Jammu, July 27
Even as the Power Development Department (PDD) blames frequent tripping for unscheduled cuts in Jammu, sources say shortage of funds to upgrade the infrastructure at the Gladni, Janipur and Udhampur grid stations for the past two decades is the major reason for the situation.

Sources said though at times, heavy load led to overheating of equipment, but the slow process of replacing transformers, switch gears, circuit broachers installed since the establishment of grid stations, which supply electricity to half the population of the state, was the major cause of frequent faults in the equipment.

The power sector has become the Achilles' heel for the Omar Abdullah-led coalition government but despite setting the sector’s reforms as a priority area, the government has diverted the funds meant for the maintenance of critical grid stations.

“Funds meant for the maintenance of grid stations have been diverted to other sectors in the department. Regular maintenance of the transmission system is an important aspect for ensuring an uninterrupted power supply, which is given importance in every other state of the country. However, despite the rhetoric of our planners, the state is not adhering to rules,” said a PDD official on the condition of anonymity.

He said the state had the highest Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in the country at 63 per cent, with residential areas facing frequent power cuts.

Chief Engineer (Operations and Maintenance) Ajay Gupta said, “The shortage of funds is a problem. However, routine maintenance is carried out whenever there is any snag in the system.”

Gupta blamed the increased load for the frequent power cuts in Jammu and said the department was devising a strategy to streamline the system.

An audit report has recently revealed that the Remote Terminal Units (RTUs)/Sub Station Management Systems (SMSs), essential for monitoring the efficiency of the transmission system and the power load during emergency in load dispatch centres, are non-existent at many sub-stations. The audit states that only 11 out of 54 sub-stations had RTUs for recording the real time data for efficient energy management system.

It statest the state utilised only 49 per cent of the funds made available by the Central government under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) for revamping power infrastructure in the state.

Jammu, July 27
The Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association (RBBA) thanked the R&B Minister Abdul Majid Wani for announcing an advance of Rs 45 lakh for upgrade of the market road. Wani, who undertook a round of the historical market today, interacted with the traders in the market.

Association president Baldev Khullar informed the minister that due to frequent blacktopping of the road in the market, its level had risen to the level of the footpath. As a result, the rain water entered the shops.

“During the heavy rainfall last week, water entered many shops, drenching the merchandise and causing heavy loss to the shopkeepers”, he said.

Khullar requested the minister to instruct the department to blacktop the road with masticasphalt road surface, which could last for 15-20 years and also that the potholes and side drains be covered. He also demanded that rainwater pipes be laid on both sides to take rain water from the road to the main drain.

The representatives of the RBBA also discussed about the project of beautification of the historical market with the minister, the work on which was going on at a slow pace.

The minister also assured the association that he would take up with the Chief Minister the sanction of balance amount of Rs 3.16 crore for early completion of the project of beautification of the Raghunath Bazar to make it a state-of-the-art marketplace.

He also directed the Tourism Director to speed up the work on beautification project so that the same was completed by 2014.

Jammu, July 27
Concerned over the failure of various departments in updating their websites, the state government has directed the administrative secretaries to ensure their sites were maintained.

To implement the e-governance project, departments created their websites but most of them are either dysfunctional or give out obsolete information to visitors.

A formal direction in this regard was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD). The order also states that the field departments, which are yet to launch their website, should complete the process immediately.

About ten years ago, the government had taken a major initiative of implementing the e-governance project in departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU)s and other organisations under the Centrally sponsored scheme.

"While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is found tweeting on a micro-blogging site, several government departments have gone offline when it comes to the maintenance of sites containing vital information about the state," said an official.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC), a premier institution of the Government of India, established in 1976, is the main agency which is looking after the e-governance project in the state. However, departments were required to maintain proper infrastructure required for the project, which includes the software content.

"Lakhs of rupees were invested in introducing Information Technology (IT) and e-governance in the day-to-day working of the government but it is not proving to be useful. Only a few departments update information on their sites," said Suman Kapil, who runs an NGO.

The obsolete information is posing inconvenience to people of the state, especially students.

Jammu, July 27
The J&K government is having its task cut out as the Department of Youth Affairs has made it clear to all states that there is a need to speed up the coverage of more village and block panchayats under the Centrally sponsored scheme Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).

The sheme is aimed at strengthening the sports infrastructure at the grassroots level.

When the scheme was launched in 2008, the state government's target was to cover more than 4,000 panchayats before the expiry of the scheme in 2017. Sources say out of 4,000 panchayats, only 700 have been covered under the scheme so far in the state.

In order to tighten the noose around the erring states, who have neither utilised the Centre's grant nor submitted Utilisation Certificates (UC), the Union department has said these states will have to refund the grant along with an interest.

Sources said some of these states had utilised the grant for development of playfields and submitted the UC while others had availed the grant only for one year or two years and were unable to avail it further due to the non-submission of the UC.

The matter regarding the submission of the UC for the grants-in-aid released was discussed at the meeting of the Executive Committee (EC), PYKKA, held in June 2012 and also at the General Council meeting of PYKKA in September 2012.

The department had also proposed to enhance the amount for development of a playfield in each village panchayat from the existing Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh.

Further, a greater emphasis is being laid on rapid development of village playfields and enhancement of skill sets of the panchayat-level trainers through training.

A plan outlay of Rs 1,500 crore was earmarked in the Eleventh Five Year Plan for PYKKA while Rs 155 crore was provided for the year 2012-13.

The PYKKA scheme has been adopted in 28 states and four UTs for the development of basic sports infrastructure.

So far 60,421 village panchayats and 1,852 block panchayats have been approved and a grant-in-aid of Rs 692.72 crore has been released.

Katra, July 27
To make drivers aware of their health, the Regional Transport Office organised a medical-cum-health awareness camp at General Bus Stand in the town here. The camp was inaugurated by Rajinder Singh Tara, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi. During the camp, doctors conducted on-the-spot medical examination of 100 drivers who were also provided literature on good health.

Eyesight testing, HIV, HB, blood grouping and blood testing of the drivers were the main features of the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh appealed to the drivers to remain cautious and ensure routine medical examination for a healthy life.

Shami Kumar, ARTO, Reasi, Health specialists of District Hospital, Reasi and members of various transport unions, besides several prominent people of the area, were present on the occasion.

Jammu, July 27
A doctor without a valid degree was appointed as the Medical Superintendent (MS) at Government Hospital, Sarwal, Jammu District, by a reportedly incompetent authority and now has been appointed as Medical Superintendent, Rajouri.

In documentary evidences collected by The Tribune, it was found that Dr Arun Sharma, who was posted as Medical Superintendent (MS) of the Government Hospital, Sarwal, for the last three years and has now been appointed as MS, District Hospital, Rajouri, does not have the valid degree of Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA).

According to the sources, Dr Sharma did his MHA, mandatory for the post of Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, from Tata Institute of Medical Sciences, which is not recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

As per the record, Dr Sharma was appointed as the MS of the Government Hospital, Sarwal, on November 2, 2010, vide order No. DHS-J/Es-3/2326-28 by the Director of Health Services (DHS). However, sources informed The Tribune that the DHS was incompetent to appoint an Medical Superintendent at the District Hospital.

In a notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) on November 12, 2011, vide Notice No. PSC/DR/Deputy Medical Superintendent/2011, the candidature of Dr Sharma was rejected for the post of Deputy Superintendent, as his MHA degree was from an Institute not recognised by the MCI .

In a letter issued by the MCI in favour of the Under Secretary, on April 20, 2006, it was mentioned that Masters degree in Hospital/ Health Administration obtained from the unrecognised ‘Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ could not be treated as equivalent to Masters degree in Hospital Administration obtained from the recognised medical institutions.

However, Dr Sharma was working as Medical Superintendent at the Sarwal Hospital and has now been transferred to Rajouri district on the same post.

Sources in the hospitals said “This is the only reason why, in spite of having the best infrastructure and doctors, patients are not satisfied with the services in the hospitals and the death rate goes up”.

“It should be checked and then cross checked that the right person sits on the right chair, so that the medical department of the state can be No.1 in the common man’s eyes”, they said.

Dr Sharma, when contacted, said “MCI recognition is not required for this post and I have filed a case against the JKPSC for disqualifying me due to the reason mentioned there.”

He also said some other doctors, like Dr Manoj Chalotra, who had also done their masters from the same institution, had been appointed as Medical Superintendents by the JKPSC.

Batote, July 27
The haphazard parking of minibuses and tempos, waiting for passengers for their scheduled trips to Ramban or Jathhi in Doda, between the Gurudwara Singh Sabha and the Patwarkhana, has been a cause of injuries to several persons in Batote town.

The multiple fractures caused to a local resident, Vandna Gupta, and a providential escape of her son Priyanshu (12), when a rashly driven Doda-bound car hit her while she was walking on the extreme left side of the National Highway-44 in the town on July 23 is not an isolated case.

“Our son was walking with his mother on a footpath when he had to free his hand from her as there was no space on the footpath due to a heap of construction material. and a steel water tank on the foot -path by a resident constructing a building beside the road. He had taken only a few steps forward when my wife was hit but he got saved,” said Vandna’s husband Sohan Lal Gupta.

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the car coming from Jammu could not view the vehicle coming from the opposite direction because a number of minibuses parked on the left side of the road after a blind curve. They said when he found no space on his right side, he hit the woman.

On July 25, Mohammad Shahid (14), a student of class VI at Sunrise School, and a tea stall owner, Khurshid Ahmed Wani, were injured near the same spot when a tempo hit them. The driver was also blinded of the view due to the idle parking of the minibuses and other vehicles on the road there.

“There have been many such mishaps in the past few months on this stretch of road but the local administration has done nothing to curb accidents,” said S Manjit Singh, a nearby bakery owner.

Naib-Tehsildar (Executive Magistrate-1st class) SJ Sharma said the area being hilly and the highway being only two-laned, there was a shortage of space for parking vehicles. He said he would do his best to identify a suitable place for relocating the 'mini-bus stand' from there. 

Jammu, July 27
The Department of Posts has launched a 'Customer First' campaign in the state to bring people closer to Post Offices and to provide them customer-friendly services.

The campaign was launched by John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K, today at Lakhanpur, the entry point to the state, after dedicating the modernised Post Office at Lakhanpur to the people under Project Arrow.

During the campaign, various activities such as focusing on identification of potential customers, customer satisfaction and encouraging staff to know the relevance of customers will be carried out.

The computerised Post Office, from where the campaign has been launched, will also provide 'Post Shop' services, 'Philately' services in addition to mail services, speed post, parcel and banking services.

The Post office has been designed on modern lines and provided with best infrastructure to provide all postal facilities to locals and tourists under one roof.

Speaking on the occasion, Samuel said since the business of postal services in the state had seen tremendous growth in the recent years, the department was focusing to strengthen its relations with its customers and the campaign would prove to be a milestone in this direction.

“The campaign will focus on identification of potential customers, their requirements and satisfaction, for which a survey will be conducted through feedback forms. Moreover, staff members will be encouraged to provide best available services at post offices to customers, including a better ambience,” said Samuel.

The Chief Postmaster General said people could write to him directly sharing their experience of postal services and suggest ways to improve.

For this purpose, he said, a link will also be provided on the J&K Postal Circle’s website www.jkpost.gov.in for feedback during the campaign.

Jammu, July 27
The United Secular Forum, J&K, has said the gurdwara elections in the state were due in 2008 after the completion of five years’ tenure of the previous committee, according to the J&K Sikh Gurdwara Endowment Act, 1973.

Avtar Singh Khalsa, president of the forum and ex-member of District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, today said some self-interested leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (Badal), SAD (Maan) and DGPC had got illegal and unlawful stays to delay the election process.

He added that these individuals were misusing the gurdwara funds. Mohinder Singh, chief organiser, Bhai Kanhaiya Nishkam Sewa Society, said the tenure of the government-nominated committee was of six months but on its completion, three members had refused to resign and got illegal stays from the court.

He further claimed that the members had never audited the DGPC accounts.

The forum appealed to the Sikhs of the state to boycott the “self-styled leaders” who had delayed the elections.

Prominent among others present on the occasion were Ranjit Singh, Ramnik Singh, Paramjit Singh, Surinder Singh, Manmohan Singh, Sukhjit Singh, Gajan Singh, Surjit Singh Kukoo, Kapoor Singh Dutta, Rajinder Singh, Dharminder Singh Bhargav, Kultar Singh, Kulwant Singh, Tejpal Singh and T P Singh. — TNS

Jammu, July 27
The statement by two Congress leaders, Raj Babbar and Rasheed Masood, that Rs 5 and Rs 12 were enough for a person to get full stomach meal is being ridiculed by the common man, who terms it as an insult to millions of poor people in India who do not get two square meal.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has also jumped in and claimed that one can fill his stomach for just Re 1.

“The problem with the UPA is that it has lost touch with the ground realities. They just want to make poverty vanish from the country, by fudging the figures and fighting elections. It is the leaders who are responsible for the present condition of the nation. Their greed has destroyed the nation”, said Bafar Shah, a businessman.

“Claiming that cheap food is available on the streets of India is derogatory as millions of people are still sleeping empty stomach, even after six decades of independence. It is the worst statement, that too at a time when even middle class families are fighting for survival due to the price rise” said Sanjeev Verma, another businessman.

Vikas Sharma, a student leader, said “I can just laugh at the statement by Congress leaders. They should be asked to survive on Rs 12 for their meals. Crores of rupees are being swindled by political leaders while children are dying of malnutrition and hunger. It is a shameful statement and people are intelligent enough to respond to these in the general elections”.

Jammu, July 27
Skipper Ian Dev Singh helped Surya Risers script a 3-run win over Kehwa Kings to consolidate their position in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Corporate Premier League (JKCPL), being played at M A Stadium.

Winning the toss and batting first, Surya Risers posted 164 runs in the stipulated 20 overs by losing six wickets in the process. The team rode on a swashbuckling innings of 57 runs off 44 balls by Pranav Gupta, studded with seven boundaries and a six. Ian contributed 36 off 28 balls with the help of five boundaries. Vikas Hathvala played a brief but brisk innings of 25 runs off 20 balls with the help of four hits to the fence.

For Kehwa Kings, Arshid, Pardeep Bali, Shahid Baba and Adil Reshi shared a wicket apiece.

In reply, Kehwa Kings fell short of just 3 runs. At one stage, the match could have gone to the either side, but Ian had his fielders placed at the right spot to put pressure on the rival batsmen. Later, he took a calculated risk to bring in speedster Shiv Dutt in the crucial last over after he received heavy thrashing in his opening spell. However, Shiv proved effective in the final over and did not allow Kehwa Kings batsmen to take 10 runs in the last over to win the match.

Arshid Khawaja top scored with 35 runs off 21 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six, while Sahil Shafi contributed 31 off 17 balls, including five fours. Hilal also played a brilliant innings of 28 runs off 21 balls while Adil Reshi and Pardeep Bali chipped in with 19 and 17 runs, respectively. For Surya Risers, left arm spinner, Rompy Sharma took two wickets while Nitin Mehra, Inderjeet Singh and Shiv Dutt claimed one wicket apiece.

Pranav Gupta of Surya Risers was adjudged the HDFC man of the match while Arshid Khawaja got the TCI maximum sixes award.

The awards were given to them by a presentation team which included provincial chief of the league Hilal Rather, match referee and former International umpire SK Bansal and former Ranji trophy player Nazir Magray.

The match was officiated by BCCI panel umpires Amit Bansal and Sudhir Singh while Dheeraj and Mohsin acted as scorers.