Srinagar, August 24
Chairperson, J&K Commission for Women and Member of Legislative Assembly, Shamima Firdous, today visited the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital and took stock of the construction work being executed there.

During her visit, she inspected repair and renovation work being carried out at various wards, including the intensive care unit (ICU) and the blood bank.

Shamima directed the executing agency for accelerating the pace of work to ensure an early completion.

She also enquired about the well-being of patients and various facilities provided to them in the hospital.

Responding to the pleas made by the patients about inadequate number of doctors in Nephrology ward, Shamima asked the concerned superintendent to deploy more doctors in the ward, so that the patients do not have to face any inconvenience.

Later, she also chaired a joint meeting of the hospital administration and R&B officials and took stock of the pace of developmental works being executed in the hospital. 

Kupwara, August 24
In order to put a check on ‘paddy blast’ — locally known as ‘rai’ — which is affecting the growth of the paddy, the Agriculture Department in Kupwara is busy spraying fungicides on the crop in the areas of Lolab and other villages.

Officials from the Agriculture Department are constantly monitoring the situation and are using public address system to make people aware about the symptoms of the disease and its control.

The department is providing ‘Hexacholonozol’ --- a chemical used in the control of paddy blast --- free of cost to the poor farmers.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Kupwara, Ghulam Farooq, however, said there was no need to panic as less than five per cent paddy crop was affected due to the disease so far.

“There is no need to panic as only 1 to 5 per cent of the crop has been affected due to the blast. The disease has been largely contained and I am personally monitoring the situation,” Farooq said. The officer visited the affected areas in Kalaroose and Lolab and asked for on the spot spray of the fungicide.

“A day before Eid, we were informed about the disease. Since then, our teams are visiting different areas to monitor the growth of crop. Hexacholonozol is provided free of cost to the poor farmers, who cannot afford it and the same is available on our depots for other farmers of the district,” Farooq added.

Farmers in Kalaroose expressed satisfaction over the timely action by the department.

“A team of officials visited my fields and instantly sprayed the fungicide. The disease has been contained and I am expecting a good yield this year,” said Mohd Yasin, a farmer.

The department has also distributed pamphlets among the farmers to make them aware about the disease and suggest them measures to put a check on it.

“We have advised farmers to cut the grass from buds and clear weeds from the fields as sanitary measures to ensure the disease is curbed in its initial stage,” said an official. The disease infects paddy at all growth stages. It affects the aerial parts of plant including leaves, neck and nodes.

“The crop develops small specks on leaves, which subsequently turn into spindle-shaped spots. In severe cases of infestation, entire crop bears a blasted or burnt appearance,” he added. 

Srinagar, August 24
The national integration tour of 24 students from Uri tehsil of Baramulla district, on return after 15-day visit to Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, was flagged-in by the Commander, Pir Panjal Brigade, during a formal ceremony organised at Rampur by the Army, under the aegis of Dagger Division today.

“This unique initiative by the Army was aimed to give adequate exposure to the youth of the Kashmir valley and introduce them to the diverse and rich socio-cultural heritage of our great country,” a defence spokesman said in Srinagar.

He said during the tour, the participants visited places of military, historical and academic interests.

“They visited Aga Khan Palace, National War Museum, Mulshi Lake and Dam, St. Mary’s Church, Parvati Hill Temple, Jawarharlal Nehru International Stadium, Shinde’s Chhatri Katraj Snake Park, Chaupati, Marine Drive, Mumba Devi temple, Gate way of India, Hazi Ali Mosque, Nehru Planetarium, Bandra-Worli sea link, Hanging Garden, Ahmedabad Hathe Singh Temple, Jama Masjid, Ahmed Shah Mosque, Sabarmati Ashram and Akshardham Temple amongst other places of tourist interest at different locations,” he said.

The spokesman said the participants also had formal interaction with various military as well as civil dignitaries during the tour.

The participants also had interesting as well as fruitful interactions with the students of Symbiosis Institute and Army Public School at Pune, Wilson College, Mumbai, as well as Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ahmedabad.

The participants shared their memorable and enriching experiences with Army and civil dignitaries, their parents and local population were present during the occasion. They also expressed their extreme happiness and pride to be part of the rich, diverse and great nation. “This rich experience gained by the participating youth has helped them immensely in widening their horizon and dreaming big towards realisation of their dreams. Most importantly this unique initiative by the Army has spread a message of love, peace and harmony amongst the people of the state and the country,” he said.

Srinagar, August 24
The elections to elect the new office-bearers of the Bar Association will be held on September 5. A seven-member election commission constituted early this week has invited nomination papers from members of the Bar for the post of president, vice-president, general secretary and other office-bearers.

In a statement here, the Bar Election Commission while announcing the polling dates said it had decided to invite nomination papers from the eligible candidates for the elections to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar.

The incumbent Kashmir Bar Association has declared 782 members eligible to vote after scrutiny.

“The elections are to be held to select the candidates for the post of president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary and the treasurer,” said Syed Maqbool Ahmad, secretary, Election Commission.

He said the forms would be issued from August 24 to August 27 and the last date for submission of the nomination forms would be August 30.

“The nomination papers will be scrutinised on August 31, whereas the last date for withdrawal of nominations has been fixed for September 2,” he said adding that the elections to the new Bar Association would be held on September 5 and the results would be declared on the same day in the evening.

“It is further notified that on the date of scrutiny of the nomination papers, the candidates should ensure their presence along with their proposers and approvers,” the statement said.

On August 21, Bar president ZA Qureshi had nominated a seven-member Election Commission for holding the elections to the new Bar Association.