Jammu, October 4
The Regional Transport Office (RTO), Jammu, and the offices of the Assistant Regional Transport Officers (ARTOs) in various districts of the state have been hit by shortage of stationery and other related documents for a long time now. This has left thousands of visitors in the lurch.

The shortage of stationery has also hampered the process of issuing driving licences and other documents. No licence seeker has been issued plastic-card driving licence over the past three months.

Sources told The Tribune that the Transport Department officials had been issuing registration certificate to owners of new vehicles on a simple paper. Besides, they had stopped issuing driving licences following severe shortage of stationery and other related documents.

"There has been a huge pendency of fresh RCs and driving licences which has resulted into great inconvenience to the public. The department was well versed with the situation but it remained in slumber for months. Now the process of procurement of fresh stock of stationery and other related documents has been caught in the bureaucratic red tape," sources said.

Ajay Sharma, a driving licence seeker, regretted, "When I visited the RTO, Jammu, on Thursday for the third time, I got the same reply that the department was running short of stationery and I must wait for next 10 days. I qualified the driving test about two months back but the authorities are yet to issue me valid plastic card licence."

He said it was the responsibility of the Transport Department to ensure surplus stationery to avoid chaos and crisis. "Now, I will have to go to the RTO next week to get my driving licence. Besides, the RTO should deploy additional staff to clear the pending cases," Sharma said.

Rakesh Jain, another visitor at the RTO, Jammu, said, "There has been a great confusion as no official is aware as to when they will get the stationery to issue the driving licences. The state government should hold the officials responsible who have failed to procure sufficient stationery in advance. It has subjected a large number of people to great inconvenience. Besides, the RTO, Jammu, does not have sufficient office staff and inspectors.

"The visitors have to wait in queues for long to get fitness certificates for their vehicles and to deposit fee for driving licences," he said.

The Regional Transport Officer, Jammu, Arvind Kotwal, admitted that the department was running short of stationery. "For a few months, we were managing the affairs through the available stock, but the department is presently running short of stationery. We procure stationery from the transport office and there has been some problem in the procurement process which has now been sorted out. We are hopeful that the people will start getting driving licences from next week," Kotwal said.

"As far as procurement of surplus stationery is concerned, only the transport commissioner office can make a comment on it," added Kotwal.

Jammu, October 4
Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmad Mir said today that Rs 3.79 crore had been sanctioned for the restoration of the Poonch Fort. He said the work in this direction was started in 2006-07 under the central financial assistance at a cost of Rs. 40.55 lakh.

The minister said during 2011-12, project ‘Conservation and restoration plan for Poonch Fort’ was sanctioned, which included dismantling works and repair/reconstruction works of the fort.

The shifting of the Revenue Record Room from the basement of the fort was under consideration for which land was being identified, he said.

Mir said there were 10 encroachments around the fort in Khasra no. 1553. The encroachments/constructions have been raised/made illegally prior to the issuance of the preliminary notification, SRO 17 dated 9.1.2012, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, without seeking permission from any authority.

The minister said the executive agency concerned (district administration) would take the necessary steps to remove the encroachments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, amended from time to time. Necessary police assistance and magisterial services, if required, would also be sought.

Giving details of the expenditure incurred by the Rajouri Development Authorities, the minister said an amount of Rs 40.13 lakh under the Central Financial Assistance (CFA) and Rs 147.50 lakh under the state plan had been spent during 2012-13.

Jammu, October 4
Despite spending crores of rupees in reforming the power sector in Jammu, the Power Development Department (PDD) has failed to equip sub-stations with Bus Bar Protection Panel (BBPP).

These devices prevent frequent tripping of power lines and transformers, particularly during summers, when damage rate is high due excessive heat.

Only sub-station at Bishnah has been upgraded and this equipment has been installed here.

The BBPP is used as an application for interconnections of incoming and outgoing transmission lines and transformers at electrical sub-stations and limits the impact of the faults on the entire power network.

“Most of the 44 sub-stations across the state at the voltage level of 132/33 KV do not have an effective protection mechanism. This reflects the inefficiency of the department,” said an audit document.

As per the guidelines of the Grid Norms and Best Practises in Transmission System, the BBPP has to be kept in service for all 220/132 KV sub-stations to maintain system stability during grid disturbances and to provide faster clearance of faults on 220/132 KV bus bars.

Official sources said no action had been taken to replace power current transformers, switch gears and circuit broaches installed since the establishment of the grid stations that supply electricity to half the population of the state.

Despite two major centrally sponsored schemes being implemented in the urban centres of the state, power is still being supplied in the city through worn out wires. This not only putting lives of residents on risk, but is also contributing to higher transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.

Further, electricity being supplied to most of the city areas is passing through worn-out cables laid about three decades ago. This has become threat for the people, particularly those living in congested areas of the city.

Despite receiving crores of rupees under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (APDRP) and R-APRDRP in six years, most of the electricity wires in the city are still unchanged.

Katra, October 4
The Vaishno Devi shrine today witnessed a heavy rush of devotees ahead of the Navratri festival commencing October 5. Security has been beefed up at the famous Shrine ahead of the nine-day festival.

The Paramilitary and police personnel are patrolling and frisking people at important points in Katra, which is thronged by thousands of devotees every year, especially during Navratras.

“There is much fanfare in Katra during Navratras and the inflow of tourists also increases manifold during these days. We have made proper security arrangements and have also taken the help of the CRPF,” said Pawan Parihar, Superintendent of Police (SP).

The devotees making their way to the shrine were also put through rigorous checking, considering the sensitive nature of the occasion and keeping the recent threats in mind.

Navratri, which literally means nine nights, is observed twice a year. The festival lasts for nine days in the honour of nine manifestations of Durga, goddess of power, and fall in the months of April-May and September-October.

It is believed that during the Navratri, Goddess Durga descends on earth to rid it of the demons.

Jammu, October 4
To boost tourism in Jammu city, the Tourism Department is going to organise a tourism festival from December 25 to 30, in which mega stars like Gurdasman will perform.

The aim of the festival is to showcase the tourism potential of Jammu city that is known for its pilgrimage tourism. Due to the recent earthquake in Doda and Kishtwar districts on May 1, followed by regular aftershocks, two mega tourism festivals in the area were cancelled that hit the state Tourism Department greatly.

To overcome the loss and give tourism in Jammu city a boost, the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Tourism has decided to come up with a first-ever tourism festival in Jammu city in December.

Earlier, the Tourism Department used to organise Baisakhi in Jammu in the month of April, but due to hot weather conditions, the event is not gaining much popularity. “We want to cash in on the winter period when Durbar is in Jammu and people head towards the winter capital. The festival will be held from December 25 to 30, in which mega stars from all over the country will perform. So far we have approached Gurdasman and others are also being roped in,” said Soujanya Sharma, Director, Tourism, Jammu.

Jammu is famous for its pilgrimage tourism and more than 10 million pilgrims pay obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi every year. Most of them stay in Jammu and pay obeisance at various temples, including the famous Raghunath temple.

Katra, October 4
The District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, today reviewed the progress of various developmental works under the RMSA and SSA in the district and expressed concern over the delay in the construction of school building in the remote areas.

He issued directions to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) for compiling details of all 532 under progress cases for registering FIRs against defaulters and members of the Village Education Committees (VECs) as well as contractors.

The PWD is constructing 23 schools under the RMSA out of which 13 in the Reasi division and 10 in the Mahore division have been taken up in the current financial year. It was informed that nine schools would be completed in Reasi and eight in Mahore before March as the tendering process was nearing completion and works had been taken up in many cases.

The DDC has directed the CEO to withdraw the funds in respect of all 274 SSA schools, 40 primary schools, 10 headmaster rooms, 474 girls toilets and 15 friendly toilets for differently-abled persons and keep at the disposal of the assistant commissioner development for the construction of schools under convergence for which a proposal had already been submitted to the Chief Secretary and administrative secretary of the Education Department. He also issued instructions for lodging FIR against all such VECs who have failed to take up construction after entering into agreement with the ZEO.

The Chief Education Officer has been asked to furnish details of the teachers responsible for delayed constructions so that losses could be recovered from their salaries. Show-cause notices are also being issued to all ZEOs and VECs for explaining reasons for the delay in constructions and not signing agreements on time.

In order to ensure that no land disputes casts shadow on the construction of schools, CEO and ACR have been asked to complete the revenue papers of land before the construction job is assigned to PWD or RDD.

Fortnightly reviews shall be held for expediting construction works. On the issue of delayed funding under the state sector for various schools, the DDC assured of taking up the matter with the School Education Secretary.

The meeting was attended by ACD Jogindr Rai, ACR Tilak Raj Shastri, CPO Girdhari Lal, SE PWD PS Sehgal, XEn PWD Mahore and Reasi, CEO, ZEOs, AD P&S and other officers. 

Rajouri, October 4
A meeting of the National Conference (NC) workers was held at Kotranka (Bokhori), Rajouri district today in which a large number of workers participated and discussed various problems being faced by the people.

Senior vice-president Chaudhary Mohammed Shaffi, who chaired the meeting, discussed various problems being faced by the people in the block. Another problem which came under discussion was the bad condition of the Rajouri-Budhal road which was not even fit for pedestrians. The transporters are the worst sufferers due to the bad condition of the road.

Workers demanded that the department concerned should immediately take up the road and necessary improvement works. The workers hailed the decision of the party for the nomination of Shafayat Ahmad Khan as the district secretary, Rajouri, in place of Lt Raja Parveez Ahmad (Advocate) who died due to prolonged illness recently.

Meanwhile, some nominated persons have joined the party were Lamberdar Hameed Khan of Peeri, Subash Sharma and Javed Choudhary along with other prominent workers. '

Shafayat Khan District Secretary, Ch Liaquat (Adv), Molvi Rashid Malik, Gh Mohi-ud-Din, Raja Nawaz Ali, Haji Aslam Rather, Fazal Hussian Chauhan, Ch Majid, Ch Shaki Mohammed were among those who were present on the occasion.

Jammu, October 4
The Kashmiri Migrants Relief Holders and overaged youth today alleged that the Centre and state government was totally apathetic towards the over-aged youth belonging to the displaced community, who are totally dependent on the relief assistance, as nothing has been done to give them employment under the central package.

A protest march was organised outside the relief commissioner's office. They said the state government had assured of increasing the relief assistance, but Rs 400 have been enhanced per person.

They alleged that under the rehabilitation scheme, the government had assured of providing soft loans to set up small businesses, but nothing has been done in this regard. 

Jammu, October 4
A newly-formed youth group, Jammu and Kashmir Unity Foundation (JKUF), has urged people to observe October 22, as the Black Day, to mark the day when the Pakistan army and tribal hordes attacked J&K in 1947, which led to the occupation of several areas of the state.

The foundation said the emerging scenario indicated that growing radicalisation and terrorist activities in J&K were not mere apprehensions but a grim reality which needs be resisted with united face. "We appeal to the people to observe October 22 as the Black Day as it marks the day in 1947 when the Pakistan army, in the guise of tribals, launched an attack on the state. Thousands of persons were massacred by the tribal hordes and lakhs were displaced," said Ajaat Jamwal, convenor.

"We will take up to build the social morale against the forces of disruption in the state, as Pakistan has not stopped interfering into the internal affairs of the state," he said.

He said the continuous and active support of Pakistan to terrorists in the state, mass migration of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir valley and attempts at raising communal tensions in the Jammu region are direct interference in the internal affairs of the country. — TNS

Jammu, October 4
An amount of Rs 937.35 crore has been released under the NABARD to the Public Works Department(R&B) for taking up 563 schemes in the Jammu Division against a project cost of Rs 1441.29 crore.

As per the data, given by Minister for Tourism GA Mir, the construction of roads from Salalpur to Chaby Chak, Tengdevpur road, estimated to cost Rs 160 lakh was recommended for the NABARD funding under RIDF-XVIII during 2012-13 which could not mature.

He said the project appraisal report for Rahi to Baba Gourian Road has been formulated at an estimated cost of Rs 1,032 lakh. He said the work could not be taken in hand due to paucity of funds. 

Jammu, October 4
The 120 MW Sewa-II Power Station of the NHPC, Mashka, organised a series of free vaccination camps and also conducted scholarship distribution programmes at various government schools located at Basohli tehsil under its Corporate Social Responsibility-Sustainable Development (CSR-SD) scheme.

The programmes were conducted under the guidance of PK Langer, chief engineer in-charge, Sewa-II Power Station.

The power station has taken up typhoid vaccine in its vaccination programmes which is not covered under the routine vaccination programme in the state health programme in order to render additional protection against diseases.

The camps had also received support from the State Health Department. During the camps which were conducted on October 1 to October 3, typhoid vaccines were given free of cost to schoolchildren of Govt Primary School, Chamoor, Govt Primary School, Deosal, Govt Girls Middle School, Khaddi, Govt Primary School, Kudera, Govt Primary School, Hutt, Govt High School, Hutt, and Govt Primary School, Khajura.

The camps have benefitted a total of 250 schoolchildren from these areas.

At the end of the camps, Dr Pulak Taraphdar, Senior DCMO, Sewa-II Power Station, extended his gratitude to the Health Department of the state and also to schoolteachers and schoolchildren from all participating schools for their active support to the camp. 

Jammu, October 4
The Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA), Jammu, today excelled in classical dance (solo) contest, which was organised by the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu, under the ‘Display Your Talent’ event, by clinching first and second positions.

Swati Sharma and Vandana Bhagat, both from IMFA Jammu, with their excellent expressions, technique, costumes and footwork stole the show and emerged the first and second prize winners in the competition, respectively.

Participants performed “Guru Vandana”, “Ganesh Vandana”, Thumri” etc through their presentations while “Tore”, “Tukde”, “Gat-bhav” and “Tatkar” received applause from the audience.

Each participant was given a maximum time of fifteen minutes, including time for preparation and exit. Anuradha Seth Kohli, Arti Mahajan and Shilpa Kotwal were the adjudicators for the event.

Dr Suvidha Khanna, School of HTM, University of Jammu, was the teacher in-charge of the event who apprised the participants about the rules and regulations.

Prof Neeru Sharma, chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed the prizes among the winners in presence of Professor NK Tripathi, Dean Students Welfare and Professor Yash Pal Sharma, Co-Chairman, Campus Cultural Committee.

Jammu, October 4
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) today organised a two-day sub-regional social science exhibition-cum-social integration camps at KV Sunjuwan and KV No.1, Pathankot.

A function was organised at KV Sunjuwan where Col Anupam Shrimali, Deputy Commander, 36 Infantry Brigade, was the chief guest and AS Gill, assistant commissioner, KVS, Jammu Region was the guest of honour.

The guests were welcomed by the principal TR Choudhary. Choudhary highlighted the importance of the exhibition as it would provide valuable platform for transmitting knowledge and displaying talent. A cultural programme was presented by the students. Gill expressed his views about the performance of KVS during the past 50 years of its evolution. He said the students of KVs had shined in all walks and fields of life at the national and international levels and the sangathan had progressed a lot during this period. — TNS

Srinagar, October 4
J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages on Friday gave away the 2nd Best Film Competition Award recognising quality work in fiction and non-fiction categories by local filmmakers and artists today.

The entries for competition, invited earlier, were judged by a committee 
of experts. In all, nine awards were given, including best film, second best film and the third best film in both fiction and non-fiction categories, best director, best actor (male) and best actor (female).

The awards were given away by Minister for Housing, Horticulture & Culture, Raman Bhalla, at a function held at the Institute of Hotel Management auditorium here. Prominent artists, writers, students and people in large numbers were present.

The best film award in the non-fiction category went to "Quality of Life" produced by Big Fun Productions. The second and third awards in the category were bagged by "Five Chirus Flat" produced by Public Service Broadcasting Trust and "Caliemondy Revisited" produced by Tricorn Odeon, respectively.

In the fiction category the first, second and third awards were bagged by films "Auqat" produced by Krishna Productions, "Purana Ghar" produced by Debonair Film and Video Communications and "Hatchu Ichdar" produced by Nanak Video Communications, respectively.

Rahul Sharma bagged the best director award for his "Auqat". The best actor (male) was won by Pankaj Khajuria for his role in Auqat while Neelam bagged the best actor (female) award for her performance in Hatchu Ichdar.

Alongside the award ceremony, a two-day festival of the awarded films was also inaugurated at the venue. On the inaugural day, the best films in both fiction and non-fiction category were screened. The remaining four films would be screened on Saturday, the concluding day of the event. The festival was kick-started by the minister.

The award in both fiction and non-fiction categories carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 for the best film, Rs 20,000 for the seond best film and Rs 15, 000 for the third best film. The award for the best director and best actor (male and female) carries cash prize of Rs 20,000 each. Besides, a memento, certificate and a shawl is given to each awardee. — TNS