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Talks only way forward, says Omar
President offers prayers at Vaishno Devi shrine
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J-K Cong leaders want veterans to contest polls, screening begins
Congress holds meeting at Bishnah
First BJP candidates’ list likely before Sept 8
Talks with striking employees fail
Fencing meet gets underway at Jammu varsity
Student leadership discussed at JK Public School
tosa maidan controversy
Major, 2 soldiers killed in Kupwara accident
Hideout busted, arms seized in Kishtwar
Pakistan tries to push in ultras via underground tunnel, say Army
Rendered bed-ridden by Pakistan Rangers, man wants to die
Folk troupes to spread AIDS awareness in rural areas
Rain brings chill to Valley
Flyover construction leads to traffic jam
Stress laid on spreading geospatial technology
Academy releases Pahari publications
185 students participate in INTACH quiz
SKIMS to hold haematology meet
Teachers’ body for local as KU VC
NC blames PDP for 2010 unrest
Traders allege harassment during tax collection
KV teacher selected for award
Wani meets accident victim
Man killed by speeding bus in Samba
Girl killed in road mishap
Staff crunch ails Doda college
Flooding hits road traffic
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Talks only way forward, says Omar
Jammu, September 2 Following a series of flag meetings, including a sector commander level interaction, between BSF and Rangers on August 29 in the Suchetgarh area, the situation is relatively calm on the border now. The Chief Minister’s visit comes close on the heels of visits by BJP president Amit Shah on August 25 and by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on August 28. Omar offered condolences to a grief-stricken family in Jeora Farm village, where a man and his minor son were killed and four other members of the same family were injured in Pakistani shelling on August 23. “Talks are the only way forward to resolve issues because border skirmishes have always made lives of the border populace miserable and difficult,” said Omar. Inhabitants of borders have to bear the brunt of the firing and shelling and their lives and properties are endangered by such incidents, he added. “Peace and tranquillity on borders is equally important for both neighbours and Pakistan should understand this need and help in creating calm on the borders,” the Chief Minister said. “We do not subscribe to war but are in favour of resolving the issues through talks and in a peaceful manner,” he said. Omar visited forward areas like Joia, Trewa, Sai Kalan, Jora, Jabowal and Changian in Jammu district which were affected by shelling. While interacting with affected families in the RS Pura and Bishnah areas, he announced three months of free ration for those who had to leave their homes to save their lives and whose agricultural activities came to an abrupt halt. “We are with you in this hour of need,” he said while adding that the state government was fully geared up to provide them help. Omar said the issues of giving benefit of the Sadr-e-Riyasat Ordinance (SRO) 43 to the shelling-hit border people and compensation for acquisition of their land would be discussed in the Cabinet. Under the SRO-43, the government gives benefits like cash compensation and government jobs to the next of kin of civilians killed in certain circumstances. “The loss of precious lives in border firing cannot be compensated yet we want the bereaved families to get the benefit of the SRO 43 and we will take all necessary measures in this regard,” he said. Though Omar said that he had given standing instructions to the agencies concerned to provide every possible help to the border populace during Pakistani shelling, The Tribune team that had extensively toured forward areas during the shelling came across a number of villagers complaining about inadequate arrangements, especially unavailability of ambulances in villages on the Zero Line. To recount one such case, Saudagar Mal of Flora village had to take his critically injured brother Roshan Lal on his motorbike amid flying mortars at night to the nearest hospital 6 km away in RS Pura town. Omar was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and legislator Devender Singh Rana. Border villages get political attention
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President offers prayers at Vaishno Devi shrine
Katra, September 2 Earlier, the President, accompanied by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra, who is chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, arrived at the Panchhi helipad on the new track, where he was received by Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, chief executive officer of the shrine board. The President inaugurated the helipad, which had recently been constructed by the shrine board to add to existing facilities, particularly to meet any emergency at or near the shrine. On reaching Bhawan, the President inaugurated Shridhar elevator in the presence of the Governor. The elevator, connecting the track with Shridhar Bhawan, had been installed by the shrine board with a view to facilitate visit to Shridhar Bhawan, Kalika Bhawan, SDM office and reception for the elderly, the physically challenged, women and others who had difficulty in walking up stairs. Later, the Governor briefed the President about continuing initiatives being taken by the shrine board for upgrade and expansion of infrastructure for facilitating the progressively increasing number of pilgrims to the holy cave. He said accommodation for pilgrims at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu had been augmented and water and power supply was being augmented to meet requirements of pilgrims. He added that healthcare for pilgrims had been strengthened on the trek and at Bhawan. He briefed the President about the upcoming Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence as a multi-speciality hospital at Kakryal, near Katra. The Governor stated that under his direction, focus on environment preservation continued to be accorded high priority and plantation in Trikuta hills had been undertaken on a large scale in furtherance of this objective. During the last five years, more than eight lakh saplings of indigenous species had been planted in the Trikuta hills, he said. The Governor briefed the President about functioning of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University at Kakryal, which had been established by the shrine board. He said efforts were underway to develop it as a major centre of excellence in teaching and research in the coming years. Every year, on an average, more than 10 million devotees from different parts of the country paid obeisance at the shrine. Later, the President was seen off at the airport by Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Public
Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma, Minister of State for
Home Sajjad Kitchloo, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Director General of Police K Rajendra and Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu. |
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J-K Cong leaders want veterans to contest polls, screening begins
New Delhi, September 2 The Congress Screening Committee for J&K, headed by general secretary Ajay Makan and comprising All India Congress Committee secretary Sumanta Sarkar, met this evening to shortlist candidates and form panels of probables for each of the Assembly segments in the three regions of the state. The Tribune has learnt that Ajay Makan will take into consideration, for the purpose of screening, the input provided by top state leaders whom he had called to hold one-on-one discussions on the credentials of the candidates. In the series of meetings which started day before, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and senior minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed also met Makan and gave their inputs. It is reliably learnt that most of the senior leaders have called for fielding state Congress veterans in the upcoming elections to galvanise ranks and send a message of the party’s seriousness in the elections. Among the veterans, some J&K leaders want fielded are former Chief Minister and Bhaderwah MLA Ghulam Nabi Azad, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Congress Saifuddin Soz, Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh and Congress Working Committee member ML Fotedar. Though Fotedar, Congress sources said, was too old to be fielded, they admitted that some party leaders who are also members of the Pradesh Election Committee for J&K had recommended the names of Azad, Soz. They said some leaders wanted Karan Singh to be considered as a probable from the areas they represented. “There is no harm in asking veterans to contest. It’s a strategy the Congress president adopted in the Lok Sabha elections. In many seats such as Amritsar, the strategy paid off. We should replicate the same in J&K,” said a state leader, backing the fielding of seniors. Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Kokernag MLA and former president of the Congress in J&K, said the party had fair chances of good results in the state and would certainly improve its tally from the current 17 seats. “We are well-placed. The polarisation which the BJP is trying will not work. Its effect is diminishing. This election is not the Lok Sabha election,” Sayeed said. Asked what the party’s biggest challenge ahead of the Assembly elections was, Sayeed said, “The test would be projection of a united face. That is the only way to achieve our goal and we have communicated this to central leaders.” Sayeed said the central leadership was keen on seeking inputs which represented ground realities and were not coloured. “That was the purpose behind Ajay Makan’s interactions with individual leaders from the state,” he said. |
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Cong stalwart Mangat Ram revolts
Jammu, September 2 The father-son duo addressed a press conference in Kathua on Tuesday afternoon and minced no words in attacking the Congress leadership for ignoring leaders and workers who had “given their lives to the party”. A former Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram is senior vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee. “I am feeling suffocated in the party due to humiliation meted out to me by the leadership,” he said. “I have been ignored by the present leadership due to my age despite my association with the party for more than five decades,” he said. He dropped hints of parting ways with the Congress. “The attitude of the incumbent leadership has left me with no option but to support my son as PDP candidate from Kathua,” the octogenarian said. He did not rule out taking extreme steps in the days to come to further embarrass the Congress. Mangat Ram’s revolt was being considered as a big jolt to the “marginalised” party in the Jammu region in general and Kathua district in particular. Outspoken Congress leader Choudhary Lal Singh, two-time Lok Sabha member from Udhampur-Doda, joined the BJP on August 25. |
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Congress holds meeting at Bishnah
Jammu, September 2 Speaking on the occasion, former minister and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak urged upon the government to direct all the departments concerned to take immediate steps to mitigate the problems being faced by the people of the area. He assured the public that he will take up all the issues with the departments concerned at the earliest. He said the Bishnah constituency has been neglected for the last so many years and there is no proper and planned development in the constituency. |
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First BJP candidates’ list likely before Sept 8
Jammu, September 2 Commencing on September 8, the 15-day “pitr paksh” period is considered inauspicious by Hindus. The party has decided to release the first list before September 8. BJP sources said the election committee would hold a meeting on September 6 to finalise names of candidates for some seats. “Members of the election committee will meet under the leadership of Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna, in charge of state BJP affairs, to finalise some candidates,” a senior BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity. He said the first list of candidates was likely to be released after the meeting. The sources said the party had already decided the seats which would be allocated to senior
leaders. |
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PHE workers extend strike for 72 hours, residents cry for water
Jammu, September 2 The residents of the Jammu province, who had already been facing water crunch for the last two days, have to face the water scarcity for another three days, as the talks between PHE workers and the Chief Engineer have failed and the association has decided to extend its pen-down strike for another 72 hours. All the workers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, under the banner of the PHE Workers Welfare Association, went on a pen-down strike from Sunday evening, which led to the stopping of water supply in the Jammu province. Residents are left with no water and the extension of the strike may make the situation worst for them. Employees were demanding the regularisation of services of all daily rated workers (DRWs) and release of the pending salaries of employees. Subash Verma, general secretary, PHE Workers Welfare Association, said, “No one from the government has approached us till now, so we have decided to extend our strike for another 72 hours.” “The water supply to the entire Jammu province will remain suspended for another three days, and further course of action will be decided thereafter,” he added. “Only the state government is responsible for the sufferings of the people. Daily wagers have been serving the residents for many years on a poor stipend, now this is the time for the residents to support us,” Verma said. Meanwhile, the residents of Jammu were seen wandering here and there for water, keeping buckets and gallons in the cars. People were searching for motor pumps and hand pumps on the outskirts of the city. “There are hundreds of ways to protest against the government. They should not stop the water supply in the city. Jammu is totally dependent on the PHE for water supply,” said Sahil Sharma, a resident. “I have brought two gallons of water from a hand pump at Miran Sahib, as not even drinking water was available at home,” he added. Ritu Gupta, a housewife said, “My children went to school without taking bath as there is no water in the taps. If they are extending the strike, where will we go?” “The government should take immediate steps to restore water supply in the city,” she added. |
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Talks with striking employees fail
Jammu, September 2 A 90-minute meeting between the PHE Workers Welfare Association and Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary, PHE and Irrigation, failed as the workers refused to call
of their strike even after the assurances of the administration. Subash Verma, general secretary, PHE Workers Welfare Association, said, “The administration is neither serious about
the sufferings of the common people, nor about the demands of the PHE workers.” “They have also threatened us with using police force against us, but we have extended our strike call for 72 hours. There will be no water supply in the Jammu province till Friday,” he added. On the other hand, the administration assured people that it will do its best to provide water supply to them. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary, PHE and Irrigation, said, “We told them that lists of the daily wagers have been sent to the Finance Department and we are already in the processes of regularising their services.” “We also requested them to call off their strike, as the situation may become worst if residents do not get water supply for the next three days, but they seem to be politically influenced, as they have refused to call off the strike,” he added. As many as 23,711 employees have been engaged by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation Department since 1994 under different schemes in Jammu and Kashmir. About 16,000 workers from the Jammu province and 7,000 from Kashmir were engaged in the department in the last 20 years. Kotwal said that the department needs Rs 7.5 crore for one-month
salary of the employees (More than Rs 80 crore annually). “We are committed to provide water supply to the public and if they do not call off their strike by tomorrow, we will take help of the police to restore water supply in the city,” Kotwal said. “I have directed all the junior engineers to restore water supply in their respective areas with the help of former comparators, sarpanches and locals,” he added. |
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CM lays foundation stone of multi-tier parking at bus stand
Jammu, September 2 The STP is designed to cater to the needs of the projected population of the year 2036 in the area. The project comprises of main trunk sewer of 26.53 kim, lateral sewers of 65.50 km. Omar said the long-pending demand of the people of the area regarding the treatment of sewerage has been fulfilled by the completion of the STP. He said the sewerage system in Jammu has been divided into four zones to cater to the needs of the residents and manage the disposal of sewerage in a scientific manner. The multi-tier parking, involving an expenditure of Rs 131 crore, will be developed over an area of 37.50 kanals, out of the 55.37 kanals available at the General Bus Stand. The built-up area will be 60,365 sq m and is expected to be completed in two years. The facilities proposed include bus terminal building on the ground floor for 75 buses, car parking on three floors for 1,300 vehicles, plus additional provision for 335 vehicles. There will be two floors of commercial area comprising of 13125 sq m and landscape plaza in 5,875 sq. m. Omar Abdullah said the government was actively looking for a major multi-tier car parking complex in the heart of Jammu city to decongest the area and help smooth plying of vehicles. He said the proposed project at the General Bus Stand will prove highly beneficial in this regard. The Chief Minister said the flyover at Bikram Chowk, construction of the fourth bridge on the Tawi and other road and upgradation schemes launched in Jammu will yield productive results in relation to management of traffic flow and decongestion of roads. Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, legislators Devender Singh Rana and Ashok Khajuria were present on the occasion. |
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Fencing meet gets underway at Jammu varsity
Jammu, September 2 Prof Dhian S Bhau, Director, Sports and Physical Education, JU, inaugurated the tournament in the presence of physical directors of different affiliated colleges. In the epee team event, Government Degree College (GDC), Reasi, defeated Government MAM College by 15-11 points. In the epee individual (women), Monika Sharma of the PG Department of JU beat Rupali Sharma of the Model Institute of Education and Technology (MIET) by 10-9 points. In the sabre team (men) event, Government MAM College trounced GGM Science College by 15-4 points to fetch a gold medal. The matches were officiated by Chotu Lal, Ajit Singh, Rachna Jamwal, Rashid Ahmed and Ujjwal Gupta (international fencers). Meanwhile, the Inter-Collegiate Handball Tournament in both men and women sections also commenced today, wherein nine teams are participating in the men’s category and eight in the women’s category. |
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Student leadership discussed at JK Public School
Jammu, September 2 The day began with an inspection of the school, which was followed by an interactive session with students of the senior wing of the school. Sabestian in his opening address lauded the infrastructure of the school and the facilities available. He told the students to make constructive use of the available facilities. An interactive session was conducted by MC Sabestian for senior students of the school on the topic “Student leadership and training (Indian education v/s international education)”. SK Singh, Principal of JK Public School, advised the students to stop
cramming and enhance knowledge. The second session for teachers began with a |
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Pulwama residents against relocation of firing range
Farooz Ahmad Bhat
Pulwama, September 2 The Pulwama Political Forum (PPF), an amalgam of various socio-political parties of the district, said shifting the Tosa Maidan firing range to Sangerwani Anderwali would be opposed by all people of the district. “We urge the government to review the decision, otherwise the PPF will be compelled to take extreme steps to prevent it from turning Anderwali into a death well,” Mir Manzoor, president of the forum, said. Ghulam Mohuddin Mir, National Conference candidate for the Rajpora Assembly Constituency, said it was only a rumour to malign the Omar-led National Conference government. He supported the move taken by the residents of the district. Earlier, PDP Legislator Syed Bashir and the party’s candidate for the forthcoming elections and renowned economist Haseeb Drabu had also objected to the move. Sangerwani Anderwali falls in the Romeshi forest range of the Shopian forest division in the neighbourhood of Yousmarg tourist spot at a distance of 35 km from the district headquarters, Pulwama. The firing range is said to be set up at a distance of 2 km from the village that has a population of around 800 and houses three schools and three integrated child development scheme centres. The residents said they had seen heavy military movement in the area for the last few days, engaged in a survey of the area. “Such a thing will bring disaster to us. It will engulf all the grazing land of Dramankhud, Barendub, Choor-Khal and Sangam that feed our cattle and house huts of Gujjars and Bakerwals of Sangerwani, Bagandar, Sonebanjre, Chowtal and Nagbal villages,” Yar Mohammad, halqa sarpanch, Sangerwani, said. Sajad Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, said he had not got any proposal from any agency, but had received complaints from the locals. “I was going to visit the area today, but due to security reasons I had to cancel the visit,” he said.
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Major, 2 soldiers killed in Kupwara accident
Kupwara, September 2 The personnel were from the 41 Rashtriya Rifles, the Army’s counter insurgency unit. They were identified as
Major Inderjeet Singh, Naik Pusnwandar Kumar and Sepoy R Rangeel, the driver. A defence official said the personnel were part of a combing operation team and were returning from the Gurdogi forest area, where the Army had launched a massive search operation following intelligence
reports about the movement of militants. The vehicle was en route to the Kalaroos base camp when the accident took place near Chak Mode around 7 am. The Army truck skidded off the road near Chak Mode and fell into a deep gorge, resulting in injuries to 10 personnel. The injured were rushed to the Army Hospital in Drugmulla, where three of them succumbed to their injuries. The postmortem was conducted at the
sub-district hospital in Kalaroos. The police said a few of the injured were from the Army’s 160 Territorial Army battalion. Some of the injured soldiers were identified as Lance Naik Ashutosh Singh and Sepoys Bangaru,
Jewler Guwardon and Shabir Ahmad. |
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Hideout busted, arms seized in Kishtwar
Jammu, September 2 Based on information about the presence of a hideout, the Rashtriya Rifles Battalion at Bhandarkut and the Kishtwar police launched a joint search operation in the general area Navpachchi and recovered a cache of warlike stores today, said a defence spokesperson. The cache comprised of one sniper rifle, bolt-action rifle with magazine, one telescopic sight, 17 rounds of assorted ammunition, two Chinese grenades and two radio sets, he added. The arms and ammunition were handed over to the Navpachchi police station and an FIR registered. |
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Pakistan tries to push in ultras via underground tunnel, say Army
Jammu, September 2 The development, second since July 2012 in the Jammu region, has exposed the game plan of Pakistan to try and push militants into the state and flare-up insurgency. “After failing to infiltrate terrorists across the Line of Control in Jammu division, there was an attempt to construct a tunnel across the LoC in recent times,” said a defence spokesperson. However, the alert Army troops deployed along the LoC in Pallanwala thwarted the nefarious designs of the militants and prevented terrorist incidents by discovering the tunnel, he added. The spokesperson said the tunnel, discovered on August 22, was 130 to 150 m inside the Indian territory and originated from Pakistan. “The alert area domination patrol of the Army noticed a depression in the ground and after investigating the same with ground-penetrating radar and other equipment, discovered that the tunnel was approximately 20 feet below ground level and four-feet-high,” he said. In 2012, Pakistan had been digging a tunnel from the Shakkargarh area on its side, which had entered 540 m into this side. It caved in due to rains in Chachwal village of Samba district. On August 22 this year, the Army via a defence spokesperson had said they had found the tunnel approximately 50 m on the Indian side. “The tunnel was approximately two and a half feet wide and three and a half feet high and was leading towards Pakistan,” the spokesperson had said. The tunnel was found in the Chakla area near Munawar Tawi of the Pallanwala sector. |
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Rendered bed-ridden by Pakistan Rangers, man wants to die
Chandu Chak (RS Pura), September 2 The poor fellow was hit by a Pak bullet while he was giving a bath to his cattle at his house in 1998, recalled Ujagar Singh, numberdar of Chandu Chak village. “He was hit in his waist. Though he was given Rs 50,000 compensation by the administration at that time, his lower limbs were paralysed forever,” said the numberdar. He, however, turned down our request to meet Santokh Singh, saying that he was shifted by his brother to another village in view of heavy shelling from across the border. “We cannot take you to his home because he has been shifted by his brother to another village in view of intense Pak shelling, but he keeps on pleading for euthanasia,” said Ujagar Singh. An elderly person from the village said since Santokh had no children he was being looked after by his brother. “He has no children and since 1998 his brother looks after him. The poor fellow can’t move around. His brother carries him on his back for even attending nature’s call,” said Surjeet Singh. “He has lost all hope and keeps pleading that he be administered an injection to end his life,” Surjeet added. During hostilities between India and Pakistan, villagers in forward areas have to bear the brunt of Pak firing and shelling, said Darshan Lal, adding that their village was surrounded by Pak posts on two sides. In such a grim situation the administration has not provided any ambulance for the village, we are caught between the devil and the deep sea, he said. “It is the common man, who bears the brunt of firing. How many physically challenged people this government wants to have in border villages?”
asked Babu Singh, another villager. |
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Folk troupes to spread AIDS awareness in rural areas
Jammu, September 2 Officials are hiring folk troupes to disseminate information about HIV and preventive methods through skits, songs and street plays in rural and far-flung areas of the state. Each event will be of two hours duration, comprising folk songs on AIDS awareness, followed by lecture-cum-interaction with a doctor or a counsellor attached with the group. The troupe will be paid Rs 4,000 per performance for each programme at the village, block and tehsil levels. Officials said the step had been taken after health officials identified several cases in far-flung areas from where people moved outside the state to work as labourers or
were engaged in transport business. “Rural masses are still unaware of the disease and the best way to spread our message is cultural troupes, which are well known in villages. It will allow us to identify individual cases of HIV as an expert will be a part of the group,” said Dr Mohan Singh, JKAPCS project director. Jammu and Kashmir has 3,212 registered cases of HIV with 1,406 living on anti retroviral treatment, which is meant to suppress the virus and stop the progression of the disease for some time. As many as 488 persons have died since 1990, when the first case of the disease was detected in the state. “Although we have been listed among the top states in launching a successful campaign against AIDS, it has remained concentrated in urban areas, while rural areas have received less attention,” said an official. |
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Rain brings chill to Valley
Srinagar, September 2 As per the Met Department forecast, the Valley is expected to receive moderate to light rainfall in the next 24 hours with thundershowers at a few places. As per the Met Department forecast, the temperature in the Valley over the next 24 hours will be 24°C (day temperature) and 13°C (night temperature). With temperatures dipping several notches below the normal, people have taken out their woolens earlier than expected. Due to rainfall since morning, some major roads in and around the city remained waterlogged causing chaos and traffic jams. Schoolchildren had troubled time while commuting and even pedestrians lamented the poor drainage and bad roads of Srinagar. “Within a few hours of rainfall, the entire city seems to have been inundated. The condition of Amira Kadal and Budshah Kadal pavements is so bad that it has become all the more risky to walk on these. Furthermore, the bridges are occupied by vendors, who have not even rendered any space for people to walk on,” Abdul Gaffar, a local, said. Despite claims by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation(SMC) and the Roads and Buildings Department of improved infrastructure, residents said some major roads and bridges in city had not seen repair work for the last many years. “If funds are being correctly utilised in development works as claimed by the authorities, why are the roads in such a bad shape. This problem always crops up during rainfall and the government has miserably failed to address the issue,” Tanveer Beigh, a Lal Chowk-based shopkeeper, said. |
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MC for upgrade of community centres in congested areas
Srinagar, September 2 The directions were issued by Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner GN Qasba after he took stock of the ongoing works of different community centres being set up in the city for the convenience of public to organise social functions. Qasba inspected the community halls being set up at Elahi Bagh, General Bagh and the Rajouri Kadal areas. “These community halls will ease up tension among the community living in congested areas. People from all the strata of society can use the facility for functions and parties. We have ensured proper spacing in these facilities, especially for weddings,” he said. He also urged the locals to cooperate and keep these centres clean and said the same would also have toilet and washroom facilities. The commissioner passed directions for setting up proper rainproof structures for cooking and catering. He said a scientific slaughter house within the community hall would be set up at Elahi Bagh. An official of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation said the General Bagh community hall was coming up at the cost of Rs 1.25 crore while the hall at Rajouri Kadal would come up at the cost Rs 1.85 crore. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation official said besides taking stock of other community halls in the city, Qasba also visited an area at the Jamia Masjid from where frequent complaints had been received about an alleged illegal construction. “The commissioner has set up a committee to look into the matter and instituted an inquiry,” the official added. |
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Flyover construction leads to traffic jam
Srinagar, September 2 Though officials have been saying since the construction of the flyover from Rambagh to Natipora was started that they have taken all steps for the smooth movement of vehicles, the regular traffic congestion from the roads of Jawahar Nagar and Rambagh has turned to be a nightmare for the locals. The officials of the Planning and Development Department said the government had formulated a traffic management plan for proper movement of traffic. “Bed crossing road in flood spill channel has been constructed on both sides of bund near Rambagh,” the officials said. The locals said during rain, the bed crossing road was useless due the rise in the water level in the Jhelum. “On plying from Jehangir Chowk to Rambagh, traffic mess worsens near the Jawahar Nagar crossing up to the Rambagh bund. The vehicular movement is so slow that it takes half an hour from Jawahar Nagar to Rambagh, which otherwise is a five-minute journey,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident. Though the officials said they had taken measures to upgrade the roads from Alocha Bagh and bund side, the locals claimed that the rush of vehicles on roads was huge and the roads were narrow to cope up with the pressure. “The administration should have taken into consideration the number of vehicles plying on the Airport road and other localities adjoining Rambagh and Baghat. No maintenance of roads will improve the condition. They should have widened the roads first,” said Arif Ahmad, a resident of Peer Bagh. The officials of the Planning Department said the traffic management plan was being taken in a phased manner to ensure minimum inconvenience to the public. |
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Stress laid on spreading geospatial technology
Srinagar, September 2 On the inaugural day of the programme, renowned geographers and geospatial technologists while interacting with the participants stressed upon the need to disseminate knowledge, findings, data and information among various stakeholders for capacity-building in geospatial education and technologies so that benefits of this technology might trickle down at the grass-roots level. YVN Krishna Murthy, Director, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Department of Space, who was chief guest on the occasion, while talking about the advantages of geospatial technology delved upon various developments like e-learning, which had been introduced recently at the national level to effectively disseminate knowledge in the field of geospatial education. He emphasised on the need of popularising this technology so that the advancements in space technology should benefit the common masses also. Presiding over the inaugural session, Vice Chancellor, KU, Prof AM Shah, stressed upon inculcating scholarly values for deriving benefits from developments in science and technology. He emphasised on creating conducive and congenial environment in different departments of the university system to synergize energies and potentials in the right direction for the overall betterment of society. SM Rashid, ex-Pro-Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, and a renowned geographer, who was guest of honour on the occasion, highlighted the importance of organising such courses and impressed upon the participants to derive maximum benefits from this training programme so that they could apply these technologies in their respective fields of interest. |
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Academy releases Pahari publications
Srinagar, September 2 Held in the Seminar Hall of the Academy Complex here at Lal Mandi, eight latest academy publications in the Pahari language were released by Kafeel-ur Rehman, vice-chairman, J&K Pahari Advisory Board, who was the chief guest, while Mushrraf Massodi was the guest of honour on the occasion. Welcoming the guests, Haroon Rashid, secretary of the academy, apprised the audience about various initiatives being taken by the academy for the development of various languages of the state. He reiterated the resolve that the academy was committed to promote writers living in far-off areas of the state. Maqbool Sahil, journalist and writer, read a comprehensive review paper on the latest Pahari publications released on the occasion. Mufti Shafeeq-ur Rehman, selection grade editor, Arabic, was felicitated on the occasion for his translation of the Koran in the Pahari language. A Pahari music programme was also presented by Fayaz Khan and his associates on the occasion. Mirza Farooq Anwar, chief editor, Pahari, presented the formal vote of thanks, while Muhammad Ayyub Mir, assistant editor, Pahari, conducted the proceedings. A large number of writers, artists and poets attended the function. |
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185 students participate in INTACH quiz
Jammu, September 2 Spanning over 100 cities from Leh to Mysore and from Daman to Darjeeling, INTACH quiz is being conducting for schoolchildren aiming at celebrating country’s legacy. The quiz series marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the organisation. Over 185 students from 20 schools of Jammu city participated in the first round of the quiz which will become an annual series of events. The quiz was conducted by Quizmaster Mukund Marodia. He conducted the quiz competition with a great finesse and kept the audience involved in the competition besides the participating students. The winner of the Jammu city round moved to the zonal finals which were held at the same venue immediately after the city round. The zonal final featured various rounds, including progressive clues and visual stills, for the students. |
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SKIMS to hold haematology meet
Srinagar, September 2 Organising secretary of the conference Aleem Jan said the inaugural function, which would be presided over by Governor NN Vohra, would be held on September 5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). “Experts and guests from across the country and abroad will deliver lectures on various subjects of particular interest to medical students, internists, paediatricians, pathologists and transfusion physicians at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences auditorium on September 6,” the organising secretary said. Showkat A Zargar, Director, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, appreciated the organisers. The Director of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences said such events were of great significance to both faculty and students who get benefitted by interactive sessions with experts of international repute in the related field. |
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Teachers’ body for local as KU VC
Srinagar, September 2 There are three candidates in the fray for the coveted post which includes two non-locals, including Javeed Naeem from the National Immunology Institute, Chandigarh, and SWA Naqvi from the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa. The third candidate is AM Shah, acting Vice Chancellor, KU. |
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NC blames PDP for 2010 unrest
Srinagar, September 2 Senior NC leaders, who addressed several meetings of the party workers in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts, also blamed the PDP of having a “tactical partnership” with the BJP to “divide the people of the state for their own partisan interests”. “What happened in 2010 was the second phase of the PDP’s 2008 Amarnath plan where Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti made PDP’s Forest Minister sign documents of a land in Baltal to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The PDP wasn’t satisfied with the bloodshed and destruction that the state had witnessed due to its acts in 2008 and hence put into effect the second phase of its plan in 2010,” said NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar. The two parties have intensified accusations against each other ahead of the Assembly elections. Sagar said it had become “more evident than ever” that the PDP had the support of the BJP in 2008 and 2010 as the two parties played with “the blood of our young men for their selfish interests”.
— TNS |
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Traders allege harassment during tax collection
Srinagar, September 2 Stating that 31,500 traders had been fined to the tune of 31 crore “forcefully”, he said: “If such a huge amount is recovered as penalty from traders what profit they are left with.” He alleged that businessmen were also being harassed “on pretext of physical verification and checking for several days and a huge amount of money is grabbed from them on pretext of penalty”.
— TNS
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KV teacher selected for award
Jammu, September 2 President Pranab Mukherji would present the award to her at a function to be held on Teacher’s Day on September 5 at New Delhi. The award carries a Certificate of Merit, a cash award of Rs 25,000 and a silver medal. |
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Wani meets accident victim
Jammu, September 2 Out of the four injured, one Mashook Hussain, resident of Aul in Doda constituency, who was having a head injury, was shifted to SKIIIMS. Majid Wani met attendents of Mashook Hussain and assured them that doctors are taking every possible measure to save his live. The minister had also detailed interactions with the Director, SKIIMS, and doctors giving medical treatment to Mashook Hussain and other injured persons. — TNS |
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Man killed by speeding bus in Samba
Samba, September 2 The incident took place near the new bus stand at 9 am when Kartar Chand, who was waiting for a bus, was crushed to death by a Punjab Roadways bus on the Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba. An eyewitness said Kartar was hit by a speeding bus. He said most kids living in Kehli Mandi and nearby localities wait for their school buses where the accident took place. “Had the accident happened 5 to 10 minutes before, the scene would have been horrific as over a dozen schoolchildren were standing there,” the eyewitness said. The police have handed over the body to the family and registered a case against the bus driver. |
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Girl killed in road mishap
Batote, September 2 The police said Aarti (22), her sister Manisha, brother Rajkumar, mother Sunita Pandita and father Mahesh Krishen Pandita, residents of Chinnor Bantalab in Jammu, were seriously injured in the mishap. Aarti succumbed to her injuries while being taken to Sub-district Hospital in Banihal. Others were referred to the SKIMS in Srinagar. The family were on their way to Srinagar in an Alto car when the accident took place.
— OC |
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Staff crunch ails Doda college
Doda, September 2 “The annual day function of 2007 was memorable as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad appreciated efforts of organisers and faculty. Since then we have been unable to hold the function,” Prof Hashmi said. “We have only eight permanent faculty members when the minimum requirement is 30. There are only three Class IV employees when we need at least 40,” he added. “It is difficult to maintain professionalism and standards. We are still running the institution,” he said. “In our state we have nearly 1,700 vacant posts of assistant professor. The institutions mostly depend on contractual faculty who have little work experience,” he said further. “We have 20 to 25 contractual faculty members and 18 casual Class IV employees, but they do not have experience to organise a big event,” he added. |
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Flooding hits road traffic
Anantnag, September 2 In Anantnag district, commuters were stuck near Bijbehara, Sangam, Khannabal and Qazigund areas. The worst jams were witnessed in the Bijbehara and Pampore areas. Hundreds of commuters remained stuck at these places.
— OC |
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