Srinagar, July 22
For the past nearly a fortnight, the Consumer Affairs and Price Distribution (CAPD) Department has stopped selling sugar at many of its ration depots in the Valley, putting residents to inconveniences especially in the month of Ramadan.

However, CAPD officials maintained that sugar was available but in insufficient stock at many depots. On the other hand, residents said they were being sent back by depot officials saying that sugar would not be sold anymore now.

The CAPD depots have been selling sugar at the discounted rates whereas the market rates of sugar are Rs 30-35 per kilogram.

Buying sugar from the market would be unaffordable for the people belong to the low economic strata.

“We get sugar from the CAPD depots at half the market rate. For each family, a fixed amount of sugar is given every month. Now, the government is refusing to sell sugar. Shopkeepers in the market are fleecing us already by selling it at exorbitant rates,” said Amin Ahmad, a government employee.

Residents said the authorities should come clean on whether sugar was available with them or they have stopped selling it completely.

“Ministers and bureaucrats gave false assurances to the people when Ramadan was around the corner that the essential commodities will be provided in sufficient quantities, while on the ground, the situation is entirely different. For what we are paying taxes?” asked Sabiya Soz, a housewife.

While people are suffering during this summer in Ramadan, the authorities say all essential stocks are in place.

“There is no problem at all. We are discussing problems people face at a meeting and remedial measures will be adopted,” said CAPD director Mushtaq Ahmad Peer.

Srinagar, July 22
At a time when queries and complaints on supply of essential commodities need quick disposal, the toll-free grievance and complaints number of the Consumer Affairs and Price Distribution (CAPD) is out of order.

The CAPD, like many other public departments in the state, has started the helpline number for quick disposal of queries of consumers, but the number is not working, hence making people suffer.

The CAPD has listed 9205040479 as its toll free helpline number. In the time of Ramadan, people tend to call the departmental headquarters for any query/complaint but this time, the administration has made little efforts to make this important number functional.

“In the wake of regular curfew and shutdowns, this helpline number becomes very important for common masses especially when we run short of supplies. But the state government seems not to bother at all and is in fact displaying wrong or out of order telephone number,” said Amir Khan, a local shopkeeper.

In the last few days, queries related to food and essential commodities from people have increased, but the authorities have not intensified their measures of solving the problems of the people.

Despite holding many review meetings and conducting market checks, shortage of essential commodities and price hike are still prevalent in the Valley.

As such, even the helpline number is dysfunctional hence creating further problem for the people.

Anantnag, July 22
While normalcy returned to most parts of the Valley after three days of protests, violent clashes amid a complete shutdown were witnessed in some parts of Kulgam and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir.

Reports said Qazigund town today remained shut throughout the day, while intermittent clashes between the security forces and public were reported from some parts of the town.

People were protesting against the detention of some local youth by the police for being a part of protests against the killings in Ramban by the Border Security Force.

The police had detained more than 20 local youth and they demanded an immediate release of the detained youth, said protesters.

Shops and other establishments remained closed in Kulgam town for the fourth consecutive day today.

Reports said while some people tried to open shops in the morning, clashes broke out between the security forces and the local youth, forcing a complete shutdown in the town.

“Sporadic clashes were witnessed in Kulgam town throughout the day today,” reports said, “While there was not heavy deployment on the streets but occasional patrol parties came under heavy stone pelting.”

Meanwhile in the Tral area of Pulwama district, clashes between the youth and the security forces forced a complete shutdown in the area.

“We opened our shops in the morning for a couple of hours. However, violent clashes broke out and we had to close our shops,” said a local shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, reports of clashes amid a shutdown also came from the Litter area of Pulwama district.

Srinagar, July 22
‘Bhoomi pujan’ and ‘dhwajarohan’ of Chhari Mubarak (holy mace of Lord Shiva) were performed at Pahalgam, which is considered the resting place of the holy mace, in south Kashmir today.

A group of ‘sadhus’ led by Mahant Deependra Giri took the Chhari Mubarak from the Dashnami Akhara here early in the morning for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ and ‘dhwajarohan’ at Pahalgam from where the Amarnath yatra commences.

Publicity secretary, Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara, says the ‘bhoomi pujan’ and ‘dhwajarohan’ are performed annually after which the Chhari Mubarak returns to the akhara here.

He said, “Chhari Mubarak will then leave for the Shankaracharya temple from the Dashnami Akhara in the morning of August 6. After prayers at the temple, Chhari Mubarak will return to its abode, Dashnami Akhara.” On August 9, ‘chhari sthapana’ and ‘dhwajarohan’ ceremonies would be performed at the Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar, he added.

Chhari Mubarak would commence its journey to the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva on August 16. While prayers at the holy cave shrine would be held on August 21, the holy mace would return to the Dashnami Akhara on August 23.

The publicity secretary said all arrangements had been put in place for the Chhari Mubarak related religious ceremonies.

Kupwara/srinagar, July 22
Panic gripped two villages in Lolab valley of Kupwara district yesterday following drowning of two children in canals maintained by the Department of Irrigation. Local residents demanded stern action against the department for its alleged failure in laying protection walls around the canals to prevent loss of human lives.

Ten-year-old Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, son of Ghulam Hassan Mir, drowned in an irrigation canal while taking a bath at his native Tangchak village in Lolab around 1pm. Locals retrieved his body an hour later. Relatives of the victim said the department was fully responsible for death of the minor boy in the absence of a protection wall around the canal.

In another incident, Class VII student Ashiq Hussian Ganie, son of Bashir Ahmad Ganie, drowned in a canal at his native Lalpora village at 4pm. Jawans of the CRPF and 18 RR with the help of locals retrieved the body from the canal an hour later. Locals said the canals maintained by the Irrigation Department were not protected by fencing walls and posed serious dangers to the lives of human beings.

“The department is fully responsible for the death of two children.

Almost all the canals in Lolab valley have been devoid of protection walls and especially children are prone to drowning. Stern action should be taken against the department for its failure in laying protection walls around the canals,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Lalpora.

Meanwhile, two boys drowned in the Jhelum river on Srinagar outskirts, while the body of a man has been fished out from the river in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Abdul Qayoom Sheikh and Mohammad Altaf Sheikh, both residents of Checki-Pohru, drowned in the Jhelum river at Bagh-e-Shakoor Shah on the city outskirts near Nowgam, a police spokesman said.

The spokesman said the duo was taking a bath in the river when they drowned. Efforts were on to locate their bodies, the spokesman said.

In another incident, workers extracting sand from the Jhelum river at Shilvat in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district fished out the body of a man early today.

The body had been identified as that of Idress Hussain Bhat, a resident of Indra Nagar, as per the identity card, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, July 22
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state government to explore the possibility of introducing hybrid vehicles in the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

These directions were issued by a Division Bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice DS Thakur.

The high court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO, Kashmir Consumer Welfare Forum, which is seeking streamlining of flawed traffic system in Srinagar city, the summer capital of the state.

“The issue concerning shifting from petrol to CNG (compressed natural gas) has confronted this PIL for the last two years. In the last order, we had said that in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu, CNG needs to be introduced as an alternative fuel,” the Bench observed in its orders passed today.

“The additional Action Taken Report (ATR) by the Transport Commissioner undertakes that there are two CNG stations at Jammu and the possibility for Srinagar is being explored,” the Bench observed, while adding that for using CNG, vehicles fitted with CNG kit also need to be introduced in the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu.

In its orders, the Bench also directed the respondents to switchover to green technologies as far as reducing the pollution levels is concerned by introducing hybrid vehicles.

“The possibility of hybrid vehicles for the two cities needs to be explored so as to switchover to this hybrid system,” the Bench said.

A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle.

The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The hybrid electric vehicles run on batteries.

As far as number of condemned commercial vehicles and their phasing out is concerned, the court directed the respondent authorities to clarify its stand vis-à-vis the number of such vehicles and the definition related to the commercial vehicles.

The court said no correct figure of vehicles was given by the authorities concerned and it was not explained whether commercial vehicles includes trucks, buses or load carriers etc.

The court also directed the Planning Department to release the funds to the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) for erecting a fencing wall around the newly constructed Panthachowk Bus Stand.

Srinagar, July 22
Refusing to grant interim stay, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued notices to the state government and other respondents, including the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC), in a PIL opposing the construction of Srinagar city’s first 'skewed' bridge which is coming up on the Jhelum and its banks.

The 170-m bridge is being constructed by the JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Currently, the work on the project is apace and is expected to be completed in three years.

In the PIL filed by Aftab Hilali Shah and other civil society activists, including Zarief Ahmad Zarif and Qurut-ul-Ain, the high court's intervention has been sought in stopping the construction of the skewed bridge over the Jhelum in Srinagar. This has triggered a debate in the Valley over its developmental benefits and environmental losses.

The PIL, which was pleaded by senior high court lawyer Zaffar Shah before the court, read that the bridge is being constructed only to benefit some influential people, as they want to commercially exploit the areas which the bridge seeks to connect the Rajbagh side.

The skewed bridge is being constructed over heritage ‘The Bund’, which was used by the British for leisure walks before 1947. Off late, its pristine glory was sought to be revived by the PDP-led government by beautifying the banks of the Jhelum on the either side and constructing parks along it.

After hearing the petitioners, the court though refused to grant an interim stay on the ongoing construction work, it, however, issued notices to the government and other official respondents, including the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Development Authority, and the JKPCC.

It has asked them to file their response within four weeks.

Votaries of ‘The Bund’ opine that the concrete and skewed bridge will mar the beauty of the green landscape and heritage structure on the river banks. On the other hand, those supporting the project say the new bridge would ease the traffic congestion in the city.

However, many are of the view that the authorities should, instead, construct a footbridge in place of the skewed bridge.

Srinagar, July 22
Seven burglars, who were operating in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, were arrested and stolen property, estimated worth lakhs of rupees, has been recovered from their possession, the police said here today.

The police while investigating a case of burglary which took place in last week of April in the Chankhan area of Sopore received a tip off, about a person identified as Irshad Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Ningli village near Sopore.

“During the investigation, police received a tip off regarding Irshad Ahmad Bhat for being involved in burglaries. He was arrested and during questioning he confessed that he along with his associate Tariq Ahmad Naikoo of Sopore had broke into the shop and taken away the clothing from there,” a police spokesman said.

The arrest of the duo led to the recovery of stolen property of the textile shop.

During further questioning, their involvement in other cases of theft and burglary was also surfaced, the spokesman said.

The duo identified other members as Mohammad Saleem Sheikh, Aatif Aijaz Shah, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Malla, Sajad Ahmad Dar, Bashir Ahmad Baba and Mohammad Rafiq Kana, all residents of Sopore and its adjoining localities.

All the burglars have been arrested and five cases of burglaries have been solved, the spokesman said.