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Tourism Dept forced to stop ‘faulty’ restoration work
Rs 11 lakh scholarships sanctioned for 182 police personnel wards
KP migrants to court arrest tomorrow
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‘The Strings’ to hold musical evening today
2 soldiers killed in avalanche near LoC
Soldier’s beheading still fresh in our mind: Army
Search operation on near Sopore
Taking a cue from AAP, Mufti
invites intellectuals to join politics
Deport foreign detainees overstaying in jails: Rights panel
Self-help groups empower 1 lakh women
Industries still not linked to treatment plant
New admn units: Govt may constitute another panel
Omar Abdullah
CMO directed to submit report in 2 days
VK Singh to appear before House on Jan 22
Poultry farmers allege govt apathy
CCTV project delayed in
Doda, Kishtwar
23 youth get training certificates
Cong leader visits snow-hit Kishtwar
Obey traffic rules, grab a gift
Hepatitis C: State govt accused of not taking preventive steps
PDP pleads for rational decision on administrative units’ reorganisation
Eid-e-Milad arrangements reviewed
Bhalla inspects construction of Teacher Bhawan
NC rule worst period: NPSU
Abducted girl rescued, kidnapper held
1 held with banned drug
Two held with illicit liquor
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Tourism Dept forced to stop ‘faulty’ restoration work
Jammu, January 10 The two executive body members, Narinder Singh and Zaffar Javed Khan, who are also part of the governing body of the MMJHS, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said they would vociferously raise the issue in the next executive body meeting and nobody would be allowed to "damage" the pristine glory of the Mubarak Mandi complex. “The Tourism Department, which is executing renovation work at Raja Ram Singh Palace on the Mubarak Mandi complex, is not adhering to specified guidelines and it has been damaging the building rather than giving it a new lease of life. We asked the engineer concerned to stop the work immediately as we found labourers digging holes in the historic walls of the palace,” said Narinder Singh, who along with Zaffar Javed Khan visited the complex. "We have decided to raise this issue in the next meeting of the executive body, likely to be held soon," the member said. “The Tourism Department will have to adopt a professional approach while executing renovation work on the complex. Nobody will be allowed to tamper with the pristine glory of the complex,” he cautioned. On January 8, The Tribune had prominently highlighted that the members of the governing and executive bodies of the MMJHS, which is supervising and monitoring the renovation work, were not happy with the slow pace of renovation work. They had also expressed strong resentment over the non-implementation of the decisions taken by the governing and executive bodies in recent past. So far, only 1 per cent funds, out of a whopping Rs 296 crore, have been spent on the complex since the inception of the renovation work in 2008. Soujanya Sharma, Director, Tourism, Jammu, who is also the Executive Director of the MMJHS, said the members found something wrong with shuttering and there was nothing wrong with the renovation work. “They objected to shuttering and we changed it accordingly. The work has not been stopped,” he said. The Mubarak Mandi complex, spreading over 14 acres of prime land, has a history of 187 years. The oldest building in the palace complex dates back to as long as 1824. The renovation of complex was started in 2008. |
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Rs 11 lakh scholarships sanctioned for 182 police personnel wards
Jammu, January 10 The scholarships, sanctioned out of the Central Police Fund, have been ordered to be given to wards of martyrs and the meritorious wards of serving personnel for the academic year 2012-13. Announcing the scholarships, Prasad stressed upon the students to work hard to attain academic excellence and prepare themselves for different competitive exams. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Police Organisation was providing assistance to the wards of police personnel to boost their morale so that they could continue their studies and excel in varied competitive examinations. Giving details, the DGP said the beneficiaries included 123 students of serving police personnel who had secured highest percentage of marks at matric, Class 12, graduation and postgraduate- level examinations, 25 students who had secured distinction with 75 per cent marks and above in annual examination of Class 8 and 9, 23 wards of deceased police personnel, six students who had secured positions in Class 10 and postgraduate-level examinations during the academic year 2012-13 and five students who had qualified competitive examination conducted for medical and engineering streams. The DGP asked the parents to pay proper attention to the studies of their children, besides their professional duties as the future of a nation lied with the upcoming generation. He said quality education had assumed more importance in the present days and every child had to perform better and make his future brighter. Prasad said during the year 2013 and till date more than Rs 56 Lakh had been disbursed among 1,968 wards of police personnel as scholarships out of the Central Police Welfare Fund. |
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KP migrants to court arrest tomorrow
Jammu, January 10 A deputation of the office-bearers and members of the Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC), led by Shadi Lal Pandita, president, JTC, called on the Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, Relief Organisation, J&K, on Wednesday. The Commissioner was apprised of the difficulties of the residents of the Jagti migrant camp, where 14-20 hours power curtailments are being imposed. The power cuts have put the residents, especially students and old people, to a lot of suffering. After the meeting with the Relief Commissioner, Pandita said, “The Chief Minister is being misinformed by some vested interests that the residents of the Jagti migrant camp are well-settled and have sufficient resources, which is totally wrong as the majority of the residents are very poor and have a meagre sources of income. They cannot make their both ends meet and as such bearing huge electric expenses is beyond their capacity.” “Omar Abdullah is forcing the migrants to bear electric charges and execute agreements with the Power Development Department,” he added. Kashmiri Pandit migrants have appealed to the government for the early restoration of proper power supplies to the migrant camp, failing which they will be left with no other alternative but to come on roads for agitation and hold dharna/hunger strike in front of the residence of the Chief Minister. |
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‘The Strings’ to hold musical evening today
Jammu, January 10 Naresh Kumar, director of The Strings, said, “As always The Strings continue its passionate commitment of providing a platform to young instrumentalists and vocalist of the institute. The sole aim of the institute is to promote music among the youth who will be tomorrow’s responsible citizens and bridge the gap between the music and the present society.” He said Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, would be the chief guest and Meenakshi Kilam, Director, Quality Assurance, University of Jammu, would be the guest of honor. Naresh said there was no entry ticket for the event. — TNS
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2 soldiers killed in avalanche near LoC
Srinagar, January 10 Army sources said the avalanche hit the Army post at Muthal Top in Machil. Eight soldiers of the 5 Assam Regiment were trapped under the avalanche. However, six soldiers were rescued immediately. One of the victims has been identified as Satnam Singh while the identity of the other soldier is yet to be ascertained. Machil received 3-4 feet snowfall on Wednesday. Meanwhile, after two days of closure, the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was thrown open for one-way traffic today even as many areas of the Kashmir valley received fresh snow. With the snow being removed from the highway by Thursday afternoon and stranded vehicles cleared thereafter, light motor vehicles and trucks moved from Jammu towards Srinagar as a part of the up convoy this morning, a traffic official said. The official, however, added that as traffic restrictions were already in place, around 2,000 light motor vehicles crossed the traffic check post at Jakhani before 11 am. “In order to ensure there were no traffic jams on the highway, no vehicle was allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu,” he said, adding that movement of vehicles in the night was banned. Kashmir remained in the grip of severe cold wave on Friday as the minimum temperatures fell below the freezing point across the region and a brief spell of snow was received in Srinagar. The mercury across the region plummeted several notches, after snowfall was recorded in most parts of the Valley. The overnight temperature in the summer capital dropped to a low of minus 0.9 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum was recorded at of 3.2 degrees Celsius, a state meteorological department official said. Light snowfall was also received in parts south Kashmir, including Pahalgam and Qazigund. Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund registered minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. Meanwhile, the Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the Valley with the minimum temperature plummeting to minus 10.8 degrees Celsius. The frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 4.3 degree Celsius. In Leh, the minimum temperature dipped to minus 17.2 degrees Celsius, while Kargil recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius. The day temperatures at both the places also remained below freezing point. Flights affected Leh: The air traffic to Ladakh, which is the only link to the region during winter, remained suspended for the second day today following fresh snowfall on Thursday. Following the snowfall on Thursday, the runway at the Khushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport at Leh was frozen this morning due to which flight operation had to be cancelled. Freezing temperature did not help either as the ice on the runway could not melt,” an airport official said. The official added all the inbound and outbound flights were cancelled today, leaving more than a thousand Delhi and Jammu-bound passengers stranded. Meanwhile, the connectivity within the region improved today. The Leh-Nubra highway was thrown open for vehicular traffic since morning after the clearance of snow at the Khardongla pass — OC |
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Soldier’s beheading still fresh in our mind: Army
Jammu, January 10 The video triggered outrage across the country with the people asking for the return of slain Lance Naik Hemraj Singh’s head and demanding strict action against the perpetrators. The Army, however, said the gory incident, in violation of the Geneva conventions, was still fresh in its mind. “With Pakistan being an epicentre of terrorism, one could easily find such disturbing clippings on the Internet where terror outfits upload videos apparently to terrorise people and spread the so called jihad. We cannot say for sure if this particular video was that of Lance Naik Hemraj,” a top Army source said. “But the gory incident still remains fresh in our minds,” the source said. On January 8 last year, Lance Naik Hemraj Singh and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles were brutally killed and their bodies were mutilated by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) in Balnoi area along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. The assailants had reportedly raided 450 meters inside the Indian territory and killed the two soldiers and took away the head of Hemraj Singh. As per the Army, the brutality had been unleashed exactly between Chhatri and Atma outposts on the LoC on the fateful day at 10.30 am as per the Army. It had also maintained that the BAT had taken advantage of dense fog and foliage in the ambush that lasted for nearly 30 minutes, after which the trespassers moved back from the Indian territory. Meanwhile, it has not been ascertained that who had shot and released the video, which also showed some Indian coins, batteries and a torch believed to be of Hemraj. When asked whether the Army sought the head of the martyred soldier back from Pakistan during the recently held DGMO-level talks, the source said: “The issue had to be taken up at the diplomatic level.” |
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Search operation on near Sopore
Srinagar, January 10 Sources said a joint operation was launched by the Special Operation Group of the J&K Police and Army after information was received that a group of militants was hiding in Cherhar forests, 65 km from here. “As the forest area was being cordoned off, militants opened fire, which was retaliated. The exchange of fire continued for a brief time. The firing has now stopped,” said a police officer. “The security men are carrying out searches as they suspect that one or two militants are holed up inside the forest area,” he added. The forest area where the searches are going on is just 10 km from Sopore town but the area is non-motorable. On January 7, Assistant Sub Inspector Kafeel Ahmed of the SOG was killed and three others were injured in a gun battle in a residential locality in Sopore. |
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Taking a cue from AAP, Mufti
invites intellectuals to join politics
Srinagar, January 10 “People from different walks of life who are bright in their respective fields should join politics for bringing a change. I have a strong belief that politics is the foundation of democracy and if we have bright people, we can bring changes and contribute to society,” Sayeed said while addressing a press conference in Srinagar where he announced the joining of noted broadcaster and a former employee of BBC and Radio Kashmir Nayeema Mehjoor. “I want that professional and honest people should join politics as that will strengthen the democratic institution. We need more right-thinking people to join politics,” Sayeed said. Mehjoor has proved her mettle at the international level and her joining is a good beginning,” he added. Without naming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mufti said he was happy over the fact that a political change had taken place in New Delhi. “There is the growth of a third force in the country which is neither casteist nor communal. The change in New Delhi is a good thing to happen for politics,” he said. The former Chief Minister, who was accompanied by senior leaders Mehbooba Mufti and Iftiqar Hussain Ansari, said the PDP-led coalition had proved that changes could be brought if there was seriousness on the part of politicians. “When we came to power, we took bold political and economic initiatives and it helped change the scenario. People heaved a sigh of relief and they felt that they were safe and secure,” Mufti said, adding that a transparent and accountable governance system was also made possible by their government. Nayeema Mehjoor, who is the daughter-in-law of famous Kashmiri poet Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor and worked as a broadcaster with BBC in London, said she joined politics as the situation in Kashmir was worsening on all fronts. “We have to take the state towards peace and prosperity,” she said. |
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Deport foreign detainees overstaying in jails: Rights panel
Srinagar, January 10 The commission has asked the authorities concerned to adopt a humane approach and deport these detainees to their native countries as a goodwill gesture. For an on-the-spot assessment and to take stock of the living conditions of inmates, a team of rights body comprising SHRC member Rafiq Fida visited jails in the Jammu province between January 6 and 9 this year, a statement from the commission said. During the tour, the SHRC team visited all jails in the province, including Central Jail, Jammu, sub-jail at Hira Nagar and district jails at Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi. Based on this visit, the commission in its interim report, while terming the overall functioning of these jails as satisfactory, has however, observed that there still remain issues which need to be addressed. — TNS |
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Self-help groups empower 1 lakh women
Kawa (Udhampur), January 10 The Jammu and Kashmir unit of NABARD has assisted a few NGOs in the field of micro-finance in the state. These NGOs have promoted SHGs in various villages of different districts of the state. There are three groups at Kawa village, about 5 km from Udhampur, Jai Lakshmi Group, Saraswati Group and Shri Ganesh Group. These groups were formed about 2-3 years ago and about 25-30 women were empowered by these groups. With SHG, women not only have learnt to save money but also started their own ventures by getting easy loans from the groups. Suman Lata, president of the Saraswati Group at Kawa village, was a housewife, but now she is the principal of her own private school, Saraswati Holy Public School, Kawa. She has not only empowered herself, but also given employment to eight other women at her school. “Our financial condition was not good, as only my husband was working and every time I had to ask him for money for small things. But from the SHGs, I got a loan of Rs 50,000 and bought some furniture and other things to start a school. Now 70 students are studying in my school with the staff of eight teachers, said Suman Lata, president of the Saraswati Group. “Some have started dairies, a few have opened cattle feed shop. This idea has really changed the lifestyle and financial condition of our village,” she added. Ramesh Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, J&K, said, “A total of 9,541 SHGs are active in the state, out of which more than 6,000 are in Jammu. The idea of introducing SHGs was to introduce the rural belt to the banking system and empower women”.? “These villagers have small needs and due to illiteracy and lack of awareness, they do not understand the formalities of the bank. So by this group, they can get any small amount of loan for their small ventures and to fulfil their domestic needs,” he added. Kumar said they were giving loan to SHGs at 7 per cent per annum in Poonch, Doda and Kupwara and they are trying to start it in all the villages of the state. What is a self-help group SHG is a group of 10-12 women of a particular village, who contribute a small amount per month in the group. The entire amount collected in the group goes in the saving account of the group and a separate passbook is being issued to all group members in which they can keep a record of their savings. The bank in which the saving account of the group is opened, the group president and secretary can get a loan of about four times more than the total saving amount. This loan can be given to the members of the group at the rate of 13.2 per cent per annum. |
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Industries still not linked to treatment plant
Pulwama, January 10 Built last with an aim to prevent the effluents from flowing into the water bodies, the CETP has been rendered useless in the absence of connection with the industrial units. “Due to the inability of authorities to connect milk and juice units to the CETP, workers in the estate have become prone to diseases,” one of the unit holders at the estate alleged. There area five such plants in the industrial estate including four milk plants that have not been connected to treatment plant. “It is a common treatment plant and the units in the estate that produce liquid waste must be connected to the plant. But the estate authorities are least concerned about it,” said another unit holder. Senior manager, State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO), Nazir Ahmad, however, denied the allegation and said the CETP was meant only tanning industries. The official, though, said they were looking forward to connect the milk and juice plants at the centre with the treatment plant. “We are planning to connect milk plants with the CETP and are finalising the project,” Nazir said, adding that they were checking out whether the plant would be able to treat all types of effluents or not. Official sources said the milk and juice plants at the Centre would be connected to the CETP in next two months. “We have been informed by the estate management that it would connect all required units to the CETP by March. If they fail to do so we will act accordingly,” district officer of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) Fiaz Ahmad said. |
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New admn units: Govt may constitute another panel
Samba, January 10 Already, three committees have been constituted to identify areas for the creation of new administrative units. This was indicated by Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone while interacting with peoples’ representatives during the visit of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on constitution of new administrative units here this evening. While interacting with the CSC, some representative aired apprehension that the visit to different district headquarters was nothing but eyewash as the government had already decided to create new administrative units in different areas. Intervening during the meeting, Lone said earlier two committees were constituted followed by a CSC to accommodate wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions. “We have to fulfil aspirations of all people. So, there is a chance of constitution of one more commission because the government is committed to address grievances of the people,” he said. The National Conference and the Congress are on a collision course on creation of new administrative units as latter demanded that recommendations of the panel headed by Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai should be rejected at any cost. As creation of new administrative units is snowballing into a big political controversy, both the coalition partners are looking to solve the issue amicably. Formation of another panel to examine demands of the people is the best solution which suits both the parties. Earlier committees *
On March 1, 2007, a committee on Demarcation of Geographical Boundaries of the newly created administrative units was constituted under Dr Sudhir S Bloeria *
Another committee headed by Mushtaq Ahmed Ganai was constituted on January 8, 2010 *
The Ganai committee submitted its report in July 2011. As Congress leadership was not satisfied with the recommendations, a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand was constituted to examine demands for creating new administrative units |
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CM: Fully empowered panchayats my goal
Jammu, January 10 “Fully empowered panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir is my goal,” Omar said while interacting with a group of panches and sarpanches, who called on him here this morning. He added that a three-tier and fully empowered panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir would be a reality. “My government rejuvenated panchayats in the state by holding elections after a gap of over 30 years. Even though, speculations and suspicions were floated by many in this regard. We went ahead and today the panchayat raj in the state is a reality,” the Chief Minister said. Omar added that services and powers from 14 important departments have been transferred to panchayats as recommended by the high powered committee chaired by the then Chief Secretary. “The transfer of further powers to panchayats through legislation is also in offing,” he said. The Chief Minister, meanwhile, told panches and sarpanches to exercise the power entrusted to them in the best of their capacity and help in upgrading the service and delivery system in the rural areas. “You should make people aware of the benefits of utilising power that the government has equipped them with under the Public Services Guarantee Act, where about 80 important public services in 13 departments have been made time bound,” he said. “The initiatives taken by the government to give good-governance and involve people in scanning administration and checking corruption need to be made fully public by the panchayat members,” Omar added. |
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CMO directed to submit report in 2 days
Handwara, January 10 The DC along with other officials visited the village and recorded statements of the woman, who delivered the baby by the roadside yesterday, and a few of her relatives. “I have directed the CMO to submit the report before Sunday. The facts will come to the fore and the next course of action will be followed accordingly,” the DC said. He also visited the Public Health Centre (PHC) at Villgam and assured local residents that the centre would be made functional round-the-clock. “At present, the centre is working from 10 am to 5 pm. I also talked to the doctors and medical staff to know about the pregnant woman and under what circumstances her delivery took place,” he added. Ayesha Begum (28) gave birth to a baby by the roadside at Kukroosa village when Army personnel allegedly did not allow her family members to take her to the PHC at Villgam. The Army personnal from 6 RR had launched a crackdown at Kukroosa village following inputs of the presence of militants there. “For about an hour, soldiers did not allow us to visit the nearest health centre as my wife was writhing in labour pain. Amid sub-zero temperature, we were carrying Aysha on a stretcher and pleaded before the soldiers to allow us visit the health centre but they did not listen to us,” alleged Shahzad Ahmad, Ayesha’s husband. “My wife delivered the baby on the road and we shifted her to the health centre an hour later,” he added. |
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VK Singh to appear before House on Jan 22
Former Army chief VK Singh, who did not turn up before a J&K Legislative Council privileges committee yesterday, will appear before it on January 22, complying with fresh summons issued in connection with his alleged remarks against leaders from the state.
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra today said he had received a call from Singh's advocate yesterday, informing him that he was in Tamil Nadu and would appear in person before the Privileges Committee on the next date of summons. "He will appear before the panel on January 22 in person," Malhotra said. General Singh had been summoned last year to appear before the Privileges Committee on January 9 to explain his position on his allegations that politicians in the state were paid by the Army. — PTI |
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Poultry farmers allege govt apathy
Pulwama, January 10 They said in winters they were running their farms at a high risk and a little bit of negligence meant a heavy loss. “In winters, the cost rises further as we have to make heating arrangements, buy frequent medicines and feed, which becomes expensive in these months, particularly when the NH 1-A remains closed due to snowfall,” said Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, a poultry farmer from Parigam, Pulwama. He further alleged that when they raised the prices, they were not being spared by market checking squads, which set up rates that were based on non-local market that had become a hindrance for the industry in the state. “We sell chicken at high prices because it is the time when we control the market. That is why we defy government rate lists as soon as the NH 1-A closes because it does not support us,” said another farmer. Poultry farmers alleged that suppliers from outside had destroyed their trade as the government had been indifferent to the local traders. They said unless tax was levied on poultry products, particularly newly hatched chicken, poultry farming would not flourish in the state. They said the Punjab government was providing incentives as well as technology to farmers, who had helped the industry grow and had been able to produce surplus. “Punjab possesses a large number of hatcheries which help poultry farmers in the state to buy chicken at low rates. Besides, feed in Punjab is easily available to them and they sell their product at low cost,” said Javed Ahmad, a poultry farmer from Lariv Pulwama. Chief Animal Husbandry officer, Pulwama, Tariq Qureshi said it was the consumer, who suffered. Levying tax would make poultry costlier, but a mechanism needed to be found which could help poultry farmers in the state to flourish and compete with other states. |
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CCTV project delayed in
Doda, Kishtwar
Doda, January 10 Though CCTV towers had been installed by a private company a year ago at all the strategic locations of Doda town, the process of camera installation is yet to start. The cameras will be monitored from a special surveillance centre to be established in the Police Control Room, which was also in the proposal. The move has been initiated by the state police after the success of CCTV cameras in many other cities and towns. “Surveillance cameras play a prominent role in keeping an eye on anti-social elements. The authorities should install cameras as early as possible,” Akash, a resident of the town, said. Assuring an early installation of the cameras, Mohammed Sharif Chowhan, Superintendent of Police, Doda, said, “Towers have already been put in place. Hopefully, it will be installed soon”. |
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23 youth get training certificates
Doda, January 10 Shahida Parveen, Deputy Director, Employment, Doda, graced the occasion and distributed the certificates among the trained candidates. She urged them to use the acquired skills to translate into income generation and employment. She also lauded the efforts of RSETI Director Lekh Raj Nargotra for the smooth and purposeful completion of the course and stressed that more and more people should come forward to avail the opportunity provided by the RSETI and get themselves enrolled for different training courses. — OC
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Cong leader visits snow-hit Kishtwar
Doda, January 10 Saroori asked the administration to ensure early restoration of essential supplies, including power and water, in the snow-hit areas. The Congress leader enquired about the post-snowfall situation and told the officials concerned to take necessary measures to ensure that people did not suffer on account of disruption in supplies. He also issued instructions for immediate clearance of snow on the link roads. Saroori further directed the department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution to ensure supply and distribution of ration to the consumers in time. “Power supply has worsened after the snowfall. People also complained of being overcharged. The transformers are not being picked up for repairs as a result many areas have plunged into darkness,” the MLA said. He added that high tension and low tension lines have been snapped due to snowfall causing threat to human life. Saroori urged the PDD to take immediate steps for restoring the power supply.
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Obey traffic rules, grab a gift
Srinagar, January 10 In a novel way to create awareness, the traffic police will be distributing gifts to those motorists found abiding by the traffic rules. He said the followers of traffic rules among other gifts would get specially designed mugs, carrying awareness messages like ‘No cellphone use while driving’. “These gifts will encourage the people to follow traffic rules regularly and carry home some important awareness messages. Sometimes small initiatives can make a big difference,” the SP, traffic, Srinagar, said. In the past too, the traffic police had resorted to novel ways of creating awareness over traffic rules. The department had distributed New Year cards and chocolates at the start of the month to law-abiding drivers. Earlier, the traffic police had launched a counselling drive during which the traffic rule violators instead of being challaned were offered a glass of water. The violators were also counselled by senior citizens and police officials. During the last year’s “traffic week”, the department had organised a bike rally and “Band Peather” (folk theatre) show to create traffic awareness among the youth. The SP, traffic, said the drive against the violators of traffic rules would continue. |
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Hepatitis C: State govt accused of not taking preventive steps
Srinagar, January 10 The DAK today said, “Untreated Hepatitis C patients are a constant source of transmission of infection. With the outbreak of Hepatitis C in south Kashmir last year and surfacing of cluster of cases in the old city is a cause of concern,” said president of DAK Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan. “The government has failed to close unhygienic clinics responsible for spreading the disease,” he added. He said, “The government has failed to curb Hepatitis C in Kashmir and has not been able to provide timely treatment to patients, which has led to the transmission of the virus.” “The government is responsible for their deaths and secondary transmission of the virus. Politicians by making false promises of free-of-cost treatment to Hepatitis C patients during public rallies are playing with human lives,” said Hassan. Around 750 patients at Takiya village in south Kashmir have been tested positive of Hepatitis C in the past one year. With positive cases coming to fore in south Kashmir, experts fear that the virus can spread to other parts of the valley as well, if not checked in time. The experts also suggested that the government should do screening of the affected areas to stop the virus from spreading any further. Criticising the health department for allegedly sleeping over the issue and delaying the notification of the disease to the World Health Organisation (WHO), CPI leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami has also asked the government to formulate a comprehensive contingency plan to curb the disease. “The government should activate the health department and research centres concerned so that the causes of the disease are traced and dealt with affectively. Teams of experts should be deputed to affected areas to go deep into the causative agents, which have resulted into outbreak of this deadly disease,” Tarigami said. He demanded that the government should bear the full cost of the treatment of the people affected by the disease in these areas. |
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PDP pleads for rational decision on administrative units’ reorganisation
Srinagar, January 10 In a statement issued here today, the PDP said any decision about the reorganisation should be taken on rational basis and suggestions from different sections of society should be taken into account before taking the final call. “To take a final decision on the matter, meetings should be held in respective district headquarters so that there is greater participation of people. Holding of these meetings at selective locations is a well thought out conspiracy to ensure less participation of people, which is highly condemnable,” a party spokesman said. The J&K Government had constituted a cabinet sub-committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister to examine the creation of new administrative units in the state. The cabinet sub-committee is currently visiting various districts across the state. |
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Eid-e-Milad arrangements reviewed
Srinagar, January 10 Gurezi, who was present at the winter secretariat, asked the officials concerned to ensure cleanliness in and around the shrines, masjids and other holy places in connection with Milad. He asked the engineers of the PWD and Mechanical Department to keep all routes cleared for vehicular movement. He said the transport and traffic departments should ensure that passenger vehicles ply on the road till late hours for the convenience of devotees. He also asked the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution authorities to ensure stock and supply of essential commodities, while adding that market checking should be intensified to keep prices under control. — TNS
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Bhalla inspects construction of Teacher Bhawan
Jammu, January 10 The minister asked the department to complete all the allied works of both the projects by June this year. He said on the completion of 500-seater air-conditioned auditorium, the educational institutions of Gandhi Nagar and its adjoining areas would be able to organise different activities in the new complex. Bhalla said creating the facility for the schools was a part of a larger plan under which various community and associational bhawans were being constructed. The minister revealed that the promotion of culture and art had received attention of the government, adding that all other cultural centres would be modernised and equipped with high-tech audio-visual systems in a phased manner across the state.
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NC rule worst period: NPSU
Jammu, January 10 Yashpal Manhas, zonal president of the Marh-Domana-Akhnoor zone of the party, said, “The NC has done nothing for Jammu region and has gifted corruption, unemployment, human rights violations to the residents of the state.” He said the rule of the NC government was the worst era during which corruption was at its peak. — TNS
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Abducted girl rescued, kidnapper held
Doda, January 10 Acting on an FIR regarding the kidnapping of the girl, Mohammed Sharif Chowhan, Superintendent of Police, Doda, had constituted a special team. The team today rescued the minor girl and arrested the kidnapper. — OC
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1 held with banned drug
Rajouri, January 10 Sources said after an intelligence input, the police conducted a raid at a house and apprehended Mohd Ayub of Palma, presently putting up in a rented accommodation in Rajouri. As many as 20 bottles of the banned cough syrup was recovered from his place. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act and further investigations are on. Meanwhile, the police recovered the body of a sadhu from the Muradpur area. The police said the 65-year-old sadhu was begging in the area for the last many years and was spending nights outside shops. After initial investigation, it was established that he died due to cold.
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Two held with illicit liquor
Udhampur, January 10 Reports said during a routine checking on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the police intercepted a Sumo, which was on its way from Udhampur to Doda. During checking, the police recovered 108 pouches of illicit liquor from the possession of Mohinder Singh and Sohan Singh, both residents of Kastigarh district, Doda. They were transporting these pouches for illegal sale in their native village. Both the accused were arrested on the spot and pouches of the liquor were seized. A case under Section 48-A of the Excise Act has been registered and further investigations are on.
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Mubarak Mandi complex, the royal residence of Dogra rulers in Jammu and Kashmir, two members of the executive body of the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) today forced the Tourism Department to stop restoration work after they noticed that one of the buildings was being "damaged" in the name of renovation.
A massive search operation is in progress in a forest area near north Kashmir’s Sopore town after militants and security forces exchanged fire for a brief time on Friday morning.
Impressed with the change in New Delhi, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Friday invited intellectuals, professionals and youth to join politics.
The idea of introducing self-help groups (SHGs) in the state by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has empowered about one lakh women of Jammu and Kashmir.
As differences have cropped up between the National Conference and the Congress on creation of new administrative units, the state government is not averse to constituting another panel to solve the crises for the time being.
“Special gifts will be distributed among the followers of traffic rules during the “Traffic Week” starting from tomorrow. We will also hold various programmes during the week to create awareness on traffic rules,” Superintendent of Police, traffic, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told The Tribune.