Jammu, Novermber 9
The much-proclaimed ‘Heritage Point’, showcasing the rich heritage of Jammu and Kashmir through paintings on both sides across the Hotel Asia road, will soon become a history as the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) has begun the construction of Rs 95-crore Expressway Corridor (flyover) project from Bikram Chowk to Women College at Gandhi Nagar.

Much to the culture-conscious persons chagrin, the ‘Heritage Point’ was being dismantled to pave the way for hassle-free construction of the flyover and there had been no other proposal to develop this point in other part of the city.

The point came into existence about eight years ago when the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) had mooted a novel idea of getting the walls on both sides of roads decked up with pictures depicting the art and culture of the state in 2005. A large number of students of the Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) and independent painters were engaged in the exercise to portray the religious and cultural aspects of the state.

“Being an artist, I must say that the Heritage place was not created at a suitable place. It should have been developed at a public place rather than on the national highway. It was the wastage of tax payers’ money as well as disrespect to the hardwork of artists,” said an IMFA student requesting anonymity.

He said the authorities must develop a similar heritage site at the public place, either at the bus stand or near the railway station, so that the people had a glimpse of state’s rich cultural heritage.

The project was the brainchild of the then JDA vice-chairman, KB Jandial. Initially, 1000-square feet of walls were painted with more than 35 paintings on both sides of the road. The whole project was completed under the financial assistance of the JDA.

It may be placed here that the heritage point was being dismantled for the construction of the proposed four-lane 1.3-km flyover. The project also includes widening of 1.5 km road from six to eight lanes. The ERA has been entrusted with the task to complete the project. The flyover is supposed to be completed within three years.

The ‘Heritage Point’ had paintings on various subjects ranging from festivals to lush green pastures, Dora festivals, nomadic culture, landscapes and rolling hills to the lakes of Kashmir.

Ashwani Sharma, an alumnus of IMFA remarked: “Though it was a great endeavour to highlight the cultural diversity of the state, yet less attention was paid to underline the importance of Dogra culture. The selection of the site for creation of this point was not desirable. It was developed along the road where all buses entered the city through this highway. The authorities should create a better heritage point at public place if the existing one is being dismantled.”

JDA Vice-Chancellor KL Khajuria could not be contacted for comments. 

Katra/Jammu, November 9
Former municipal councillor and a prominent businessman from Reasi Suraj Parkash Sharma died in a road accident last evening.

The accident took place when a car being driven by Suraj Parkash slipped into a deep gorge at Reasi fort hill last evening.

He was rushed to District Hospital Reasi, where doctors referred him to GMC Hospital Jammu in view of his critical condition. After his admission in GMC, he succumbed to his injuries.

The last rites were performed on Saturday afternoon. A large number of politicians and locals including MLA Baldev Raj Sharma, MLC Jugal Kishor Sharma, DC Reasi Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and SP Reasi Sharif Chowan were in attendance.

The deceased was owner of a hotel and father of Youth Congress leader Amit Sharma.

Meanwhile, in a tragic road accident, two persons were killed and 21 sustained injuries, when a bus in which they were travelling in skidded off the road and rolled down into a deep gorge at Jaganu in Udhampur district.

According to the police, the ill-fated vehicle (JK02AU-7617) was on its way from Jaganu to Udhampur when it met with an accident and fell into a deep gorge killing one person on the spot. Another person succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Muhammad Hussain (34), a resident of Jaganu, and Daleer Ahmed (28).

After receiving the information about the accident, police personnel of the Udhampur police station rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation. All passengers of the vehicle were evacuated and rushed to the Udhampur hospital.

The injured are receiving treatment at the Udhampur hospital.

A case in this regard has been registered at the Udhampur police station.

Jammu, November 9
Maintaining that uniform recruitment policies should be followed by the state for appointing special teachers to teach students with disabilities, the Department of Education of Groups with Special Needs (DEGSN) has suggested that the component of inclusive education should be made compulsory at all levels of teacher training.

This has been revealed in the recently issued guidelines by the department for successful implementation of the Inclusive Education of the Disabled at Secondary Age (IEDSS) scheme in the state.

It said the teacher-training course needs restructuring that focuses on inclusive practices and strategies.

“The authorities concerned should take an initiative to prepare a complete database on number of special teachers trained each year. This will help in bridging the gap between the demand and supply of special teachers. Further, the curriculum has to be broad, flexible and appropriate to accommodate the diversity of schoolchildren, including those with disability in both cognitive and non-cognitive areas,” the guidelines said.

It is important to develop perspective and skills in all administrators, including school principals, for planning and executing programmes based on the philosophy of inclusion. Policymakers in the state should be provided awareness/orientation programmes and guidelines for preparing detailed proposal, including all the components under the scheme,” a statement from the department maintained.

The DEGSN claimed that getting a disability certificate from the medical board sometimes proves a nightmare for parents of children with disabilities. “It is important that admission, retention, getting support facilities, scholarships and full participation of children in all aspects of education should not be subject to any criteria based on assessment tests, judgement by professionals and experts, including psycho-medical certificates,” the DEGSN said.

The department has made it clear that no child with disabilities should be asked to produce certificates either for admission, examination, getting support facilities/scholarships, etc.

It said the provisions must match the identified Special Education Needs (SEN) of students.

“The scheme can be strengthened by harnessing different innovative movements. It is sometimes difficult for students with disability to walk up to school in difficult terrains like hilly areas. Regular schools should provide them with hostel facility if necessary,” a statement from the DEGSN claimed. 

The authorities concerned should take an initiative to prepare a complete database on the number of special teachers trained each year. This will help in bridging the gap between the demand and supply of special teachers. Further, the curriculum has to be broad, flexible and appropriate to accommodate the diversity of schoolchildren, including those with disability in both cognitive and non-cognitive areas
— guidelines from the Department of Education of Groups with Special Needs 

Jammu, October 9
In absence of any mechanism to keep a check on the prices of vegetables by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, people are at a mercy of vendors, who are charging at will.

Vegetable and fruit prices vary from one market to another. There should be a check on retailers who are increasing the prices as per the market demand, but the CAPD has failed in its duty to keep a check on them. Same is the situation with fruits as their prices are also not stable and change on a daily basis.

Fruits have already become a luxury for the middle class who have stopped the use of several fruits and vegetables in their daily consumption. Buying packed fruit juices appears to be a better option.

The ongoing marriage season and influx of thousands of employees in Jammu from Srinagar due to the Durbar Move has led to the increase in demand of green vegetables.

Jammu fruit and vegetable Mandi is probably the only market in the country which is not following the practice of rate lists giving a cue to the people about the prevailing rates with a result that those associate in the trade are earning two to three hundred per cent margin.

When contacted CAPD department director GS Chib said the directions had been passed for a regular check on the markets to conduct a survey on the prices of wholesale and retail markets.

He said the vegetable and fruit prices were reviewed after every three months and if the department couldn’t review it after every three months, the previous rates would continue till the department issues the next notification.

Jammu, November 9
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the Ministry of Defence had granted permission to the state government for the expansion of the Jammu Airport.

“We have been granted working permission by the Ministry of Defence (for the expansion of the Jammu Airport). Soon work will start on the runway of the airport,” the Chief Minister said.

He was speaking at a function here to inaugurate a four-lane road at Kunjwani on the outskirts of Jammu city. “I had sent a team of officials to New Delhi recently. They cleared all hurdles in the airport expansion project,” Omar said.

“Jammu is one of the five dangerous airports in the country. We cannot risk the lives of thousands of people travelling daily. We want to give a safe and secure airport to the travellers,” Omar said.

He said he had discussed the importance of the expansion of the runways of the Jammu Airport with the Union Government to make it capable of receiving bigger aircraft.

Omar said the Centre had recognised the importance and the project had been cleared for expansion and upgrade of the runways.

He said the projects would not only help in roping more tourists to Jammu city, but also give a fillip to the economic activity in the state.

Regarding the Gondola project on the Bahu Fort-Mubarak Mandi axis in Jammu city, he said the state government had almost got a clearance for the project from the Union Ministry of Environment.

On power development, Omar said self-reliance in power generation was imperative for the economic welfare and holistic development of a state like Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the state government had also laid edifice to generate 9000 MW within some 7 to 8 years so that it became self-sufficient in power generation.

“This would not only help in providing 24x7 power supply for domestic purpose but also for trade and industrial purposes.”

The Chief Minister also announced the launch of a neurosurgery unit at Jammu Super Specialty Hospital to relieve patients of the burden of travelling outside the state for treatment. --- PTI 

Jammu, November 9
Piles of garbage, stench and flies continue to greet the visitors, including foreign tourists, at the Jammu railway station.

The entry point to the temple city has been turned into a garbage dump, with fruit vendors, shopkeepers and passengers dumping their waste outside the station.

The major contributors to the poor hygienic conditions, though, are the shopkeepers and fruit vendors, who throw away the waste on the road. The drains in the area are also not covered, which adds to the sordid state.

Though the government has been making attempts to promote the pilgrim tourism in the region, no efforts have been made to beautify the place, which hosts thousands of Vaishnodevi-bound pilgrims and other tourists everyday.

The only impression, which the visitors carry with them, is piles of garbage and the stink emanating from it.

“Heaps of solid waste lay scattered near the taxi stand. It was difficult to walk through, the stink was unbearable. Our first impression of the city was quite bad,” said Ravinder Srivastava, a tourist.

If that is not enough, the lack of coordination between the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Railway authorities has made the place a safe haven for the stray dogs.

“Sanitation of the area is our priority, but there is need for more coordination between civic bodies and the railway authorities,” JMC health officer Dr Vinod Sharma said.

Meanwhile, a frequent visitor to the area rued the indifferent attitude of the administration for the sorry state of the station premises.

“As there is shortage of manpower and lack of coordination within the JMC and the Jammu Development Authority, it seems there will be no immediate respite from the garbage in the area,” he said on the condition of anonymity.

Jammu generates nearly 350 tonnes of garbage everyday and it is expected that the there will be an increase in the solid waste generation in the next decade. 

Katra, November 9
An assistant executive engineer (AEE) and junior engineer (JE) of the rural engineering wing have been placed under suspension for demanding and accepting bribe for clearing bill of a construction work.

District Development Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary suspended AEE Surinder Kumar Sharma and JE Jagdish Raj after a preliminary inquiry was conducted on a complaint filed by MLA Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma.

The DDC released an amount of Rs 2.38 lakh under the constituency development fund of the MLA for the construction of a road at Panassa.

As per the complaint, the AEE and JE demanded a bribe of Rs 40,000 for clearing the bill out of which Rs 25,000 was paid by the complainant, Prithvi Dass.

The complainant alleged that the bill was withheld as the AEE and JE were demanding the remaining Rs 15,000. The Reasi MLA lodged a formal complaint before the DDC into the matter and original complaint along with supporting documents and affidavits were also submitted. After preliminary verification of facts, the DDC placed both officials under suspension and attached it in the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue.

A through inquiry into the matter has been ordered. An inquiry committee comprising assistant commissioner, development, Joginder Rai, assistant commissioner, revenue, Tilak Raj Shastri and executive engineer, PHE, Nissar Khan has been directed by the DDC to submit the findings of inquiry within a period of two weeks for further action into the matter. 

Katra November 9
A day-long training cum exposure camp was today organised for the sheep and goat rearing of Reasi district under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency at the government sheep breeding farm, Panthal.

District Development Commissioner (DDC), Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, on the occasion, urged people to take advantage of new opportunities available in different livestock rearing ventures, particularly sheep and goat rearing, as it has become a profitable business.

District Sheep Husbandry Officer Dr HS Rana said the main aim of the program was to train the participants on the latest technology in the field to enhance the production in sheep and goat rearing.

Earlier, a group of participants was flagged off from the office of the District Development Commissioner by Choudhary to the breeding farm at Panthal.

Meanwhile, the experts from the sheep husbandry department made the reares aware about the care to be taken of their livestock during the winters.

They also impressed upon breeders to remain in close contact with the department to avail better health care for their live stock.

Jammu, November 9
The research scholars and students of the Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Jammu, today criticised the move to either completely close or merge the 26-year-old branch with the upcoming philosophy department.

Talking to the mediapersons here, Suresh Kumar, senior research scholar and president Youth Movement for Promotion of Buddhist Studies (YMPBS) expressed his displeasure over the move. He alleged that the university administration was bent upon stopping the dissemination of teachings of Buddhism.

“Buddhism has played a significant role in disseminating Indian culture and value education, not only in the Buddhist countries of Asia but even in the western world. Realising this fact, various universities in our country too introduced the teaching of Buddhist Studies at various levels,” Suresh said.

“The state government too introduced Buddhist Studies at the post graduate level in the University of Jammu in 1987, as a large chunk of population in Jammu and Kashmir follows Buddhism as a religious faith and way of life. It is very unfortunate that the department was not given proper attention and patronage, which resulted in its stagnation,” he said.

Expressing anguish over the recent move of the university, Suresh said it was unfortunate that instead of promoting the study of Buddhism, the varsity administration was trying to close it.

“Jammu University administration has made its mind to go against the strategic outlook of the Central government, as the authorities lack vision,” he alleged.

Suresh said there was a deep sense of disappointment and anguish among the students, who had passed or were still pursuing MA and PhD research in Buddhist Studies.

The scholar made an appeal to Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the university, to instruct the concerned quarters to encourage the teaching of Buddhist Studies instead of harming it. 

Jammu, November 9
The Dulhasti Power Station of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPCL) today donated two classrooms to Government High School, Dul, Kishtwar, under its corporate social responsibility programme.

The classrooms were constructed under the supervision of the organisation and were handed over to the school authorities after completion by Arvind Bhat, General Manager, Dulhasti Power Station, in presence of Ajay Mathur, Chief Engineer (Civil), Dulhasti Power Station.

Om Prakash, senior manager (HR), Dulhasti, and local sarpanch were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhat said education was the backbone of the nation and initiatives to facilitate students, particularly from government schools, was the need of the hour. — TNS

Jammu, November 9
As many as 25 engineering students from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University have been recruited by the Tata Consultancy Services during a three-day long recruitment drive held at varsity.

Nearly 300 students from across the state appeared in the joint campus drive.

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, and Government College of Engineering, Jammu, also participated in the exercise conducted by the TCS recruitment team from Delhi.

Twelve students from GCET, Jammu, and nine from NIT, Srinagar, were also recruited by the company.

Prof Sudhir K Jain, Vice Chancellor of SMVDU congratulated the shortlisted students and wished them a successful career.

BK Bhatia, placement officer, SMVDU, thanked all the members of the TCS team and students and faculty coordinators from the GCET, Jammu, and NIT, Srinagar, for being a part of the recruitment program.

Talking about the future plans, Bhatia said the Indian Navy will visit the varsity for campus selections under the University Entry Scheme (UES) - 2014 from November 20.

Batote, November 9
A seminar was organised in the court of the Judicial Magistrate here today on the eve of the National Legal Literacy Awareness Day.

Addressing a small but impressive gathering of panches, sarpanches, social workers and prominent citizens of the area, Sub-Judge Naushad Ahmed Khan highlighted the importance of the National Legal Literacy Awareness Day and made the people aware about the schemes meant to provide free legal aid to the weaker sections of the society.

Bemoaning the abject and miserable condition of the under privileged villagers, Khan advised them to avail the benefit of the Centrally sponsored schemes like old age pension and financial assistance scheme for the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe communities.

He urged panches, sarpanches and social workers, gathered on the occasion, to do their best in spreading the legal awareness among poor and weaker sections of the society. 

Jammu, November 9
A five-day-long national-level ‘Teacher Training Exchange Programme’ commenced at Gandhi Memorial College of Education (GMCE) here today.

The programme is being organised by the college in collaboration with the State Institute of Education and the Maharashtra Education Society, Pune.

AK Raina, general secretary, Hindu Education Society, Kashmir, on the occasion, said the programme was based on practical activities and it will help teachers in improving the learning abilities of students.— TNS

Jammu, November 9
City Volleyball Club (CVC) clinched the District-Level Volleyball Championship 2013 trophy by defeating Housing Colony Club by 3-1 in the final. The tournament was organised by the Volleyball Association of Udhampur District. The final set score read 25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 29-24.

Earlier in the first semifinal, CVC got the better of Army Public School (APS) by straight sets 2-0 (25-16, 21-19) while in the second semifinal, Housing Colony Club toppled Ramnagar Volleyball Club by 2-0 (25-17, 25-20). All the matches were officiated by Ashok Sharma, Pawan Sharma, Manik Kumar, Amit Sharma, Shashi Sharma, Kuldeep Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, Kuldeep Kumar Magotra, Sanjeev Kumar and Ashok Padha.

In the valedictory-cum-prize distribution function, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Yasha Mugdal was the chief guest while District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO) Udhampur, Sukhdev Singh, presided over the function.

Volleyball Association district president Raj Guru introduced the chief guest to the final teams.

Later, the chief guest distributed the trophies to winner and runner-up teams. Ex-councillor Ashwani Khajuira, Saju Ram, Hans Raj, Ashok Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, Kanchan Sharma, Davi Singh, Anil Manhas and Pawan Sharma were also present. 

Jammu, November 9
LOC XI trounced Habib Club by one wicket in the summit clash to clinch the 2nd Shaheed DySP Manjeet Singh Twenty20 Cricket Tournament played at Government Degree College Ground, Poonch.

Earlier, LOC won the toss and opted to field. Batting first, Habib Club accumulated 101 runs. Irfan remained the top scorer with 30 runs. For LOC XI, Firdous took two wickets while Qazi was most successful bowler with a two-wicket haul.

In reply, LOC XI did the needful 102 runs in 19 overs losing nine wickets in the process.

Govil top scored with 33 runs. Bhatti and Nasir shared three wickets apiece for Habib Club.

In the valedictory function, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Jehangir Hussian Mir, was the chief guest while District Development Commissioner (DDC) Sajad Ahmed Khan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Poonch, Shamsher Hussain, were the guests of honour.