Weird poll symbols prove beneficial for contestants

Weird poll symbols prove beneficial for contestants
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Khour, May 22
Politics is a weird game. May be that’s why the election symbols allotted to the candidates in the fray for the posts of sarpanch and panch are also weird. But, one thing is sure that the election symbols like road-roller, cylinder, jug, ring and fan are proving beneficial for candidates.

Though, a large number of contestants have been appealing to the election authorities to change their symbols, yet these kind of symbols are not only making them popular among the public, but these are easy for the voters, too, to keep it in mind.

In Khour block at Nrayana panchayat constituency, where one Raju Pahalwan got the election symbol of cylinder was seen upset with this symbol. “Wherever I go for campaigning, people not only ask me to arrange cylinder for them but they have also started calling me a cylinder,” Pahalwan said.

Similarly, in Taroti-Danwal panchayat constituency, where Master Hakikat Ram got the election symbol of ring said, “My election symbol is a ring, which is becoming costly day by day, as the price of gold is touching a new high. So, wherever I go people demand cheaper rings.”

Many others like him, who got the symbols like torch, fan and jug have echoed similar views, as these commodities are hardly available in this hot summer, especially when the temperature is touching almost 43 degree Celsius.

Rabinder Singh Binder from Nihapur Simbal-Lower panchayat, who is a contractor by profession, got road-roller as his election symbol, which proved beneficial for him to secure a thumping win.

77.14% polling in phase X: In Dy CM’s area, people vote for roads, schools

77.14% polling in phase X
In Dy CM’s area, people vote for roads, schools
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Naryana (Khour), May 21
Despite it being the home constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, people in the Khour block today voted for development, schools, roads, and other services, as the area still lacks basic infrastructure.

“Three years on since Tara Chand became the Deputy Chief Minister, there is a lot of development work to be done yet. Our basic needs like education, roads and a mobile phone network only exist on papers,” said Hari Chand, a local resident, who came to cast his vote at Primary School, Nai Basti.

He added that, “The people of this area were overjoyed when Tara Chand became Deputy Chief Minister in the present government, as he had assured us of major development in the area. But the pace of development work is very slow and no one is here to keep a check on the officials engaged for the process”.

Hari Chand was not alone to have cast his vote for development in his area. All voters, both aged and young, were seen enthusiastic about exercising their right to vote. “Our area faces flash floods during every rainy season, but no check dam or any other arrangement has been made here. Now, with the panchayat elections, we are sure that our representatives will raise our issues and get our genuine demands fulfilled,” said Jeet Ram, another voter.

He said only the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was connecting the villages with roads, otherwise, the present state government had failed on all fronts. “See the poor condition of our villages, be it streets or roads. The Deputy Chief Minister is very busy and has forgotten the promises he made during the Assembly elections,” added Jeet Ram.

The locals alleged that Tara Chand, a native of Chak Malal village, had constituted a Municipal Committee for his own village but ignored other villages. “There is no mobile phone network in the area and secondary schools are still a big issue,” said the voters.

Crop fire incidents on the rise

Crop fire incidents on the rise
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 20
As incidents of fire in agricultural fields have been increasing with the rise in temperature, the Agriculture Department has come up with an advisory for the farmers.

Though no concrete solution to this problem has been devised so far, the department claims that their advisory would definitely help check the problem to some extent.

"Keeping the fire incidents in mind, we have some suggestions for the farmers which will definitely reduce the chances of spark," said Ajay Khajuria, director, agriculture.

He added, "A small spark can reduce the ripe and mature crop to ashes. We have been spreading awareness among the farmers by giving them knowledge in fields and are also planning to publish advertisements in newspapers".

Khajuria said they had suggested some dos and don't for this purpose.

Speaking further about these suggestions, he said, "It has been learnt from the past incidents that farmers stack their crop under electricity wires, which is the major reason of fire. So, they should avoid this practice to save their crop".

"The farmers should not make heaps more than 6 m in height and keep a distance of minimum 20 ft between two heaps."

During the harvesting time, the farmers should store water in the fields so that in case of fire, they can have something in their hand to douse the flames, he added.

Besides, in case of fire, the farmers should immediately call 101 for calling fire emergency.

He further maintained that some incidents of fire also happened due to the burning of the crop residue in the fields. "So, the farmers should shun this practice as it is very harmful for their fields," said Khajuria.

Agriculture Dept issues advisory

Dos

n Keep sufficient gap between two stacks, at least 20 ft

n Keep night vigil

n Store adequate water in fields to douse the flames

n Immediatly call "101' or '100', in case of an emergency

n Keep green branches available in fields to douse the flames

Don’ts

n Smoke near mature crops in the fields

n Operate any chullah near stacks or dry grass

n Carry any inflammable material in fields

n Stack under electricity wires

n Prepare stacks/heaps more than 6 m in height and 20,000 kg of weight

Power cuts force Jammuites to spend sleepless nights
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 20
Though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah holds the power portfolio, residents of the Jammu region are a harried lot these days, as they are deprived of regular power supply.

Due the government’s failure to supply adequate power to the consumers, normal life here has been thrown out of gear.

With a drastic increase in temperature, the people in the region are having a hellish time, as unscheduled power cuts and regular fluctuations in power supply have become a routine affair.

The fluctuations have damaged electric appliances of a large number of people here. Even a house caught fire in the Panjtirthi area here last night due to a sudden power fluctuation.

Sources in the Power Development Department (PDD) said the power crisis was due to power pilferage, kundi connections, which was going on unabated in the region.

The kundi menace has worsened the situation this year and the people were unable to sleep during the nights. A huge gap in the demand and supply of power has forced a few industrialists to stop their units here as well.

Not only villages or un-metered areas, but also cities, including the winter capital of the state, are reeling under the power crisis. However, a perusal of government records revealed that the money spent for reforms in the power sector in the past few years had failed to bring results.

Sources revealed that on an average 20-25 transformers were getting damaged in the region due to overloading. The residents here had been protesting against the PDD officials for their apathetic attitude. Even villagers had submitted memorandums to the minister concerned to look into the matter so that the power situation could improve.

Officials concerned said the demand of power had almost doubled and they were working to provide maximum supply to the people. They said the department was trying hard to bring reforms in the electricity transmission and distribution system by creating mass awareness about the proper use of electricity. However, Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan avoided commenting on the issue. “It will be better if you call me later or any other day,” said Khan.

Power theft On an average, the government is losing around Rs 500 crore per annum due to power theft What government did The government has implemented provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Ordinance 2005, which has been promulgated in order to check power theft Under the ordinance, power theft has been made a cognisable offence with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 10,000

With onset of summer, Jammu faces acute water shortage

With onset of summer, Jammu faces acute water shortage
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 19
With the onset of summer, the Jammu region is facing an acute water shortage, as various drinking water supply schemes of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department have failed miserably to meet the requirement of the region.

The water shortage is so severe in some areas that the supply is either very poor or there is no supply at all. The PHE Department is planning to supply water through tankers.

People of the region are everyday protesting against the state government’s failure to supply water to them. Not only the villages of Kandi areas, but also cities, including the winter capital, are facing a severe scarcity of potable water, particularly when the temperature is hovering around 43°C.

There are also reports that with a sharp increase in the mercury, many areas are being supplied piped water after every four days. Faced with such a situation, the residents of the cities and the adjoining areas are dependant on the water mafia, private water tanker operators, who are charging a hefty amount for one tanker of water.

However, Irrigation and PHE Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din said the demand of water had nearly doubled these days and they would come up with some schemes to overcome the scarcity. “Water shortage is all due to power cuts, as all major schemes in the region are based upon water lifting projects, which requires electricity. If the Power Department assures us of adequate power supply, there will be no water shortage and the public will get adequate water supply,” said the minister.

He added that, “I am getting a minute-to-minute report from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions, as water is the basic necessity in summer. We are also planning to supply water through tankers in the areas where water scarcity has reached an alarming stage”.

Taj said he had talked to the Minister of State for Power for help. “The Power Department has assured us of full cooperation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the city residents have started using mineral water to quench their thirst. Rani Sharma, a housewife, said, “We face water shortage every summer, and the successive governments have failed to address the problem. When the government knows that the demand for water increases drastically in summer, why does not it make adequate arrangements before the onset of season?”

Corruption charges against ex-VC being probed: Omar

Corruption charges against ex-VC being probed: Omar
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, March 25
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council, stated here today that the state government was probing the charges of corruption levelled against about 450 officers, both serving and retired, and, including a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu.

Omar said the complaint received against the former Vice-Chancellor was pending with the J&K Accountability Commission. As per the documents submitted in the Upper House, the charges against the former VC are that “he illegally earned commission for granting permission to new colleges; takes commission from firms; he is fond of women and he misappropriated university grants. He appointed eight persons illegally”.

The CM, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the complaint was in the initial stage of the due process. Congress legislator Ravinder Sharma, who is also spokesperson for the state unit of the Congress, raised the issue in the House demanding that the names of gazetted officers against whom cases of corruption were pending in the Vigilance Organisation and other investigating agencies and the status of inquiries initiated against them be made public.

Retest effectiveness of fungicide for yellow rust, govt asked

Retest effectiveness of fungicide for yellow rust, govt asked
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 25
With reports about yellow rust affecting the wheat crop in hill areas of the state, NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra asked Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in the Legislative Council here today about the steps taken by the government to save the crop of farmers in hill areas.

Moving a calling attention motion in the Upper House, Sadhotra said, “As 70 per cent of the standing wheat crop in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts has been destroyed, what steps the government has taken to save the crop of the farmers of hill areas, as yellow rust has hit these areas too”.

He also challenged the effectiveness of the fungicide spray being distributed by the government among the farmers with 50 per cent subsidy.

Sadhotra asked, “The government should conduct a test in the laboratory to judge the effectiveness of this spray on the affected crop, as a number of farmers have complained about the poor results of this fungicide”.

On this, the Agriculture Minister said, “The fungicide (propiconazole) being distributed to the farmers at subsidised rates is already tested and if the members feel to get its effectiveness tested again, we will get it done and submit its report in a short period”.

Mir appreciated the concern shown by Sadhotra for the farming community and said, “The government has been trying its best to save the crop and overcome the disease. If required, we will surely take more steps”.

Mir informed the House that yellow rust had affected the wheat crop on 51,367 hectares in the Jammu region.

“Of this, yellow rust has damaged the wheat crop on 1,367 hectares in hill areas,” said Mir. He added that Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda and Ramban districts were included in the areas affected by the disease.

During the calling attention motion, Sadhotra took Mir to task for a number of times. “During this season, the first case of yellow rust was detected in December last year, but due to the dilly-dallying approach of the officials of the Agriculture Department they took notice of it only in March, thus causing huge losses to the farmers,” said Sadhotra.

Before winding up his speech, Sadhotra demanded that if the government wanted to save the farmers, it should take some long-term steps so that the disease could be controlled in the coming years.

He urged the state government to increase the supply of fungicides and take the help of experts from neighbouring states. The Agriculture Minister accepted his suggestion.

Shortage of Kerosene Oil: NC, Cong legislators join Oppn in grilling minister

Shortage of Kerosene Oil
NC, Cong legislators join Oppn in grilling minister
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 25
When the Budget session resumed in the Legislative Council after six-day vacation here today, legislators from opposition and treasury benches grilled the Minister of State (MoS) for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Shabir Ahmad Khan over the shortage of kerosene oil across the state.

Demanding the setting up of a committee to inspect various areas and find out reasons for the shortage of kerosene oil, a number of legislators belonging to the NC and the Congress, besides the PDP and the Panthers Party made a hue and cry during Question Hour.

When Shabir Khan was replying to a question by Congress legislator Ravinder Sharma about the shortage of kerosene oil in Nowshera and Sunderbani areas of Rajouri district, most of the legislators were dissatisfied by the reply and grilled the minister by asking supplementary questions.

The acting chairman of the Upper House, Arvinder Singh Micky, directed the state government to look into the matter and ensure adequate supply of kerosene oil to people. The minister assured the House that “there is no shortage of kerosene oil across the state and if there is shortage somewhere, I will direct the officials concerned to look into the matter urgently. So, there is no need to constitute a committee in this regard”.

Furious over the minister’s reply, Ajay Sadhotra of the NC said, “The minister should inspect the areas and only then he will know the ground reality”. “Depute a legislator and an official of the department concerned to check the availability of kerosene oil in government depots. If they get even a single drop of the oil in the government deports, I will resign from the House,” added Sadhotra.

Meanwhile, Syed Asgar Ali of the PDP, referring to some figures provided in the minister’s reply, said the minister had provided wrong information to the House. Other legislators, including Rafiq Ahmad Shah of the Panthers Party and AG Vakil of the Congress, also raised the issue.

No female foeticide case in state, says govt

No female foeticide case in state, says govt
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 26
Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma has said that no case of female foeticide has come to the notice of the state government so far and the sex ratio in the state is 925 females to 1,000 males.

Replying to a question by Mohammed Yousuf Taing of the NC in the Legislative Council here today, Sham Lal said, “No case of female foeticide has come to the notice of the government so far and the functioning of all nursing homes and ultrasound centres is being monitored regularly”.

He added that, “To check incidents of female foeticide, the J&K Pre-Natal Sex Selection/Determination (Prohibition and Regulation Act) 2002 is already in force in the state”.

The minister said there were standing instructions to all district health authorities to supervise the activities of the ultrasound centres. While providing the details of the total number of nursing homes and ultrasound centres across the state, Sham Lal said a total of 75 registered private nursing homes and 218 approved ultrasound centres were functioning in the state. “Besides, the cases of 30 private nursing homes for registration were under consideration,” he added. Interestingly, no one from opposition or treasury benches asked any supplementary question.

While discussing other health-related issues, the minister admitted that there was lack of work culture in the health sector. “Yes, there is lack of work culture in the health sector and we are responsible for it,” said Sham Lal.

40 govt schools show zero pc result in Class X: Minister

Legislative Council
40 govt schools show zero pc result in Class X: Minister
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 26
Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said in the Legislative Council here today that 40 schools in the Chenab region had shown zero per cent result in the Class X annual examinations this year.

Replying to a question by Naresh Gupta of the Congress, the Education Minister admitted that 40 government high schools and government higher secondary schools in the Chenab region had registered zero per cent result in the Class X exams. He added that committees had been constituted to find out the reasons for the poor results. “A divisional-level committee has been constituted to ascertain the reasons for the low pass percentage,” said Peerzada.

Regarding the measures being taken to raise the standard of education in the state, the minister said, “Efforts are being made to provide sufficient staff to these schools on an internal arrangement basis. Besides, these schools are being adopted by DIETs to monitor their progress on a day-to-day basis”.

Peerzada informed the Upper House that action was also being contemplated against non-performing teachers. “Explanations have been sought from erring teachers In this regard. Further action will be taken on the basis of the recommendations of a committee,” he added.

The minister said the Class X results were declared on January 20 and the report of the divisional-level committee was awaited.

On a question by Abdul Gani Vakil of the Congress, the Education Minister, in a written reply, said the results of the Class X exams conducted by the State Board of School Education in October last year were not leaked through the social networking site, Facebook. He said, “No, the results of Class X exams were not leaked through the social networking site, Facebook”.

Earlier, some newspapers had reported that the Class X results were leaked through a link posted on a page, ‘Frontline Kashmir’, on Facebook around 9 pm on January 10, at least 36 hours before they were officially scheduled to be declared on January 12.

However, the education board posted the Class X results on its official website on the afternoon of January 11.

The link, which had “enabled” the users to access the results, had also created confusion among the students and the board authorities. Replying to another question whether question paper leak has become a routine affair in the Jammu region, Peerzada said, “No, it is not a routine affair”.

After yellow rust, hailstorm adds to woes of farmers

After yellow rust, hailstorm adds to woes of farmers
Archit Watts/TNS

Khangrail (Akhnoor), March 27
The worries of the farming community in the Jammu region seem to have no end this season.Earlier, the effect of the fungal disease-yellow rust on the growing wheat crop was a cause of anguish and now the recent rainfall, speedy winds and hailstorm on March 19 have added to their worries, causing huge loss to their vegetable and wheat crop.

A large number of farmers in Domana, Purkhoo, Khangrail, Kheri, Pargwal and other nearby villages had suffered huge losses, due to the recent rainfall and hailstorms.

The worst affected crop included wheat, cauliflower, cabbage, sugarcane, spinach and coriander.

A farmer of Khangrail village, Bua Ditta, who owns 30 kanals of land, said, “More than a week has passed after the losses occurred due to hailstorm, yet no one from the Agriculture Department has come to inspect the fields or take stock of the losses”.

Bua Ditta, who had sown wheat in his 25 kanals land and vegetables in rest five kanals, added, “The insects have spread in the vegetables. We have also sprayed insecticides, but its of no use. Even the wheat crop, which was almost ready for harvesting has been damaged”.

Another farmer, Duni Chand of Domana said, “Wheat is the major crop of this region, which has been damaged by the yellow rust and recent hailstorm, but the state government has not yet announced any compensation”.

State’s land in ‘Hindustan’ encroached upon: NC legislator

State’s land in ‘Hindustan’ encroached
upon: NC legislator
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28
National Conference (NC) legislator TS Wazir, during a discussion in the Legislative Council today on the state’s land, said the land owned by Jammu and Kashmir outside the state in “Hindustan” had been encroached upon.

Wazir said, “It is an important issue related to the state’s property, which is out of the state in ‘Hindustan’, and the encroached upon land should be retrieved.” While some legislators laughed away Wazir’s remarks, others termed it as a sensitive matter. Although no one from the Opposition, the PDP or the Panthers Party, spoke on the issue, Minister of State for Finance Manohar Lal reminded Wazir that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and the member should not speak in such a manner.

Manohar Lal said, “Our state is part of India. As Wazir has said in his speech that it is out of India, he needs to be corrected”. The minister assured the House that the government was in the progress of getting the state’s land freed from encroachments everywhere outside the state.

Immediately after the discussion there was a lack of quorum in the House, as only nine members, including the Acting Chairman, were present.

Leader of the House RS Chib raised an objection that the House was functioning without quorum, following which Micky adjourned it. Micky directed the legislators to be serious in attending the proceedings of the House or face action.

State’s land in ‘Hindustan’ encroached
upon: NC legislator
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28
National Conference (NC) legislator TS Wazir, during a discussion in the Legislative Council today on the state’s land, said the land owned by Jammu and Kashmir outside the state in “Hindustan” had been encroached upon.

Wazir said, “It is an important issue related to the state’s property, which is out of the state in ‘Hindustan’, and the encroached upon land should be retrieved.” While some legislators laughed away Wazir’s remarks, others termed it as a sensitive matter. Although no one from the Opposition, the PDP or the Panthers Party, spoke on the issue, Minister of State for Finance Manohar Lal reminded Wazir that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and the member should not speak in such a manner.

Manohar Lal said, “Our state is part of India. As Wazir has said in his speech that it is out of India, he needs to be corrected”. The minister assured the House that the government was in the progress of getting the state’s land freed from encroachments everywhere outside the state.

Immediately after the discussion there was a lack of quorum in the House, as only nine members, including the Acting Chairman, were present.

Leader of the House RS Chib raised an objection that the House was functioning without quorum, following which Micky adjourned it. Micky directed the legislators to be serious in attending the proceedings of the House or face action.

No Jammu farmer paid insurance claim since 2007

No Jammu farmer paid insurance claim since 2007
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28
Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said in the Legislative Council here today that since 2007 no farmer in the Jammu region had been paid compensation under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme.

In a written reply to a question by BR Kundal of the Congress, Mir said, “The National Agriculture Insurance Scheme was introduced in 2002 and implemented in 2004-05 across the state. So far 1,387 farmers of Jammu, Poonch and Udhampur districts have been paid compensation (claims) under the scheme. These farmers were paid compensation for damage caused to their paddy and maize crops during 2005-06 and 2006-07,” he said.

As per the reply, 28,317 farmers were registered under the insurance scheme and 42,183 hectares were covered from 2004 till date.

Mir said the objective of the scheme was to provide insurance cover and financial support to the farmers in the event of any damage to their crops suffered due to natural calamities, pest attack and diseases. “Besides, the scheme also provides help to the farmers in stabilising farm incomes, stipulate the primary production of food crops and oilseeds,” he added.

The minister said the scheme was jointly sponsored by the Central and state governments and it was being implemented on the seasonal basis.

NC legislator, Agriculture Minister lock horns over farmers’ issues

Legislative Council
NC legislator, Agriculture Minister lock horns
over farmers’ issues
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28
National Conference (NC) legislator Ajay Sadhotra locked horns with Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir over the issues of the farmers in the Legislative Council here today. Sadhotra, who was the Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture in the previous NC government, did not miss any opportunity to grill Mir in the House.

During Question Hour today, Sadhotra again targeted Mir after the latter had replied to his question. Replying to a question on the basmati export policy when Mir informed the House that the total quantity of basmati sent outside the state in 2010-11 was 2,19,928 quintals but failed to give the details sought by Sadhotra. On this Sadhotra targeted the minister saying, “The minister has provided the details about the quantity of basmati sent outside the state but failed to give the names of countries to which the produce was sent. This means there is something fishy”.

Mir reacted in a diplomatic way to this charge saying, “The member (Sadhotra) tries to be pro-active farmers and we all should be that”. However, dissatisfied with the minister’s reply on all issues, Sadhotra said, “If the minister does not have the proper information at this moment, he can give it to me outside the House too. But he should not give such a reply here”.

Disturbed by Sadhotra’s remarks, Mir said, “The member has not asked this point in his main question and it is a supplementary question. Still I can give the details, as the officials have now provided me the information”.

This is not the lone incident when Sadhotra has tried to grill the Agriculture Minister. Earlier too, when the minister was replying to a question relating to the Agriculture Department in the Upper House, Sadhotra had targeted him a number of times.

20 years on, fate of Purnai power project still in the balance

Legislative Council
20 years on, fate of Purnai power project
still in the balance
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28
Almost 20 years on, the 37.5 MW Purnai Hydroelectric Project in Poonch district is yet to be completed and the Power Department is still making a fresh detailed project report (DPR).

Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan admitted in the Legislative Council here today that though the first DPR of the Purnai power project was cleared by the CEA in 1992, it was yet to be completed.

Replying to the clubbed questions of Murtaza Ahmad Khan of the PDP, and Javaid Ahmad Rana and Mohammad Rashid Qureshi of the NC, the minister said, “The total land required for the project is 1,278 kanals and 14 marlas, but so far the department has acquired only 454 kanals and 19 marlas.” However, he assured the Upper House that the project was on the priority list of the coalition government and Rs 37 crore had been spent on it. “The work of the review of DPR has been awarded to a consultant and is expected to be completed by April 15, 2011,” he said.

On supplementary questions by other legislators about the time-to-time estimated cost of the project, the minister said, “In 1992, the project was to cost Rs 177.93 crore, which increased to Rs 198 crore in year 2001 and to Rs 398.20 crore in 2009”.

Terming militancy as the major reason behind the delay in the completion of the project, the minister said, “The situation in the state was not good in those days, which further delayed the construction of the project”.

Dissatisfied by the minister’s reply, Javaid Ahmad Rana said, “I have the list of projects, which were started later than this project but were completed on the scheduled time. So, militancy could not be the reason for such a long delay”.

Meanwhile, Jehangir Mir of the Congress and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool of the NC also asked supplementary questions on the issue. Later, the minister assured the House that the Purnai power project would be completed this year.

Fact sheet n The first detailed project report of the Purnai power project was cleared by the CEA in 1992 n Of the 1,278 kanals and 14 marlas required for the project, the department has acquired 454 kanals and 19 marlas only n The project cost has increased from Rs 177.93 crore in 1992 to Rs 398.20 crore in 2009

Cloudburst-ravaged Leh lacks water filtration plant

Legislative Council
Cloudburst-ravaged Leh lacks water filtration plant
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 29
Leh town, which was devastated by flash floods in August last year and about 170 persons were killed and 230 went missing, still lacks a filtration plant for the main water supply.

While replying to a question by Congress legislator Narboo Gialchan, Minister of State for Public Health Engineering (PHE) Nasir Aslam Wani informed the Legislative Council that there was no water filtration plant for the town.

“The source of water being supplied to Leh is tubewells drilled through percussion up to the depth of 150 ft from the ground level and the quality of water is being checked regularly,” said Wani.

He added, “The water has been found safe for drinking purpose and there is nothing to worry about”.

However, dissatisfied with the minister’s reply, Narboo asked whether had the government any plan to provide a filtration plant to the people of Leh. Wani replied, “The provision has been made for the construction of a filtration plant in the re-construction of the damaged water supply scheme under the Re-construction of the Flood Affected Lift Water Supply Scheme for Leh town”.

He added, “The total scheme costs Rs 7.03 crore under the Prime Minister Natural Calamity Relief Funds and the filtration plant will also be included in it”. He assured the House that the water filtration plant would be installed within a short period.

Cricket diplomacy grips House

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Cricket diplomacy grips House
Both PMs will address bilateral issues, hope legislators
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, March 29
The cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan gripped the Legislative Council here today, as a number of legislators welcomed the decision of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to invite his Pakistan counterpart to see the Cricket World Cup semifinal at Mohali in Punjab. They hoped it would lead to some solution to the Kashmir issue.

The legislators praised the resumption of bilateral dialogue by the two countries. The Leader of the PDP in the Upper House, Murtaza Ahmad Khan, said, “The Prime Ministers of the two countries will not only watch the match, but also discuss the bilateral issues”.

On this, PDP legislator Nizam-ud-Din Khatana, in a lighter vein, said, “Both Prime Ministers will be fixing it”. Murtaza had moved a private member’s resolution saying the House resolved that for an honest endeavour to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Government of India must enter into a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with all stakeholders, including Pakistan.

However, the resolution was dropped when the Leader of the House, RS Chib, said the Centre was already trying to resolve all issues with Pakistan. “The resolution is meaningful and I don’t find anything wrong in it. But the cricket match is a classic example, as our Prime Minister has invited his Pakistan counterpart. I mean to say that our Prime Minister is very keen on having talks with Pakistan in the interest of the people of our state,” said Chib. He added that the resolution should be dropped.

Participating in the discussion, Mohammad Yusuf Taing, legislator of the NC, ‘wrongly’ said, “We are sure that the Prime Minister will discuss the Kashmir issue, as we are surrounded by three powers”.

On this, Syed Asgar Ali of the PDP said, “I can understand two powers, Pakistan and China. But, fail to understand the third one”.

House witnesses heated exchanges

ST Status to Pahari-Speaking People
House witnesses heated exchanges
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, March 29
The demand for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari-speaking people rocked the Legislative Council here today. The lone legislator of the Panthers Party, Mohammad Rafiq Shah, moved a private member’s resolution, which was supported by members from treasury and opposition benches.

There were heated arguments over the issue. NC legislator Mohammad Rashid Qureshi said, “It seems that the Union government understands the language of bullets, as our demand is being overlooked. It does not mean that we can’t adopt subversive methods. If we do so, the government will be in trouble”.

He added that, “The Pahari-speaking people have guts to get their demand of 22 years fulfilled. If the government continues to give a cold shoulder to our demand, we will hear voices of a separate state”.

Showing concern for the Pahari-speaking people, Qureshi said these people were brave and could also open the border, as they usually resided in border villages.

“We can change the map of the state,” he said, adding that, “If Jats can block roads and train services in Rajasthan, why can’t we use the same method here. Still, we want to adopt peaceful methods and the government should consider our demand”.

He said the Prime Minister had also assured them of the ST status, but nothing had been done so far. Meanwhile, Jehangir Mir and Altaf Ahmad Wani of the NC, Syed Asgar Ali and Murtaza Ahmad Khan of the PDP, Ravinder Sharma of the Congress and Ajatshatru Singh of the NC supported the demand for the ST status to the Pahari-speaking people.

The legislators also hinted at an agitation by Pahari-speaking people in the near future.

On this, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo said, “The state government is serious about getting the ST status for the Pahari-speaking people and has discussed the issue with the Union government. It is under consideration”. She added, “Now, the state government has nothing to do with it and the Centre has to take action”. Sakina said all former Chief Ministers, including Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Mohammad Syeed, besides Omar Abdullah had taken up the issue with the Centre, but the decision on it was awaited.

Hence the private member’s resolution should be dropped. Following the minister’s reply, the resolution was dropped.

Legislators grill Dy CM over milk adulteration

Legislators grill Dy CM over milk adulteration
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 30
Legislators of the Upper House today “unitedly” grilled Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand over the issue of adulterated milk and other products being supplied in the state.

When the issue was raised by BR Kundal of the Congress during question hour, who asked about the steps initiated by the state government to check the sale of adulterated products, legislators from the opposition PDP as well as the ruling NC and Congress supported him and raised supplementary questions.

Even the acting chairman of the House, Arvinder Singh Micky, termed it a serious matter and sought appropriate action from the government in this regard.

The issue generated heat when the Deputy Chief Minister, in his reply, said, “The Jammu and Srinagar municipal corporations are looking into the issue and have taken samples to check the authenticity of milk and its byproducts.”

Dissatisfied over the reply, Kundal said, “It seems the government is only concerned about the capital cities and not the entire state as nothing has been stated about the other cities.”

Reacting to this, Tara Chand said, “I can only give you the details of the action taken in the capital cities as the list of the entire state is very long.”

He added, “The Jammu Municipal Corporation has collected 95 samples of milk from April 2010 to February 2011 under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, of which 73 samples confirmed to the legal standards, 12 were adulterated and the reports of the remaining 10 are awaited.”

“Similarly, in Srinagar five samples were found adulterated during the same period,” said Tara Chand. Ajat Shatru Singh of the NC said, “The government should take this issue seriously as it is directly related to public health.”

Leh, country’s largest district, has only four ambulances

Leh, country’s largest district, has only four ambulances
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 30
Leh, the largest district of the country in terms of area (45,110 sq km), has an acute shortage of ambulances. The district, which comprises 113 villages, has only four ambulances to cater to patients of the far-flung areas.

While replying to a question asked by Narboo Gialchan of the Congress in the Upper House, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said today that the people of Leh were suffering due to the non-availability of ambulances.

“As per the criteria fixed by the state government, Leh district has been sanctioned 17 ambulances, but so far only four ambulances have been provided to the hospitals there,” said Sham Lal, during Question Hour.

In the detail provided to the House, the minister said two out of four ambulances were provided in 2009-2010 under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

However, he assured the House that only Leh was facing the problem, as all other districts were provided with adequate number of ambulances.

He said, “For example, take Doda district which is more prone to accidents, there we have provided 27 ambulances against the sanctioned strength of 18 ambulances”.

Dissatisfied over the minister’s reply, legislators Murtaza Ahmad Khan of the PDP and Naresh Gupta of the Congress also raised supplementary questions.

“There is no hard and fast rule while sanctioning the ambulances in all districts,” Sham Lal said.

He added, “The Health Department takes decision keeping in view the requirements”.

However, he did not assure the House to provide more ambulances to the district.

As per the criteria fixed by the state government, Leh district has been sanctioned 17 ambulances, but so far only four ambulances have been provided to the hospitals there — Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister

Govt fails to fill 2 topmost posts in Education Dept

Govt fails to fill 2 topmost posts in Education Dept
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Vacancies

n Of the total 52,000 posts vacant in the government sector, 9,443 posts are vacant in the School Education Department. These posts comprise 2,459 gazetted, 5,439 non-gazetted and 1,545 Class IV posts n The post of Chairman, J&K Board of School Education, has been vacant for the past seven months following the retirement of Deshbandhu Gupta n No one has been appointed to the post of Project Director of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan since its inception in 2008

Jammu, May 18
Contrary to the claims of the state government to streamline the education system, two topmost posts in the Education Department have been lying vacant for quite some time, thus exposing non-seriousness on the part of those at the helm of affairs.

The J&K State Board of School Education continues to be headless for the past seven months. The government is yet to decide on a suitable person to be its chairman and the delay in filling the post is affecting decision making in this vital institute.

Similarly, the state is yet to get a Project Director for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme, which was meant for universalising secondary and higher secondary education. The scheme was launched in 2008, but the post had been lying vacant.

Initially, the additional charge of Project Director, RMSA, was given to the Joint Director, Education, and later it was given to the Commissioner/Secretary, Education.

Though the Central government allocates a large sum of money for the upgrade of infrastructure and other requirements in high and higher secondary institutions, these important posts lying vacant is affecting the functioning of the education sector.

Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed had also accepted the fact that these two posts had been lying vacant for a long period, but he failed to fill these.

During the Budget session recently, Peerzada had said the department was seriously thinking to fill these posts, but even after almost two months no action had been taken in this regard.

Former Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh had also targeted Peerzada a number of times on the issues related to the Education Department. However, repeated attempts to contact Peerzada proved futile and people close to him said the minister was out of the state.

Now, milk to burn hole in pocket

Prices rise by up to Rs 3
Now, milk to burn hole in pocket
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 17
The decision of major dairy producers in the state to increase the milk prices by up to Rs 3 per litre with effect from May 16 has left Jammuites reassessing their monthly budget.

The hike has been a cruel blow to a common man, as the petrol prices have also hiked by Rs 5 this week only. After petrol, now people will have to shell out more to buy milk and milk products as Surya and J&K Dairy Producers, Processing and Marketing Cooperative Union Limited have increased its milk prices by up to Rs 3 per litre.

With this rise in milk prices, the prices of milk products, including ghee, butter, curd and milk powder are also likely to be increased. Surya has already revised retail prices of their products in the area with effect from May 16. As per company officials, Surya packed standard milk would cost Rs 31 per litre, toned milk Rs 27 per litre and double toned milk Rs 25 per litre.

The price rise is due to hot weather conditions, there is acute shortage of milk at present as production capacity of milk in animals decreases in summers, added the company officials. “Hike of Rs 2 per litre in milk prices is too much to digest for common man like us. The petrol prices have also increased recently and now the milk pries shot up, it has affected our monthly budget,” said Narinderjit Singh, a resident of Nanak Nagar here.

He added, “I don’t know how I will manage? The prices of essential commodities like vegetables and fruits have also hiked and it has become a difficult task to meet the daily chores.”

Similarly, Rita Sharma, a housewife, also expressed her concern over the increased prices. “There is only one option left with us to minimise the use of petrol and milk, as the prices have been touching the sky.”

Varsity to hold entrance test for 42 courses

Varsity to hold entrance test for 42 courses
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 17
To make the admission process more transparent, the University of Jammu will conduct entrance tests for admission to various postgraduate courses on the campus as well as in its affiliated colleges this year.

So far the university has received a total of 26,000 applications for 42 postgraduate courses from students for more than one course. According to university officials, around 11,000 students will appear in the entrance examinations commencing from May 26, which will last till June 7. The results will be declared in a week.

Prof GM Bhat, controller of examinations, said, “We have established nine centres at Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Leh, Kathua, Srinagar, Poonch, Rajouri and Bhaderwah districts for the smooth conduct of the examinations. A team of the university staff will be deputed as observers at each centre to keep a vigil there”.

He said the admission process had been made transparent and the university would have no role in the evaluation of answer sheets.

“The evaluation will be done through the OMRC. Even we have not set the question papers,” Prof Bhat added.

For the general category, a candidate is required to obtain a minimum of 21 marks out of 70 in each subject or programme. The reserved category candidates, including the SC/ST, residents of Leh and Kargil districts and others, are required to obtain 17 marks out of 70 to qualify the examination.

The result will be the total of the score in the 70 marks test and the 30 marks review of the graduation results. The admission forms of candidates scoring below the qualifying marks will not be considered.

Kolkandoli temple to get an inn

Kolkandoli temple to get an inn
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Kolkandoli, May 16
Devotees coming from across the country to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine will soon get accommodation facilities at the historic Kolkandoli temple, as the temple administration is constructing an inn to facilitate them.

The Kolkandoli temple, said to be built by the Pandavas, is about 15 km from Jammu having much religious importance. Paying obeisance at the temple is considered the first darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. Pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi first pay obeisance here and then head for Katra to start the 12-km pilgrimage to reach the holy cave shrine.

So far this small village situated near Nagrota town neither have a hotel nor any inn, thus forcing the pilgrims to have a night halt at Jammu or Katra. “The temple administration is constructing an inn at the temple complex, which will accommodate nearly 1,000 devotees. Two halls will be built in the inn,” said Jai Pujari of the Kolkandoli temple.

He said the work on the temple had started and the devotees were giving huge donations for the construction of the inn. Jai Pujari added that, “Being the first place to pay obeisance to Mata Vaishno Devi, the Kolkandoli temple attracts a large number of devotees. Keeping this in mind the state government has also promised to make a beautiful sprawling lawn and install swings for children here.”

The temple administration said Tourism Minister Nawang Ringzin Jora and Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla visited the temple recently and assured it that the beautification work on the temple would be started soon.

With this much-awaited decision of the temple administration and the state government, the devotees were also seen overjoyed, as within a short time they would have the accommodation for night stay at the temple.

“This temple is famous throughout the country and a large number of people come here to pay obeisance to the Goddess. So the construction of an inn will surely provide benefit to the devotees, who, otherwise, have no option for stay here,” said Dheeraj Kumar, a resident of Ambala in Haryana, who had come to pay obeisance at the temple along with his family.

He added that, “We come every year to have darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi and always pay obeisance here too, before heading for the cave shrine. When the project is complete, the temple will also attract more pilgrims”.An under-construction inn at the historic Kolkandoli Temple en route the Jammu-Katra highway. Photo by writer

Candidates offer chilled water to lure voters

Candidates offer chilled water to lure voters
Archit Watts/TNS

Galwaday Chak, May 16
The candidates in the fray for the posts of panch and sarpanch in the Jammu region have found a new way of attracting voters by providing free chilled water, especially when the temperature is hovering around 42°C.

As the election authority has put a blanket ban on the sale and consumption of liquor before 24 hours of the polling time, the candidates are now offering chilled water to attract voters.

During a visit to various polling stations in the Marh block of Jammu district today, the candidates and their supporters were seen offering chilled water to the voters standing in queues to convince them to vote for particular candidates.

As unscheduled power cuts have become common, especially in villages, the supply of chilled water is proving to be a boon for the voters. Some voters were also seen carrying buckets and water campers filled with chilled water to take it home, as the candidates had ordered a bulk quantity of ice for the purpose. “The contestants are serving free water to everyone and it is a noble cause. We are also taking water home,” said Shanti Devi, a voter from Galwaday Chak village.

“What if they are trying to lure us by providing chilled water, it is our basic necessity. Those who are offering water today will definitely highlight our problems in future, if elected,” she maintained. She added that offering water was considered the best way to serve humanity.

Similarly, Dileep Kumar, a supporter of a candidate for the post of sarpanch, who was offering water, said, “To provide water is not a crime. We are doing this as there is no arrangement of water. What’s wrong if the people are taking water home? It gives us satisfaction”.

Even policemen and officials deployed outside the polling stations found themselves helpless, as offering water was not prohibited under any law. A police officer said, “The temperature is touching almost 42°C and what is wrong if these people are offering water to voters. We are deployed here to keep a check on illegal activities and providing water is not an illegal activity as per the rules of the election commission”.

Transporters told to display fare lists on buses

Overcharging by Bus Operators
Transporters told to display fare lists on buses
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, May 15
To keep a check on overcharging by bus operators, the J&K State Transport Authority (STA) has directed all the transporters across the state to paste and display the fare lists on their buses. The decision has come out as a result of the large number of complaints received to the State Transport Authority in this regard.

“The decision has been implemented without any delay and the officials concerned have been ordered to check whether the orders are being carried out or not,” said Syed Mohammad Fazlullah, Commissioner and Chairman, State Transport Authority. He added, “To avoid the cheating and overcharging, the transporters have been directed to obey the recent orders.”

He further said that non-display of rates would be viewed as a violation of law and action would be taken against the defaulters. Those found not obeying the orders would first be penalised and on repeated violations, their permits would be cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Passenger Transport Association has given one-week ultimatum to the government to increase the passenger fare by 50 per cent or face an agitation across the state.

“The latest hike in the fare was in June 2010, when the Transport Department had enhanced the fare by 13 per cent with an assurance that it would be revived in proportion to the increase in the fuel prices in future,” said Anil Chopra, president, All Jammu and Kashmir Passenger Transport Association.

“We have conveyed our decision to the administration by submitting a memorandum”, he added.

Ice a hot commodity now

Ice a hot commodity now
Price doubles with the rise in temperature
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 13
With the sudden increase in temperature and unscheduled power cuts, the price of ice slabs has shot up considerably during the past one week.

An ice slab, which was earlier available for Rs 240, is currently being sold for Rs 350 in the wholesale market.

With this sudden increase in prices, where the consumers are at the receiving end, the ice manufacturers have been blaming the state government for not providing them adequate power supply to meet the gap between demand and supply.

“The temperature is hovering around 40 degree Celsius and there is a huge demand of ice. The ongoing marriage season has also led to manifold increase in the demand. However, erratic power supply is hampering the production, which has resulted into rise in price,” said Bobby Kumar, an ice manufacturer of Narwal.

He added, “Due to intense heat wave, a large portion of the ice slabs melts during transportation, which is also a reason behind the price rise”.

He said the season lasted for a very short period. “As soon as the rainy season starts, the demand of ice drops. So, this is the best time to earn money, but poor power supply is playing the spoilsport as we are running into losses,” added Bobby.

A restaurant owner said the demand of ice had almost doubled, but the supply was much less, so the ice manufacturers were charging hefty price.

“The local administration should immediately look into the matter, otherwise the common man would not be able to purchase ice in the coming days,” said Rakesh Kumar of Sharma Restaurant at Gole Market here.

However, officials of the local administration said they were regularly keeping a check on the prices of such commodities. “The price of ice has gone up just because of the increase in temperature and it will be come down soon,” said an official.

Two modern abattoirs for Jammu, Srinagar

Two modern abattoirs for Jammu, Srinagar
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 13
The state government has sanctioned two modern abattoirs to be set up on the outskirts of Jammu and Srinagar cities.

The decision will solve the long-pending demand of the residents of Dogra Hall and Gujjar Nagar areas to shift the slaughterhouses located in their residential areas. The residents of these areas had earlier requested the authorities concerned to shift the slaughterhouses to some uninhabited area.

“It is a big problem to sit in the open or on the terrace, as it stinks the whole day,” said Rashmi, a resident of Dogra Hall. She added that if the government had mooted the proposal to shift the two slaughterhouses, their problem would be solved.

Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand had announced recently that the Union Ministry for Food Processing had sanctioned two modern abattoirs for Jammu and Srinagar cities. He had said, “To set up a modern abattoir at Jagti in Jammu will cost Rs 20.7 crore, while to construct another at Wahinama in Srinagar will cost Rs 28 crore”.

The Deputy Chief Minister said they had invited the expression of interests to prepare the detailed project reports so that the work could be started on time. Land measuring 75 kanals has been identified at Jagti, while the process to identify land in Srinagar was on.

According to sources, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation had also projected a demand for Rs 28 crore under the 13th Finance Commission for setting up a modern abattoir at Alochibagh in Srinagar.

The sources added that after the two new abattoirs were constructed, the slaughterhouses located in the residential areas would be shifted.

Omar online, state govt offline

Omar online, state govt offline
Official website non-functional for past few months
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 12
Though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is tech-savvy and is known for his tweets, the official website of the state government is not functioning for the last few months.

The official website of the Jammu and Kashmir Government-- jammukashmir.nic.in, which was earlier being used as an important tool to get all important information, is non-functional due to data uploading. As soon as one goes to this page, a picture showing a man working on the website appears with words “under construction”.

The delay in the functioning of the website is creating problems for students as well as people from all walks of life. “Earlier we used to take the help of the website to prepare project reports or get any authentic information about the government departments, but of late it has been non-functional for a long period, creating a lot of problems for us,” said Rohit Sharma, a student of the University of Jammu.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to look into the matter and find out the reasons behind the inordinate delay in making it functional again. Similarly, a government schoolteacher, Amrit, who also follows Omar on his twitter, told The Tribune that, “I am surprised that while the Chief Minister is always online, how come is he not aware about the closure of the government’s official website?”

He added that, “Had he known that the website was not functioning for a long time, he would have ordered an inquiry into the matter”.

Earlier The Tribune had published a number of stories about stale information being provided on this website. After the publication of these news the administration decided to update it and close it for updating. But even after almost four months it had not been made functional again.

Govt ramps up education efforts

Govt ramps up education efforts
From opening new schools, upgrading existing oneS to appointing teachers, it’s doing all
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 11
During the peak militancy period, school education took a massive hit in Jammu & Kashmir. The damage was not just on the infrastructure front but also in terms of human resources. School buildings were bombed, students were threatened and then there was this perennial shortage of teachers, especially in the militancy-prone districts. But now the state government is trying hard to change all this.

Under a major revamp plan, the government has upgraded 251 middle schools to high schools in teh past two years. “Most of the upgraded schools are located in the far-flung areas, where the means of transportation arevery less.

To secure the future of the students living in these areas, the government has been working hard. We want the students to continue their studies,” said a senior official of the Education Department.

He added, “The aim is to build schools in each and every village, so that the literacy rate could be improved”.

Giving details, he added that during 2009-10, 69 middle schools were upgraded to high schools, under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.

Similarly, 182 middle schools were upgraded to the level of high schools during 2010-11.

The official said in addition to these schools, 611 high schools and 373 higher secondary schools were also regularised by the Planning and Development Department.

Even recently, Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed had said the government was very keen to open more schools in the remote areas of both the regions-Jammu and Kashmir.

“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is having a keen interest to open more and more schools in villages so that the children can get proper education. The living standard of people in villages is yet to be uplifted. It can only be through education,” he added.

Amarnath yatra: Heavy rush for registration on day 1

Amarnath yatra: Heavy rush for registration on
day 1
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 10
With religious fervour, the registration for the annual Amarnath yatra began across the country today. This year the registration slips for both traditional Pahalgam as well as Baltal routes have been printed in pink and blue colours, respectively.

As soon as the registration process began at 3 pm, a large number of pilgrims were seen visiting the designated bank branches to get the registration slips. Every pilgrim has to pay Rs 15 to get the yatra registration slip, which will also provide an accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh to him/her.

This year, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has made these slips mandatory for paying obeisance before the Ice Lingam at the holy cave shrine at a height of 13,500 feet. The pilgrims will have to show the slip while paying obeisance at the cave shrine, a senior official of the SASB told The Tribune.

Last year, some complaints were received that the pilgrims were paying obeisance at the shrine without having registration slips. This year, the pilgrimage would be held between June 29 and August 13 i.e. Raksha Bandhan.

Meanwhile, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a member of the SASB, said, “The date of the commencement of the yatra was determined with a view to ensuring, as far as possible, that the yatris were not stranded, as in the past. As a member of the SASB, I say that the allegations levelled by a section of religious or other organisations are baseless”.

He added that, “June 15 is Jaisht Poornima, which is not a good day for the commencement of the yatra, as it is Dwanksha Yoga on that day. However, June 29 is a Wednesday, Maasa Shivratri having Rohini Nakshatra and Subha Yoga, which is good for the commencement of the pilgrimage”.

He also appealed to the people to stay away from rumours and believe in maintaining peace and harmony of the region. But there was no let up in the zeal of devotees as compared to the previous years, as with the formal beginning of the registration process for the yatra today, the enthusiastic devotees were singing religious hymns outside the bank branches.

Ujjwal Sharma, a resident of the Muthi area, who got the first registration slip from the Bahu Plaza branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, said, “For the last five years I am getting the first registration slip. It is my devotion towards Lord Shiva that gives me strength to face all challenges in life”.

Similarly, Vinod Anand, a resident of Samba, was the first to get the yatra registration slip at the Gole Market branch of J&K Bank. He said, “For the last nine years I have been paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine and have always been the first to get the registration slip”.

The SASB claimed that elaborate arrangements had been made for the smooth registration of the pilgrims at all registration counters across the country. “For this purpose, 121 branches of J&K bank, 24 branches of YES Bank and four branches of district cooperative banks have been designated across the country to issue registration slips,” said the SASB officials.

Notice to schools using domestic LPG in vehicles

Notice to schools using domestic LPG in vehicles
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 10
Acting on the directions of the transport commissioner, the traffic police has sent notices to private schools in the city for using domestic cylinders in their vehicles being used to ferry children.

In a recently held meeting among the deputy transport commissioner, SSP (traffic) and regional transport officer (RTO), it was decided to launch a massive drive against vehicles running on domestic gas cylinders.

It has been found that most of school vehicles violate traffic norms. “Blatant violations by private schools were noticed and it was decided to serve them notices to follow the norms or to face action,” said a senior traffic police officer.

He added, “Parents are also advised not to send their children in any vehicle fitted with gas kits using domestic LPG cylinders”.

The official said the department had also decided to launch a campaign in this regard during which, advertisements would also be published in newspapers and hoardings would be installed at major points in the city.

The Traffic Department has also appealed to the public to file complaints if they found any vehicle violating the traffic rules.

He added that the complaints could be lodged at the RTO office or with the deputy transport commissioner’s office.

In the notice issued to the schools, it has been written that those found guilty would be penalised and the vehicle would be impounded.

The officer added that repeated violations in any such incident could also result in cancellation of permit of school vehicles.

Post rate cut, no helicopter tickets available till May 31

Post rate cut, no helicopter tickets available till May 31
Archit Watts/TNS

VAISHNO DEVI YATRA

Katra, May 9
As the rates of tickets of the helicopter service to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine from its base camp at Katra to Sanjhi Chhat and from Sanjhi Chhat to Katra have been reduced drastically, it has become the first preference of the pilgrims. As a result there is no ticket available at present and tickets have been sold in advance for a month.

The ticket for an adult is now available at Rs 700, which was earlier available around Rs 1,400 for a single side. Two private players -- Global Vectra and Pawan Hans -- are at present providing this service. “Earlier when the ticket price was almost double, there were hardly any takers of the chopper service. But now the scenario is altogether different,” said an official at the ticket booking counter at Hotel Continental here.

He added that, “The entire process has gone online and the pilgrims can now get tickets by logging into the websites of the service providers by paying the fare through credit cards. There is also a benefit of availing of the helicopter service, as the pilgrims get a priority slip to pay obeisance at the shrine”.

The official said they were getting a large number of phone calls for tickets for VIPs and VVIPs everyday.

Even the officials of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board accepted the fact that the recent cut in the prices of chopper tickets was attracting a large number of pilgrims. “The pilgrimage is about 12-km long and most of the pilgrims prefer the helicopter services to reach Sanjhi Chhat, from where the distance to the shrine is about 2.5 km. There is no ticket available at any ticket counter till May 31,” said a senior official of the shrine board.

He added, “Summer vacation are yet to start, but there is already a huge rush of devotees and helicopter tickets till May 31 have been sold in advance”.

He also appealed to the pilgrims, those planning to pay obeisance at the shrine, to get helicopter tickets in advance, as these were not available here. “Those who can go on foot or on mules or palanquins should avoid using the chopper service so that the needy or the aged could make use of it,” the official said.

Battery-operated vehicles are also running from Ardhkwari to the Bhawan via the new track. So far about 28 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the shrine. Last year, nearly 87.5 lakh pilgrims had darshan at the shrine, the highest ever since the inception of the shrine board in 1986. In April alone about 9.77 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine, while the number of pilgrims was almost the same in March.

At present on an average nearly 30,000 pilgrims are coming here to pay obeisance at the holy cave shrine.

Jammu Central varsity still a dream

Jammu Central varsity still a dream
Archit Watts/TNS

Jammu, May 8
Due to an impasse over the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Central University, Jammu, is all set to lose one more academic session. Nearly one-and-half-year has passed after the Union government earmarked two central universities for Jammu and Kashmir, but the Union HRD Ministry has so far failed to establish Central University in Jammu.

At a time, when the fate of Central University, Jammu, is hanging in balance, Central University, Kashmir, which started functioning last year is about to enter in its second academic session.

The process to establish both the universities - Central University, Jammu, and Central University, Kashmir - was started in 2009.

However, in the absence of a V-C, the campus of the much prestigious Central University, Jammu, has not come up, delaying the admission process and the academic session.

The academic session in other central universities is all set to start from June, but here the things are not yet clear.

The final decision on V-C’s appointment is pending before the Union HRD Ministry, which had earlier rejected a number of candidates, following protests and agitation by some local organisations demanding a local V-C for the much prestigious university.

Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier recommended some names for the post of V-C, but all of them were rejected.

Omar had also blamed local leaders for inordinate delay and politicising of this issue, who were demanding someone from Jammu be appointed as the V-C.

Cellphone users harried by network problem

Cellphone users harried by network problem
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 7
A majority of cellphone users in the Jammu region are facing a lot of problems these days, as the major service providers, both private or public, are having a signal problem.

The network having remained down for the last few days has not only caused losses to the business community but also to the commoners, as there has hardly been any signal. Even the short message service (SMS), which was started in the state recently, is not working properly, as the messages from one network to the other are not being delivered on time. And if the messages reach the cellphone users, they are delivered at least 10-12 times.

Sources say the network problem is the result of the number portability, which was launched by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) across the country recently. “The network providers here are having more load than their existing infrastructure, which is causing the network problem, causing service disturbances to the customers,” said the sources. They added that the problem peaked during daytime when the network load was the maximum, and also resulted into dropping of calls.

However, the officials of the mobile phone companies claimed that there was no network problem and the signal problem was all due to the recent orders of the state government. A customer care executive of Bharti Airtel told The Tribune that the government had banned the minter-network SMS facility. “The SMS facility is available at Airtel, but both receiver and sender must have its connections,” she said.

On the other hand, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) claimed that there was no network problem and they had not received any information about the ban on the inter-network SMS facility from the state or Central governments.

S Sawarkar, General Manager, BSNL, said, “There is no network problem, as we have not received any such complaint. If there is a connectivity problem regarding BSNL, we assure the users that the problem will be resolved at the earliest”.

He added that, “The government has not issued any circular to ban the inter-network message service. If there is any such problem, it might have been for a short period. But we will have to check it, as we have not received any such complaint”.

However, the mobile phone users lamented that their network providers were not providing them adequate information in this regard. “It is not confirmed whether the message is being delivered to other network users or not. The mobile phone companies are not giving any authentic information to their users. There is total confusion,” said Anand Kumar, a BSNL cellphone user.

Combine harvesters from Punjab much in demand in Jammu

Combine harvesters from Punjab much in demand in Jammu
Archit Watts/TNS

Agra Chak (RS Pura), May 6
The combine harvesters used in Punjab are in much demand by wheat farmers of the Jammu region and have made the manual harvesting a thing of the past.

Besides the less cost involved in harvesting and thrashing of the wheat crop with a combine harvester, the scarcity of farm labourers and the easy availability of these modern farming equipment are the main factors behind this sudden change in the technique of wheat harvesting here.

Earlier the labourers, especially from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, were easily available in Jammu, but now the labourers demanded more wages and were hardly available. That is why the farmers here were adopting the modern harvesting technique used by their counterparts in Punjab.

The Tribune team, while touring the fields in Bishnah, RS Pura, Kathua and Samba districts in Jammu, came across a large number farmers using the combine harvesters.

“The shortage of farm labourers was affecting wheat harvesting. We adopted the latest technique so that the produce could be sold on time,” said Harbans Singh, a farmer from Agra Chak village in the RS Pura area here.

He added that, “Though the new technique of harvesting saves cost, we lose ‘toori’ (wheat straw) after using this technique, which is also used as fodder for the cattle.”

Farmers in this belt do not have much green fodder to feed their cattle. So earlier they were reluctant to use this technique, as by using combine harvesters the wheat straw got wasted.

There is another major reason for the delay in use of this technique, as the farmers here do not have large agriculture land. Balbir, another farmer of Dablehar village, said, “The combine harvester owners have their camp offices in different rural areas and are easily approachable. So most of the farmers are harvesting their crop with combine harvesters.”

Harbans Singh, an owner of a combine harvester, who had come here from Sangrur in Punjab, said, “We charge Rs 800 per acre for wheat harvesting, but the traditional method of harvesting the wheat crop costs three times more than the cost of using combine harvester”. The farm labourers charge Rs 2,400-Rs 2,700 per acre for wheat harvesting with the traditional method.

Milk products turn scarce, courtesy wedding season

Milk products turn scarce, courtesy wedding season
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 6
Despite efforts of the local administration and milk plants, city residents are facing acute shortage of milk products, especially cheese these days.

The milk plants are finding it difficult to procure the required quantity of milk as the demand has already gone up across the state for making sweets during the ongoing wedding season.

A quick survey of the market revealed that most of the shops of Surya, a major manufacturer of milk products, were running out of stock. Similarly, other sweet shops, dealing in milk products were also facing shortage of cheese.

“We have already taken buffer orders from market to supply cheese. So, the quantity which we get from the plant is being supplied to those consumers,” said Anup Kumar, who owns a Surya shop in Shastri Nagar here.

He added, “Cheese was earlier available at Rs 130 per kg, but now with the increase in demand, the price has also shot up. However, even then there is no availability of cheese in the market as the companies do not have adequate supply of milk”.

A visit to sweet shops and dairies also revealed the same facts that the wedding season which will continue till the end of this month has led to the shortage of cheese in the market.

“We have stopped the supply of milk and other products for the time being. At present, we are only supplying cheese which we manufacture in a day to local ‘halwais’, as they had already given us advance money,” said Des Raj, a dairy owner at Nanak Nagar.

In villages, too, farmers, especially Gujjars, have been storing milk for khoa and other milk products.

On the other hand, a housewife, Sangeeta Sharma, said the prices of most of milk products had gone up due to the wedding season. “We are being forced to pay more money for milk products and the shortage is likely to continue for 15 more days,” she added.

Due to this scarcity, complaints of black marketing are also being received. However, officials of civil administration said they had launched a drive to check the authenticity of these products and were also monitoring the prices of milk products.

Fast winds damage mango crop

Fast winds damage mango crop
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Chatha (Jammu), May 5
The recent high-speed winds and dust storm have proved to be the bane of mango growers in the Jammu region, as it has caused a massive damage to the fruit crop.

The fruit, which is in its sprouting or blossoming stage, has been damaged up to 30 per cent and another such spell of weather could damage the crop up to 50 per cent.

“The fruit is in its immature stage and speedy winds have damaged it. The fruit are falling from the trees before its ripening period,” said an expert of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) here.

He added that, “The fruit is expected to ripen next month and it needs normal temperature with low speed winds”. The Horticulture Department has also started a fresh exercise to assess the huge damage caused to the mango crop growers.

The mango crop being a cash crop has attracted a large number of farmers of the region, as people in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts grow this fruit. “Last year, our crop was affected due to the drought-like situation and this year the speedy winds have played havoc,” said Vinod Kumar, a horticulturist.

He added, “The farmers in the region are suffering huge losses due to unexpected weather conditions. If the weather remains the same in the coming days, we will have to opt for some other means to earn our livelihood”.

Meanwhile, the experts of the SKUAST have advised the mango growers to whitewash the lower stem of the mango plants in order to protect them from heat and any other injury.

They have also advised the farmers to spray their crop with Naphthalene Acetic Acid as high-speed winds might flow in the next few days.

With this sudden damage to the mango crop, the local pickle manufacturing community are at their wits end, as it would also affect their businesses.

Heat wave to reach Jammu early May: MeT

Heat wave to reach Jammu early May: MeT
Temperature rises 8 degrees in past 11 days
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 29
With the rise in temperature, the weathermen have forecast a heat wave that is expected to reach Jammu in the initial days of May.

In the past 11 days, temperature in Jammu has gone up by 8°C. On April 19, the city’s maximum temperature was recorded at 30°C and yesterday it reached up to 38°C.

“The temperature is expected to cross 40°C in the first week of May. The mercury is rising with every passing day and the residents are advised to take adequate precautions to beat the heat this summer,” said an official of the Meteorological Department.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.8°C on April 8 and the maximum temperature was 38.6°C on April 25, making it the day hottest so far. “In the coming days, we are expecting a clear sky and rise in temperatures, which will help the farmers of the region,” said the official.

He said the mercury had been rising steadily for the past few days and this trend would continue. “The coming days will be hotter as we are expecting some dry heat in the northern region of the country,” he added.

“We had not expected such a hot weather in April, as the first half of the month was quite pleasant. I was expecting the remaining days of the month to be cool, but we found hard to bear the heat since Monday, without an air conditioner,” said Amrinder Singh, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, here.

He added that, “The sudden change in weather is creating hurdles for schoolchildren, housewives and shopkeepers, who find it difficult to go out during the day”. Meanwhile, the unscheduled power cuts have also started to haunt the residents in both metered and non-metered areas.

The climate was almost similar in the Kathua, Samba, RS Pura and other plain areas of the Jammu region. Even the hilly areas of the region, including Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar, were facing long dry spells, as in the past few days there had been no rain across the region.