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State council may make changes in sports policy
Teen’s killing: Kashmir shuts, protests in Bandipora
on the frontline
Hizb militant arrested in Poonch
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No plan to rename Shankaracharya Hill: Omar
Cong deputes AICC secy to get feedback on Udhampur seat
Pak envoy meets Geelani
BJP appoints Nirmal Singh as poll in charge for J&K
Lal Singh likely to get Congress ticket for Udhampur-Doda seat
UNHRC to debate displacement of Kashmiri Pandits on March 28
SASE serves as lifeline for Army personnel in the state
Enhanced budget for state under MGNREGA
Desilting of Ranbir Canal starts
Gun licence holders told to deposit arms
Potholed Srinagar-Qazigund stretch a nightmare for commuters
Over 1,200 posts vacant under Central scheme
Railway police steps up vigil along Lakhanpur-Jammu track
AAP demands inclusion of snow clearance under MGNREGA
Snow clearance: Minister compares Kashmir valley with US, draws flak
Waterlogging woes persist in Srinagar
Uncovered drains cause hardships to commuters
Weather plays spoilsport for Valley students
Auditions for musical event postponed
Rafting contest held in Reasi district to educate voters
70 students complete ski course at Gulmarg
Lashkar militant held in Budgam
Programme on rural livelihood mission
Villages deprived of water, electricity, says BJP
Specialised training for 20 climbers at camp
Bhalla releases mountaineering association’s calendar
School celebrates annual day
Fun, frolic mark Holi celebrations in city
Cab drivers accused of overcharging
Man-eater leopard killed near Shiv Khori
5 shopkeepers held for overcharging
Traders’ body lashes out at state govt
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State council may make changes in sports policy
Jammu, March 16 The Tribune had earlier reported that as per directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 53rd General Council Meeting, the autonomous sports body in its proposed sports policy draft had categorised various sports disciplines under Olympic and non-Olympic charter on the basis of present level of performance at state and national level. Pertinently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is also the president of the sports council. The categorisation of sports disciplines was done on the status and popularity of games at district/province/state level so as to draw line between good, bad or worst. The disciplines were placed as category, A, B and C under Olympic and non-Olympic charter. Sources said at that time, it was decided that the grant-in-aid to affiliated sports bodies for conducting national competition would be given as per their category which was later objected by most of the office-bearers of these associations. They claimed that the grant-in-aid sanctioned for hosting the competition was not enough. “Keeping this in mind, a crucial meeting of the State Sports Council was held recently wherein it was decided that the grant-in-aid to the affiliated sports associations would be provided as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Youth Services and Sports (MYAS), Government of India,” sources in sports council said. “As per MYAS guidelines, sports federations gets grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs 2,00000 for conducting senior national championship, Rs 4,00000 for sub-junior national championship and Rs 6,00000 for senior national championship. Now, same criteria will be adopted by the sports council to provide grant-in-aid to the sports bodies for hosting national championships in the state,” he added. According to the proposed sports policy draft, Olympic disciplines that have been included in category A included athletics, badminton, boxing, volleyball, football, hockey, wrestling, handball and table tennis. Other disciplines namely gymnastics, basketball, rifle shooting, rowing, judo, swimming, weightlifting, kayaking and skiing (ice and snow) and fencing have been included in Category B. Category C sports disciplines included cycling, archery, taekwondo, triathlon, equestrian, yatching and tennis. As far categorisation of non-Olympic disciplines is concerned, games like squash, chess, power lifting, baseball, softball, bowling (10 pin) and polo have been included in category A.
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Teen’s killing: Kashmir shuts, protests in Bandipora
Srinagar, March 16 The shutdown call was given by the two factions of the Hurriyat Conference. It was aggravated by restrictions, including curfew, imposed by the local authorities in several parts of the Valley. Restrictions remained in force in Bandipora district, parts of the adjoining Baramulla district and in the old city here for the second day to prevent protests from spreading to other parts. The 16-year-old Farhat Ahmad Dar, a resident of Bandipora’s Sumbal area, was shot dead by the police during a protest at Naidkhai in Bandipora on Friday evening. A police statement said Dar died when its personnel “fired in air” to disperse an “unruly mob”. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the killing. Bandipora Deputy Commissioner Shah Faisal said the inquiry by Additional Deputy Commissioner of the district would begin “once the things settle down”. He said the situation in the district remained “under control”. He denied that the curfew was in place. “These are restrictions,” he said. Local residents and police sources, however, said that the curfew was imposed in the district. Probe ordered * Farhat Ahmad Dar (16), a resident of Bandipora’s Sumbal area, was shot dead by police during a protest on Friday. *
Police said Dar died when its personnel “fired in air” to disperse an “unruly mob”. *Call for a shutdown had been given by Hurriyat Conference *
Certain restrictions were imposed by the local authorities in several parts of the valley. *
The state government has ordered an inquiry into the killing. |
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on the frontline
Which way now? In this year of elections that could redirect history in Kashmir, the first thing has been decided. The two ruling alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference and the Congress, are going to the Lok Sabha elections with a pre-poll alliance. What happens after the parliamentary elections and the policies the two parties will pursue will have consequences affecting the whole of the state. The pre-poll alliance for the parliamentary elections is not a blind stumble. This is a deliberate move to see what results the elections will deliver in May. That will determine the future course. On the basis of that the two parties will decide whether to repeat the experiment during the Assembly elections or not. However, all that will depend on how the voters will make their choice.
Both parties know that it is a qualifying round for them to the finals — the Assembly elections are scheduled for the year-end. At best, this is a semi-final not only between the Alliance and the Opposition, but also between the two ruling coalition partners. Both the Congress and the National Conference — each contesting three seats are going to watch how many Assembly segments they will win in these elections. The Congress is contesting from 41 segments, which form part of three Lok Sabha seats — Jammu, 20; Udhampur, 17; and Ladakh, 4. The National Conference is contesting from 46 segments in the Valley, forming part of three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley — Srinagar, 15; Baramulla, 15; and Anantnag, 16. The race to win the maximum number of Assembly segments is not only between the Congress and the BJP in Jammu and Ladakh regions, but the National Conference is also keen to repeat its 2009 performance in 2014 in all the 46 Assembly segments. Firstly, it will demonstrate which party stands where; secondly, it will be used as a bargaining chip during the Assembly elections, if at all the pre-poll alliance mantra is repeated in the year-end elections. The focus during the Lok Sabha elections is on local issues and not on the national issues. The national issues have been pushed to the periphery. The approach of the parties is unclear: whether they will like to bring Kashmir closer to the rest of the country or sing the old song that they want autonomy, self-rule and so on, which has kept the people hostage to slogans, while their real-time difficulties have remained unaddressed. No one is talking about that. The Centre’s liberal aid for the development of the state finds passing reference. The connectivity through rail and mega road and hydro-electric projects is all due to the Centre —the state on its own has focused on the panchayat elections and near-normalcy in the state. For voters, the choice revolves around their homes and the neighbourhood issues - water, electricity, roads and schools and employment. They are very much aware of the national issues. Kashmiri voters are also aware of the international affairs but they know that first they have got to see to the resolution of issues concerning themselves. That was clearly shown by them during the 2011 panchayat elections. That experiment is going haywire as the process was left mid-way. Yet after a contest so starkly cast, the road ahead is obscure. The issue is not peace versus security alone: all residents of Jammu and Kashmir crave for both, and each candidate is expected to promise that he or she can deliver both, if vastly by different means. In 1996, the National Conference had boycotted the parliamentary elections, saying that unless the state was granted greater autonomy, it would not participate in any elections. In the same year, it took part in the Assembly elections --- the autonomy remained a distant dream then as it was before and after the elections. As the things stand where they stood earlier, what has come under scrutiny is the performance of the ruling coalition since January 5, 2009. The report card is not that bright, which suggests that things cannot be taken for granted. Thus, this qualifying round is really very difficult. It is all about regaining the faith of voters on their real-time issues. |
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Hizb militant arrested in Poonch
Poonch, March 16 “On the basis of a specific input that a Hizb militant is going to infiltrate into the Indian territory, a Special Operations Group led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Javid Naz in collaboration with 18 Bihar Regiment laid an ambush in Pintu Nullah and apprehended the militant with arms and ammunition,” Shamsheer Hussain, Poonch Superintendent of Police (SP), told mediapersons at the Poonch police station. “The militant has been identified as Mohammad Ishaq, alias Munna, a resident of Digwar Terwan village in Poonch district. He crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on December 22, 2011, regarding which an FIR was registered at the Poonch police station,” the Poonch SP said. “During preliminary investigation, he revealed that he was arrested on the Line of Control when he crossed over to PoK and remained in jail for six months. Thereafter, he joined the Lashker-e-Toiba and obtained weapon training at a camp near Mansera in Pakistan. He later joined the Hizb,” he said. “He become a bridge between overground workers and the outfit and tried to disturb Independence Day celebrations by committing an untoward incident in Poonch district,” the police officer said. The police recovered a AK rifle, two magazines, 59 AK rounds and an IED from the militant. A case has been registered vide FIR No. 25/2014 dated 16/03/2014 under Sections 7/25 of the Indian Arms Act and 2/3/5 of the Explosive Substances Act at the Poonch police station.
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No plan to rename Shankaracharya Hill: Omar
Srinagar, March 16 “Let me be as clear as I can — there is 'no', repeat 'no' proposal by the state to change the name of Shankracharaya Hill in Srinagar….From conversations with the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) I have ascertained that there is no such proposal with them either so I have no idea why the rumour. So can we please put this unnecessary drama to rest and stop manufacturing an issue where none exists. Call it whatever you like,” Omar wrote on microblogging site Twitter. All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandit, who was part of the protest, said the government should come clean on the ‘systematic name changing going on of various Hindu religious places in Kashmir such as Koh-i-Maran for Hari Parbat Hill and Takht-e-Suleman for Shankaracharya Hill. Hari Parbat is also referred to (not officially) as Koh-i-Maran and Shankaracharaya as Takht-e-Suleman by locals, particularly Muslims. Omar, however, said parallel names always existed. “There have always been parallel names for Shankracharaya Hill and always will be. This isn’t the only place with two or more names,” he tweeted. Omar wrote: “Recent days have shown that we have real issues to deal with, often with life and death consequences. These imaginary issues don’t help.” He was referring to the recent killing of a youth in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. Meanwhile, an APMCC statement said among others, the Ishwar Ashram Trust, Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, Kashmiri Hindu Association, Rohini Kashmiri Migrant Welfare Association, Noida, Kashmiri Pandits United Forum and the Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Association, Faridabad, took part in the protest. Protest in Delhi * Kashmiri Pandit organisations on Sunday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the renaming of hills in Srinagar city, including Shankaracharya *
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, tweeted that the J&K Government had no such proposal. “Let me be as clear as I can --- there is 'no', repeat 'no' proposal by the state to change the name of Shankracharaya Hill in Srinagar…,” he wrote on Twitter. |
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Cong deputes AICC secy to get feedback on Udhampur seat
Jammu, March 16 The Congress members, including ministers, MLAs, MLCs and village-level workers, are exerting pressure on the party leadership to field Azad from this prestigious seat. Haque, who reached Jammu on Saturday, has started interacting with grass-roots level workers to get feedback. Six districts — Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar — fall under the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment. “I have covered Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts and tomorrow I will interact with workers of Doda and Kishtwar to send my report to the high command,” said Haque. He admitted that a majority of the workers had been demanding that Azad should contest from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. “After covering four districts, I have telephonically given the feedback to AICC general secretary and in charge J&K affairs Ambika Soni,” Haque disclosed, adding that for the last three months Congress workers had been demanding that Azad should be nominated for the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat. Haque revealed that three month ago he had conveyed to the high command that Ghulam Nabi Azad was the best candidate and would win elections from this seat hands down. “Outspoken” Congress leader Choudhary Lal Singh is the sitting Lok Sabha member from this prestigious segment. He had won the seat twice in 2004 and 2009, but this time all Congress workers are demanding that Azad, who belongs to Doda district, should be the candidate from the segment. Congress workers and leaders have been insisting that if Azad fought the election from the region, it could boost the morale of the cadre. The BJP has already announced Jatinder Singh as the candidate for the Udhampur-Doda segment. Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh is also in the fray.
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Pak envoy meets Geelani
Srinagar, March 16 “Basit said Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif was concerned about the health of Geelani and he directed him to enquire about the condition of the pro-freedom leader,” the Hurriyat statement said. Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, is in New Delhi and is undergoing treatment. — TNS
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BJP appoints Nirmal Singh as poll in charge for J&K
Jammu, March 16 “The party high command has appointed former state president and national executive member Nirmal Singh as an overall election in charge of all six parliamentary seats of the state,” BJP Rajya Sabha member and in charge of J&K affairs Avinash Rai Khanna told reporters here. “Singh has got vast experience in organisational matters and I am sure he would successfully lead the party in coming elections,” Khanna said. He added that Singh’s role in the Assembly elections later this year would be “significant and decisive”. There was resentment over Nirmal Singh not getting a party ticket for the Udhampur-Doda seat and the leader was called by the high command to New Delhi to “pacify” him. The BJP has nominated Dr Jitendra Singh for the Udhampur-Doda constituency, which goes to polls on April 17. Nirmal Singh said he was a “loyal and dedicated soldier” of the party and would put utmost efforts in campaigning for the party. Meanwhile, in order to woo the refugee voters in the state, Khanna said Jammu and Kashmir was perhaps the only state where lakhs of people were living with the “refugee tag”. “A refugee from Pakistan, who has settled in other state, can become the Prime Minister of the country. But unfortunately a refugee in J&K doesn’t even has the right to franchise in the Assembly elections,” Khanna said while making a fervent appeal to the people to cast their vote for the BJP. “The nation is yearning for a change and every voter across the country has made up his mind to teach the Congress a lesson and bring in Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister,” he added.
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Lal Singh likely to get Congress ticket for Udhampur-Doda seat
Jammu, March 16 “There were only two names in the list, one of Ghulam Nabi Azad and the other of Lal Singh. Since Azad has refused to contest, Lal Singh’s candidature may be repeated by the party high command,” a senior Congress leader said wishing anonymity. Azad recently said it won’t be possible for him to contest from the Udhampur-Doda constituency as he has to campaign for over 100
other parliamentary segments. “I had told Azad sahib that if he wants to contest from Udhampur-Doda seat, I have no objection. I was even ready to campaign for him. Now, whatever decision is taken by the high command we will abide by that,” Choudhary Lal Singh told The Tribune. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders who were insisting on Azad’s candidature for the seat are waiting for the high command directive to set the future course of action. “It was disappointing to hear that Azad sahib has refused to contest. We are now waiting for the high command’s decision as who will be given the mandate to contest from the Udhampur-Doda seat,” said Viqar Rasool Wani, Minister of State for Technical Education and a close aide of Azad. Wani added that the party would have to work hard to ensure a win on the seat. Member of Legislative Assembly from Bhaderwah and deputy leader of the Congress legislative party Muhammad Sharief Niaz, meanwhile, said Lal Singh had good chances of repeating the feat. “Azad’s chances of winning were very high, but Lal Singh is also popular among masses in the erstwhile Doda district. He is the only parliamentarian among all previous Member Parliaments who is known to one and all in the Chenab valley. Besides, he has good track record as compared to
others,” Niaz said. The Congress has a straight fight with the archrivals BJP for the Udhampur-Doda seat.
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UNHRC to debate displacement of Kashmiri Pandits on March 28
Jammu, March 16 The session, which started on March 3, will conclude on March 28. The world human rights body has received a petition from an NGO, Asian-Eurasian Human Rights Forum, urging the UNHRC to examine the alleged “ethnic cleansing” of minority community members in 1989-90 when terrorists started a selective killing campaign in the Valley and forced Pandits to leave their homeland. “We have posted a statement to the chairman of the 26th session of the UNHRC. We have demanded examination of the case of ethnic cleansing of Pandits due to killings by terrorists when insurgency erupted in 1990s,” said Dr KN Pandita, NGO general secretary. He said the statement had been submitted under the item-8 of the agenda which deals with internally displaced persons (IDPs). Dr Pandita, who himself was displaced due to the conflict, said it was submitted before the UNHRC that the Union Government failed to control religious terrorism in the Kashmir valley, when terror groups selectively murdered hundreds of unarmed Hindus, a religious minority in the Valley. A total of 3,50,000 persons were forced to flee their homes and are presently scattered across the India, particularly in Jammu. The community alleges that the Indian government has a moral and constitutional responsibility of protecting civilian lives from the onslaught of the terrorists, who are affiliated to number of Islamic fundamentalist groups in Pakistan and in the Kashmir valley. The NGO is also seeking the IDP status for the displaced people so that they are able to get the relief in accordance with the norms set for the IDPs. A few years ago, the Centre had announced an economic package to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, but not a single family has returned to the Valley due to security reasons following the rise in terror activities. Only 1,500 youth recruited under a centrally-sponsored employment package have returned but they are living in special security colonies established by the government and not in their original homes and villages, thus not allowing the government to achieve its aim.
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SASE serves as lifeline for Army personnel in the state
Jammu, March 16 The militancy-plagued state has 198-km-long international border, 744-km-long Line of Control (LoC), 121-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) with Pakistan and 804-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The SASE not only keeps the Leh-based 14 Corps, Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Nagrota-based 16 Corps and the Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur abreast with weather forecasts and sector-wise micro-analysis, including avalanche warnings, every 24 hours, but also regularly conducts capsule courses for officers and soldiers. Neelam Sharma, officer in charge of the SASE’s Mountain Meteorological Centre here, said: “The SASE has Mountain Meteorological Centres (MMCs) at Srinagar, Jammu and Sasoma in Siachen. Apart from the three MMCs, we have 30 surface observatories across the state and 38 automatic weather stations, including five in Siachen, which keep transmitting inputs every hour to the Chandigarh headquarters.” “The SASE centres in Jammu, Srinagar and Sasoma rely upon upper air observation method using US-made radiosonde meteorograph 30 km above the surface of the earth with the help of a balloon to read temperature, wind speed and other inputs,” she said. Sharma said a lot of calculations and effort went into weather forecast. The SASE had been focusing on western disturbances and the Himalayan range, particularly the Western Himalayas. In J&K, the SASE had been conducting reconnaissance of avalanche-prone areas, she said. “In Kashmir, the SASE even put up flags and markers to alert the troops about the impending danger. For instance, some of the areas become dangerous during winter because of heavy snowfall. In some areas, we ask them to move only if it is unavoidable and that too with due precautions and requisite gadgetries,” she said. She said the regular capsule courses coupled with demonstrations at the 213 Transit Camp here have been widely appreciated by the Army. Backed by a team of scientists and latest technologies, including satellite images, the SASE today provides the Army a micro-analysis of the weather report. The weather forecasts, including avalanche warnings, are issued six days in advance, she added.
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Enhanced budget for state under MGNREGA
Jammu, March 16 However, the Central ministry has maintained that the state can request for revision of the presently agreed person-days to labour budget with proper justification and supporting data in case of better performance. The decision was taken by the MoRD after Farooq Ahmed Peer, Commissioner/Secretary, Rural Development Department, J&K, made a presentation on the proposal for labour budget under MGNREGA for the financial year 2014-15. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), to discuss and scrutinise labour budget under MGNREGA submitted by the state government. Sources said the state had been directed to submit latest by March 15 district-wise and month-wise break-up of the agreed person-days to labour budget with regard to person-days to be generated and households to be provided employment. Further, this exercise should be done keeping in view the seasonality aspects, normal trend in the area etc. Regarding Electronic-Fund Management System, the ministry told the state that all issues pertaining to its implementation should be brought to its notice immediately for necessary action. The sources claimed that the state had also been asked to clear all pending liabilities on wage payment pertaining to financial year 2012-13 and 2013-14 immediately. The state was also asked to notify detailed rules for payment of unemployment allowance by March 15, 2014, and relevant procedure be drawn up for payment of allowances to eligible MGNREGA workers. The state has to actively implement the system of compensation for delay in wage payment immediately. It also needs to improve on uploading of photographs of completed works under MGNREGA and upload them on the programme website. The state has to conduct the workshop on convergence immediately and the road map has to be shared with the MoRD. Further, in the first phase, the state had to appoint an Ombudsman each in all the eight zones immediately, a statement from the Central ministry claimed. |
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Desilting of Ranbir Canal starts
Jammu, March 16 This year, desilting started late as the government had failed to clear the pending dues of contractors.
Canals of Jammu region are lying in a dilapidated condition due to presence of garbage and other waste material, because of which farmers have to About 60 per cent people in the state are dependent on agriculture and canals, which cater to the irrigation needs, are the lifeline of the farmers. “Contractors are dumping silt on the roadside, which is creating problems for the people, especially commuters. It is also leading to health problems. We fail to understand why the department concerned is not lifting the silt the same day,” said Roshan Sharma, a businessman. Once considered as a lifeline, Ranbir Canal now stands testimony to the official apathy and rampant pollution. It has turned into a drain and is dying a slow death as many people use it for dumping waste. Chief Engineer of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department Sushil Aima said, “The contractors have been directed to lift the muck on the same day. In case of any complaint, action will be taken against them. People should bring to our notice if they face any problem. We will take action against the erring contractors.” |
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Gun licence holders told to deposit arms
Srinagar, March 16 Action would be initiated against anyone who is found to be in possession of licensed arms after a week’s time from the issuance of this order. Arms would be seized and license would be cancelled, an official spokesman said while quoting the District Magistrates of respective areas.
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Potholed Srinagar-Qazigund stretch a nightmare for commuters
Anantnag, March 16 While the widening of the national highway carried out by Hyderabad-based construction company RAMKY continues to move at a snail's pace, the already existing link has been completely neglected on the maintenance front. The existing link was handed over to RAMKY and the company was supposed to take care of the maintenance work. The most glaring example of indifference shown by RAMKY is the road stretch outside the company's local headquarters in the Lethpora area of Pulwama along the national highway. "You can see the road drowned in knee-length water. We have been complaining to the authorities for more than a year now, but to no avail," said Mushatq Ahmad, a shopkeeper in the area. The shopkeepers said their business had been affected by the pathetic condition of the road. "The area has become accident prone and the district administration has completely shut their eyes towards our plight," said Sabzar Ahmad, a driver. The pathetic condition of the road is not limited to Lethpora. The road is in a shambles at Barsoo, Bijbehara, Sangam, Khannabal and many other places along the national highway. RAMKY officials claimed that they had been taking care of the road on the maintenance front. "The road has been damaged by snow and rain. There is nothing we can do about it," said Rakesh Kumar, Deputy General Manager, RAMKY. Sources in the administration said, “Repeated directives by the administration for the maintenance of the highway had been turned down by RAMKY officials”.
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Over 1,200 posts vacant under Central scheme
Srinagar, March 16 According to 2013 annual report by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the vacancies of the supporting staff for MGNREGA in Kashmir were 2,953, of which 1,740 have been filled so far. The post of Technical Assistants were 434, of which 399 have been filled. There were 2,164 post of Gram Rozgar Sahayaks, of which 1,000 have been filled. Posts are also lying vacant in rural areas in Kupwara and Shopian districts. The report has revealed poor communication between the government and beneficiaries. Most of the people living in rural areas are unaware of 100 days of guaranteed employment under the scheme. The report has admitted that lack of comprehensive knowledge about the scheme is affecting its implementation in the Valley.
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Railway police steps up vigil along Lakhanpur-Jammu track
Jammu, March 16 The GRP has also deployed more men, besides tight vigil is being maintained at Jammu Railway Station to comply with the guidelines of the Income Tax Department vis-à-vis transportation of cash and gold via trains. On Thursday, AK Thatai, Commissioner, Income Tax, said Jammu Tawi Railway Station, besides the Jammu and Srinagar airports, was under the surveillance of the department from the date of announcement of the elections. “We have intensified our vigil at Jammu Tawi Railway Station and all along Lakhanpur-Jammu to keep a check on the movement of suspects in view of the General Election. We have identified some vulnerable areas, particularly those close to the international border, where deployment of jawans is being enhanced,” said Shiv Kumar Sharma, Superintendent of Police (SP), GRP, Jammu.
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AAP demands inclusion of snow clearance under MGNREGA
Srinagar, March 16 “For the speedy clearance of snow from important link roads in the Valley and ensuring employment to the local people, we demand that the snow clearance should be included under the MGNREGA scheme,” said Raja Muzaffar Bhat, AAP candidate form Srinagar. He alleged that authorities concerned were unable to clear the snow from the roads due to lack of manpower and machinery. “It would be advisable that the authorities undertake services of the local youth for clearing the snow so that the link roads are thrown open to traffic within no time,” he said. The AAP leader said even after a week, the Roads & Buildings Department was not able to clear the snow in many areas of the state so it was the need of the hour to involve the Rural Development Department in the snow clearance operation under the MNREGA. “Tractors used by the R&B authorities for clearing the snow damaged the roads. If the snow-clearance work is done manually by involving the local youth, roads will not be damaged and the poor and needy people will get an opportunity to earn some money,” Muzaffar said. He said many roads in Charari Sharief, Chadoora, Khan Sahib, Beerwah, Harwan, Hazratbal, Ganderbal and Kangan are yet to thrown open to traffic.
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Snow clearance: Minister compares Kashmir valley with US, draws flak
Srinagar, March 16 Taj told a local agency here recently that in dealing with the snow fury, ‘Kashmir was more advanced than America’. “If Americans would witness such a heavy snowfall, there will be power breakdown for at least a week, but in Kashmir, the state government performed up to the mark and electricity was restored within eight hours which is not even possible in the United States,” the minister reportedly said. Taj’s remark on power restoration was contradictory to Chief Minister’s tweet that the “restoration may take a few days”. “This kind of snow with heavy water content has caused extensive damage to power infrastructure, including (high tension) HT network not just (low tension) LT lines. The department is working to restore the damaged network on a war footing but restoration of full service will take some days,” the Chief Minister wrote on his Twitter account on March 12, a day after the Valley witnessed heavy snowfall. Peoples Democratic Party chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar described Taj’s remark as rubbing salt in the wounds of Kashmiris. “Whatever snow clearance has been possible is due to the sunny weather which melted the snow. We are thankful to the good weather rather than the administration for snow clearance. Besides, the ground reality is for everyone to see. I haven’t seen flooded Srinagar city like this in years. If the city, by any chance, had standards of the US, a few hours of snowfall would not wreak havoc here,” the PDP spokesperson said. Some establishments, including offices and shops, in Srinagar’s commercial hubs Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk and Batamaloo have been forced to shut after being inundated with water since Tuesday night when the snowfall started. “It is unfortunate that instead of pulling up their socks, ministers and bureaucrats are praising each other. Businesses suffered huge losses. Property and lives have also been lost. We hardly witnessed any inspection drives by ministers and district administration officials except for their casual remarks which keep coming from the media,” said Abdul Rasheed Beigh, member of the Shopkeepers Association, Lal
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Waterlogging woes persist in Srinagar
Srinagar, March 16 People living in Magarmal Bagh-Sarai Bala, Sanatnagar, Rawalpora, Nowgam, Natipora and Budshah Colony among others continued to complain of waterlogged roads. “We were told that the streets would be dried by Saturday, but today too the roads remained waterlogging,” said Rauf Ahmad, a shopkeeper at Magarmal Bagh Chowk. Mushtaq Parray, a resident of Nowgam, said people in the interiors were still facing a lot of inconvenience due to waterlogged bylanes. “It seems priority was given only to the main roads, while the interiors have been neglected. Moreover, the government needs to upgrade the overall drainage infrastructure so that we are not subjected to inconvenience every time it rains or snows,” he said. However, on the other hand, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) commissioner GN Qasba said the corporation had cleared snow and dewatered most parts of the city in record time. He said the SMC had pressed into service 75 dewatering pumps while pointing out that adverse weather conditions also disrupted normal life in other parts of the world as well, including developed nations. The SMC has also invited experts from the Kirloskar group so that the corporation could manage waterlogging in a better manner. Meanwhile, the weatherman has forecasted inclement weather conditions till March 20 and more downpour in the coming days. If the predictions come true, waterlogging is bound to worsen.
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Uncovered drains cause hardships to commuters
Srinagar, March 16 Heavy snowfall across Kashmir led to waterlogging on the main and other connecting roads of the city .Almost all interior and main roads were inundated and people found it difficult to cross the roads. The scenario was worst at Gogji Bagh, where many vehicles got stuck either in potholes today. Similar scenes were witnessed at Bakchi stadium, which has got submerged as the snow has started melting. Waterlogging has also been witnessed in Jawahar Nagar, Exhibition Road, Raj Bagh, Batamaloo and other parts of the city. It was a nightmare for pedestrians, as pits were open at several places and many people slipped while trying to wade through roads. "Only last year these drains were constructed, but today they are in total shambles. Uncovered and defunct, they create immense problems for us in lanes and bylanes mostly during rain," said Saira Begum, a resident of old city, Srinagar. In the old city, waterlogging and inundation have become a source of inconvenience for a large number of people. At a number of places, including Khanyar, people used pushcarts to cross the inundated roads. District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah has constituted a task force to be headed by ADC GM Dar to look into the causes of the drainage network failure despite spending huge finances on the Srinagar drainage in the past three years. The government officials also assured that the city would get respite from waterlogging in less than a week's time.
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Weather plays spoilsport for Valley students
Srinagar, March 16 The bad weather has also interrupted the admission processes at Kashmir University and the university authorities are continuously postponing the entrance examinations, although the admission process had begun early this year. The academic session is likely to start by March-end or April as the entrance exams are still going on. Last year too, due to the turbulent situation in the Valley post Afzal Guru’s execution, the studies suffered a jolt in the Valley. Educationists say it is high time for the authorities to introduce a full-fledged heating arrangement in schools, colleges and universities of the state in the wake of unpredictable weather so that the studies are not affected. “It is unfortunate that despite funds provided to the state government under centrally sponsored schemes as well as state initiatives, the infrastructure in the government schools is getting worse. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan schemes’ implementation is already under scanner. Besides, the state government never really tightened the noose around the Valley’s private schools which charge enormous fees, but provide no heating arrangements,” said Qurat-ul-Ain, an educationist, said. Affecting studies *
Bad weather has also interrupted the
admission process at Kashmir University * The university authorities have been postponing the entrance
examinations, although the admission process had begun early this year *
The schools had to open on Feb 28. However, the district administration had to postpone the starting of classes in the wake of persistent bad weather conditions *
Educationists say the authorities should
introduce full-fledged heating arrangements in schools, colleges and universities of the state so that the studies are not affected . |
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Auditions for musical event postponed
Srinagar, March 16 Organised by Desheen Talent Company in association with Film Café, a Mumbai-based production house, they have started the event to hunt for talented singers in Kashmir for the first time in their joint event - Pa Ma Ga Re Sa-2014. The auditions will now be held from March 22 to 24 on the banks of world-famous Dal Lake, the official spokesman for the event said. “This is the biggest musical event in Kashmir that will showcase most soulful and captivating singing talent from the Kashmir valley. We are in search of super talented singers from Kashmir who will be provided a platform to prove themselves. The winner will bag a big project in Bollywood,” the official added. Joining hands with reputed production houses based in Mumbai such as Eon Films and Qrius Films, the official added that the finalists would get all sort of help to make a career in Bollywood’s music industry. The participants would be judged by noted persons from music and film industries. “Selected singers will perform in the grand finale in May this year amid lots of fanfare, media coverage and simulcast on channels, reaching out far and wide. I guess, it’s all about invention and reinvention and that is going to make this show a hit and a musical success,” the spokesman added.
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Rafting contest held in Reasi district to educate voters
Katra, March 16 The event was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary in presence senior district officials and various youth groups. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Rajinder Singh Tara along with Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Tilak Raj Sharma and other district officials led a group of rafters from Baradari to Dera Baba on the Chenab river. The group halted at various places along the way to interact with residents and administered the pledge for “ethical informed voting” and “active participation”. They also distributed posters and pamphlets on ethical voting among the residents. Choudhary, on the occasion, urged the young generation to actively participate in the process of strengthening democracy through greater participation, electoral education and spreading the message of “ethical voting”. He also asked the youth to rise above political considerations to generate a healthy democratic atmosphere. The DC also appreciated the overwhelming response to the electoral awareness drive and hoped that people, particularly women, would turnout in greater numbers to cast their vote during the coming elections. Meanwhile, Tara and Tilak Raj thanked youth groups for their active cooperation in organising various election awareness programmes. Initiatives like the ‘Green Vote (plantation drive)’, ‘Blood Donation for Democracy’, ‘Jai Kissan, Jai Hindustan (awareness programme for farmers)’ and other programmes are testimony to greater participation of youth in awareness drives organised by the administration in urban and rural areas of the district, the officials said.
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70 students complete ski course at Gulmarg
Srinagar, March 16 Chief Executive Officer of the Gulmarg Development Authority Tariq Ahmad was the chief guest at the graduation ceremony. He gave away prizes to students. Speaking on the occasion, IISM Principal JS Dhillon said: “The youth in Kashmir are getting trapped in drug addiction. It is affecting the social fabric of society and mental health of our youth. Such youth tend to indulge in petty crimes. The IISM can play a vital role in helping such youth by training them in various adventure skills after which they could become guides and instructors in the tourism sector.” He said out of the current batch of 70 students, 20 were sponsored by the J&K Police. “The 20 students are from economically weaker families, who otherwise could have never got an opportunity to do the training. They were happy to learn the skiing skills. The course gave them an opportunity to interact with different students from various parts of the country,” said Dhillon. Tariq said the IISM was playing a vital role in promoting adventure tourism in the Valley by training instructors in different adventure skills.
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Lashkar militant held in Budgam
Srinagar, March 16 Based on intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police around 6:30 pm yesterday at Badipora in Chadoora tehsil, a Defence spokesman said today. “During the operation, the joint team apprehended Abdul Lateef Rather, who is a category A militant and the right hand man of LeT commander of the south Kashmir, Abu Qasim,” the spokesman said. “He has been active for the last three years and was involved in many terror related activities, including the hotel Silver Star attack in Srinagar last year and in the killing of SHO, Chadoora, Shabir Ahmed,” the spokesman added. The Army also recovered one AK 47, two magazines and around 60 rounds of ammunition from the apprehended militant.
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Programme on rural livelihood mission
Jammu, March 16 A pre-teston NRLM was introduced to the participants to assess their understanding about the NRLM. BK Pandita, RRETC, Principal, in his lecture to the participants said the NRLM had adopted a demand driven strategy in place of SGSY’s allocation-based strategy. “The centrality of the NRLM concept is institutions of poor and identification of target group is done through participatory identification of poor instead of BPL strategy under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY),” Pandita said. Later, lectures were delivered by MI Sadiq and RK Koul.
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Villages deprived of water, electricity, says BJP
Jammu, March 16 “It is appalling that on travelling just a few kilometres from the national highway, one comes across townships and villages which do not have proper road connectivity and are deprived of basic amenities such as water and electricity,” Singh said while addressing election meetings and road shows along the highway at Ramban and Batote today. He said if voted to power, the BJP-led government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would expedite work on Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, initiated during the tenure of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Urging the people to vote for the party, Singh said a BJP MP from the constituency would be able to serve as a spokesman of the remote region in the highest forum of Parliament. He also referred to the misery caused as a result of two decades of militancy in the area and promised to take up the cause of Village Defence Committees and Personal Security Officers. “It will be our earnest effort to bring the fruits of global development to the remotest areas,” the BJP leader said.
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Specialised training for 20 climbers at camp
Jammu, March 16 A total of 20 sport climbers, who have been identified by the association as strong contenders for winning medal in the upcoming zonal and national competitions, are receiving specialised coaching in ‘lead’ as well as ‘speed’ climbing. The coaching is being imparted by professional coaches at the 40-ft-high fibre glass climbing wall on the school premises. During this 18-day-long specialised coaching camp, the association will adequately prepare the climbers for the forthcoming Junior Masters National Sport Climbing Competition. The association hoped that the climbers should perform well in the competition in which almost all national medallists of the last two years in sub-junior and junior categories were likely to compete for top honours. The training is also a part of a short-term measure of the association to regain the North Zone Sport Climbing Champions Trophy which it lost in 2010 after remaining the North Zone Champions continuously for five years from 2005 to 2009.
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Bhalla releases mountaineering association’s calendar
Jammu, March 16 Released in advance, the calendar was made public in the presence of Ashwani Sharma, (MLA), Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, BR Sharma, Director, Tourism, Jammu, Soujanya Sharma, and Assistant Director, Doordarshan, Jammu, Sanjeet Khajuria. While releasing the calendar, the minister hoped that the climbers would bring more laurels to the state in the forthcoming Junior Masters National Sport Climbing competition to be hosted by the association in May. Highlighting the activities to be undertaken next year, General Secretary of the association Ram Khajuria mentioned that the calendar included mountaineering expedition, 10 trekking expeditions, an adventure camp, a national-level sport climbing competition, three sport climbing courses, including one for specially abled children. Later, the minister also distributed medals to the winners of the first Sub-Junior North Zone Sport Climbing Championship held in Jammu.
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Jammu, March 16 On the occasion, former minister Gulchain Singh Charak was the chief guest while Surekha Charak, president, Dogra Academy Society, was the guest of honour. Ruchi Charak, school administrator, presented the welcome speech and also highlighted the efforts of the management and the staff in providing quality education to students so as to ensure all-round moral, intellectual and physical development through an integrated programme of studies.— TNS
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Fun, frolic mark Holi celebrations in city
Jammu, March 16 There was much enthusiasm among youth and children, who were seen playing Holi in markets, streets, houses and public parks. Shops and markets
in the city wore a festive look. Some special Holi parties were also organised at farmhouses and banquets in the city, where dance, DJ and lunch were a special attraction.
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Cab drivers accused of overcharging
Kupwara, March 16 "We are forced to pay Rs 35 from Kupwara to Lalpora in Lolab. A few weeks ago, the fare was hiked from Rs 26 to Rs 30, but the drivers still demand Rs 35 and passengers have no option but to pay them. Lalpora is about 16 km from Kupwara town," said Tariq Ahmad Lone, a resident of Krusan. "The fare from Kupwara to Srinagar is Rs 134, but cab drivers charge Rs 140," said Pirzada Naseer Ahmad, Handwara resident. "Almost all drivers have not displayed the revised fare list on their vehicles," said Nazir Ahmad from Trehgam town. Students also complained of overcharging by the drivers. "According to the government directive, a cab driver should charge Rs 20 from a student from Sogam to Kupwara, but the drivers take Rs 40," said Liyaqat Ahmad, Class XII student. Locals of Baramulla and Sopore also accused drivers of overcharging. Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Kupwara, Jamsheed Chowdary said the revised fare list would be displayed at bus and Sumo stands of Kupwara. "Drivers found violating the revised fare list will be dealt under law," said the ARTO. — OC
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Man-eater leopard killed near Shiv Khori
Katra, March 16 At 8 pm yesterday, a police patrol headed by probationer Deputy Superintendent of Police Junaid Hakim noticed that the animal had attacked four persons identified as Mohammad Bashir, Kala, both residents of Fargal, Krishan and Jumma. On receiving information, District Magistrate Shahid Iqbal in consultation with the Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) granted permission for killing the animal under the Wildlife Protection Act 1978. The leopard was killed around 2 am today after a search operation along the track of the Shiv Khori cave.
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5 shopkeepers held for overcharging
Srinagar, March 16 The five were charged during a drive launched by the personnel of the Shaheed Gunj police station against the shopkeepers who are selling essential commodities at exorbitant rates in the wake of recent inclement weather conditions,
a spokesman for the police said. “Five shopkeepers who were found charging excessive rates have been arrested,” the spokesman said. A case under Section 2/7 of the Essential Commodities Act has been registered against them and investigations started, the spokesman added.
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Traders’ body lashes out at state govt
Srinagar, March 16 In a statement, spokesman for the Kashmir Traders’ Federation Aijaz Shahdhar said a high-level delegation paid visit to various commercial places of the city and were shocked to see that many major roads were waterlogged. “In Lal Chowk and Budshah Chowk, the government had spent about Rs 1 crore and still the drainage system did not work. The continuous waterlogging has hit the shopkeepers, who have suffered massive losses,” the spokesman said. The spokesman also appealed to the state
government to announce a package for those shopkeepers whose shops would be demolished during the construction of a flyover from Jehangir Chowk to Natipora in Srinagar. “These shopkeepers have taken huge loans from the banks to run their business units, so a package should be announced for them by the state government,” Shahdhar said.
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Several Kashmiri Pandit bodies today staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the renaming of hills in Srinagar city, including
Shankaracharya. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, said the state government had no such proposal.
“Let me be as clear as I can — there is 'no', repeat 'no' proposal by the state to change the name of Shankracharaya Hill in Srinagar….From conversations with the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) I have ascertained that there is no such proposal with them either so I have no idea why the
rumour.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has started desilting of Ranbir Canal and its tributaries, but the silt is being dumped on the roadside, creating problems for residents.
This year, desilting started late as the government had failed to clear the pending dues of contractors.
Canals of Jammu region are lying in a dilapidated condition due to presence of garbage and other waste material, because of which farmers have to suffer.
Minister for Health and Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin’s remark recently in which he praised the state administration for performing extremely well while dealing with snow fury in Kashmir has invited criticism.
Taj told a local agency here recently that in dealing with the snow fury, ‘Kashmir was more advanced than America’.
Residents of the city continued to bear the brunt of the heavy snowfall and rain for the sixth consecutive day here today as several parts of the city remained flooded, while waterlogging was caused in many other parts as well.
