Excelsir Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29 : At the 2 days Golden Jubilee Celebrations of J&K Accession with India Dogri Poets, Writers, Authors, hisorians and several University Professors participated.

As per release, sessions on various subjects relating to the contribution of the Dogras in the Nation building, the promotion composite Dogri culture to strengthen National integration the menance of fundamentalism and its threat to the Kashmiriat and the crisis of identity of 15 lakh people residing under the military rule in Gilgit since 1949. The discussions also included the steps needed to be taken to preserve, protect and promote the identity of the Ladakhis residing in the districts of Leh and Kargil.

It was for the first time that a Rashtriya Dogri Sammelan started with a Dogri Tarana composed by the Dogri poets and Musicians.

At the deliberations it was also resolved that accession celebrations shall be held every year on October 26, the day when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession. This was also resolved that the Award Committee shall selection for the Dogra Rattan award.

The declaration that included an urgent appeal to the Members of Parliament, the Central leaders and all those who matter to ensure the inclusion of the Dogri Language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The declaration emphasised inclusion of teaching of the Dogri & Kashmiri from the 5th class in the State

The declaration expressed full faith and commitment in the composite Culture of the State of J&K and pledged to work for the protection, preservation of the distinct cultures and languages of all the regions of the State namely Balti of Gilgit Region, Ladakhi, the Kashmir and the Dogra. It declared to launch an Awakening Movement for the removal of discrimination against the people of Jammu region in the field of culture language, social and developmental fields.

The Golden Jubilee Committee in its declaration hailed the great historic decision by Maharaja Hari Singh to acceed to the Union of India 51 years back in the interest of nearly 8 million people at that time and in the interest of the security, the future, the unity of the State. The declaration said that the accession was accepted in response to the Total will of the people of J&K and particularly that of the major community which was led by un parallel Leaders of Kashmir namely Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, Maulana Masoodi, Mohd Sofi Akbar, Mohidin Karra and many other stalwarts. We the people of J&K have realised also after 51 years of the accession with the Union that the decision of our fore-father was great, unquestionable and irrevocable which has brought the people of J&K on the great secular democratic and socialist map of India.

BBIA raises demands of hoteliers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: Bari Brahmana Industries Association has alleged that the Government was denying the promised incentives to the tourism sector which has been declared as an industry.

Mr Devinder Mahajan, president, BBIA, in a statement said that the State Government declared Tourism as an industry thus enabling hotels and institutions connected with tourism as entitled to various incentives, granted to industrial sector in the state. Accordingly, Mr Mahajan said the hoteliers prepared their projects and reflected these assured incentives in their books. One of the incentive available was interest subsidy of 3.8 percent on loans advanced by the financial institutions. Thus hotels of units of regions submitted their claims covering grant of 3.8 percent interest subsidy on prescribed format, duly recommended by financial institutions concerned, to the State Tourism Department where these claims are pending since long, eating dust although the said amounts have already been reflected in the account books and profit and loss statements by these hoteliers. This delay in the release of said incentive has put the whole hotel industry in doldrums which now faced eminent closure and defeats the goal of Tourism development in the State.

On the other hand state Government and the Chief Minister Dr farooq Abdullah allure the entrepreneurs with attractive incentives for opening their ventures here so that tourism industry was developed. After investment of crores of rupees by raising loans at high rate of interest from the financial institutions, hotel units were assured of protection from the State Government with the grant of publicised like interest subsidy.

To save the hotel industry from emerging threat of closure and to give a boost to the tourism, the BBIA has appealed the Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism to intervene and issue orders for release of interest subsidy claims of concerned hoteliers.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: Munsiff (Judicial Magistrate Ist Class) Mrs Nighat Sultana has restrained Dr Ghulam Masih from unauthorisedly using the registered name of "Christian Baradari Service" (Registered Society) vide Registrar’s Order No: 815-S dated 2-1-1984 registered with Registrar of Societies and directed to Dr Ghulam Masih to file reply in the suite filed by "Christian Baradari Service" through Mr S M Gill, MLC, who is its Choudhary-cum-president.

Mr S M Gill filed a civil suit before the District Judge Jammu which was assigned to Munsiff Jammu for disposal in accordance with law. Mr S M Gill filed the suit through Mr A K Sawhney Advocate, who has prayed that "Christian Service" is a valid registered society with the Registrar of the Societies and that its memberships is also registered with the Registrar of Societies and that is has its own constitution, method of election, termination of its Choudhary-cum-president and executives etc. The court ordered that notice be sent to the other party and in the meantime notice be issued to the non-applicants to restrain from misusing the registered society "Christian Biradari" under any name till October 31.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 29: An amount of Rs 18.55 crores have been spent on execution of various development works under the district plan in Baramulla during the first six months of the current financial year.

This was stated at the District Development Board meeting at Baramulla, yesterday. The Minister for Rural Development Co-operative and Panchayats, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, who is the Chairman of the District Development Board, presided. The Finance Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi, The Minister for Medical Education Dr Mustafa Kamal, The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Legislators of the District, Senior Divisional and District functionaries were present in the meeting.

The meeting was told that the overall percentage of expenditure during the period April-September this year was of the same level as it was last year.

The Board was informed that the Planning Department has revised the allocations for the current year and it now stands at Rs 58.61 crores, which includes Rs 32.58 crores as revenue component and Rs 26.03 crores, as capital component.

Apprising the Board of the achievements registered in various development sectors during the period under review it was stated that substantial progress has been made in the reconstruction of gutted bridges in the district. It was stated that the bridges at Manglora Lalpora, Chankhan Sopore and Boniyar have been completed. Besides other major bridges including Gundi-Ibrahim and Chanabal are nearing completion. In addition to major bridges 21 minors bridges and culverts have been taken up. Of these 16 have been completed. Also about 113 kms of road have been black topped, metalled/remetalled and shingled. The schemes to be taken up with NABARD assistance have been formulated.

Highlighting the progress under Rural Development Sector, the Board was informed that under Employment Assurance Scheme expenditure to the tune of Rs 5.35 crores have been incurred which constitutes 81.1 of the total availability a total number of 1940 works were taken up which include 1358 spillover works. Of these 1215 works have been completed. Under Jawahar Rozgar Yojana Rs 63 lakhs have been spent during the period. 259 works have been taken up of these 193 works have been completed.

An expenditure of Rs 52.69 lacs has been registered under Indra Awas Yojana and Rural Housing Scheme. Out of the 1321 houses taken up for construction 507 such houses have been completed.

Under Integrated Rural Development Programme 1016 cases have been sanctioned. Over 60 persons have been deputed for training under TRYSEM and 20 groups have been constituted under DWCRA.

Review of education sector revealed that enrolment has increased from 1.28 lakhs in 1997 to 1.38 lakhs in 1998. This year 109 schools are being provided drinking water and toilet facilities and 70 schools are being taken up for repairs, 19 new primary schools are to be opened and 8 schools are to be added with 8th class.

In the health sector it was informed that work on New District Hospital Baramulla and sub-District Hospital, Sopore is in progress, besided construction of some other medical institutions buildings.

Programmes for providing employment to the educated youth has been given priority. Under Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana against a target of 206 cases, 213 cases have been sponsored. Of these 114 have been sanctioned. Under Jammu and Kashmir Self Employment Programme against a target of 319,191 cases have been sponsored. Of these 77 cases have been sanctioned and disbursements have already been effected in 48 cases.

Under minor irrigation Sector expenditure to the tune of Rs 75.35 lakhs have been incurred. The target for coverage of additional area under irrigation in the district during the current financial year is 300 acres. The Board was informed that notable achievements in remodelling of Badshah pond has extended assured irrigation to 250 acres. As a result of increased water discharge in Zaingeer canal additional irrigation facilities were provided to the villages of Chekirdikhan, Jagir Mazbugh.

Supplementing of drinking water facilities has received due attention. Service level of water supply has been increased from 20 litres per capita per day to 40 lictres per capita per day in the villages of Duroo, Dangerpora Gadkhud, Najin, Rakhi Duslipora an Tulerzoo Patti in PHE Division Sopore.

Concluding the day-long delibrations the Minister for Rural Development and Coop. stressed the need for making of streneous efforts in eradication of poverty, unemployment and backwardness from the Distt. He said every functionary has to work with greater determination, zeal and dedication to give a new impetus to the development scenario in the District. He said targets fixed for the current year under various developmental sectors should be achieved in full.

Mr Rather called for strict observance of the financial discipline in the execution of programmes. Spendings, he said, should be strictly according to the allocations. No diversion, whatsover should be made.

Excelsior Correspondent

GULMARG, Oct 29: Encouraged by the tourist rush this year after 9 years of turmoil the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department is Iaunching a campaign to motivate more domestic and foreign tourists to visit the Kashmir Valley.

Australia is the first foreign country to have given the "green signal" to its citizens to visit Kashmir, Director General of Tourism Mohammad Ashraf told a news conference here last evening.

He said after Australia, we hope other foreign countries too will allow their citizens who intend to visit Kashmir, as the situation here has improved considerably.

More than 1,20,000 tourists, including 10,000 foreigners, visited the Kashmir Valley this year since January . He said besides this about 1,50,000 pilgrims visited the holy Amarnath caves during July and August months.

He said this all was possible because of the overall improvement in the situation and efforts by his department.

Mr Ashraf said, "though our tourism industry, which has suffered during these 9 years of militancy, is dependent mostly on domestic tourists, we have decided to bring local and foreign travel agents, tour operators and mediamen to Kashmir so that the situation is projected properly the world over".

"We have succeeded in bringing in six regional Directors of our missions abroad to visit Kashmir this season to see the improved situation, and they were surprised to see the peace here and have expressed their satisfaction," he added.

Mr Ashraf said the Directors have promised to help in the department’s effort to bring foreign tourists back to the Valley again.

He said after sustained campaigns, most tour operators and travel agents have changed their attitude towards Kashmir and willing to help.

He said, "a group from Austria is coming here in January next year for skiing on Gulmarg slopes and a number of inquiry letters from other foreign countries too have been received by the department.

He said these are very positive trends and the department is going to take full advantage of this change.

In reply to a question he said, "our peak tourist season was before militancy when more than seven lakh domestic and 50,000 foreign tourists visited Kashmir."

The Director General however pointed out that except for some unfortunate incidents at Pahalgam and Dal Lake, the tourists places remained free from any violence during all these years.

He said domestic and foreign tourists did visit Kashmir even during peak militancy period but in very small numbers. However most of the them had expressed their satisfaction over the general behaviour of the people here.

When asked if the nuclear blasts at Pokhran had any affect on foreign tourists this year, he said several foreigners had cancelled their bookings, but it was not only Kashmir which was affected by the nuclear blasts, but other states as well.

He said more than 4 lakh tourists including a good number of foreigners, are expected to visit Kashmir during the next season.

In reply to a question he said the Tourism Department has just Rs two crore for publicity which included organising trips of travel agents, tour operators, people working in foreign missions and publicity through print and electronic media.

Mr Ashraf added that an international airport at Srinagar will definitely help boost the inflow of foreign tourists.

Jammu Lawyers protest against price rice

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: Jammu lawyers, today staged a protest dharna, here this morning in front of the Divisional Commissioner’s office, against steep price hike of essential commodities.

The dharna was organised under the banner of ‘Mehngai Virodhi Andolan’ — a newly formed organisation of Jammu lawyer. Large number of persons from the fraternity participated in the dharna.

Speaking at the dharna, the participants expressed anguish against the State as well as Central Governments, for their failure to control steep hike in prices of essential commodities, particularly of onion and mustered oil.

Former Advocate General of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Shabir Ahmed Salaria, while speaking on the occasion, charged Government of helping the horders and traders to loot the general public.

Flaying the policies of Central Government, he said that items like sugar, onion, potatoes and pulses were exported at a nominal price and now being imported at a much higher rates.

Mr Udhay Chand, who is also president of J&K Panthers Party, alleged that the Ministers and higher-up were squandering crores of rupees from the public exchequer at the time, when prices of essential commodities were sky rocketing.

During the dharna, a resolution was also passed asking the Government to provide essential commodities to the people at reasonable rates and check adulteration in eatables.

The newly floated organisation also vowed to launch a movement in the entire Jammu province was against the rising prices. It was also resolved to stage a protest dharna at City Chowk in this connection, within days.

Prominent among others who spoke on the occasion included Messers H C Jhalmeria, Ravinder Sharma, D K Khajuria, Madan Baru, B L Kalgotra, D S Saini, Babu Ram and K S Chib.

Those who participated in the dharna were Prof Vimal Bhasin, Charanjit Kumar, S S Nanda, V K Magoo, B B Kotwal, Baldev Slathia, Devinder Koul, P R Sharma, A G Sheikh, Karanjit SIngh, Rameshwar Jamwal, Gulzar Singh, Manohar Gupta Jatinder Singh, Sandeep Gupta, Raman Wazir, Jaspinder Singh and Ehsan Malik.

Congregation of Angural biradari on November 4

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 29: A meeting of All India Angural Biradari was held today under the chairmanship of Mr Piyara Lal at the holy shrine of Amar Shaheed Dati Todi Ji at village Ratnal near Bishnah.

According to a press release issued here today, meeting decided to organise a religious function at village Ratnal on November 4 to lay foundation stone of biradari building. It was also decided in the meeting to organise a spiritual satsang and langer for devotees on the occasion.

Mr Gian Chand Dogra, Er Natha Ram, Er Paras Ram, Er Rajesh Angural, Mr Charan Dass Pahalwan, Dr Manohar Rana, Mela Ram, Dev Raj, Gian Chand, Bhagat Harbans Lal, Chaman Lal, D R Agastya and other attended the meeting.