Unplanned
development, water security ailing
Katra town
Dinesh Manhotra
 Base camp of the
most revered shrine of the India- the Katra town has been
confronting with number of problems. As number of
pilgrims have been increasing with very passing day,
problems of inhabitants as well as Yatries have been also
compounding due to, what a widely alleged, non-serious
attitude of the authorities towards this town. Katra is
perhaps the only town in the country where markets and
other business establishments remain functional round the
clock.As far as Katra is concerned it is very small town
having a population of about 20,000 souls (only 5600
eligible voters) but this town witness on an average
75,000 floating population per day. Official this number
is considered as `floating' in official term but in
reality it is a sort of `permanent' population as Yatra
to the holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi continues 365 days-
round the clock.
Bearing burden of the influx of such a huge number of
Yatries, authorities failed to take effective steps to
accommodate this number in small town.
What is ailing Katra town is its unplanned development.
Brisk developmental activities have been going in the
town for the last three decades which resulted into total
congestion of the town.
Two years back a master plan-2020 was prepared for the
for the town, the area under which the Katra would be
expanded from 600 acres to 2,500 acres. The plan included
construction of a new circular road, tourist parks,
modern bus stands, commercial complexes and relocation of
government offices. The Governemnt had worked out a
multi-pronged development strategy for the integrated
development of Katra town and preservation of its natural
beauty. . .....more
Wildlife
protection
Tahir Shawl
 The Jammu and
Kashmir State exhibits a rich fauna and floral diversity.
India has been divided into ten distinct biogeographic
zones which are further sub-divided into twenty six
biotic provinces consisting of as many as eighty-eight
land units. The State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes
part of three biogeographic zones viz Trans-Himalayan,
Himalayas and semi-Arid zone. The area of Jammu and
Kashmir under these zones has been classified into three
biotic provinces viz, Ladakh, NW Himalyas (Kashmir and
High altitudinal area of Jammu), and Punjab Plains (Jammu
Sivalik ridges and area along southern boundary).
Alpine meadows, high rugged mountainous tracks and
cliffs, subtropical and temperate forests offer a varied
habitat type. The diversity of wildlife is manifested as
one moves from one climate zone to the other
characterized by altitudinal variation.
Wildlife :
The wildlife of the State is very unique and has affinity
with European fauna. The inflows of Palaearctic Tibetan
Species, Medeterarian, Oriental and Ethiopians Species is
the marked characteristic. About forty-five large mammals
have been reproted so far to inhabit the climes of the
State. These mammalian species include Carnivores,
including large and lesser Cats, Dogs, Bears etc
Primates, Ungulates and Rodents etc.
Species like leopard, leopard cat, Himalayan black bear,
common langur, goral, markhor have distribution
throughout NW Himalayas in the State and therefore met in
both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. . .....more
I dont't
Want to be another Parveen Babi
 Kangna Ranaut
played a serious, mature and an intense character in
"Gangster', but when you speak to her you realize
that she is still a child at heart. Barely 19 years of
age, you feel there's a lot about her that still needs to
be explored. Vickey Lalwani caught up with her on the eve
of the release of her latest film 'Woh Lamhe' where she
essays the role of late Bollywood siren Parveen Babi who
was mentally traumatised
How is the feeling on the eve of the release?
I am already feeling the fatigue of being in the
profession and plan to take a break. I attribute it
primarily to the emotionally draining experience of
playing Sana Azim where I play a mentally traumatised
character inspired by the late Parveen Babi (pauses).
Elaborate...
'Woh Lamhe' has drained me out completely. I'm tired at
the end of it as I had to go through all those myriad
emotions Parveen went through in her life. I have been
shooting continuously even otherwise.
How did 'Woh Lamhe' happen?
I was in South Korea for 'Gangster' when I got a call
from Mukesh Bhatt saying that he wanted to cast me in
'Woh Lamhe'. I was excited, but also realised it was a
very big responsibility. It was halfway through
'Gangster' when 'Woh Lamhe' began. I had not completed
'Woh Lamhe' when Suneel Darshan's 'Shaka Laka Boom Boom'
began (sighs).
It's said that Mahesh Bhatt is riding on his personal
life and trying to make commerce from someone's emotions?
Well, he talks about his emotions too in the film. So
it's nothing to do with only Parveen's emotions. How he
uses her and just when he is about to dump her, he
realises her pain and then rallies around her.. . . ......more
Success
Story that Really Inspires
O P Sharma
 Success is Our
Birthright by Nanik Rupani, published by Ulhas Latkar,
Swquell Infomeida Pvt, Pune, 2006, Pages 206 with
photographs and Price Rs 395.
This is the success story of a person who gradually and
gracefully climbed the ladder to top slot in business in
Maharashtra. His mantra “ Success is Our
Birthright” is not only a philosophy but a real life
practical model. By his personal example he practically
proved it and inspired others.
The book under review is definitive biography of Nanik
Rupani, who has attained heights through his dedication,
business management and courage of conviction. He was a
man of action and service and is always a front runner in
strenthening the values and traditions of society. z
His belief in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has
relevance to India’s past concepts and its present
day needs. He has taken many initiatives towards this
end. One of his major work is creation of Priyadarshani
Academy which gives awards on internationally accepted
criteria to the best global performers in various
disciplines. this prestigious award has gained
appreciation from all over the world.
Enterprising Youngman
This Sindhi, who migrated to India during Partition,
instead of venting anguish and discontent, he turned
completely to entrepreneurship and doing good to the
people. He believes in “ we and not I” and this
idea was incorporated in Indian Merchentile Chamber,
Maharashtra “ Together We Can Do Wonders” and
his other belief is “ Whatever You Do, It Should be
Better Than the Best” as also “ Attaining
Excellence and Innovation Has No End”. He has done
well always and steered the Indian Merchentile Chamber .
.. ........more
Bakeries
and chemicals
Maneka Gandhi
 Many years ago I
was instrumental in having the red dot put onto packaged
foods that had meat or egg in them and the green dot put
on vegetarian foods. All the biscuits in the market now
have the green dot on them. Unfortunately this green dot
may have been misused. I know of many cases where the
product is non vegetarian but the manufacturers have
disguised this as a vitamin , failing to inform you that
the vitamin itself , as in the case of Vitamin A, has
been taken from fish oil. Or sweets : most of them have a
green dot or no dot at all. They will not tell you that
gelatine has been used in their manufacture – I only
realised this when I went to buy sweets from Sweet World
and found each sweet with a red or green dot – and
they had done this honestly on every sweet.
Manufacturers of Brittannia Milk Bikis, Marie Gold,
Tiger, Good Day, Parle-G, Monaco, Hide and Seek and other
biscuit brands are under investigation by the government
at the insistence of Members of Parliament.
A letter submitted by over two dozen MPs last week to the
Union Minister for Food Processing Industry demanding an
urgent enquiry and action against all bakers and biscuit
manufacturers for allegedly using animal fat from
slaughtered pigs,cattle,dogs and donkeys in the
manufacturing of biscuits.
Check the ingredients mentioned on the biscuit packets.
You will find ingredients like E-322, E-471 under the
title of emulsifiers, E-341 (ii) under Calcium Salts,
E-223 under Dough Conditioner and the Raising agents'
category will contain codes like E-500 (ii), E-450 (i),
E-503 (ii), E-521 and many more E-numbers.
The biscuit manufacturers importing these ingredients
with permissions from the Government of India. The
bureaucrats who run . ......more
Dengue and
Hemorrhagic Fever
Sqn Ldr (Dr) Rakesh Bahl
 The coming weeks
are going to be the time when we will start getting news
about the occurrence of cases of and prevention of Dengue
fever in Northern India especially Delhi. Dengue or
"break bone fever" is a mosquito borne viral
disease caused by any one of four closely related viruses
transmitted to human beings by the bite of infective
mosquito of the species Aedes aegypti. A person can be
infected as many as four times, once with each type
Infection with one type of dengue virus provides immunity
to that type for life.. Dengue viruses are transmitted
from person to person by Aedes mosquitoes breeding in the
domestic environment particularly in artificial
collections of water like flower pots, desert coolers,
broaken pitchers/bottles containing scanty water, holes
in barks of trees etc etc.
A dengue epidemic requires the presence of the vector -
(Aedes aegypti mosquito), the virus, and a large number
of susceptible human hosts. Outbreaks depend on the
density and efficiency by which the vector can be
infected, the type of dengue virus, the number of
susceptible humans in the population, and the amount of
vector-human contact. Dengue is the possible cause of
fever at a time and place where vector mosquito
populations are abundant and active. In most countries
Aedes aegypti is abundant year-round. The frequency of
this disease has increased significantly in the past over
10 years. Modern transportation makes it easy for
travelers to visit any location on the globe, including
areas where dengue is endemic and contract the infection
crossing the international barriers.
Classic dengue fever is characterized by acute onset of
high fever, 3-14 days after the bite of an infective
mosquito. Patients develop frontal (fore head) headache,
retro-orbital pain (behind the eyes), pains in muscles
and joints, nausea, vomiting, and often a rash and a
change in taste sensation. Acute symptoms, when present,
usually last for about one week, but weakness, malaise,
and loss of appetite may persist for several weeks. A
high proportion of infections produce no or minimal
symptoms, . . . .. ......more
Positive
attitude enriches life
By Lt Col R K Langar
 Our life is shaped
by our thoughts. Man is essentially what his thoughts
are. If we think positively our attitude towards life
would be positive. But when we have a negative outlook,
our life would become a closed chapter. A person who
thinks positive sends out positive thoughts around which
activates his environment and he also draws back positive
results. Positiveness gives rise to tremendous evolution
inside our being where everything else becomes secondary.
A positive person finds acceptance every everywhere. On
the other hand our negative thoughts often involve us
going back into our past where we remember those events
of life which have not been favourably inclined towards
us. Our aim should be to remove negatively from our life
of whatever type it may be. One should live in present
without thinking of the past and without worrying for the
future. When we invest in the present. We look after our
future as well. We can follow certain guidelines which
can assist us in removing negativety from our mind and
help us to stay in positive state.
No Fault finding : When we try to find faults of others
we lower ourselves and encourage the evil in others to
enter our mind. Our scripture’s tell us that there
is no sin as grevious as counting the ills of others.
They are themselves faulty who try to locate faults of
others. We should find our own faults and make whole
hearted effort to set them right.
No blame game : Blaming others for our problems is a sign
of weakness. One should take full responsibility of
one’s life and accept problems which one faces as
opportunities to grow inwardly. Defeat the problems with
all the might. When we suffer at some point of time our
life, it does not mean that we shall suffer for the
entire life. Remember that misery ......more
A mission
of peace and love
Janak Raj Bhagat
 The Sant Nirankari
Mission is neither a new religion nor a sect of an
existing religion. It is an all-embracing movement
cutting across the consideration of caste, colour and
creed. Presently led by His Holiness Nirankari Baba
Hardev Singh Ji Maharaj, it is endeavouring for spiritual
and moral regeneration of human race and taking mankind
towards the most needed religious tolerance, communal
harmony and peaceful co-existence, which is the most
cherished goal of universal brotherhood based on one-ness
of the Supreme Father Formless God.
The Sant Nirankari Mission is essentially a spiritual
movement. Its principal commitment to its followers is to
make their minds conscious of Eternal Reality and unite
their soul with the creator, the Formless God. The
Mission believes that ignorance and superstition are the
biggest obstacles of human path to real progress and
happiness. The narrow-mindedness, hatred and pride
brooded by them are the most vicious source of trouble
for the mankind. The Mission endeavours to remove the
same by bringing spiritual enlightenment within the reach
of every man and woman-young or old, rich or poor, high
or low, educated or illiterate whatever the language,
faith or culture, whatever the State or the nation.
The Sant Nirankari Mission first introduces man to God
and then leaves it to him or her to lead a godly life.
According to the Mission, total surrender to God after
knowing that Almighty is true devotion. All else is
simply means to arouse the urge to know Formless God. The
Mission holds that devotion is not a means to know
Formless God, but having known God it is a way of life
for the devotees ever expressing his or her heart-felt
gratitude for the Divine bounties. Such a devotion is not
subjected to the limitations of rituals, time or place.
To the Nirankaris, Knowledge of God is not the end, . ..
. . . ...more
Grow
mushrooms!
Dr Anil Gupta Dr P K Raina
 Mushroom- the white
gold fungus has now become a choicest delicacy for the
people of Jammu region, crossing its consumption to more
than 60 tons per annum. Apart from adoption by over 700
growers and providing a good domestic market, the
neighbouring states, too, finds it a much lucrative
region that can fetch a handsome price especially in an
off season time. Owing to the pleasing flavour, texture
and medicinal properties, this high priced commodity can
further well be tapped and grown indoor by even the urban
dwellers that will certainly add a beauty in rejuvenating
their surroundings. As people are now becoming vegetarian
conscious with healthy food, the mushroom can prove to be
an excellent meat substitute food that constitutes much
of the digestible proteins ranging from 20-35 per cent on
dry wt. basis and fair amount of Vitamins B and C.
Absence of starch, low fat and low calories in it suit
diabetic and check obesity. High potassium and sodium
ratio proves boon to the hypertension patients. Its
fibrous property and alkaline ash content facilitates the
person suffering from constipation and byperacidity. Even
some of the mushroom species possess anti-cancer, anti
-Aids and anti bacterial properties.
Rightly known as the pioneers in mushrooms that started
its cultivation in early seventies, J&K contributes a
meager 0.7 per cent (50 tons) out of a total production
of 7,000 tons of mushrooms in the country. Though Kashmir
suffered a severe setback in mushroom industry due to the
blitz of militancy from 1989, Jammu too, couldn’t go
beyond the 3.5 percent annual growth rate of mushroom
production as compared to around 10 percent at National
level. The neighbouring state Punjab has recently
witnessed a tremendous annual increase in mushroom
production to the extent of nearly 24 percent in the last
three years. Likewise , India has also to shove their
pace in production of mushroom, contributing as low as
1.4 per cent (70,000 tons) in comparison to the world
production of 5 million tons. This is an appropriate time
to act and start with many of the mushroom enterprises
which no longer remains a business obligatory to farmers
only. The growing of mushrooms in an indoor space using
vertical space, may now institute to be an ideal . . . . ...more
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