and social organisations as well as trade unions and associations for donating whole heartedly in favour of victims of flash floods in Uttarakhand.

In response to the appeal, a number of organisations have made their contributions towards disaster relief and donations are still pouring in, which will be forwarded to the relief fund this week.

The amount was handed over to the DC by the delegation of the Beopar Mandal, Reasi, led by Jodh Singh, accompanied by Om Prakash, Sudesh Gandotra and others. The DC thanked representatives of the Beopar Mandal for supporting the cause.

Jammu, July 8
The Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit Organisations (JFKPO) said the Article 370 had been a major stumbling block in the emotional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India and it should be removed.

The forum said the experience of past six decades had shown that it had created a justification for eruption of the feelings of separatism and secessionism in a certain section of people in the state. "Besides, providing a constitutional cover to secessionist thinking, the Article 370 has encouraged pro-Pakistan elements. It has helped radicalise the thinking amongst a section of population that Kashmir is a supra-separate entity," said Ashwani Chrangoo, president Panun Kashmir.

The forum has said that Jammu and Kashmir was always a part of India socially, politically and culturally since times immemorial, and the instrument of accession was only a legal and constitutional requirement which every acceding state had to execute before joining the Union of India.

Deeneshwar Singh Jamwal, president, Universal Foundation, said Jammu and Ladakh regions have suffered continued discrimination in all spheres, be it development, employment opportunities or the rehabilitation of 
victims of 1947 and terrorism. We make an earnest appeal to the nationalist forces to join the protest demonstration on July 13 and make it a success.

Kashmir Sikh Displaced Forum (KSDF) president Prem Singh Raina said displaced Sikh community had suffered immensely due to its forced migration from the Valley and has become the victim of the neglect and apathy of the state after migration like the Kashmiri Pandits.

Jammu, July 8
Recognising the dire need of technical exposure among the student community, Technothlon-13, an organisation specialised in IIT, is going to start a competition as a part of their annual techno management festival in 150 centres across India.

The competition will be conducted in two phases and the preliminary will be held on July 14. In J&K, the competition will be conducted at MV International School. The mains examination will be held on August 29 and September 1, respectively and the selected 200 students will be eligible to visit IIT Guwahati Campus to compete among the best in the country.

The students are divided into Junior Squad (classes IX to X) and Hauts Squad (classes XI to XII) who get separate question papers set by the students of IIT Guwahati campus. The paper is based on logical, analytical ability and practical observations.

Those who make through to the mains will be invited to the IIT Guwahati campus during Techniche from August 20 to September 1 wherein they contest in more challenging rounds.

Jammu, July 8
Christ Church Club (CCC), Akhnoor, overcame the challenge of Bethal Church, Jammu, in an exciting contest by 1 run on the penultimate ball of the match in the ongoing Inter-Church Cricket Championship.

Batting first, CCC piled up 122 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted quota of 12 overs. Sunny was the main scorer with 44 runs studded with five delectable hits to the fence. Prince and Madan contributed 27 and 12 runs to the total, respectively.

For Bethal Church, Lawrence and Amit shared two wickets each. Chasing the target, Bethal Church lost the match by a thin margin of just 1 run. Rahul and Samdeepan were the main scorers with 52 and 26 runs, respectively. For CCC, Binny was the chief destroyer with a five-wicket haul while Madan and Bullie took two and one wickets, respectively. The man of the match was awarded to Binny of CCC.

In another match, CNI defeated Catholic Church-B, Jammu, with the consummate ease. Batting first, CNI posted 217 runs for the loss of one wicket in the allotted quota of 12 overs. Ambrose struck an unbeaten ton by scoring 109 runs with the help of 14 boundaries. Vikas was the other main contributor with 74 runs.

For Catholic Church-B team, Sahil took one wicket.

In reply, Catholic Church-B could not chase the target and was skittled out for paltry 69 runs and lost the match by a mammoth margin of 148 runs.

Sameer and Sahil made 21 and 20 runs, respectively. Vasu and Fleming took three and two wickets, respectively. Ambrose was adjudged the man of the match. The match was officiated by Rajesh Mattoo and Rohit Robert as umpires while Rakul acted as scorer.

The tournament is being organised by the Christian Sports Organisation, J&K.

David Mattoo and Victor Sotra are the organising secretaries of the tournament and the tournament is being organised under the overall supervision of Rajesh Gill, president of the organisation.

Jammu, July 8
The Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) XI got the better of Samar Cricket Club (SCC) by three wickets to secure a berth in the semifinals of the ongoing 5th Pawan Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament being organised by Singh Cricket Club, Akhnoor, at Government Higher Secondary School Ground, Akhnoor.

Earlier, batting first, SCC accumulated a modest total of 129 runs in the stipulated quota of 20 overs. Sahil (25), Pranav (20), Pankaj (18) and Parmeet (16) were the main scorers. For the JKP XI, Majid and Ashwani were the main wicket takers with three each. Sheetal bagged two wickets while Rompy and Shivdutt claimed one wicket apiece.

JKP XI, in reply, overhauled the target in 18.4 overs for the loss of seven wickets. Rompy was the top scorer with 45 runs while Naresh and Nishant contributed 20 and 13 runs, respectively. Parmeet and Pankaj grabbed two wickets each for SCC while Pranav and Sourav Chopra claimed one wicket each. Rompy was declared the man of the match. The match was officiated by Sadiq Hussain and Vikas Bali as umpires while Ajay Bhagat was the scorer.