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Bridge project a victim of ‘official apathy’
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Traffic cops fail to check haphazard parking on roads
CAPD directors told to check quality of ration from FCI
Residents hold a protest against the CAPD for its failure to issue ration in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
City Chowk area out of bounds for people
A road dug for laying sewerage pipes is posing inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians near City Chowk in Jammu. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Amendment in SRO 64 demanded
Army organises educational tour for students of Nubra valley
Army officers with the students who left for an educational-cum-motivational tour from the Nubra valley of Ladakh region.
A Tribune photograph
Inter-district kho-kho tournament begins at Nagrota
Public distribution system
Play throws light on role of festivals
Yoga championship concludes
BJP activists welcome Modi’s candidature as PM
The activists of the BJP celebrate Narendra Modi’s candidature as the Prime Minister for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Poonch on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
JYBT to organise religious functions at Haridwar
6-yr-old killed, four injured in accident
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Bridge project a victim of ‘official apathy’
Jammu, September 15 The project costing Rs 6.59 crore was supposed to be completed in January 2013 but it remained the victim of official apathy for three years. Villagers said the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC), which was entrusted with the task of constructing a 260-m "span foot suspension bridge" over the Tawi by the Roads and Buildings Department on January 1, 2010, began work only about six months ago. "As per the agreement, the executing agency was directed to complete the project within three years but no work was undertaken for three years. The work on the bridge is now under way but it may take a few more months to be completed," said Vikram Sharma, a resident of village Langhar. He said they were earlier using boats to cross the river in their day-to-day life. "Thousands of people who visit the Pehar Devta shrine from various parts of the state and the country face hardships due to the indifferent attitude of the authorities. Our children still cover a distance of 3 to 4 km by foot to board buses to reach schools every morning," he said. During the monsoon season, when water level rises in the Tawi, we remain stuck in our village and wait for the water level to come down to cross the river through boats, he said, adding that the government didn't pay any heed to their problems. "As the Parliamentary and Assembly elections are drawing closer, the government decided to complete the project to garner votes from the area," the villager said. Rekha Sharma, a college student, said, "Had the executing agency begun the construction work three years back, the project would have been completed by now. For years, I covered 8 kms (four km for one way) every day while going to and coming back from my school. It seems like we are still living in the medieval era. We suffered hard times in our lives due to no fault of ours. Our elders could not get quality education in their life because of poor connectivity." She said it was unfortunate that the executing agency had still not completed the project. The project, costing Rs 658.76 crore, was funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). Minister for Roads and Buildings Department Abdul Majid Wani, however, tried to downplay the issue saying there was an immense pressure on the department and appreciated officials for "completion" of project in the shortest possible time. "The project might have delayed because of non-availability of funds but if our people have completed the project in just six months, it is quite appreciable," he said.
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Traffic cops fail to check haphazard parking on roads
Jammu, September 15 Residents complain that no traffic policeman has been deployed on vital roads and roundabouts to check the menace. They say there was a lack of coordination between various civic agencies vis-ŕ-vis the regulation of traffic. “City roads have shrunk due to haphazard and illegal parking along the stretches and this problem has been impeding the traffic movement, specially during peak hours. The irony is that the vehicles are even parked in restricted areas with impunity and the law-enforcing agencies remain a mute spectator to these violations,” said a Jammu University scholar. He said vehicles could be seen parked wrongly throughout the day but the authorities were not bothered to impound them or challan the owners. “Earlier, they had launched a drive to check violations in this regard but it seems to have lost steam,” the scholar said. Visitors at various hospitals in the city prefer parking their vehicles on roads rather than using parking lots. Residents said barring times when VIPs visit the city, the police turned a blind eye to the problem. “Residents of the old city are worst-affected due to haphazard parking of vehicles on narrow and congested roads. They face frequent traffic jams, which do not get cleared for a long time. Not even a single policeman comes forward to clear blockades. Instead, residents perform the duties of traffic personnel,” said Shashi Pal, a resident of Pacca Danga. A senior traffic police official said the department was grappling with the problem of shortage of manpower and it had been exploring all the options to streamline the movement of vehicles. “There are around five lakh vehicles in Jammu, which is nearly half the total vehicular population of the state. However, roads in the old city remain chock-a-block as their length, more or less, has remained the same over the years, resulting in shrinking of parking space. We will intensify our drive against people who park their vehicles wrongly,” the official said. The road length in the city is 704.22 km while the density of vehicles is 574 per km. A traffic policeman controls around 1,700 vehicles on city roads. The absence of policemen from vital roundabouts makes the situation more chaotic. |
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CAPD directors told to check quality of ration from FCI
Jammu, September 15 The directions have been passed in the wake of repeated complaints about poor quality of ration being supplied in the state, which at times has been rejected by consumers, particularly in rural areas. There are many places where the storage space is in a poor condition. However, no efforts are being made to improve the infrastructure or maintain the quality of food grains. Unhygienic conditions are are breeding grounds for rats and other insects, which infest food grains posing health risks for consumers. Sources said during a meeting with officers in Jammu, CAPD Minister Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan expressed concern over complaints of poor quality of ration being "dumped by the FCI, due to which the state government has to face the wrath of people". “The Directors, Consumers Affairs, have been directed to personally monitor the procurement of ration and take up the issue with FCI officials. The recent incident in which an animal carcass found in an old godown, which generated public debate over upkeep of space meant for storage facilities, was also discussed,” said an officer on the condition of anonymity. The food distribution system in the state has been flayed time and again with people from regions holding protests alleging that they are being forced to eat low quality rice, flour and sugar. The government has ordered inspection of all storage facilities in the region, particularly in districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda and hilly areas of southern districts. The CAPD Minister said orders had been passed and directors in the respective regions of the state would monitor procurement on a daily basis. “People should get quality food. It is the duty of the government and respective departments to ensure that consumers don’t suffer in this regard. Quality management is an important aspect of bringing reforms in the food distribution system,” he said. The government has also decided to open 6,000 new public distribution centres in the Jammu region to expand the public distribution system to inaccessible
areas. |
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City Chowk area out of bounds for people
Jammu, September 15 Even as the executing agencies have failed to
finish the work on the already dug-up roads and narrow lanes in several localities of the city, the fresh digging work for laying sewer
lines has added to the woes of residents. With monsoons receding, many roads and lanes have again been dug up across the city, which causes traffic snarls. As part of a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, nearly 48,220 houses of Srinagar city, at a cost of Rs 132.01 crore, and 30,400 houses of Jammu, at a cost of Rs 129.30 crore, are slated to be connected to a modern sewerage system. The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Economic Reconstruction Agency had undertaken the digging work for laying sewer lines under the Centrally sponsored project. However, even after four years, the project is far from completion, resulting not only in cost escalation but inconvenience to
residents in both the capital cities. FACTFILE As part of a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, nearly 48,220 houses of Srinagar city, at a cost of ~132.01 crore, and 30,400 houses of Jammu, at a cost of ~ 129.30 crore, are to be connected to a modern sewerage system The National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Economic Reconstruction Agency had undertaken the digging work for laying sewer lines under the Centrally sponsored project However, even after four years, the project is far from completion, resulting not only in cost escalation but inconvenience to residents in both the capital cities. |
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Amendment in SRO 64 demanded
Jammu, September 15 Addressing a rally of workers at Rani Park today, Shastri said early amendment in SRO 64 was the need of the hour so that a new regularisation policy could became operational from October 2, as a gift to the working class. Shastri hoped that
the state government would sympathetically consider the demands of the daily wagers and make an announcement in this regard at the earliest. Pleading the cause of both Central Government employees and pensioners, NMC president
also urged upon the Central Government to release the pending instalments of the 10 per
cent DA due from July last in favour of Central and state government employees and pensioners at the next Union Cabinet meeting. Shastri further demanded that the monthly
emoluments of daily wagers be raised to Rs 10,000 per month at the national level. The
other demands of the NMC included setting up of the 7th Pay Commission, merger of 50 per
cent DA into basic pay or pension, grant of 20 per cent interim relief to Central and state government employees and
pensioners, release of pending salary of motivators and their regularisation, issuance of regularisation orders of 180 daily wagers working in RDD, enhancing medical allowance to Rs 1,000 per month etc. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Rajan Babu Khajuria, Sham Lal Sharma, Rakesh Padha, Anil Singh Slathia, Surinder Kumar, Ram Lal Sharma, Sukhdev Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Sudesh Bhagat, Vijay Bhagat, Dalip Bhagat and Comrade Barkat Ram, Mohan Lal and Krishan Lal. |
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Army organises educational tour for students of Nubra valley
Jammu, September 15 The northern command spokesperson said the civilian population of Nubra Valley needed to be integrated into the mainstream, as the region was virtually cut off from the rest of the country, both culturally and geographically. “Therefore, it is important that the Army undertakes certain projects to link the region with the rest of the country, to show the people of Ladakh the unity and diversity of our nation,” he said. He added that the aim of the tour was to ensure that the students witness the rich cultural heritage of our country and are abreast with the latest developments in the fields of science and technology. “The students are very fortunate as they will get an opportunity to interact with the President of India. The students
will also visit places of national heritage such as the Qutab Minar, Jantar Mantar, Lotus Temple, Jama Masjid and India Gate during their visit to Delhi,” he said. The students will meet Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and visit the Rock Garden, Rose Garden and Sukhna Lake during their visit to Chandigarh. The team will also visit Agra and witness the Taj Mahal and from there the students will move to Lucknow where they will meet Chief Minister of UP Akhilesh Yadav and also visit the Imam Bada, Residency, Parivartan Sthal and the Bhool Bhulaiya. The tour was flagged off on September 9, from Diskit, Nubra valley, by Commander of Siachen brigade. Civilian and Army officers were present during the function. |
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Inter-district kho-kho tournament begins at Nagrota
Jammu, September 15 Earlier, the championship was declared open by Sukhdev Singh, DYSSO, Udhampur. In the matches played on the inaugural day, Samba district got the better of Ramban district by 5-0 while Rajouri beat Jammu by one turn and a point. Later, in the semifinals, Reasi had the last laugh against Samba by one turn and 3 points while Udhampur overcame the challenge of Rajouri by one turn and 2 points. In U-19 boys, Doda prevailed over Poonch by 5 points (12-7) whereas Samba toppled Kathua by one turn and 2 points. In other matches played, Udhampur defeated Ramban by 1 turn and 6 points while Jammu eased past Rajouri by 7 points. Doda drubbed Kishtwar by 3 points (6-30) and Samba pipped Reasi by 7 points (10-3). In U-17 event, Samba outplayed Ramban by one turn and 5 points while Jammu beat Doda by 5 points (9 - 4). In the last match, Reasi defeated Khistwar by one turn and 8 points. The matches were officiated by Hira Lal, Rajesh Sambyal, Sham Singh, Narayan Singh, Ravi Sharma, Chander Kanta, Suraj Dev Singh, Balwan Singh and Pushpinder Singh. |
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Govt to open 6,000 new centres
Tribune News Service
Jammu September 15 The meeting was attended by Director, CAPD, GS Chib, Managing Director, JKSRTC, JS Tandon, General Manager, RS Jamwal, Deputy Controller, Legal Metrology, Manoj Prabhakar, Joint Controller, Amar Singh, besides district heads and other officers of the department. The minister asked the Director, CAPD, to indentify the places for opening new depots by giving preference to the inaccessible and uncovered areas. He said the step had been taken to ensure better services to consumers at their doorsteps, adding that it would also help in employment generation. Reviewing the status of home delivery of LPG, Ramzan directed the concerned to ensure 100 per cent home delivery to eligible household in district headquarters and major towns. He also asked the CAPD authorities to conduct random market checks to curb the menace of overcharging and adulteration, besides putting in place an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure accountability in PDS. The minister asked the officers to strictly adhere to the fresh guidelines set to further streamline the PDS. He asked the officials to supply adequate food grains and essential commodities to far-off areas of the state. He also asked the Director, CAPD, to personally check the quality of ration being received from Food Corporation of India (FCI). He said the Government of India had also sanctioned sufficient quota for Kashmiri migrants.
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Play throws light on role of festivals
Jammu, September 15 They create baseless apprehensions in their minds and also indulge his wife into it. After waiting for Parkash for long, they all decide to go to sleep. Taking benefit of the darkness, Parkash enters his home but is spotted by his wife, who thinks him to be a thief and starts crying for help. The neighbours rush in to help his wife. After a thorough search, they find the thief,
Parkash. Everyone laughs at his cowardly act and the family plays Holi with him in their own style by making him realise that festivals are to be celebrated with an open heart and there in no point in ignoring and avoiding the happiness and festivities around
us. Natrang actors who acted in the play were Ashwani Bali, Vineet Sharma, Sachin
Saini, Neha Sharma, Syed Mudassar Ali Shah and Pankaj Verma. Lights were operated by Uplaksh Singh Kotwal and music was scored by Bhupesh
Malhotra. |
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Yoga championship concludes
Jammu, September 15 In 11 to 14 years girls, Simran Devi, Neha Sharma and Suman Devi claimed gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. In 11 to 14 years boys, the gold, silver and bronze medals went to Rahul Manotra, Satish Singh and Ankit Sharma respectively. In 14 to 17 years girls, Anuradha Sharma clinched gold medal while silver and bronze medals went to Kamlesh Kumari and Monika Sharma. In 14 to 17 years boys, Rahul Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar and Anil Kumar fetched gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. Devinder Singh bagged gold medal in 17 to 21 years girls while Shamsher Singh claimed gold medal in 25 to 35 years men. Sukhdev Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Udhampur was the chief guest at the valedictory function who distributed certificates and medals among the winners. |
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BJP activists welcome Modi’s candidature as PM
Poonch, September 15 Speaking on the occasion at Main market Poonch, Satish Sasan said "Modi has a clean image and his success in Gujarat is there for the country to see. All efforts to defame him by rival parties have failed," he said. The party activists were excited and confident of winning the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections under him, he added. BJP leaders said Modi was a mass leader and the party had simply endorsed the feeling of the masses, who wanted him to be the Prime Minister. "The country is moving towards anarchy and an iron man like Modi had to take the centre stage. India is plagued with issues like corruption, inflation and terrorism, which can be addressed by Modi. He has the charisma to get BJP into power," they added. Arun Khandari, Nishu Sudan, Nishu Gupta, Rohan Sharma, Vipan Khandahi and Pardeep Sharma also spoke on the occasion. Auto Drivers Union, Poonch, also celebrated Modi’s nomination and distributed sweets at Poonch Bus Stand. |
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JYBT to organise religious functions at Haridwar
Jammu September 15 The Trust has also given contact numbers for devotees who wish to travel to Haridwar. The telephone number are 0191-2574881 and 2565858 at Jammu and at Haridwar office telephone the numbers are 01334-261527, 261790. They may also contact Gurdas Sharma,, trustee, general secretary on number 094191-93645 or Mishra PRO on 098970-59572. Pawan Shastri, trust president, exhorted the devotees to take full benefit of arrangements made by the JYBT. Other trustees Sardari Lal, vice-president, Ram Langar, treasurer and Jatinder Aggarwal were also present at the conference. Besides, L D Shastri, religious and Sanskrit scholar, was also present.
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6-yr-old killed, four injured in accident
Batote, September 15 Those injured in the
accident are his father Mohd Iqbal Naik (35) and sisters Sirish (13) and Sakiya (11) of Nayi Basti. Apart from the
family members, a boy, Nagseyar (8) of Ramban, was also injured during the mishap. They are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital,
Ramban. |
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The government has asked the Jammu Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) director to constitute a committee to check the quality of ration being received from the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Similar directions have been given to the Kashmir CAPD director. The committees will be headed by the respective directors in Jammu and Srinagar.
The City Chowk road
has become out of bounds for public as the Economic Reconstruction Agency has dug up
the stretch for laying sewerage pipes. This is posing a lot of inconvenience to commuters as the road
is vital for movement towards Raghunath Bazaar, Rejinder Bazaar and the Supermarket Road, the business centre of the city.
Jammu, September 15
Poonch, September 15
