Jammu, August 23
The government has finally decided to undertake the restoration work of the historic Bahu Fort on a "priority basis". Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured the Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla, that the restoration of the monument will be started on a priority basis.

The government decision followed a series of news reports published in these columns on the "utter negligence" on the part of authorities concerned and other events that led to collapse of a major portion of the wall of historic Bahu Fort.

A statement issued here today quoted the Chief Minister saying that the restoration of this important heritage place should be flagged on a priority. He said the assessment and other details were being assessed and reported by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI).

"As soon as a report in this regard is received from the ASI, a project for comprehensive restoration of the fort should be mooted for implementation," the statement adds.

The 110-feet portion of the wall of the 3000-year-old monument collapsed on Saturday after heavy rain.

The Jammu Development Authority and the state Archaeology Department, which were entrusted with the task of renovation, maintenance and preservation of this historic fort passed the bucks and refused to own the responsibility vis-à-vis severe damage to the fort.

Interestingly, while the Chief Minister made an statement that the ASI was preparing the assessment report, Deputy Director of the Archeological Survey of India, Peerzada Ashraf was not aware of it.

Ashraf said, "The Archaeology Department does not assess the loss of the historical structure, it can be done by the executing agency, so it should have been given to the Jammu Development Authority (JDA)."

“As the statement is given by the Chief Minister, he may have decided in a ministerial level meeting, so I am not aware of it," he added. He said if the department has to submit the report, the assessment will be done by the JDA only.

Jammu, August 23
Quick thinking on part of the commuters averted a major tragedy at Shastri Nagar today. Ppeople had a narrow escape when a low tension (LT) power line got snapped from a pole. Seeing this, residents of the area stopped traffic and saved many lives.

The electricity supply was snapped for half-an-hour after which the technical staff of the Power Development Department (PDD) restored it. “It was an unexpected situation and as soon as I saw the wire on the road, we stopped the traffic. There would have been a major incident, had we not come out of our homes,” said Paras Sharma, whose house is near the spot of the incident. It is not the first time that such an incident has happened here. Several people were killed and injured in the past as the electricity wires get snapped, mainly because of the poor maintenance and worn-out old power lines.

“There is need to conduct checks of the power lines and transformers in the area as most of them were installed about two or three decades back,” said Gulshan Sharma, a shopkeeper in the area.

Despite getting crores of rupees over past six years to improve the transmission and distribution infrastructure, the department could not replace worn out power lines, considered the main reason for the transmission and distribution losses.

Besides being a source of huge power losses, expert say the three-decade old worn-out power supply cables have become a threat for the residents, specially those living in congested areas of the city. The laying of the coded cables project in the interior areas has remained on papers because of the high- costs involved.

Jammu, August 23
To carry out repair of hotspots and weak points of the line and preventive maintenance of Grid Station, the power supply to the areas being fed from 220/132/33 KV Grid Stations Barn, Jourian, Canal, Ponichak, Akhnoor and Katra besides area of Reasi, Bhalwal, Jagti and Gharota would remain affected on August 25 from 6 am to 1 pm.

Meanwhile, in order to carry out the branch cutting of trees underneath the line corridor of 33 KV Mahanpur-Basohli-Bani line and tightening of its jumpers, the power supply to Mahanpur, Basohli, Plasi, Suman Jandrota, Marth-Nagrota, Bhoond, Mashka, Bandhar, Sundhar, Bani Lowang and their adjoining areas would remain affected on August 25 from 8 am to 2 pm. 

Jammu, August 23
The pen-down strike by government employees invited partial response today. The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the employees had given the strike call. They are demanding enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years and regularisation of contractual employees.

Work was affected in government departments across Jammu as employees held protests against the state government. Though many of the unions had decided not to take part in the strike, routine work continued as usual in several offices. At many places, employees held protests against the apathetic attitude of the government towards their plight.

Addressing a gathering at GGM Science College, senior leader of the JCC Kulwant Singh said the employees were facing the burden of inflation. He said the administration had backtracked from its promise to fulfil their demands.

Reports said demonstrations were held outside the offices of the Divisional Commissioner, DC office, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department.

The JCC wants a policy for regularisation of daily wage workers who have completed seven years of service after 1994.

“The orders of contractual and ad-hoc employees which were to be issued February 2009 as announced by the government on the floor of the house and the May 14, 2010, cabinet sub-committee order to issued the orders within 15 days, were not released,” Singh said.

The enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies of different cadres and implementation of the agreement of clerical cadre on March 2008, are the main demands.

The employees are also demanding that the government should settle the grievances of public sector employees, Rehber-e-Taleem, anganwari workers, regulation of the promotion of different cadres and also implement the DA order in favour of PSU employees.

Jammu, August 23
The famous tourist spot of Patnitop has become a resting place for the nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals, who are pitch their tents here during the summer months. This creates an unpleasant situation for hundreds of tourists. The Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) has failed to take any action against them.

Though the local residents are up in arms against the influx of hundreds of nomads in the scenic spot in the region, the administration has failed to prevent them from living here.

This hill resort, 112 km from Jammu, is perched on a beautiful plateau, surrounded by thick Deodar forests and breathtaking view of the Pir Panjal mountain range. In winters, the resort is generally covered with thick snow, thus making possible snow games, including skiing to be organised here.

During the summer months, nomads erect tents at the Childrens' Park, Padora and on the Patnitop-Sanasar road and there have been reports of frequent clashes between the local shopkeepers and nomads. “We are not against them, but a specific area should be marked for them to live. Their stay creates problems for the visitors and leaves a bad impression on them,” said Advocate Mahinder Attri, a local resident.

Local residents allege that cutting of coniferous and other trees for fuel by nomads had damaged the beauty of the area, known for its scenic beauty. "Even water pipes, electric poles, wooden fences and dustbins have been damaged by these people and stray cattle can be seen roaming in the area,” said Sunil Kumar, a shopkeeper. Despite major infrastructural shortcomings, Patnitop and its surrounding area has become a major attraction for visitors from all over the country in the recent years.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PDA, RK Kesar, said, the PDA could not do anything about it as it was a forest area. “You should ask the Forest Department about this. Some families erect tents during the summer season and shift to other places during the winters. We cannot do anything,” he said. Kesar said, “Efforts are being made to tackle the situation so that a serene environment is maintained and help of the Forest Department is necessary as the PDA cannot do anything without its approval.”

However, a local resident said the PDA had authority over the place and if they wished, they could take measures to clear the area. But political pressure was preventing any action against the nomads who temporarily encroached the area, he added.

Jammu, August 23
To express solidarity with traders and other victims of communal riots in Kishtwar town, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF) has started a campaign to collect donations for providing financial assistance to the sufferers of the incident.

The donation campaign, titled “Kishtwar Welfare Fund”, was formally started today and would continue for one week. The JKDF workers, with the sealed donation boxes, would go door to door for collection of donation for the welfare fund.

The donations raised during the week-long programme would be distributed among the traders and other victims of violence.

The step has been taken after the state government failed to provide instant relief to the victims, despite several days of loot and plunder in Kishtwar.

The JKDF state president Anil Gupta, while appealing to people to donate liberally for the noble cause, said “We all know about the recent happenings in Kishtwar which resulted in loss of precious lives and destruction to public/private property worth crores in the region”, he said.

“To help the victims overcome the pains and sufferings of the violence, it is our moral duty to help them live with dignity and honour. To serve this cause, we have decided to collect donations from people for the welfare of victims to help them rehabilitate and live a normal life. We appeal to the people of Jammu to donate liberally for the sufferers of the communal frenzy,” Gupta said.

Batote, August 23
The vice chief of Army Staff Lt Gen SK Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, ADC, interacted with a group of 23 sportspersons and their two teachers from Ramban district in New Delhi yesterday.

As part of the ongoing two-week educational-cum-motivational tour ‘Sair-e-Watan’, organised by Rashtriya Rifles, under the aegis of the Counter Insurgency Force (Delta), the students would visit Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports, Rai, Sonepat, Rohtak and Delhi.

The students are from various schools of Nachlana, Khari, Trenna, Kumla, Buzla, Mohu and Mangat of Banihal tehsil.

While interacting with the students, Lt General Singh advised them to avail the opportunities provided to them by the Army so that they could contribute constructively towards national development, communal harmony and tell others about the big developmental strides made by India in all fields.

Their tour programme includes the interaction with the students of MNSS, St Stephen’s College, Kirodimal College and Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi and a short duration coaching camp in cricket, swimming, basketball, football and volleyball, besides a visit to the Khwaja Khizar Tomb, Tilyar Lake, in Sonepat and Rohtak, a ride in the Delhi Metro and a visit to the Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Nehru Planetarium, Qutub Minar, Akshardham and Lotus Temple.

Jammu, August 23
Panun Kashmir (PK), an organisation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, today said the nationalist forces in Jammu and Kashmir needed to come on a single platform to defeat the designs of “terrorists” who had launched a campaign against the minority community in Kishtwar.

The Political Affairs Committee of PK met at Jammu today and discussed the challenging political situation of the state.

The members also expressed concern over the incident of stone-throwing on Pandit employees at Pulwama. Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, PK president, said political scenario in the state was being deliberately vitiated by the agent provocateurs and surrogate elements supported and sponsored by Pakistan establishment.

“The West considers Pakistan an epicenter of global terrorism and it has become a safe heaven for fugitives, terrorists and rough elements. In fact, it has turned Pakistan into a rouge state”, Chrangoo said.

He said the Government of India needed a serious re-look at its entire gamut of relations with Pakistan, not to say of the summit meeting alone. The nationalist forces in the Jammu and Kashmir state also required to admit that their duties towards the nation were not over, rather they had been multiplied in the changing scenario.

In his address, National spokesperson Virender Raina said PK was concerned over the emerging challenges on the socio-political front and was in the process of invigorating the likeminded forces. “We would continue to work decisively in forging unity amongst all the nationalist forces in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in this regard”, he said. 

Jammu, August 23
The National Panthers Students Union (NPSU) today protested against the “routine absence” of teachers from the middle schools in Bhalwal block on the outskirts of Jammu city. They demanded action against the teachers because the students were suffering.

Protesters alleged that teachers were not coming to school in time and also remained absent from duties regularly.

The protest was led by Virender Singh, provincial president of NPSU. While addressing the mediapersons, he said it was a matter of concern that some of the schools situated in far-flung areas of Bhalwal block were not running properly.

He said teachers were not coming to the school in time and studies were suffering. The school education minister should take stern action against the teachers who were posted in Government Middle School, Dhar-Dharochan and Government Primary School, Rewaliwala, both situated in the Bhalwal block, he added.

The NPSU urged the state government to constitute a committee for inspecting the working of schools situated in far-flung areas. “We warn the government that if no action is taken against the teachers, we will be forced to launch an agitation”, Singh added.

He said many of the schools in rural and far-flung areas of the region were without buildings and infrastructure while the government claimed that it had improved the facilities in the educational institutions in the state. 

Jammu, August 23
Government College for Women (GCW), Parade, today organised an awareness programme on the theme “Empowering Skilled Young Women”, in collaboration with the J&K State Women Development Corporation and Post Graduate Department of Home Science of the college.

The district manager of the corporation Dr Rifat Qamar was the resource person for the programme who apprised students about the various women development and education schemes for women belonging to different categories, including minorities, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes and handicapped.

Hemla Aggarwal, principal, GCW Parade, was the chief guest while Dr Shashi Kaul, Dr Aruna Dubey and Dr Neeru Dhalla were also present on the occasion.

Prof Nidhi Kotwal welcomed the guests and the participants and said women today had entered the industrial sector due to the various schemes offered by the women development corporation which had led to the removal of earlier obstacles.

Aggarwal, in her address, appreciated the efforts of the corporation and the postgraduate department of the college for organising the programme.

She said it was the right time to concentrate on women education as the first priority so that they could play an effective role in the society. Sapna Chib presented the vote of thanks.