Srinagar, November 5
The Kashmir valley continues to reel under cold weather as the state weather department warned of moderate to heavy rains and snowfall in the region in the next 36 hours.

The state weather department issued the warning in its forecast bulletin on Tuesday evening, saying that “moderate to heavy” rain and snowfall would occur at isolated places in the state during the coming hours.

The department said that “light to moderate” rain and thundershowers would occur at many places in the state during the next 24 hours. It said snowfall was also expected over the higher reaches of the region.

As the region awaits this fresh spell of downpour, cold wave condition continued across Kashmir region as mercury slid to the lower end during the night hours.

The mercury slipped to a low of 2.4°C in the Srinagar city, which was a departure of one degree from the normal, an official of the state Meteorological Department said.

In Pahalgam resort of south Kashmir, mercury dropped to 0°C, the official said, while in north Kashmir's Gulmarg resort, a famous skiing destination during winters, the mercury fell to a low of 0.6°C.

While the minimum temperature across the Kashmir valley remained on the positive side of the zero-degree mark, the cold conditions remained unaltered.

The night temperature remained close to freezing point in south Kashmir's Qazigund town where mercury fell to a low of 0.6°C while the minimum temperature in north Kashmir's Kupwara town dropped to a minimum of 0.4°C, the official said.

Leh town in the remote Ladakh region, which is located outside the Kashmir valley, recorded an extremely cold night as the mercury there fell to a low of minus 3.3°C.

The Ladakh region remains cut-off from rest of the state during the winters as the mountainous pass at Zojilla, which connect Ladakh with Kashmir, remains buried under a wall of snow.

In Kargil, another district in Ladakh, the mercury overnight fell to a low of minus 0.8°C.

SMC reviews snow clearance arrangements

Ahead of expected inclement weather conditions, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner GN Qasba chaired a meeting here to take stock of snow clearance arrangements.

“The commissioner took stock of preparedness for snow clearance and passed directions to make the control room/helpline operational at the central office which would be monitored by the executive engineer (XEN) of the mechanical division,” said SMC media relations officer.

“It was also decided at the meeting that a team would be divided into four zones of the city headed by four zonal officers XEN Right River Works, XEN left River Works, DTP Right, DTP left to look after the snow clearance arrangements in the field.”

Qasba said all machines, including loaders and robots, shall be kept ready for clearance in case of snowfall.

Meanwhile, the SMC meeting also reviewed the arrangements made on the eve of Muharram.

Qasba directed all ward officers to keep a close liaison with the general public, managing committees of the Shia-dominated areas to address their problems on priority, further stressing to upkeep sanitation in these areas.

Anantnag, November 5
Saffron growers of the Kashmir valley based in Pampore area of Pulwama district are a worried lot after the Meteorological Department issued a snow forecast for November 6 and 7.

Children hold a bunch of crocus flowers used in the production of saffron in a field in Pampore on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Amin War

Saffron flowers are in a full bloom at this time of the year and once they are plucked, there will be another cycle of the blossom.

A snowfall at this point in time will destroy the present crop completely, in case the flowers are not plucked on time. Moreover, the snowfall will affect the next expected blossom of the saffron flower.

The chief agriculture officer (CAO), Pulwama, Javaid Ahmad, said a snowfall at this time would be a disaster for the saffron crop.

“We are in touch with the farmers and they have been advised to get their crop plucked before the snowfall,” said the CAO. “This can at least prevent the standing crop from getting destroyed,” he added.

He said the blossom has already been a bit late in wake of the temperature fluctuation this year.

“The flowers need a constant temperature for a timely blossom. However, it has not been the case since a month now,” said the CAO, adding that, “We are keeping our fingers crossed and hope that it will not snow in the plains at least.”

The farmers, on the other hand, say that they have picked just 30 per cent of the average annual crop as of now.

“We have hurried up the flower-plucking process in wake of the weather forecast and hopefully, the standing crop will be picked up,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a saffron grower from Pampore.

“We will be facing heavy losses if it snows at this point,” said Gulzar Ahmad, another grower. “The crop will decline by at least 50 per cent in case of a snowfall,” he added.

One of the world’s costliest spices, saffron, is cultivated in abundance in the Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. 

Srinagar, November 5
The new year of the Islamic calendar will begin from tomorrow with the beginning of the month of Muharram. During the first 10 days of Muharram, Shiites mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, by holding a whole host of religious functions.

Maulana Sibti Mohammad Shabir Qumi, head, Pairwan-e-Willayat - a Shiite body, said religious functions would begin from tonight and night-long supplications would be held at the mosques of Shia-dominated areas.

While the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, besides his family and companions, is mourned by the Sunni community, especially during Friday sermons, the Shias hold religious functions on a larger scale. ‘Zuljinnah’ processions are taken out at several places by Shiites on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram month, along with flagellation by mourners.

Even as the state government has been disallowing major Muharram processions, which were taken out on the eighth day and 10 day of Muharram, many bodies have been demanding the lifting of ban.

Traditionally, on the eighth day of Muharram, Shia Muslims in large numbers march from Guru Bazar and proceed through Lal Chowk area of the city before the grand procession culminates at Dalgate. Another major procession, before militancy, was taken out from Abi Guzar to Zadibal on 10th day of Muharram, said Qumi, while urging the state government to lift the ban.

“The government curbs on these processions are unjustified. It is interference in our religious matters and we demand that the ban be lifted at the earliest,” he said.

However, the government has got no plans to lift the ban. Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar said the ban was in place to prevent ‘group clashes’ while pointing out that Muharram processions elsewhere were allowed and being taken out.

Srinagar, November 5
The Kashmir Bar Association decides to appeal against a recent High Court dismissal of a PIL seeking ban on the use of pepper gas in Kashmir. The Bar said that the High Court judgment in the said case was bound to affect the Human Rights of the multitude of the people living in the state.

On October 30, a division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray, had dismissed a PIL seeking a ban on the use of pepper spray and pellet guns by the security forces during mob management in J&K.

“The executive committee of the J&K High Court Bar Association in its meeting held on November 2 has decided to facilitate the filing of review petition in the pepper gas/pellet gun case, as the judgment passed in the said case is bound to affect the Human Rights of the multitude of the people living in the state,” the Bar said in a statement issued here yesterday.

It said the judgment was also going to render the petition filed by two members of the Bar Association before the State Human Rights Commission anfractuous and the order of restraint passed in the said case by the commission as a faulty,” the Bar said in the statement.

The Bar Association has taken the aforesaid decision after examining the judgment passed in the case and also after hearing the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners who had requested the court to grant them some more time to argue the case and render better assistance in deciding the controversy raised in the petitions effectively and completely, the statement added.

“The Bar feels that the public interest litigation (PIL) is not adversary litigation and as it is filed for protecting the Human Rights of the people, therefore, in the interests of justice, the court should have given further time to the parties to argue the case,” it said.

Srinagar, November 5
The South Asian Association on Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Department of Geography, University of Kashmir, will hold a week-long regional training programme on children’s safety here from tomorrow.

“The training programme will be attended by a number of delegates from the SAARC countries. Besides, a number of representatives from various state Departments, like Directorate of School Education, Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, the Civil Defence and the IMPA, Srinagar, will take part in the event,” programme coordinator T A Kanth said.

He added that M Shashidhar Reddy, vice chairman, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), New Delhi, and Santosh Kumar, Director, SAARC, Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi, will be present in the inaugural session of the programme.

M S Bhat, head of the department, Geography, said the main aim of the course is to address the unique needs of children prior to a disaster, during it and after the disaster and issues of their day to day life.

“The initiative will provide guidance and direction to the participants in evolving ideas of efficient mechanism for the safety and unique needs of children regionally. The training course would cover broader topics related to the safety of children, including children with special needs with emphasis on member countries of the SAARC,” Bhat said.

Srinagar, November 5
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar today inaugurated the three-day long ‘Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign’ in Ganderbal district.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar inaugurates a public information campaign in Ganderbal on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

The campaign is being organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar.

Sagar, on the occasion, stressed upon evolving an effective mechanism for dissemination of information about Central and state government schemes at the grass-root level.

“Information about government-sponsored schemes can act as a potent tool which can help in bringing transparency and accountability into the process of governance. This will also help the masses in knowing their rights and making good use of the benefits that they are eligible for,” Sagar said.

He added that schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act could not have been a success, if the people did not know about them.

“The scheme has progressed to a stage where 10.5 lakh families were brought under its ambit and 6.5 lakh bank accounts have been created for transfer of funds to eligible beneficiaries,” the senior leader claimed.

Sagar said any initiative of the government requires full and whole-hearted public cooperation and public information campaign serve as a means towards that goal.

District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, Sarmad Hafeez and Director, Rural Development, Mir Altaf were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in his welcome address Additional Director General PIB, Srinagar, Obaidur Rahman said programmes like public information campaign were different from other awareness drives as they cover the entire gamut of government schemes and are not limited to one or two schemes.

He said over 750 public information campaigns have been organised in the country so far and added that these act as a bridge between the administration and the people and help in bringing peoples’ day to day problems in the notice of authorities.

Srinagar, November 5
Expressing concern over the deteriorating power supply in Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) today accused the National Conference led coalition government of pushing the valley into the darkness.

“The darkness that has engulfed the Valley, ahead of the winter, seems to be the parting shock given by the ruling coalition before it is voted out of power around this time next year,” PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said in a statement here today.

He alleged that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led coalition has left “deep scars” on the body and soul of the state in its five years of “misgovernance, corruption and compromise”.

“…but the worsening of power position remains an outstanding failure of this government to build upon the progress achieved by its preceding coalition, the PDP-Congress,” he said.

“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the power portfolio, owes lot of answers for his failure to at least maintain the level of power supply that had been ensured till 2008,” Akhtar said.

The senior PDP leader said more than 600 megawatts of power have been added to the state’s generation capacity, but the actual delivery has hit a new low.

“The power tariff has been raised five times during the past five years and the government has been making claims of having charged hundreds of crores of rupees as water usage fee from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. In spite of this, the actual delivery of power to the consumer has hit the lowest level in the past one decade,” Akhtar said.

Referring to the “chronic malfunctioning” of government apparatus under all the NC dispensations, Akhtar recalled as to how till 2002 the power supply would be virtually switched off with the first hint of winter on one pretext or the other, the most common being “breakdown of a transmission tower at the Pir Panjal”.

“The arrival of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led government had witnessed an immediate reversal of this humiliating treatment of the people of Kashmir. But it seems that Omar Abdullah government has once again been able to reintroduce that dark era,” Akthar said.

Srinagar, November 5
A day-long awareness camp for the handicraft artisans of Hazratbal and Harwan Srinagar was organised here today by the Handicrafts Department.

The assistant director of the Handicrafts Department, Srinagar, Handicrafts Department concerned and other district coordinators were present on the occasion, a statement said.

During an interactive session with the artisans, the assistant director called upon the artisans to avail benefits from various state and Centrally-sponsored schemes, especially health insurance schemes Rajiv Gandhi Bima and Yojana and Jan Shri Bima scheme.

Speakers on the occasion urged the artisans to get themselves registered with the Handicrafts Department which would enable them to take benefit from various Centrally and state-sponsored schemes.

It was given out that during 2012-13, hundreds of artisans were registered in the district and scores of cases were forwarded to different banks under the micro-enterprise scheme.

The officer said the handicrafts sector was one of the vital components of employment in the state. He advised the artisan community to avail all such schemes that have been programmed for their welfare. 

Srinagar, November 5
Ahead of All-India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state, the Bharitiya Gujjar Mahasabha today appealed him to analyse the situation on ground and get the facts about the development verified from the people and not from the politicians.

“I appeal Rahul Gandhi to rise above politics and meet people, especially youth personally. I visited the far-flung areas of Tanghdar, where people complained of poverty and unemployment. It is very unfortunate that whenever Rahul visits the state he is being mislead by the state Congress leadership,” state president, Bharitiya Gujjar Mahasabha, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal said in a statement here

“I hope this time Rahul would mingle with people and get first-hand account about the developmental activities that have taken place in the state,” he said.

Poswal also alleged that the people of the state were not getting benefited from different Centre-sponsored schemes.

Srinagar, November 5
Around 30 kilograms of unhygienic vegetables were destroyed during market checks at Shopian in south Kashmir.

An official statement said the market checking squad inspected the marketplaces in Shopian to ensure that the shopkeepers and vendors adhere to the rate lists and quality goods are provided to the consumers.

“The squad checked the rate lists of various shopkeepers, besides checked the quality of the goods, including vegetables, fruits, mutton etc being sold in the market. About 30 kg of unhygienic vegetables were destroyed on the occasion,” the statement added.

It said the market checking squad would continue to conduct regular checks of the market in the future.

Srinagar, November 5
A teenaged girl (15) was admitted to a hospital in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after she allegedly tried to commit suicide over failing in the high school exams.

The girl, who is a student of class IX at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Baramulla, consumed some poisonous substance on the school premises today morning.

She was immediately rushed to the Baramulla District Hospital where her condition was declared stable.

“The sample of the poisonous material has been sent for verification. She is in a stable condition now,” said Dr Masarat Iqbal, Deputy Superintendent, District Hospital, Baramulla.

“The girl was brought to the hospital in a critical condition, but now, she is safe and has been discharged,” he said.

There has been a sudden rise in the number of suicide cases in Kashmir over the issues of academic failures. Last week, a 17-year-old boy ended his life in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district over his poor performance in the secondary school exams.

According to a psychiatrist, high parental expectations could be a cause of these suicides. “This is a result of high parental expectations that is burdening these students. We have made literacy equal to goodness,” said Dr Arshid Hussain, a psychiatrist.

He said from the past few years, there has been an increase in suicide attempts. “On the result days, there is an increase in these cases in the hospitals,” he said.

Srinagar, November 5
Fire broke out at Kashmir region's main maternity hospital on Tuesday evening in the city here. An official of the Fire and Emergency Services Department said fire was first reported at one of the building, which houses the Outdoor Patients block, inside the LD hospital at around 8:30 pm.

The official said attempts were on to douse the fire while the cause of the fire was not known.

The official said seven members of the Fire and Emergency Services department were injured while trying to douse the fire.

An official at the Raj Bagh police station said there was no immediate report of any injury to patients and hospital staff.