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Scuffle breaks out between ReT teachers, policemen
Defer implementation of Food Safety Act: CCI
PDP MLA’s brother joins NC
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Farmers’ prosperity govt mission: Mir
Youth Congress protests against Custodian Dept
LoC standoff: Arrested Pak driver pleads innocence
National highway closed after snowfall
DRDO warfare gadgetry a crowd-puller
Natrang director felicitated for power-packed act
Inclusive growth benchmark of state’s policy planning: Omar
Women participation must for nation-building: Farooq
Cases against Dy CM, Saroori dismissed
MBBS scam: Peer opposes approver status to aide Itoo
PDP lashes out at govt over new admn units
Protests in Shopian, Budgam continue
Ahead of elections, J&K set to get people-friendly Budget
Shortage of potable water irks Lolab residents
Hill development council sought for Rajouri-Poonch
‘Haider’ stars set to dance to Kashmiri tunes
Teachers’ list sparks row
Favouritism alleged in transfer of district hospital employees
New baggage scanners for Srinagar airport
MC crackdown on butchers
Sumo service to Kashmir University stopped
City to receive mild rain, snow
Teenaged girl’s murder case solved, 1 held
In poll year, J&K set to get
people-friendly Budget
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Scuffle breaks out between ReT teachers, policemen
Jammu, February 5 The teachers are demanding regularisation and inclusion of five years ReT period in the service records to avail promotion benefits. They, led by Gazi Abdul Aziz and Bopinder Singh, alleged that the state government had failed to fulfil its promise. The teachers who have completed their five years as ReT teachers before being regularised have been told that these years will not be counted in their seniority list, they said. Aziz said ReT teachers of many districts were awaiting salaries for the last two to six months. He threatened that the J&K ReT Teachers Forum would gherao the civil secretariat during the Budget Session if their salaries were not released. Major demands include the release of four months pending salary of regularised ReT teachers under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and inclusion of five-year rendered service of ReT teachers in their service records for seniority or promotional benefits. The regularisation process of thousands of daily rate workers (DRWs) and causal labourers in the state has been delaying as respective departments have failed to submit details to the Sub-Committee constituted by the government. |
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Defer implementation of Food Safety Act: CCI
Jammu, February 5 It has alleged that some of its provisions are not in favour of the trading community. The chamber has sought the help of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to constitute a joint committee of officials and trader leaders which will study the Act and recommend necessary changes in it. CCI president YV Sharma thanked the CAIT and CAIT secretary general Parveen Khandwal who persuaded Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to postpone the implementation of the Act for at least six months. — TNS |
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Jammu, February 5 Shafiq, who retired as deputy registrar cooperatives in December 2013, joined the party in the presence of NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana and senior party leaders. Welcoming Shafiq into the party fold, Rana said, “The NC is the only choice for the people, who want to serve the state and steer it to peace, progress and development.” “The enthusiasm that is seen across the state after Omar Abdullah announced the creation of administrative units stands testimony and public endorsement to the CM’s decision,” he said. — TNS
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Farmers’ prosperity govt mission: Mir
Jammu, February 5 He was addressing farmers after inaugurating Horizontal Autoclave at the Agriculture Complex, Tilab Tiloo, Jammu, today. He also released Bawa Jittoo Farm magazine and inaugurated a skill development programme for mushroom growers. He underlined the need for maintaining coordination at all levels for optimum results. He said the close synergy of SKUAST, the Agriculture Department and farmers had produced good results in the agriculture sector. Urging for the replacement of seeds, he said with active participation of the farmers, the wheat seed replacement in the state had surpassed the national average. “It is not possible for us to increase the production until we replace seeds with hybrid ones being produced by the department,” he said. The minister said sensitising farmers about new technologies and schemes should be the priority of the department and asked the authorities to launch a massive awareness programmes across the state. He said Bawa Jittoo Farm Magazine would help the department to inform farmers about new technologies, and its schemes. Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Asgar Samoon, Director (Agriculture), Jammu, Ajay Khajuria and officials of the Horticulture Department, SKUAST, the Command Area Development and Agro Industries Development Corporation were present at the event. — TNS |
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Youth Congress protests against Custodian Dept
Jammu, February 5 Addressing the gathering, Shagotra highlighted the hardships faced by the people who have been allotted custodian properties since 1947. He alleged that the department had made the allotment process cumbersome and forced the occupants to shell out more money for a small renovation work. He said despite living in these properties for the past 67 years, the occupants had to pay huge fees to get permission to construct an additional part of the property. “Those who have been living in these properties since 1947 have a right to get their ownership. It is unfair that if a person sells his allotted house or shop, he has to deposit 50% of the value of residential property and 70% of the value of the shop to the Custodian Department,” he said. — TNS |
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LoC standoff: Arrested Pak driver pleads innocence
Srinagar, February 5 Pakistani driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan of Shard, Muzaffarabad, who has been lodged in the Srinagar Central Jail after he was sent to judicial remand, has told the police that he had no information about drugs being hidden in his truck, which was carrying almonds through the cross LoC trade. Awan was taken into custody by the J&K police after brown sugar worth over Rs 100 crore was recovered in Uri on January 17. He was booked under Section 8/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. According to sources, the driver claimed that the consignment of almonds of Al-Fajar Company was loaded on his truck at Muzaffarabad. During their night stay at Chakoti (PoK), an unknown person woke him up in the wee hours saying that other trucks had started moving, the sources said. “I too started heading towards the Trade Facilitation Centre, Uri. While moving, I could see that a person was following me on a bike after I started from Chakoti. I could not make out anything at that point of time. But now when I recollect all the things, I believe that drugs had been concealed in my truck and I was being followed,” the trucker is said to have told the police during questioning. After the recovery of 114 packets of brown sugar, the cross LoC trade has hit a standoff and 76 drivers are held up on either sides out of whom 48 are at Salamabad in Uri and 27 are in PoK. Pakistan continues to seek the release of the arrested driver. Besides the driver, two Kashmiri traders, Tariq Ahmed Sheikh from Baramulla and Showkat Habib from Bandipore, are also in judicial custody. During the questioning, Sheikh has divulged that the consignment was to be unloaded in Amritsar, Punjab. The J&K police teams are already in Punjab and Delhi to investigate the case and are looking for the person for whom the consignment was to be unloaded. Police sources said another consignment was unloaded in Punjab before the drug racket was busted, which had also entered through the cross LoC trade. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the J&K police, which was constituted to carry out the investigation, is likely to submit an interim chargesheet before the court in the next few days. Meanwhile, families of the Kashmiri drivers, who are held up in PoK, staged a protest on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in Baramulla town. The protest was staged at the Khanpora area, 55 km from here, where the protesters demanded immediate release of the drivers. They ended their protest only after district officials assured them that the government was trying its best to end the standoff. In 3 weeks, Rs 8 cr loss to Poonch traders Indian traders operating via the Chakan da Bagh Trade Facilitation Centre in Poonch district have suffered a whopping loss of over Rs 8 crore in the past three weeks. President of the Chamber of LoC Trade, J&K, Pawan Anand said: “In the past three weeks, our traders have suffered a loss of over Rs 8 crore from the Chakan da Bagh route. Before the standoff, we had been sending 20 trucks laden with export merchandise worth Rs 3.50 lakh in each carrier to PoK every day.”
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National highway closed after snowfall
Srinagar, February 5 “The Srinagar-Jammu highway is closed for traffic due to rains and snowfall at many places along the route,” a Traffic Department spokesperson said. The higher reaches and plains of the Valley, including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, received fresh snowfall and rains today, with the MeT Department predicting more rains or snow over the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 1.0 degree Celsius, a slight drop from the previous nights 1.7 degree Celsius, a MeT official here said. The city received snow and rains equivalent to 2.6 mm of rainfall during the night. Mercury in Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, settled at 0.2 degree Celsius as compared to 0.4 degree Celsius the previous night. The town received 3.6 mm of snow and 3.6 mm rain till 8:30 am. The mercury in the tourist resort of Pahalgam settled at a low of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, a degree below the previous night’s temperature, the official said. The resort received 11.5 cm of snow during the night, he added. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees up from the previous nights minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding that the resort remained cooler than Leh town in the Ladakh region for the second consecutive day. Gulmarg received 16.6 cm of fresh snowfall, he said. — PTI
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DRDO warfare gadgetry a crowd-puller
Jammu, February 5The stalls put up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at the 101st Science Congress here are turning out to be a eye-catcher for visitors, particularly the children who are curious to know about warfare gadgetry.
Most of the students are seeing the exact scale models of missiles, nuclear biological and chemical warfare suits and a host of other equipment developed by the organisation for the first time and are keen to know more about them. Despite intermittent rain since the start of the Indian Science Congress at the University of Jammu here on February 3, students from various schools have been thronging the special exhibition area which displays these models, besides information counters installed by various state and Central Government organisations. “I am happy to get information about Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft) and unmanned aircrafts like Rustom, Nishant and Lakshya. I have seen them for the first time. I also met several scientists. This type of exhibition has never been held here,” said Aditya Bhat, a class VII student. A number of innovative soldier protection and performance enhancement systems have been put on display by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and keeping in view the response of the students several senior scientists are interacting with the students and answering their queries. “All of them are full of questions and are quite curious about the missiles and other gadgets. We are doing everything to provide minutest of details and inspire these kids,” said Defence Research and Development Organisation ’s Regional Public Relation Officer (South Zone) NM
Kaverappa. Mumbai to host Indian Science Congress in 2015 Jammu: Mumbai will host the next session of Indian Science Congress, the annual event in which scientific fraternity from across the globe exchange ideas and innovations. “The next session of the Science Congress will be held on the Kalina campus of Mumbai University in January-February in 2015,” said RC Sobti, president of the 2014 Indian Science Congress, which is being held at Jammu University. — PTI
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Natrang director felicitated for power-packed act
Jammu, February 5 The honour came following a power-packed performance by the troupe which left the audience at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium awestruck. The electrifying performance by 150 artistes that included top celebrities of theatre and television reverberated with a huge round of applauds. Thakur is one of the few names of the country who have made a unique contribution in establishing a new children’s theatre idiom. The Padmashree recipient to his credit has over two dozen drama spectacles that represent the ethos and aspirations of the society as a whole. |
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Inclusive growth benchmark of state’s policy planning: Omar
Jammu, February 5 He said the creation of new administrative units was a step further in this direction. “It will take all steps to expand public reach to the government and transfer of governance from the secretariat to the grassroots,” Omar maintained. “My government empowered people through various initiatives brought in historic legislations, conducted panchayat elections and transferred powers to these democratic institutions so that people are largely involved in the development process. We took measures to bring in transparency in the administration and strengthened institutions to check corruption,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the creation of the new units in the state would strengthen these initiatives, especially in translating the development plans into reality successfully so that each area was benefited by the outcome of the development programmes under implementation in the state. The CM was talking to various deputations from different areas of the state who called on him here and conveyed their gratitude to him for creation of new administrative units in their areas. Thanking the Chief Minister for creating new administrative units in Kathua district, a deputation from the district said the historic initiative had expanded the reach of the government to the people living in remote pockets and hilly areas. |
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Women participation must for nation-building: Farooq
Jammu February 5 Governor NN Vohra’s wife Usha Vohra laid stress on the need of generating a scientific temper among students and wished women scientists to achieve their dreams. Speaking at the inaugural function of the Women Science Congress session during the ongoing 101st Indian Science Congress, Farooq said, “The present-day women shoulder all kinds of responsibilities,” he said. Addressing a huge gathering of delegates from across India and abroad, the union minister said, “A woman is an architect of society. She establishes the institution of family life, builds home, brings up children and makes them good citizens. Her strength in totality contributes in the making of an ideal family, society and an ideal nation.” Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, said, “Today’s woman doesn’t need identification. She has established her own identity, but she cannot move ahead due to societal hindrances. We should try to establish conducive atmosphere for women and support her in her pursuits.” Earlier, the welcome address was presented by Er NB Basu, general secretary for membership affairs, ISCA. Prof RC Sobti, General President, ISCA, also spoke on the occasion. Prof Anju Basin talked about the objective behind organising the Women Science Congress. She spoke in favour of removal of gender biasness. Dr Kasturi Datta, invited speaker from the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, gave a lecture on “Hyaluronan Binding Protein 1”.
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Cases against Dy CM, Saroori dismissed
Jammu, February 5 Justice YP Nargotra and Justice Haqim Imtyaz Hussain dismissed the two-year-old cases - Saqib Mushtaq Vs Tara Chand and Saqib Mushtaq Vs GM Saroori - as Mushtaq didn’t turn up before the commission after filing the complaint. The complainant had filed a case against the two accusing them of giving undue favours to some people during their tenure as ministers. Advocate Tahir Majid Shamsi, who is representing both Chand and Saroori, said, “The SAC has dismissed the case for default of appearance of the complainant, who had filed the case against the Deputy CM and the former minister for being unfair while performing their duties.” The case was registered in 2012, in which the complainant had alleged that Saroori, during his tenure as PWD Minister, had allotted work to his own people without following the tendering process. Another case was registered against the Deputy Chief Minister for allegedly giving undue favours to his own people. Deputy Registrar, Accountability Commissioner, Dinesh Maini said, “The case has been dismissed as the complainant didn’t turn up before the commission after filing the complaint.”
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MBBS scam: Peer opposes approver status to aide Itoo
Srinagar, February 5 Former head of Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) Peer has approached the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption (Kashmir), with objections. The Special Judge will be taking a decision on the crime branch application seeking pardon and grant of approver status to Itoo. The court after taking the crime branch’s application on record on January 29 had posted the matter for decision on February 5. On the same day, the court had also sent Itoo to judicial custody after his production by the probe agency. However in the meantime, Peer approached the court through his counsel with objections to Itoo being made an approver in the case. When the matter came up before the court today, Chief Prosecutor representing the crime branch Khalid Muzaffar Shah put forth his arguments. However, as the arguments were not concluded today, the matter was posted for further arguments on February 6, when the other side is expected to put forth its arguments. The crime branch prosecutor submitted that Peer, being an accused, has no right to oppose the approver status to Itoo. In his objections, while opposing the approver status to Itoo, Peer had submitted that there was no evidence against him and the case had not been properly investigated by the crime branch. In his confessional statement recorded before the CJM, Srinagar, on November 7, 2013, Itoo had said he had given Rs 60 lakh to Peer after receiving CET-2012 papers from him. Itoo later sold these papers to eight candidates. During the hearing today, Itoo was also present in the court. He is currently under judicial custody at Central Jail in Srinagar. An approver is an accomplice to a criminal act who confesses his or her guilt and gives evidence against his or her associates. Before making any accused an approver, the investigation agency concerned has to take permission from the trial court. But till the court decision, the accused has to remain in custody. |
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PDP lashes out at govt over new admn units
Srinagar, February 5 In a statement, senior party leader and Bandipore MLA Nizamudin Bhat said: “The government should hold discussions with people and panchayats while choosing the location of administrative units. There are some underdeveloped areas, and it is the duty of the administration to meet the aspirations of people living in these areas. Each case should be taken on merit,” he said. In Bandipore, Koil, Koil, Pazalpora, Matrigam, Pethkoot, Sumlar, Argam, Chitaybanday, Nadihal and Chontimula are underdeveloped areas which have been ignored during the recent decision on administrative units. The party’s Rajpora MLA Syed Bashir Ahmad said that expansion of administrative units was an election gimmick. “The recent expansion of administrative units by the government is purely an election gimmick to influence public opinion. As the National Conference has completely lost its credibility, it has come out with this ploy, which is brazenly a form of political corruption,” the MLA said during a press conference in
Srinagar. ‘Units to give impetus to rural development’ Jammu: National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana recently said the creation of administrative units would benefit the people, especially those living in remote and far-off areas.
He stated this on the sidelines of the annual function of Diamond Public School, Bajalta. He exhorted parents to set a goal for their children and help them achieve it with grit and a sense of commitment. Rana said, "Now, the governance has reached to the people's door steps. The creation of these blocks will give impetus to rural development and setting up of niabats, tehsils and sub-divisions and help in overcoming administrative constraints.” — TNS |
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Protests in Shopian, Budgam continue
Srinagar, February 5 The protests were held across several areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts and in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. — TNS
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Ahead of elections, J&K set to get people-friendly Budget
Jammu, February 5 According to sources, the Finance Department has prepared the Budget and the Cabinet gave it a go-ahead on Tuesday. “Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather explained the Budget to his Cabinet colleagues, which will be presented by him in the J&K Legislative Assembly on February 13,” an official source told The Tribune. The Budget for 2014-15 fiscal will focus on providing employment opportunities to the unemployed educated youth of the state. After approving the creation of new administrative units in the state, the government will try to cash in on the opportunity and try to recruit more educated youth,” the source said. A senior minister in the ruling dispensation said whatever had been disclosed to them by the Finance Minister seemed interesting and for the welfare of the state. “Though it will be improper to reveal any information about the Budget before it is presented in the Assembly, it seems the Finance Minister has tried to keep everyone happy ahead of the elections,” the minister said. This will be the last Budget to be presented by the coalition government as the state is scheduled to go for Assembly elections later this year. For the past five years, the government has presented zero deficit budgets, but its dependency on the Centre has increased over time. This time also the government is looking to the Planning Commission to increase the state’s plan allocation to Rs 8,000 crore from the Rs 7,300 crore allocated to it in the 2012-13 fiscal. Being a part of the United Progressive Alliance, the coalition government here is hoping for generous funding by the Central government in order to lure the electorate. Reliance on Centre *
For the past five years, the government has presented zero deficit Budget, but its dependency on the Centre has increased over time *
The state is looking to the Planning Commission to increase the state’s plan allocation to Rs 8,000 crore from the Rs 7,300 crore allocated to it in the 2012-13 fiscal.
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Shortage of potable water irks Lolab residents
Kupwara, February 5 The protestors, including women and children, disrupted traffic and raised slogans against the district administration for failing to ensure proper water supply to the village. “In the absence of proper supply, we are forced to walk miles to fetch water from a nullah. Due to incessant rains during the past few days we are left with no option but to consume the contaminated water from this open source,” said Zareefa Begum, a housewife. The protesters alleged that the taps were running dry for past the two weeks but the Public Health Engineering (PHE) officials did nothing to restore the supply. “There is not even a drop of water to drink as taps have run dry. On Saturday, we visited the office of the Executive Engineer, PHE, with the request to restore the supply but to no avail,” said Altaf Ahmad. Meanwhile, Executive Engineer Ghulam Qadir Bhat said the tanker service was provided to the village. “Some miscreants stole the pipes due to which the supply was snapped. We provided them water through a tanker and efforts are on to restore the supply,” Bhat said. — OC |
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Hill development council sought for Rajouri-Poonch
Poonch, February 5 This was stated by party patron Raja Abbas Khan in a rally here at Parade Park, Poonch. He demanded hill development council on the pattern of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). “The government should consider the nature of terrain, size and accessibility of the area, which is inhabited by both Paharis and Gujjars,” he said. Party president Mohd Younas said, “The Rajouri-Poonch region may become a hub of tourism in Jammu province. It has the potential to attract religious tourists round the year as it is blessed with Shri Budha Amarnath, Sain Mira Sahib Ziarat, Nangali Sahib and Chote Shah. However, it lags behind in the development sector as compared to other districts of the state.” He criticised the NC-led coalition government for creating the new administrative units to gain political interests and avoiding genuine areas. The state government did it all on the directions of their MLAs and MLCs, without considering the demands of the people of the state, Younas alleged. He also criticised the state government for its non-serious approach to speed up the construction work on the Poonch campus of Jammu University. He demanded early He said the only solution to the problems of the residents of Rajouri-Poonch was setting up of hill development council for the area. He also demanded early completion of the Pernei power project. They also took out a procession, which after passing through the main market culminated at Krishan Chander Park, Poonch. General Secretary Zorawar Singh Shahbaz and District President Shafi Khatana also spoke on the occasion. |
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‘Haider’ stars set to dance to Kashmiri tunes
Srinagar, February 5 “I was recently approached by Bollywood director Vishal Bhardwaj to compose a sequence of a song for his upcoming movie Haider,” said Raja
Bilal. The movie, which is being currently shot in the Valley, is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It will for the first time that audience would be able to listen to a combination of traditional Kashmiri music instruments, like Tumbaknari, Rabab, Sarangi, Matka, in a Bollywood movie. “It is a privilege for me and I will represent my tradition in my work,” Bilal said. A Tumbaknari is a traditional Kashmiri drum made of clay and sheep skin, while Rabab is a short-necked lute whose body is carved out of a single piece of wood and has three musical strings. Sarangi is a bowed, short-necked string instrument, and Matka is an earthen pitcher. Bilal said the movie would provide him an opportunity to project the traditional Kashmiri music. “I want to bring Kashmiri traditional music to a bigger platform. This opportunity will pave the way for me to achieve my dream,” he said. Bilal was ecstatic about his new assignment and said makers of Haider were happy with my work and approved me in a “single take”. |
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Teachers’ list sparks row
Srinagar, February 5 The SSB teacher selection list has particularly created furore after it failed to make public the merit (awarded marks) of the selected candidates and their qualifications, which the dropped aspirants alleged was deliberately done to select blue-eyed candidates. Castigating the SSB for denying information to the teacher aspirants about their results, PDP leader Mudasir Amin demanded that marks/points, which they had obtained in the screening test, should be made public to clear doubts. He alleged that by not making the information public, the SSB was deliberately creating doubts in the minds of people about the transparency of the entire process. He said it was not understandable why the board issued five notifications for the same posts. Calling upon the government to come clear on the issue, Mudasir said the degrees of those candidates, who had been shortlisted, should also be made public. The Coaching Centres Association has also decried the SSB list and blamed the SSB of flouting rules to accommodate blue-eyed candidates. The association demanded an inquiry into the entire episode wherein highly qualified candidates like PhD holders were dropped to accommodate Class XII candidates. “The SSRB had asked the candidates not to fill application form for the posts advertised under Notice No 05, dated March 2, 2013, as their previous forms would be considered for the same. And now when the results came, the board has disqualified thousands of students on account of not filling the form,” a CCA statement said. |
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Favouritism alleged in transfer of district hospital employees
Srinagar, February 5 The protesters alleged that the higher management at the hospital, including the Medical Superintendent, had not allowed smooth transfer of doctors and paramedics and transfers had been stalled for many years now. “Doctors who are posted in the hospital are some blue-eyed candidates. Deserving people are deliberately kept out of these primary postings due to which healthcare here is suffering. Many referrals are made to Srinagar hospitals since there isn't adequate infrastructure in Budgam,” the protesters said. “The hospital lacks sanitation facility,” one of the protesters said. The protesters alleged that dermatologist and radiologist were not available in the hospital. They have sought the intervention of the higher authorities in the matter. |
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New baggage scanners for Srinagar airport
Srinagar, February 5 This was revealed during a meeting which was chaired by Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, at Srinagar airport. An official spokesman said the Divisional Commissioner visited the airport to ensure hassle-free air travel for passengers. He also reviewed the arrangements put in place for convenient and comfortable journey of the passengers. The meeting was attended by Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar, IGP, Kashmir, Director, Airport Authority of India, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, representatives of SMC and officials of other departments. “It was decided in the meeting that five X-Ray machines would be installed at drop gate for scrutiny of passenger baggage for the convenience of passengers,” an official spokesman said. “It was also decided that transportation facility for passengers from drop gate to terminal would be arranged by the Director, Airport Authority of India, and airlines concerned”. The authorities were asked to improve the public address system at the airport, which communicates flight schedules and removes snag, if any, to make communication audible to passengers. “The meeting also discussed the possibility of operating the early morning and late night flights for the convenience of passengers. The authorities were also asked to ensure simplification of foreigner’s registration process at the airport,” the spokesman said. The officials were asked to repair and strengthen the boundary walls of the airport to keep stray dogs away.
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MC crackdown on butchers
Srinagar, February 5 “The drive is underway and we are confident that by March 1, all butcher shops operating within the municipal limits of Srinagar will refrain from displaying meat in the open. Our focus is also towards making butchers refrain from selling meat that is not properly covered,” SMC Health Officer Dr Shafqat Khan told The Tribune. He said during the last few months, they had booked 40 butchers for selling uncovered meat and displaying it outside their shops. “Uncovered meat turns unhygienic as it is prone to dust and flies. If meat is uncovered and displayed in the open, flies and dust enter it, making it unhygienic and harmful for health. In case we find butchers not complying with the directions from March onwards, we will be taking strict action,” Khan added. However, the SMC directive has not gone down well with the city butchers, who are used to gaudy display of meat. “How will a customer know that we sell meat? Only known customers will come. We have been selling meat like this for ages,” said Mohammad Yaseen, a butcher who owns a shop near the Exhibition Road. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation health officer said: “In case a butcher wishes to display meat, it has to be covered properly. Also, it cannot be displayed outside the shop. It has to be displayed inside the shop with a glass panel”. The locals, on the other hand, have welcomed the move but want the government to focus more on checking the price of
mutton, which is consumed in large quantities by Kashmiris. “The butchers usually do not take much care of hygiene and it is a welcome step if the Srinagar Municipal Corporation succeeds in making them sell meat in sanitary conditions, especially in the summer months. At the same time, the government should focus more on checking making butchers sell meat at the prescribed CAPD rates,” a local said. |
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Sumo service to Kashmir University stopped
Srinagar, February 5 Reportedly, the Regional Transport Office has called for cancellation of route permits of these Tata Sumo drivers who ferry passengers along the Lal Chowk-KU route due to a request from the Mini-Bus Owners Association. Mini-bus owners had alleged that they were facing consistent losses due to Tata Sumos providing alternative means of transport to hundreds of students and teachers of Kashmir University. Sumo drivers said their service was operational for the last four years now and that the authorities could not abruptly decide to stop this service which connected crucial junctions of the city. Not only will the Kashmir University students, even the National Institute of Technology (NIT) students face problems due to the closure of these services. “There have been many instances of showdown between bus drivers and Sumo owners in the vicinity of our college creating hurdles for commuters. Students use these services everyday and instead of buses, we opt for Sumos since they take the shortest time,” Shazia, a BTech student at National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, said. “Since the last two days, after the Sumo service was stopped, we have faced tremendous problems in reaching examination venues on time. Moreover, in winters when the bus services are not available in the early mornings, we can’t discharge our duties on time,” Ishfaq Ahmad, a professor at Kashmir University, said. |
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City to receive mild rain, snow
Srinagar, February 5 The department said there would be a decrease in precipitation from Friday. In Srinagar city where overnight temperature was recorded at a low of 1.0°C, which was an increase of two degrees from the normal, light rain was received in the morning. The department said light rain and snow in expected in the city till Thursday morning while minimum temperature would drop to around 1°C. — TNS
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Teenaged girl’s murder case solved, 1 held
Anantnag, February 5 The police have arrested Nasir Bashir Sheikh, a resident of Joyibal Veeri in Anantnag district, yesterday. “The accused has confessed to have committed the crime,” a police official said. The 15-year-old girl was identified as Iqra Nisar, daughter of Nisar Ahmad Khan, a resident of Ladibal village of Gadseer in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The Class XI girl was strangled by a head scarf. She had left home on the fateful morning and did not return home by evening, following which her parents had lodged a police complaint. Locals in Chee spotted her body tied to a tree. A case was registered and investigations were initiated in the case. “Several suspects were arrested in the case and after investigations, we zeroed in on one of the suspects,” said the police official. Though the official said the reason behind the crime was jealousy, the police were exploring other possible angles. |
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In poll year, J&K set to get
people-friendly Budget Jammu, February 5 Sources said the Finance Department had prepared the Budget and the Cabinet gave it a go-ahead yesterday. “Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather explained the Budget to his Cabinet colleagues, which will be presented by him in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on February 13,” an official source told The Tribune. The Budget for 2014-15 fiscal will focus on providing employment opportunities to the unemployed educated youth of the state. After approving the creation of new administrative units in the state, the J&K Government will try to cash in on the opportunity and try to recruit more educated youth, the source said. A senior minister in the ruling dispensation said whatever had been disclosed to them by the Finance Minister seemed interesting and for the welfare of the state. “Though it will be improper to reveal any information about the Budget before it is presented in the Assembly, it seems the Finance Minister has tried to keep everyone happy ahead of the elections,” the minister said. This will be the last Budget to be presented by the NC-Congress coalition government as the state is scheduled to go for Assembly elections later this year. For the past five years, the government has presented zero deficit budgets, but its dependency on the Centre has increased over time. This time also the government is looking to the Planning Commission to increase the state’s plan allocation to Rs 8,000 crore from the Rs 7,300 crore allocated to it in the 2012-13 fiscal. Being a part of the United Progressive Alliance, the coalition government here is hoping for generous funding by the Central Government in order to lure the electorate. Reliance on Central Govt * For the past five years, the government has presented zero deficit Budget, but its dependency on the Centre has increased over time. * The state is looking to the Planning Commission to increase the state’s plan allocation to ~8,000 crore from the ~7,300 crore allocated to it in the 2012-13 fiscal. ‘Bid to please all’ }Though it will be improper to disclose any information about the Budget before it is presented in the Assembly, it seems the Finance Minister has tried to keep everyone happy ahead of the
elections
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moving towards the civil secretariat.
Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has said that farmers’ prosperity is the mission of the state government and initiatives taken for the promotion of the agriculture sector besides improving economic status of farmers during the past five years are yielding results on the ground.
Youth Congress activists, led by Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) vice-president Pranav
Shagotra, protested against the Custodian Department here today. They demanded ownership rights for the allottees of custodian property in Jammu.
While Pakistan is adamant on the release of the driver, who is accused of smuggling narcotics, the detained driver has reportedly pleaded innocence to investigators. 
Jammu, February 5
State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday vowed to bring the administration to the doorsteps of the people, particularly those living in far-flung, backward and hilly
areas.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah today said women participation was must in nation-building for achieving an equitable, peaceful and prosperous society.
People from various areas of Budgam district today staged a protest at the Press Enclave,
Srinagar, against the district hospital management alleging favouritism in transfer of various employees at the hospital.
