HC issues notice to Govt
PIL seeking village Mahara as ‘bad pocket area’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice H K Sema and Justice S K Gupta today issued notices to Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Commissioner/Secretary Revenue and others on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the residents of Mehra Village in Swarankote tehsil, seeking benefits and privileges after declaring the village as " bad pocket area".

The respondents have been asked to reply the notice within a period of one month.

The PIL has been filed with a view to project the "callous, unreasonable and victimizing conduct" of the respondents by virtue of which the poor, down-trodden and influence-lacking" residents have been neglected. It was submitted by the counsel of the petitioners M A Almansoor that village Mahara has been deprived of its rights of Middle or High School right from 1947 and the students of this village, in order to acquire education, have to go out of the village for the education.

It was submitted by the petitioners that there is neither any dispensary nor a Primary Health Centre in the village. The petitioners prayed for issuance of a direction to declare Mahara as a " bad-pocket area" as recommended by District Development Commissioner Poonch and MLA Swarankote Syed Mushtaq Bukhari.

Police-public meets held at Kalakot, Tatapani

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Nov 19: Holding firmly the conviction that terrorism can be eliminated by police, security forces and public unitedly, Mr S S Bijral, Deputy Inspector General of Police Poonch-Rajouri Range organised public meetings at Tatapani Sial Sui and Kalakot.

Mr Shekhawat, DIG Operations (IS Duty) Border Security Force, Commanding Officer of 142 Battalion BSF and SHO Kalakot were also present on the occasion. Local Sarpanches, Panches, social and political leaders also attended the meet. The local problems were also highlighted during the meeting by public.

Mr Bijral stressed the need to have close coordination with the public and local support in weeding out the terrorists operating in the area. He widely discussed the security scenario with the public representatives.

At Kalakot, the locals complained that only one doctor was available against six posted in Kalakot hospital. No lady doctor was posted there against the vacancy of two since 1997. Telephone facility was very poor. They also alleged harassment to local innocent people during certain operations and drawn the attention of DIG towards it.

For combating militancy, the locals requested for raising the strength of VDCs, issuance of SLRs and good training on regular basis, strengthening of wireless communication network, enrollment of SPOs/ ex-servicemen and raising of BSF and army posts in certain areas.

At Tatapani too, similar problems were discussed and people, especially the youth resolved to fight for the protection of motherland. The construction of Tatapani-Sadda road, special drive of DGP for recruitment of youth in police and additional weapons to VDCs were certain demands put forth by the locals. Mr Shekhawat also addressed the gathering and assured full cooperation.

Vakil for renovation/repairs of MLAs Hostel

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: An amount of Rs. 40 lakhs has so far been spent on the repairs/renovations of both the MLAs Hostels of Srinagar and Jammu. This was revealed at a meeting of officers held here today in the Assembly Lobby under the chairmanship of Mr. Abdul Ahad Vakil, Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Vakil impressed upon the officers of the R&B Department to speed the works of repairs and renovations of the MLAs Hostel at Jammu. In order to facilitate the work of the ensuing session of legislative assembly the MLA Hostel at Jammu should be made completely functional so that the legislators may not face any sort of inconvenience. He exhorted upon the engineers to construct drop gates at MLA Hostel and also set up new sentry posts for safety of the legislators. He said that cracks have appeared on the walls and buildings of the hostel, which should be taken for setting right at an earliest.

He asked the concerned to prepare the estimates for setting right the building immediately and execute repairs on need based requirements. He said that electric fittings, geysers, painting, white washing, etc. should be installed at the places wherever necessary for the convenience of the legislators. Fool proof security arrangements should be made at the gates and vigilant security staff posted at the hostel, he added.

Mr. Vakil in the meeting said that Rs. 7 lakh are required for purchasing office equipment etc. in the legislative assembly complex at Srinagar in the recent attack by militants on October 1, 2001 for ensuring forthcoming session of the assembly at Srinagar. He also said that books worth Rs. 2 crore are lying at present in the Library block of the assembly in which books of historical, cultural, law, economical, environmental interest are available which is our prime duty to safeguard and preserve. He said that a well qualified Librarian with diploma in library science has been posted for the safety and maintenance of these library books.

The meeting among others was attended by Mr. R. K. Jearth, Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department, Mr. R. K. Goel, Additional Secretary, Home, M. I. Kirmani, Director Estates, Mr. Akhtar Kochak, Commissioner/Secretary, Law, Secretary Legislative Assembly, Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Ganai and officers of the R&B department.

Bukhari distributed Rs 43,000 under SW schemes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: The Minister of State for Social Welfare, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari today distributed cheques amounting to Rs 43,000 to 86 beneficiaries of Marh and Satwari blocks of Jammu district at a function held at Marh. The function was organized by the Social Welfare Department and Integrated Chief Development Project( ICDP), Jammu.

Of this, FDRs of Rs 34,000 were distributed under Balika Samridhi Yojana to 68 girl while cheques worth Rs 9,000 were provided to 18 expectant mothers under National Maternity Benefit Scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bukhari stressed upon the officers to bring more transparency and accountability in their working and take effective measures for the welfare of down trodden sections of the society. He said that despite Pak sponsored militancy, which has badly effected the developmental process, the activities of social welfare department are going on appreciably.

Mr. Bukhari said that in order to preserve the future of the girl children belonging to weaker sections of the society, the Union Government has decided to increase the amount of FDR from Rs 500 to Rs 2500 from next financial year. He called upon them to avail of full benefits of ongoing schemes.

Later, the Minister visited the Jeevan Dhara Centre for physically handicapped children at Mandal Phalayan, being run by Catholic Church of J&K, and sanctioned Rs 12,500 for it.

The Minister appealed the people to donate generously for the noble cause of the human service.

Responding to the demand for construction of a SOS Home at Mandal , the Minister said that he will take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

The children of the centre presented a colourful and impressive cultural programme inspite of being physically handicapped. He distributed sweets among the children.

The Minister was accompanied by the Dy. Director Social Welfare, Jammu, Mr. Tariq Ahmad and Project Officer, ICDP, Mr. S.K. Sharma.

Consumer Column
Water scarcity—a continuous problem

By Avtar Bhat

Notwithstanding the tall claims of the State Government regarding the redressal of the drinking water problems of the people, there is no end to the woes of masses living in the water scarce areas of Jammu region.

Though the Public Health Department is supposed to ensure the water supply to the people on the basis of their requirement twice a day, yet there are many localities where even the water supply is not ensured once in a week by the PHE Department.

This problems is not being faced by the people living in the Kandi belt of the Jammu region but even in outskirts of the Jammu City as well. In these localities the water is supplied once in a week.

However, some experts feel that till a big project is not undertaken for augmentation of drinking water in Jammu to cater to its increasing needs, the situation will not improve.

It may be recalled that the State Government had formulated a proposal for a water supply scheme on River Chenab a decade back for augmentation of drinking water. The proposal in this regard was also submitted to Centre for approval and it was proposed that the scheme would be completed by 2000. But later it did not see the light of the day for unknown reasons. Had this scheme been taken up in hand by the Government, the situation of drinking water could have been improved to a great extent in the Jammu City.

Though the new tube wells have been constructed at different places but they have not been connected with the already constructed over head tanks and reservoirs due to the funds constraint for laying the pipes. Moreover, the problem has been compounded with due to the callous approach of the Department. It can be gauged from this fact that no attention is paid to plug the leaking water pipes at different places knowing fully the same is hazardous to public health.

It was expected that after the sudden enhancement of water tariff three years back that PHE Department will take measures in redressing the water scarcity problem in the region but much to the surprise of the people this has not happened. The people had to pay the water tariff over 10 times more but the basic problem is there.

The situation even did not improve for the hapless people of the water scarce areas after Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar took over as the Works Minister. Though the Minister is taking the keen interest in improving the situation, but despite his efforts the desired results are yet awaited.

Some parts of Jammu like Durga Nagar, Roop Nagar, EWS Colony, Chinore, Laxmi Puram, Neel Sheel Vihar Bantalab, Kral Bab Nagar, Ganga Nagar, Keran, Kot Balwal, Sunjwan, parts of Digiana, Patoli Brahminah, Indira Colony Talab Tillo and Ambh Grota are most affected by water scarcity problem. The inhabitants of these localities are crying hoarse for redressal of the problems but to no avail.

There is so callousness on the part of the PHE Department that attention is being paid for days together in replacing or renovating a motor at pump station after it develops a snag. Even no efforts have been made to keep the stand by motors at the pump station to tackle the problem.

The PHE Department’s decision of providing the drinking water in some localities after a week is totally unreasonable. This way the Department forces the masses to take the stored water which can never be hygienically pure hence expose them to the grave health hazards. As storage of the water for a week or beyond that in pitchers or tanks for drinking purpose can never be hygienically good. But the people who are left with no alternative are forced to use the same.

The continuous scarcity of drinking water in these localities benefited the commercial dealers who sell portable water through tankers. The people allege the scarcity is the deliberate creation due to a deep nexus between some vested elements and the private water tanker bodies who taking the full advantage of the situation sell the water on throw away prices after the demand increases.

Moreover there is no check on the use of motors on the main water supply pumps and the row between the Power Development Department (PDD) and PHE over the issue has further added to the problems of the masses. The use of motors on main water supply pipes has become a routine practice for the well to do people now. This way the people belonging to poor and marginal families are being forced to pay through the nose. However, the use of motors can be checked provided the two departments coordinate with each other and launch a drive against this unlawful practice for the common good.

Cong activists pay tributes to late Indira Gandhi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: A meeting of Pradesh Congress office bearers, DCC and block presidents as also Seva Dal and women wing activists held at PCC Headquarters today paid glowing tributes to Priya Darshini Indira Gandhi on her 84th birth anniversary. Sardar Parduman Singh Azad, vice president PCC presided over.

Speaking on the occasion Thakur Hari Singh, general secretary PCC paid rich tributes to Mrs Gandhi and described her as an iron lady. Mrs Khem Lata Wakhloo, former minister who recently joined Congress party was welcomed by by Congress leaders.

Mrs Wakhloo while speaking on the occasion said that Mrs Gandhi was the world personality who worked for upliftment of poor people and showed to the world the path towards peace. She said Congress is the only party which can ameliorate the sufferings of the people and bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir state.

Others who paid rich tributes included Messrs Thakur Gulchain Singh, Mula Ram, Anil Chopra, Rafiq Sadiq, Maheshwar Singh, Ms Farida Mir, Dr J N Dhar, Nek Mohd, Mrs Indu Pawar, Shakuntla Devi, Rajiv Saraf, Vijay Sharma, Pawan Raina, K L Abrol, Deepak Kumar, Thomas Khokhar, Narinder Singh, Ram Malhotra, Mohan Lal Sharma, Amar Chand, G R Mantoo, Pandit Asha Nand, Shanker Dass,, Munshi Shah, Mrs Kunti Devi, Sanjeev Chadha, Ajay Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Faquir Masih, Pawan Sharma, Harbans Lal, Shashi Kant, Miss Tammana, Pardeep Bhagat , Harinder Kour, Gurdeep Kour, Santosh, Ajay Kumar Ghai and others.

A mass public meeting was held at Bishnah to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mrs Indira Gandhi. The function was organised by senior Congress leader Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma and and presided over by former MP Mr Mangat Ram Sharma.

Paying rich tributes to Mrs Gandhi Mr Mangat Ram Sharma said that Late Indira Gandhi was the most remarkable lady of Indian polity who remained active in the freedom struggle from her childhood and became the member of INC in 1938 and elected as Congress president in 1959. She oriented Congress thinking and actions towards basic issues.

Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma said Indira Ji laid down her life for the cause of the country. Referring to Resettlement Bill Mr Sharma said if this Bill was implemented, it will create confusions, chaos and Civil war conditions in the State.

Ridiculing the concept of Farooq Government of autonomy, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma said that state autonomy and regional autonomy in the present shape and form will not be acceptable to Congress party as the same was aimed at creating a communal divide. He said the Chief Minister was playing a dangerous game which would lead the State towards disaster.

Mr Ashwani Sharma while addressing said that the graph of militancy has increased. He also referred to various local demands and urged the concerned authorities to concede the same at an earliest.

Indian National Congress MLA Mr Assoc. Sharma while paying rich tributes to Mrs Indira Gandhi described her as an iron lady who organized Non-Aligned Movement for world peace and upliftment of developing and under-developed countries.

In a simple but impressive function, the District Youth Congress Committee Rajouri paid rich tributes to Mrs Indira Gandhi under the leadership of Mr Sanjeev Sharma.

Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir Trade Union Congress in a meeting under the presidentship of Mr Sewa Ram Sharma paid glowing tributes to Mrs Indira Gandhi.

Sagar dedicates 2 irrigation tube wells to public

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: The Minister for Works, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar today dedicated to people irrigation tube wells at border village of Khushalpur in Suchetgarh constituency and Chatta in Gandhi Nagar constituency of Jammu region.

Installed at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh, the tube wells would provide around 4 lakh gallons of irrigation water each per day to the area. The total cultivable command area of these tube wells is around 1000 kanals of land.

Addressing largely attended public meetings on this occasion, the Minister said that these tube wells have been installed as a part of the programme to install 150 irrigation tube wells in Jammu region, at a cost of Rs. 22 crore. He said out of these 78 tube wells have already been completed while 14 more are likely to be completed by the end of current financial year. He said an amount of Rs. 14 crore has so far been spent on the drilling of these tube wells.

Mr. Sagar said to further augment the irrigation facility in Jammu region, the Government have taken up modernization of Kathua, Ranbir and Partap Canals under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). He said the Government’s thrust was exploration of ground water for both drinking and irrigation purposes as the surface water resources were fast depleting in the State. Besides, stabilization of the present cultivable command area, he said the need is to bring new cultivable area under irrigation facility, as agriculture is the backbone of the State’s economy.

Mr. Sagar said it has been the endeavour of the present Government to reach out to the people in every nook and corner of the State and mitigate their sufferings. He said one of the fundamentals of Sher-i-Kashmir’s Naya Kashmir programme is that every person in the State should have access to basic amenities of life. He said despite heavy odds, the Government during past five years has achieved several milestones in the infrastructural sector and has brought a veritable revolution in the road communication network of the State.

Mr. Sagar accused the opposition of resorting to unfounded criticism of the Government and said that they have no developmental programme for the people. "Thus only occupation is to level baseless charges against the ruling party to hoodwink the public," Mr. Sagar said and added that people, however, can well differentiate between the friends and foes.

Mr. Sagar said the people who have resorted to rigging of elections in the past today putting the blame on the National Conference. He said NC’s pro-people role in the State right from 1931 is known to everybody and they do not need a certificate from anybody for this. He said it is also a known fact that how overwhelming support NC got in 1977 elections when the people of the State for the first time exercised free and fair franchise in support of the party. He said the only aim of the opposition is to grab power for which they have been eagerly waiting for all these years. Mr. Sagar cautioned people of the machinations of such self centered elements and asked them to thwart their designs.

Mr. R. C. Baghat, MLA, Chief Engineers of R&B, PHE, I&FC and MED besides several politicians of the area were present on the occasion.

Milk production in J&K to cross 12 lac MTs by March

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 19: Milk production in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to touch 12.07 lakh MTs by the end of March next against 11.40 lakh MTs at the end of last fiscal year. Of this, 6.52 lakh MTs are likely to be in Kashmir Valley and 5.55 lakh MTs in Jammu region. The production in Kashmir Valley has been 6 lakh MTs and 5.40 lakh MTs in Jammu region during the last fiscal year.

The increase in the milk production has been mainly due to genetic improvement and better health services. About 35 per cent of local cattle have been converted into high yielding crossbreeds of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey.

With the increase in milk production, the per capita availability of milk in the State has crossed the prescribed limit. The availability at present is 306 ml per day for a population of over one crore against 280 ml per day recommended by ICMR.

The cattle population in the State has reached to 31.74 lakh according to 1997 census against over 22 lakh in 1994-95. The cattle population in Kashmir Valley alone has been recorded at 15.52 lakh against 15.45 lakh in 1994-95. Of this, the crossbreed cattle accounted for 44.32 per cent. Fifty per cent cattle population in the State is expected to be converted into crossbreed by the of 9th Plan..

The Animal Husbandry Department is endeavouring to make the animal rearing a profitable occupation in rural areas. For achieving this objective, the department envisages to effect genetic improvement, crossbreed the local livestock with high-exhorted breeds and better health cover through surveillance and control disease, besides providing assistance in quality control and marketing of animal products.

The department’s strategy is to consolidate the gains made so far and increase the productivity by improving and streamlining the animal husbandry practices in the field of breeding, feeding, marketing management and disease control.

With the assistance from the Central Government under Integrated Dairy Development Programme, the State Government is keen to encourage the dairy cooperative movement to increase production, processing and distribution of milk. This step, besides, increasing availability of milk products will also ensure better economic returns to the farmers.

The extension of frozen semen technology programme through liquid Nitrogen is being pursued vigorously to augment the genetic improvement by artificial insemination. Out of 1310 veterinary centres in the State, the frozen semen technology has already been extended to 988 centres that benefit the farmers at their doorsteps for their economic upliftment.

During the last year alone, the department conducted 2.28 lakh artificial inseminations and has fixed a target of 3.10 lakh inseminations for the current year. The births recorded during the period have been 1.03 lakh. It also conducted 1.25 lakh castrations against the target of 1.21 lakh last year and has fixed a target of conducting 1.35 lakh for the current year.

To check the incidence of various diseases, the field agencies made 1.19 crore vaccination during last year besides treating 29.37 lakh cattle population. Similarly, 17.97 lakh dozings were given against LFIW during the same period. By the end of the current year the department is expected to exceed the target of providing 58.50 lakh dozings fixed for the 9th Plan period. During the last four years, a record of 75 lakh dozings were given against various diseases while a target of 18.77 lakh dozings have been fixed for the current financial year.

Sidhu visits Information Directorate, reviews functioning

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nove 19: Commissioner/Secretary, Information , Mr. A. S. Sidhu visited the Directorate of Information and inspected its various wings. Besides, he inspected divisional office, field publicity, photo, film and cultural wings also.

Mr. Sidhu interacted with the officers of the department who apprised him of their problems and sought various facilities for smooth functioning of the department that is charged with the onerous responsibility of projecting policies and programmes of the Government and highlighting achievements in various developmental spheres.

The Director Information, S. Narinder Singh briefed the Commissioner about functioning of various wings and said that concerted efforts are being made to publicise acitivities of the Government aimed at people’s welfare. He stressed the need for strengthening various wings of the department for achieving optimum publicity of development effort.

The officers also brought to the notice of the Commissioner their service matters and sought mitigating these earnestly.

The meeting also took stock of the film and photo sections and construction of media complex, land for which has been acquired at Rail Head, Jammu. Computerization, automation and other modern gadgets for ensuring quick communication also came up for discussion.

Mr. Sidhu assured that all possible measures would be initiated for supplementing logistical support for effective functioning of the department. About deficiency of accommodation to various units of the department, he said this will be taken up at appropriate level so that the officials get congenial atmosphere to work.

The Commissioner also assured that the problems including those relating to their service matters would be earnestly looked into.

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