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”.

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.