The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Srinagar wakes up to sunny day after season’s coldest night Mercury plummeted to minus 3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 5 The summer capital of the state recorded Wednesday night as the coldest of the winter season with the minimum temperature plummeting to minus 3 degrees Celsius. Even as early Thursday morning remained cold, the city later witnessed a sunny day, recording 12.7 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature. Due to sub-zero night temperature, taps froze in the morning at many parts, especially on the outskirts of the city. People poured hot water on pipes and covered them with a cloth to resume water supply at their homes. An official of the Meteorological Department said other parts of the Valley, too, recorded sub-zero temperature at night, even though the weather remained dry during the day. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded minus 3.8 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature, while tourist resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir saw a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius. Border town Kupwara and ski resort Gulmarg recorded minus 3 and minus 2 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperatures respectively. However, day temperature in the areas remained above zero degrees Celsius across the Valley. Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kupwara recorded 13, 11.2 and 14.1 degrees Celsius maximum temperatures respectively. Weathermen forecast mainly dry weather conditions across the Valley during the next 24 hours. The Valley's harshest 40-day winter period called "chillai kalan" in local parlance will begin from December 21 when day temperatures too would dip considerably. Meanwhile, Leh in Ladakh remained the coldest place of the state, recording minus 12.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature, while Kargil saw a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature at Kargil and Leh was 6.8 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively.
	Fire breaks out at medical college, no casualty reported Our Correspondent Srinagar, December 5 Fire broke out at the lab block of the Microbiology Department of the Sher-I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Thursday afternoon. However, no damage was reported till filing of this report. Officials said all patients were safe. "It was a minor incident. Fire broke out at the AC window of the lab block, which is separate from the hospital," said the Sher-I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Medical Superintendent. Nearly half-a-dozen fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. This is the fourth time in this year that an important government building has caught fire. Last month, Lal Ded Maternity Hospital had caught fire that had damaged a supply storeroom and a room of security personnel.
	House, two shops gutted in Valley Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 5 A house and two shops were gutted in two incidents in the Valley on Thursday, police said. House of Mushtaq Ahmad, resident of Naibasti, Nowgam-Dooru, had caught fire, leaving it partially damaged. "Fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and police," a statement issued by the police said. The statement said fire had broken out in two shops owned by Javaid Ahmad, a resident of Goipora, Gund, in Ganderbal district. "Both the shops were completely damaged in the incident," the statement added.
	MC fails to check dumping of building material on roads Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 Despite clear order by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) against dumping of construction material on roads, residents continue to do so in the city. In most of the residential colonies, residents use roads to dump construction material, which hampers the movement of public and vehicles. Heaps of construction materials like sand, iron rods and bricks are found on roads, which is clear violation of the norms set by the administration to keep the city roads clean. In many areas, hardware stores, too, encroach on the footpaths to store construction material, but no action is being taken to ensure that public space remains free for the movement of people. The corporation has been directing builders and property owners not to use roads to store construction material, but not much heed is paid to the direction, which gives very unpleasant look to the city. The construction materials spread on roads pose danger to the commuters, be it car driver or bike rider,” said Sunil Thapa, a resident of Talab Tillo. Recently, Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla has also directed the civic authorities to take action against people found dumping building material on roads, which blocks the flow of rainwater, leading to flooding in several residential colonies during heavy rainfall. “People need to cooperate with the civic body. Residents should not dump their material on roads, which is dangerous for the drivers. We will soon launch a drive against such a practice,” said Municipal Commissioner Kiran Wattal. Officials said efforts were also being made to tell the residents not to dump building material in nullahs as it clogs them during the rainfall, resulting in seepage of water in the adjoining areas. Violation of norms * Heaps of construction materials like sand, iron rods and bricks are found on roads, which is clear violation of the norms set by the administration to keep the city roads clean * In many areas, hardware stores, too, encroach on the footpaths to store construction material, but no action is being taken to ensure that public space remains free for the movement of people * Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla has also directed the civic authorities to take action against people found dumping building material on roads, which blocks the flow of rainwater, leading to flooding in several residential colonies during heavy rainfall
	Election to Board of Ayurvedic, Unani systems sought Jammu, December 5 The All Jammu and Kashmir Ayurvedic Congress today demanded immediate election to the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine, which has not been held for the last 13 years. It has also demanded regularisation of 75 newly opened Indian School of Medicine (ISM) dispensaries being managed by an internal arrangement. Members of the Ayurvedic Congress today met Minister of State for Health Shabir Khan and apprised him of the problems faced by the doctors working in Ayush hospitals and dispensaries. In a memorandum to the government, Dr Satya Gupta, president of the congress, demanded opening of new dispensaries as a number of ISM institutions have been opened in the state. It demanded provision of staff for 45 dispensaries being managed by one medical officer since 1982. Other demands are provision of two posts of B-grade specialists for each district and bifurcation of state-level directorate in Jammu and Kashmir for better management. — TNS
	Dogra Sadar Sabha demands Dogri channel for J&K residents Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 The Dogra Sadar Sabha has demanded exclusive Dogri channel to promote the language, spoken by lakhs of residents in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference, sabha president Gulchain Singh Charak said Dogri language was already included in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution. The separate TV channel could air Dogri, Gojri, Bhadhrwahi, Kishtwari, Punjabi, Pahari, Mirpuri, Urdu and Kashmiri language programmes and would help in promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic communities living in Jammu and Kashmir. Charak also demanded that Jammu Doordarshan should also air its programme through Direct to Home (DTH) facility to reach the urban areas of the region. The sabha appealed to the authorities that all the casual labourers already engaged in the Doordarshan Kendra in the state be treated at par with temporarily employees.
	Former PDP leader floats party Our Correspondent Doda, December 5 Former vice-president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Riyaz Ahmed Zargar today launched the “third front”, the Blassea, Bhaderwah United Front. Zargar slammed the Congress and National Conference coalition headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of failing to resolve the problems of the poor people of the Chenab region. He said, "All three leading political parties of the state have completely failed to resolve our problems.” “What could we say to other leaders even our own son of the soil and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has no time to take stock of our problems. He has created infrastructure by building new hospitals in the Chenab region, but there is no staff,” he said. He said, “The main opposition party had also ignored us. This forced me to form our own front to fight for the rights of the people living in the Chenab region.”
	Five years on, bridge over Chenab yet to complete Ranjit Thakur Thathri (Doda), December 5 Notwithstanding the claims made by successive governments, the people in far-flung areas of Kuntwara and Saraz in the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar remain cut off from the Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar highway in the absence of a proper bridge over the Chenab river. “It’s unfortunate that even after six decades of independence we are still not connected with the Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar highway,” Rakesh, who hails from Barshala village in Doda, said. “Our children have to trek miles to reach their schools. They are forced to cross the suspension bridge over Chenab, which involves high risk,” he added. A bridge is being constructed over the Chenab river at Thathri at an estimated cost of Rs 10.86 crore. But even after five years, the project remains far from being complete. “We are facing lot of hardships because of the unavailability of a proper bridge in our village. Each day we have to walk miles to reach to our college and schools,” Shabu Rao, a student from the area, told The Tribune. Rakesh, meanwhile, said the claims of development made by the government stand “exposed”. “Our village is just a kilometre way from the Thathri tehsil office…It looks quite strange when government makes hollow claims of development in rural areas,” Rakesh said. Nandana sarpanch, Abdul Rehman Kashmiri, slammed the state government for the existing situation and demanded that the bridge over the Chenab river should be completed at the earliest. “The work on the bridge is going on at snail’s pace. The higher authorities should take the matter seriously, so that people get some relief,” Kashmiri said. “Our villagers have to ferry food items on ponies. It is the only source to carry the material to this mountainous belt,” he added. The Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation official admitted that there has been a delay in the project. He, however, hoped that the bridge will be complete before the end of the current fiscal. “The project faced lot of difficulties, particularly during regular tremors in the region,” Joginder, a junior engineer, said. “The work on the bridge started in 2009 and it will probably conclude before this financial year,” he added.
	Preserve Sheikh’s idea of democratic J&K: NC Devender Rana urges people to be vigilant against conspirators Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 Cautioning against conspiracies being hatched to erode the special identity of the state, the provincial president of the National Conference (NC), Devender Singh Rana, today urged people to stand for “preserving the Sher-e-Kashmir’s idea of secular and democratic” Jammu and Kashmir. “The enemies of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, within and outside, have joined hands to inflict scars on the state’s uniqueness, its glorious tradition and its great ethos for furthering their political ends,” Rana said while paying tributes to Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah on his 108th birth anniversary at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here. Rana took the BJP head on for its “sinister machinations” with regard to Article 370, saying, “It was a deliberate attempt to vitiate the political atmosphere ahead of the 2014 elections.” He also decried the “political immaturity” of BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi by describing Jammu and Kashmir as a “beggar state”. “It is an affront to the people of this state, who love their self esteem more than their lives,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir is the only state across the country where people have roof over their heads. On the issue of the Central assistance to Jammu and Kashmir, the provincial president said this was a “bona fide right” of every state and not a courtesy or benevolence extended to us only. “Doesn’t Mr. Modi’s Gujarat receive funds allocated by the Planning Commission of India as part of share to each state?” he asked. Rana advised the BJP to “maintain decency” and “not to stoop so low” in pursuit of power. The senior leader, meanwhile, asked his party men to remain vigilant against such elements and strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for steering Jammu and Kashmir to peace and prosperity. Paying tributes to the Sher-e-Kashmir, Sadhotra asked the party cadre to gear up for the big exercise and to ensure that the National Conference maintains its political supremacy in every constituency. Member of Parliament Mohammed Shafi Uri, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Javed Rana and other NC legislators were present on the occasion.
	J&K Study Centre to intensify campaign against Art 370 To organise seminars to discuss utility of the Article Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 With BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi kicking off a debate over the utility of the Article 370, the intelligentsia here has started a campaign to “educate” people about the alleged “misuse of the special status” by the “ruling elites” of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre, a country-based research group comprising lawyers, retired judges, writers, thinkers and intellectuals, has decided to intensify the campaign against the Article by holding workshops and seminars across the country over its utility. The Study Centre has already involved law students from all over the country by organising an essay competition on the Article 370 in collaboration with Mewar University, sources said. “Over 10,000 law students from all over the country have sent their entries for the competition,” the source said. The topics of the essay competition were Genesis and nature of the Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Process of constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir, Implications of the Article 370 and J&K and the United Nations Organisation. Propagators of the special status were of the impression that Modi had casually called for debate on the Article 370. But sources in the BJP said the challenge for a debate was part of the Sangh Parivar’s strategy to take this issue at the national-level. They added that the main aim of organising a national-level essay competition was to lay foundation for nationwide debate on the Article. “Narindra Modi’s speech at Jammu on Sunday has given boost to the campaign,” sources said. Meanwhile, the BJP today countered Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s argument that women who marry outside the state have all the rights. BJP spokesperson Nirmal Kamal alleged that Chief Minister was giving “misleading” statements. She cautioned the women in particular and public in general that they should not be “trapped into misleading campaign of the NC and the Congress leaders”. “Omar should do his home work on the issue. He should consult history books and Assembly records to find out the truth instead of wasting time on tweeting,” she said.
	Defunct streetlights pose problems for Kupwara residents Kupwara, December 5 Residents and traders have demanded that streetlights installed in the town should be made functional at the earliest. They said the lights installed more than two years ago remained functional for a few weeks only. “Despite many representations for repairing or installing new lights, the municipal committee has not bothered to make the lights functional. In the absence of lights, we are facing a lot of inconvenience during evening and night hours. What is the point of spending lakhs of rupees on lights, when these are not functional,” said Abdul Rashid, a local resident. Another resident said due to non-functional lights they were facing problems in going to mosques. “There are more chances of attacks by stray dogs in the dark. We are forced to move in groups and carry torches to avoid attacks from stray dogs. The department has not bothered to address our problems,” said Mohammad Amin, a local resident. Residents appealed to the district administration to repair or replace the lights. DC Itrat Hussian Rafique said, “I will take up the issue with the department concerned and lights will be made functional soon.” — OC
	HC not satisfied with hygiene at Valleys’ lone psychiatric hospital Wants biomedical, other waste removed on daily basis Tribune news Service Srinagar, December 5 Not satisfied with the hygienic conditions at the Valley’s lone psychiatric hospital in the city, the J&K High Court has directed the authorities concerned to ensure removal of hazardous biomedical and solid domestic waste on a daily basis from the hospital premises. It has also told the authorities to “take immediate steps” for procurement of a dumper placer fitted with garbage bins to ensure quick disposal of solid domestic waste on a daily basis from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, also known as Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital. The directions were given by a division bench of the court headed by Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir in a public interest litigation seeking health reforms and better facilities in the hospital. “The directions regarding collection and disposal of bio-medical waste were not complied with. The response as filed (previously) was not found satisfactory. Today, again the fresh status has been filed but we are not satisfied with the same because the hazardous waste and other waste is not being removed in accordance with the rules within the timeframe prescribed therein,” the high court said in its fresh orders made available today. In the status report, it has been stated that the (hospital) authorities had approached the director, State Motor Garages, for procurement of a medium-sized dumper placer for the hospital to ensure disposal of domestic waste on a daily basis. State counsel JA Kawoosa said the procurement of the dumper might take some time. “The respondents shall take immediate steps for the procurement of the said vehicle, but in the meantime they must ensure that arrangements are made for the removal of the biomedical waste as well as solid domestic waste on a daily basis, in tune with the rule requirement,” the court observed in its fresh orders. The court has also directed the hospital authorities to file a fresh status report by the next hearing on December 23. The court directed the authorities to come up with a “concrete proposal for filling” vacant posts “by other permissible modes”, if the response to the advertisements for such posts was still poor after the extension of the deadline.
	Govt has failed to provide jobs to educated youth: PDP Srinagar, December 5 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former chairman of the Legislative Council Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has accused the National Conference-led government of failing to provide jobs to the educated youth. In a statement, he said although the government has over the last five years been claiming to provide employment to the youth through various schemes, practically it has done nothing in this regard. “Even the much-touted Sher-i-Kashmir Employment Programme or the so-called fast-track recruitment process has failed to achieve the desired results on the ground,” Lone said. — TNS
	World War veteran discharged from Military Hospital Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 A 100-year-old ex-serviceman and World War I and II veteran, Havildar (retd) Mohi-ud-din, was today discharged from Military Hospital at Satwari here. The veteran has rendered his valuable services to the nation while serving with 7 JAK Rifles. He has seen both world wars and all four post-Independence wars during his tenure in the Army. Brig MM Harjai, Commandant, Military Hospital, monitored his full treatment from day one. The Commandant said the ex-serviceman was ambulant and remembered most of the major events of his life.
	Schools in Ramban function from one room RK Kichlu Batote, December 5 Though the Central government, through its nationwide programme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), aims at providing better facilities to students, a majority of the primary schools in Ramban district continue to run all classes in just one room, at times simultaneously. To cap it all, those one-room buildings are in a shambles. All schools have a separate kitchen shed meant to provide mid-day meals to students, but the demand for additional classrooms is what the authorities seem to be back-burning. “On a sunny day, we take classes in the open. But if it rains, all teachers are forced to teach in the one-room building of the school, which is not the way it should be. To avoid chaos, we divide our classes into shifts,” said Mohd Rafiq, a teacher at Government Primary School, Papdia. Ramban Chief Education Officer Vinod Kumar Soni said: “Constraints of space still haunt Ramban schools, especially the old ones which don’t fall under the SSA. Primary schools at Waloo, Hergan, Tragan and upper primary school at Bajnari are in Khari Education Zone of Banihal; Papdia in Batote Zone; and Seri in Ramban Zone. The government and local MLAs are trying to solve the problem by getting two additional rooms sanctioned for each of these schools under the District Plan by the next year.” He said: “The school at Seri has been sanctioned Rs 9 lakh under the District Plan and is being renovated. The work on it was started in August 2013 and will be complete before students return from their winter vacation in March 2014.” “If any school is upgraded under the SSA, it can get three additional classrooms,” he added. Meanwhile, middle schools in the district, including the one at Chauri in Sanasar, are no better. At the two-room Chauri government school, eight classes — four in each room — are taken simultaneously.
	NRHM staff without salary for three months Kupwara, December 5 Medical staff working under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme is suffering due to the non-payment of salaries for the past three months. The medical staff has appealed to the Health Minister and the mission director, NRHM, to release their pending salaries at the earliest. “My children are facing starvation-like conditions as I have not received my salary for the past three months. The authorities often delay the release of salaries for months together. We are working round the clock to ensure better patient care in hospitals and are paid peanuts in the name of salaries that too after months,” said a pharmacist working in Sub-District Hospital, Kupwara. Employees posted at the Block Programme Management Units (BPMUs) said, in brazen violation of the guidelines, their salaries were released by the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) in districts and not by the Block Medical Officers (BMOs). “As per norms, the BMO has to release the salaries of the BPMUs. Due to the release of the salaries by the CMOs, our salaries are often delayed. We appeal to the minister to release our salaries are released in time,” said Block Monitoring Evaluation Officer (BMEO), working in the Kupwara district. — OC
	Omar challenges Modi to debate Art 370 Says he’s ready to even go to Ahmedabad to argue his case on special status to J&K Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 5 Days after BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi called for a debate on the Article 370, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday challenged him to the same “anytime, anywhere”. In his first rally in Jammu on December 1 after being nominated the party’s PM candidate, Modi had called for a debate on the Article 370, which provides special status to the state. “The Article 370 acts as a bridge between the state and the rest of country and efforts to weaken it will weaken this bridge. If they (BJP leaders) want a debate on the Article 370 with me, I am ready for it anytime and anywhere. I can even go to Ahmedabad for the debate, if he (Modi) wants,” Omar said during a rally which was held to celebrate the 108th birth anniversary of his grander father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Hazratbal here. “It is unfortunate that people who have no knowledge about Kashmir are talking about the Article 370. The Article is neither about property rights nor the residency laws, but this Article is a provision of the Constitution that connects J&K with the rest of the country,” the Chief Minister said while lashing out at Modi. “The Article 370 is the foundation stone of relations between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India,” he added. In the Lalkaar rally in Jammu, Modi departed from the party’s position (which has been demanding abrogation of the Article 370) while calling for an open debate on the benefits, if any, of the Article 370. “Let us have an open debate. If the Article 370 is proven to be beneficial for the common masses of Jammu and Kashmir, my party would stand by this constitutional provision,” the Gujarat Chief Minister had said in Jammu. In the rally today, Omar hit out at Modi for his lack of knowledge about people of J&K. “One leader (Modi) recently said that injustice is being done to Gujjars in J&K. Ours is perhaps the only state where this community has been given the Scheduled Tribe status. Modi sahib, you should have talked of the rights of Gujjars in Rajasthan who are still fighting for this status,” the Chief Minister said. Omar also criticised Modi for not mentioning anything about Kashmiri Pandits during the Jammu rally. Campaign against Art 370 launched Jammu, December 5 With BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi kicking off a debate over the utility of the Article 370, the intelligentsia here has started a campaign to “educate” people about the alleged “misuse of the special status” by the “ruling elites” of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre, a country-based research group comprising lawyers, retired judges, writers, thinkers and intellectuals, has decided to intensify the campaign against the Article by holding workshops and seminars across the country over its utility. The Study Centre has already involved law students from all over the country by organising an essay competition on the Article 370 in collaboration with Mewar University, sources said. “Over 10,000 law students from all over the country have sent their entries for the competition,” the source said. — TNS
	Farooq to contest LS poll from Srinagar Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 5 The three sitting National Conference Members of Parliament, including Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, will seek re-election from the three parliamentary constituencies of the Valley. The National Conference (NC) — which is in a coalition with the Congress — announced that it would repeat its three MPs for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections at a function held here today to celebrate the 108 birth anniversary of its founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. While Farooq would contest from the Srinagar parliamentary seat, Sharifuddin Shariq and Mehboob Beig were nominated as the party candidates for the Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies, respectively. The NC patron, Farooq Abdullah, didn’t name the candidates who will contest from the other three seats of the state, including two in Jammu and one in Ladakh. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on November 21 announced that its president, Mehbooba Mufti, would be the party’s candidate for Anantnag and former Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Karra would contest from the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The PDP is yet to nominate its candidate for Baramulla. While addressing the rally, Farooq told the NC workers to prepare for the upcoming elections. “I appeal to the party workers to remain united and prepare for the upcoming parliamentary elections as there are efforts to destabilise the NC,” he said. He lashed out at the PDP and said the party had one aim which was to weaken the NC. “One of the senior leaders of the PDP, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, had counselled former Governor Jagmohan to suggest ways to remove the Article 370,” Farooq said. Decision on 3 seats * The National Conference on Thursday announced that it would repeat its three MPs for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections * While NC patron Farooq Abdullah will contest from the Srinagar parliamentary seat, Sharifuddin Shariq and Mehboob Beig will contest from the Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies, respectively * The NC patron didn’t name the candidates who will contest from the other three seats of the state, including two in Jammu and one in Ladakh
	Hoteliers miffed over sealing of hotels in Kashmir Say it is not feasible to have sewage treatment plants in subzero temperatures Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, December 5 With the state administration sealing over 250 hotels in Kashmir, following the High Court’s directive to close down the facilities which have failed to install the sewage treatment plants (STPs), the Valley hoteliers say they will not go down without a fight. “We are hiring more lawyers and we will try to put our point of view across in the court,” the convener of the Coordination Committee of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation and the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association, Faiz Bakshi, told The Tribune. He also emphasised that installation of the STPs will not be a successful experiment. “We cannot install the STPs. The temperature in which the plant works has to be maintained between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, but in winters the temperature here dips below zero degrees Celsius,” he said. More than 250 hotels in the Valley, including some of the famous staying destinations of the region, continue to remain under lock following the court’s directive.While the order has affected 161 hotels in the Srinagar city, it has hit 90 hotels in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort and 20 hotels in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg resort. They are out of business after being sealed by the authorities, the hoteliers alleged. The state administration began to seal the non-compliant hotels from September this year after the High Court gave its decision, following public interest litigation seeking an intervention in preserving the region’s ecology.Bakshi, meanwhile, cited three other reasons for their reluctance to install the plant. “It needs 24 hours power supply. The bacteria, which dispose the sewage, will die if the power supply snaps,” he said. He further said the cost of maintenance of the plant is high and that no manpower is locally available to handle it.“The bacteria also need regular feed, the waste. But we have spells here, which are blank. In that case also the bacteria may die,” he said.Kashmir’s hotel industry went into recession this year after the tourism season was marred by several incidents of violence that led to decrease in arrivals. The tourism industry, which forms the bedrock of the regions economy, had bounced back in the recent years with the dip in militancy. After a lull of over two decades a record number of holidaymakers did head towards Kashmir’s mesmerising meadow resorts in 2012 and at the beginning of this year the stakeholders in the tourism industry were upbeat about a bumper season in 2013. “We received only 30 per cent (tourists) of what we had last year,” Bakshi said.His claims were, however, dismissed by a senior government official, who said the number of visitors this year, were almost same as in 2012, considered to be the comeback year of the region’s tourism industry. “The indicators suggest the arrivals this year are similar to that of the last year,” Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Kashmir, said.He added that the dip in numbers was “not related to local issues”. “We do agree we were expecting a rise of 15 per cent from the last year’s figures, which didn’t happen,” Parvez said. He said the court order to install the STPs would have had a little effect on the industry, as the construction work was supposed to be carried out during the “lean season”.
	Tributes paid to Vijay Phool Our Correspondent Poonch, December 5 Rich tributes were today paid to Vijay Kumar Phool, District and Sessions Judge, on his 12th death anniversary at the district court complex here. Members of Phool’s family, Poonch Superintendent of Police Shamsheer Hussain, advocates, leaders of various political parties, journalists and eminent personalities paid tributes to Phool. They garlanded his statue. Advocate Sanjay Raina, president, People’s Forum, said Vijay Phool joined the Poonch Bar as an advocate in 1983 and with his dedication was selected in J&K Judicial Services as the District and Sessions Judge. He worked in many districts of the state and never compromised on judicial ethics. He was known for his dedication, honesty, sincerity and for being a good human being. He was a source of inspiration for many youth as he was the first District and Sessions Judge from Poonch District, Raina said. Phool was killed by terrorists on December 5, 2001, when he along with three persons was on his way to Poonch via Dera Ki Gali.
	SKIMS pays tributes to its founder Sheikh Abdullah Our Correspondent Srinagar, December 5 The Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), tertiary care unit of the Valley, celebrated the birth anniversary of its founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah today. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and son of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah expressed his satisfaction with the success of the institute despite conflicts in the Valley. He said the hospital was gaining new heights in the field of medical sciences. "I have already taken up the issue of hospital expansion with the Prime Minster and Union Health Minister," Farooq Abdullah said. SKIMS Director Showkar Zargar highlighted the achievements of the institution. "We have set up genetic centre, bioinformatics and regional virology laboratory. The emergency medicine and critical ward will be upgraded from 12 to 40 beds," Zargar said. Gastroenterologist and former SKIMS Director MS Khuroo spoke on the landmark events in the discovery of Hepatitis E. Farooq Abdullah released SKIMS annual report on the completion of its 31 years. A film on the life of the National Conference founder and his activities related to the SKIMS were screened on the occasion.
	NSUI member held for assaulting waiter, kidnapping two others Rifat Mohidin Srinagar, December 5 A member of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) was arrested on Thursday on charge of assaulting and kidnapping cafeteria waiters of Kashmir University. President of the student wing of the Congress Junaid Javid Mir had allegedly beaten up a waiter on Tuesday and kidnapped two on Thursday. Mir, a student of the eighth semester of law, had also vandalised the cafeteria property on Tuesday night when the waiter tried to shake hands with him. After the scuffle, waiter Riyaz Ahmad was admitted to the SKIMS hospital in Srinagar with head injuries. "They (Mir and his friends) had beaten up Riyaz with frying pans and iron rods," said cafeteria manager Mushtaq Ahmad. "On Wednesday, Mir and his friends had come to the cafeteria and tried to set it on fire. He was infuriated at the media reports, so had tried to set my cafeteria on fire," Mushtaq alleged. He said initially, the university's security staff and police did not cooperate with him. "Mir enjoys political patronage and we are afraid of him. I am psychologically disturbed and I have sent my entire staff on leave," Mushtaq said. Police registered a case against Mir on the complaint of the cafeteria manager. "We have arrested him and an FIR has been lodged against him on charge of abducting two cafeteria employees," said Hazratbal Superintendent of Police Abdul Qayoom.
	Two injured in road accidents Srinagar, December 5 Two persons were injured in two road accidents in the Valley today. A man was injured after being hit by a Mazda vehicle near General Bus stand, Batamaloo in Srinagar, a police spokesperson said in a statement issued here today. He said the victim had been identified as Farooq Ahmad Dar, resident of Chanpora in Srinagar. "He was taken to a hospital. The Batamaloo Police have registered a case," he said. In another incident, a Tipper (truck) turned turtle near Gantamulla locality on the Srinagar-Uri Highway, leaving a man injured, the spokesman said. The victim has been identified as Jahangir Ahmad Khan, resident of Namla, Uri. — TNS
	Couple hurt in accident Tribune News Service Jammu, December 5 A couple was critically injured, when a speeding Swift car hit two cars coming from the opposite direction on the Kunjwani-Sidhra national highway near Mahamaya temple this morning. The Swift car, without registration number, hit two cars — Nissan Micra (PB35M-8601) and Hundai Verna (PB06K-5415). According to eyewitnesses, the Swift car, which was being rashly driven by a boy, came on the wrong side of the road and hit two cars, which were going towards Nagrota on the Kunjwani-Sidhra national highway. The police said at 10.15 in the morning the driver of the Swift car going from Nagrota towards Narwal lost control over the vehicle and went on the wrong side of the road, which led to the accident. The couple, Jia Fatima and Mohammad Taala, who got injured in the accident, were travelling in the Swift car. Both were immediately rushed to the Government Medical College. The police has impounded all three cars and a case was registered at the Bagh-e-Bahu police station.