J&K
formulates Rs 5350 crore plan for 2006-07
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar,
Oct 22 : A high level meeting was convened
here today under the chairmanship of Minister for
Finance & Planning, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Baig
to discuss the annual plan 2006-07.
Economic Advisor
to the State Government, Dr Haseeb Drabu, Chief
Secretary, Vijay Bakaya, Chief Executive Officer
Economic Reconstruction Agency, B R Singh,
Principal Secretary Planning, M I Khanday,
Principal Secretary General Administration
Department, Nayeem Akhtar and other senior
officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was
informed that the State Government has formulated
a plan for Rs 4240 crore, 41 per cent above the
last year’s plan allocation of Rs 3000
crore. The proposed plan excludes Rs 1110 crore
of the Reconstruction Plan which is over and
above the proposed plan allocation for the year
2006-07. Taking into consideration that
reconstruction plan, the total plan ceiling for
the next year is proposed at Rs 5350 crore, which
is 27 per cent above the plan allocation of Rs
4200 crore for the year 2006-07. The proposed
plan includes a revenue component of Rs 1289
crore and capital component of Rs 4061 crore.
The meeting was
told that the broad strategy that has been
adopted while formulating the next year’s
plan under the revenue component include, Rs 50
crore for regularization of ReTs who become due
for regularization, Rs 20 crore for the posts to
be filled up for upgraded educational
institutions, Rs 1.20 crore under animal
husbandry sector for setting up of Equine farms,
Rs 15 crore for reorganization of the Youth
Services and the Sports Department, Rs 20 crore
under health sector for newly established health
institutions and Rs 7 crore additional allocation
to the forest department for the additional
staff.
Similarly, under
the capital component the broad strategy include,
Rs 17 crore for agricultural universities for
acquisition of land, Rs 10 crore for the market
intervention scheme, Rs 8 crore for newly
established university campuses, Rs 13 crore for
newly established health institutions, Rs 26
crore for Urban Local Bodies, Rs 14.02 crore for
flood protection works, Rs 57 crore under power
sector, Rs 45 crore for nutrition, Rs 40 crore
allocation for tourist development authorities,
Rs 50 crore for Mughal Road and Rs 100 crore for
rehabilitation of Dal dwellers.
The allocation for
various sectors for the next year has been
proposed as Rs 501 crore for transmission and
distribution system.
The plan proposals
are to be presented to the planning commission
for further discussion by 25th October this year.
Sale
of chocolate bomb banned
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22 : The District Magistrate, Jammu has
ordered that no fire work, crackers or explosive
material shall be stored or sold in the place
other than those specified by the Jammu Municipal
Corporation for the areas within Jammu Municipal
limits, and by the respective Tehsildar for the
areas outside Jammu Municipality in Jammu
district. Stalls for sale of fire works, crackers
etc. shall be put by concerned dealer only at the
places mentioned in their licence after getting
clearance from the Deputy Director Fire Services,
police and Municipality/NAC and revenue
authorities. The maximum amount of explosives
which may be kept at any particular time in
licence premises shall not exceed the quantity
and quality.
Electrical
fittings in the premises shall be of a fixed type
and not in the close vicinity of the stocks of
the explosive. No loose electrical fitting shall
be provided therein. No person under 18 years of
age or who is in a State of intoxication or of
unsound mind shall be employed on loading/
unloading or transportation of sellers explosives
or be allowed to enter in licenced premises. No
explosive, which are not authorized under rules
or prohibited under section 6 (A) of the Act
shall be possessed and or sold from the premises.
Chocolate bomb,
chain cracker (kali pataka, loose cracker)
"Dhani Pataka" Dodoma, seven shots,
rocket bomb, garland patakas, stat bomb etc shall
not be sold by them wholesaler cracker dealer/
retail cracker/ dealers to restrict the noise
level. No retail sale of crackers or other
fireworks shall be undertaken by any authorized
person before 29-10-2005 or after the Diwali
festival. The crackers and other explosive
material shall contain a price tag, which shall
not be more than the price printed in each
explosive. The price printed shall be deemed to
include all local taxes even if the printed
prices specifically reads "local tax
extra".
No wholesaler or
retailer shall sell or expose for sale any type
of explosive, which is not in conformity with the
type approved by the committee constituted by the
District Magistrate.
Quake
time political appointments criticised
Tarigami asks Govt to keep
away politics from relief
Excelsior Special
Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Oct 22: CPI (M) State Secretary and an ally
of the PDP-led coalition Government, Mohammad
Yusuf Tarigami, today urged the Government to
keep politics away from the current relief
operations. He described the quake time political
appointments as unfortunate and demanded complete
transparency in distribution of relief among the
quake victims.
While addressing a
news conference here today, Mohammad Yusuf
Tarigami alleged that, according to the reports
available with him, politics was playing the
pivotal role in the distribution of relief among
the earthquake victims in Baramulla and Kupwara
districts. He expressed his profound gratitude to
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Indian
civil society for providing substantial and
timely relief for the quake victims.
"However, the real problem today is
distribution of this relief in fair and
transparent manner", he added.
"Enough is
enough. There are other fields to pull each
others’ legs", Tarigami said and asked
all concerned, particularly the State Government,
to immediately evolve a mechanism which would
ensure transparency and cleanliness of the whole
relief exercise. He proposed that the names of
the beneficiaries, with their full particulars
and the quantities received, should be published
by the Government in the state newspapers. He
said that he would use his voice to seek
withdrawal of all political appointments, which
have been recently made in the aftermath of the
October 8th earthquake. He said it was surprising
that the Government had removed a diligent
officer as DC Baramulla and appointed new
incumbents as DC and Relief Commissioner
reportedly on political considerations.
A couple of days
after the earthquake, Government had removed
Aijaz Ahmed Kakroo as incharge DC Baramulla and
ordered the appointment of Relief Commissioner,
Bashir Ahmed Roniyal, as incharge of all relief
operations in the north Kashmir district. While
the State Government had honoured Kakroo with the
prestigious State Award for his hard work,
integrity and impressive performance in 2003,
several anti-corruption cases are pending against
Roniyal with the State Vigilance Organisation
(SVO). Primarily appointed as Additional DC
Baramulla, Kakroo had been functioning as
officiating DC in absence of a permanent
incumbent. A J&K cadre IAS officer and
Director Employment, N K Verma, was appointed as
DC Baramulla last fortnight. There are reports
that Kakroo was removed as incharge DC in the
wake of his refusing to entertain a
Minister’s "politics-oriented
orders".
The CPI (M) leader
demanded easy and immediate passage of the
divided Kashmiris through a credible mechanism
and he believed that facilitating the travel
would lead to greater movement across the LoC for
relief and reconstruction work. He observed that
it would also create a close people-to-people
contact. Tarigami urged the Governments of India
and Pakistan to establish more crossing points on
the LoC in addition to the four telecommunication
points in Srinagar, Jammu, Uri and Tangdhar. He
was all praise for Gen Pervez Musharraf for his
suggestion of establishing more contacts between
the people of J&K and PoK.
Over
5 lakh expected at Jhiri Mela this year
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22 :A record number of over 5 lakh
devotees are expected this year at the revered
shrine of Bawa Jitto on the weeklong Jhiri Mela
that is commencing from November 13 this year.
Finalizing the
arrangements for the pilgrims and visitors
thronging Jhiri from across the country
especially from the neighbouring Punjab, Haryana
and Union capital, Deputy Commissioner Jammu
Hirdesh Kumar Singh convened a joint meeting of
senior officers and Mela management committee to
discuss the facilities for the devotees.
Apart from the
arrangements for regulating the traffic,
uninterrupted supply of drinking water and power
and security of the visitors, special emphasis
was placed on developing the weeklong annual mela
as a major pilgrim tourism attraction.
The Deputy
Commissioner directed the transport department to
ply sufficient number of buses from Jammu to
Jhiri for facilitating the yatris coming from
outside the state to pay their obeisance at the
revered shrine. The Milk Federation Jammu too has
been asked to install their stall at the mela
site on mela days for supply of fresh milk on
payment to the visitors, while the Consumer
Affairs and Public Distribution Department would
install fair price shops at Jhiri to provide
rice, atta, sugar and kerosene oil to the
pilgrims staying there.
To ensure proper
upkeep of sanitation and maintenance of perfect
hygiene, the Rural Development Department was
instructed to construct 150 sanitation units at
Jhiri and Bawa Talab for the convenience of the
visitors.
On the occasion,
the Deputy Commissioner also directed the Chief
Education Officer to identify the land for
construction of Government Higher Secondary
School Jhiri building which is presently running
in the sarai complex of the revered shrine.
Strict
instructions were also issued by the Deputy
Commissioner to the police officers to check the
sale of liquor and gambling near and adjoining
Jhiri.
JK Bank
headed for South, Central Asia
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar,
Oct 22: As
India and Pakistan are working out a mechanism to
help banks in both the countries to scale up
their branch network and expand business, the
Jammu and Kashmir Bank has drawn up an ambitious
plan to spread out its branch network in South
and Central Asia. If it takes off, the move would
open up new opportunities for business and
economic growth in the region which go beyond the
balance sheet of the bank.
Presently being
the most under-banked region in the world,
Central Asia is poised for a tremendous economic
recovery, underlying which is oil and
investments. The Jammu and Kashmir Bank intends
to take a lead in its foray into the region as
the bank’s international plans are aimed at
steer clearing of crowded countries like Dubai
and London and focus on Central Asia, which is
considerably under-banked and economically and
culturally akin to Kashmir.
The move would not
only start and boost the Bank’s overseas
business, but would also revive the State’s
traditional business connections with its trading
partners in Central Asia, known as the famous
Silk Route.
To facilitate
spread of its network in Central Asia, the Bank
is planning to first open a subsidiary in one of
the Central Asian States, preferably Kazakastan
and then open branches in the surrounding states.
This mode is preferred over seeking permission
from the RBI for individual branches.
"We are
working on a proposal to open a chain of branches
stretching from Muzaffarabad to Central Asian
States including Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan
," admits Dr Haseeb Drabu, Chairman of the
Bank, recently met with the Governor of the State
Bank of Pakistan and the Governor Bank of Saudi
Arabia in Mumbai. Drabu, specially invited by RBI
Governor, Y V Reddy for the meeting with visiting
bank CEO’s from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan,
is elated over the positive response his
proposals for business expansion in these
countries got from the RBI and other parties.
The Bank, with 30
per cent Foreign Institutional Investors holding,
one of the highest in the country’s Banking
sector, has already applied to the Reserve Bank
of India for revival of licenses to reopen its
branches at Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, closed after
partition. "As the Bank had functional
branches, both at Muzaffarabad and Mirpur before
partition, we have applied for revival of the old
licenses instead of going for fresh
licenses," Dr Drabu said adding that he was
waiting for RBI permission to give shape to his
plans.
It is pertinent to
mention that after opening its first branch at
Srinagar in 1939, the Bank opened its branches at
Mirpur and Muzaffarabad on March 28, 1940 .
Although the Bank had in 1940 decided to open a
branch at Karachi, but the proposal was shelved
due to business considerations and the first
branch outside the State was opened at Amritsar
as Kashmiri traders at that time had huge
business transactions with the traders from
Amritsar .
Undeterred by the
devastating quake that hit PoK and areas of
Northern Pakistan, Drabu wants to go ahead with
his plans of reopening branches at Muzaffarabad
and Mirpur. "I think it is the appropriate
time to open Bank’s branches there so that
our Bank also contributes its bit in the
rebuilding of the quake-ravaged areas," says
Drabu adding that he is optimistic to get the RBI
nod in this regard soon.
ASKPC
demands repairs of temples damaged in quake
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: All State Kashmiri Pandit
Conference (ASKPC) in its Executive Body meeting
here today, held under the presidentship of its
chief A N Vaishnavi has demanded immediate
reconstruction of temples in Kashmir Valley which
have been damaged by recent earthquake.
Addressing the
meeting H L Chatta, general secretary of the
organisation said that Khir Bhawani temple at
Tikar Kupwara and other temples have been damaged
in earthquake. These temples be immediately
renovated, he demanded.
R K Raina,senior
vice president of the organisation demanded that
the houses of Kashmiri Pandits which too have
been damaged in the Valley be also repaired and
reconstructed. He also demanded ex-gratia relief
in favour of migrants whose houses have been
damaged in the devastating tremor.
The meeting urged
the Union Government to constitute a team to
visit holy temple of Sharda in POK to assess the
damages suffered by the temple in the quake.
Bajaj
Allianz launches Health Care Plan
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: Bajaj Allianz today launched 6-in-1
Health Care Plan. The plan is an insurance policy
providing health cover with life insurance
benefit at price of just one cup of tea per day.
This 6-in-1 Health
Care Plan offers wide acceptance across the
country, as the benefits would be available for
hospitalisation in any registered hospital with
15 beds across the country. The 6-in-1 HealthCare
Plan was launched here today by Associate
Vice-President of Bajaj Allianz life insurance
vice president Jeetinder Koushik.
Addressing a press
conference after launching the scheme, Mr Koushik
said, "this plan not only protects you and
your family from the high expensive associated
with medical care but also provides one with a
comprehensive financial cushion against various
health hazards"
"At age 18,
for a premium of Rs 89 per month, less than a
cost of cup of tea a day, will get the super
benefits to provide peace of mind and
security", he said.
"The new
Health Care Plan offers an array of beneficial
alternatives and flexibility to the common man.
It offers a long term affordable policy that not
only protects one from huge medical expenses but
also provides total solution against probable
health hazards. Bajaj Allianz has always strived
to work towards the betterment of the
society", Mr Koushik added.
CAT
dismisses SSP’s appeal regarding seniority
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: Central Administrative Tribunal
(CAT) Chandigarh Bench comprising Mr L M Goel as
is Vice Chairman and Mr Jasbir S Dhaliwal as its
Judicial Member, has dismissed an appeal filed by
Sham Lal Sharma, presently SSP Anti-Hijacking
Civil Airport Jammu, who challenged the promotion
in the selection grade of 10 SSPs and inducted
into IPS as the amended provision which provides
for holding year wise selection committee
meeting. The respondents are stated to have
clubbed vacancies of many years illegally.
In the judgment,
it was observed that after going through the
proceedings of the selection committee, the bench
found that in the meeting held on September 13
and September 14, separate selection list for
different years with separate consideration zone
depending on number of vacancies of the relevant
years were prepared. The bench also assessed the
assessment of ACRs of the applicant vis-a-vis
private respondents including MS Salaria, PR
Manhas, Joginder Koul, T Phonshok, Manju Rashid,
Alok Puri, Munir Ahmad Khan, Abdul Quyoom Manhas,
Syed Ahmad Syed and Rajeev Kotwal— all SSPs
and found that the applicant could not be
included in the select list for the years
1998-1999 and 2000 on the basis of the better
comparative record of the other officers in the
consideration zone.
The CAT Bench
further observed that if record of the last eight
years had been considered instead of five years,
the situation, instead of improving would have
been deteriorated because his report for
1994-1995 was ‘satisfactory’ and in
1995-1996, it was only ‘good’. The
procedure universally adopted by Union Public
Service Commission ( UPSC) of laying emphasis on
the record of last five years had already been
upheld by the Supreme Court in the case of Anil
Katiyar. " There is nothing wrong in
preparation of the select list for different
years." With these observations, the CAT
dismissed the appeal filed by the applicant.
Tankers
Drivers Union, BSP stage
dharna against CP Fund Deptt
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: All J&K Tankers Drivers and
Cleaners Union today staged a protest dharna
infront of the office of the Divisional
Commissioner here.
Union members,
through Divisional Commissioner Jammu, submitted
a memorandum to the Chief Minister regarding
their demands.
President of the
Union, R S Raina, pointed out that the State
Government has enacted various labour laws for
the benefits of workers including motor transport
workers. He, however, regretted that drivers and
cleaners were not getting benefits of these laws.
"The
employers are not providing any facility of
transport workers with the conveyance of Labour
Department especially the CP Fund
Organisation", he alleged, adding, "we
have requested the concerned departments number
of times for implementing the rules but of no
avail".
Meanwhile, state
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) staged a demonstration
in front of Divisional Commissioner’s Office
at Mubarak Mandi today to protest against the
malfunctioning of the Provident Fund Organisation
Jammu.
The demonstration
was led by BSP state chief, Dr Sat Paul and it
was addressed by the senior party activists. A
memorandum was also submitted to the Divisional
Commissioner Jammu by the agitating Partymen
demanding probe into the matter.
Permanent
shelter to quake affected top priority: CM
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar,
Oct 22: Chief Minister Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed said in view of the approaching
winters providing permanent shelter to the quake
affected people is the top priority of the
government. He said apart from the cash
assistance of Rs. One lakh building material like
cement, timber, iron etc. would be made available
by the government in these areas on cheaper
rates.
Interacted with
the people of the quake hit areas in Tangdhar,
Teetwal and Uri after disbursing first
installment of the cash assistance of Rs. 40,000
each among the affected households for the re
construction of their damaged houses, the Chief
Minister said a team of officers would assesses
total damages suffered due to the earthquake in
these areas. He said urged the Divisional
Commissioner, Kashmir to objectively conduct the
assessment and prepare a report.
Accompanying the
Chief Minister were Deputy Chief Minister Mangat
Ram Sharma, Minister for Agriculture, Abdul Aziz
Zargar, Minister of State for Social Welfare,
Ghulam Hassan Khan and senior officers.
The Chief Minister
said the JK Bank has been asked to extend credit
facility to the needy people for re construction
of their houses at very low rates of interest.
Mufti Sayeed said
the government would take care of orphans and
widows rendered by the quake. He said the
government would also help the families who have
lost their sole bread earner in the quake. He
directed the Divisional Commissioner to prepare a
list of such affected families and persons so
that due procedure is initiated in this regard.
Asking for courage
and perseverance, the Chief Minister asked for
collective efforts to come out of this tragedy.
He said many other areas like Rafiabad,
Baramulla, Bandipore have also suffered losses of
property. He said soon a Police recruitment drive
would be launched in the areas and possibility of
setting of an ITI would also be explored.
Suman
sanctions ambulance, blood
storage center for SDH Sunderbani
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI,
Oct 22: The Minister for Health and
Fisheries Mrs Suman Bhagat has announced an
additional ambulance and a blood storage center
for Sub District Hospital Sunderbani.
The Minister made
the announcements while interacting with a
deputation of Municipal Councilors which met her
at Sunderbani during her visit to the hospital.
She also disclosed that Rs. 20 lakh stand
sanctioned for construction of medical staff
quarters at the hospital premises.
Responding to the
other demands, Mrs. Bhagat assured posting of
specialists including pediatrician within a week.
She said the establishment of emergency hospital
at Sunderbani is also being contemplated.
Later, the
Minister paid surprise visit to Muradpur fish
farm located at a distance of 12 km from Rajouri.
Taking strong note of poor maintenance of the
farm and improper cultivation of fish crop
thereof, Mrs. Bhagat placed the services of
Assistant Director Fisheries, Rajouri under
suspension.
Among others,
Director Health Services Jasbir Singh, Joint
Director Fisheries, CMO, Rajouri and other health
officers were accompanied the Minister.
PDP
volunteers helping in reconstruction work
Himachal Pradesh donates Rs
1 cr for quake-hit people
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar,
Oct 22: Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
Virbhadra Singh has sent a draft of Rs. One Crore
to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on
behalf of people of Himachal Pradesh for relief
and rehabilitation of earthquake affected
families of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a letter
addressed to the Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram
Sharma, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
has also communicated that Himachal Pradesh
Government have despatched five thousand blankets
as immediate relief to the affected families.
Mr. Virbhadra
Singh has also convened solidarity of people and
Government of Himachal Pradesh to the people of
Jammu and Kashmir.
Peoples Democratic
Party President and Member of Parliament,
Mehbooba Mufti today revisited Sultan Daki and
Kamalkot areas of Uri and started the
rehabilitation of the earthquake-hit people by
getting the reconstruction of houses started by
the PDP volunteers accompanying her.
Appreciating the
role of the people and various non-Government
organisations (NGOs) who extended their all
possible help in the shape of providing blankets,
eatables and clothes to the victims, she also
appealed the people to come forward with all
possible help in the reconstruction of houses,
which collapsed in the killer-quake.
Mehbooba appealed
the people who are planning to send relief items
to the victims to send the relief items in the
form of timber, sheets of tin, iron and cement
Mehbooba also
urged upon the big business houses and the NGos
to come forward and take up at least one village
for the reconstruction of the damaged houses so
that the victims don't face hardships in the
chilling winter ahead.
Peoples Democratic
Party senior leader and MLA Tariq Hameed Karra
who accompanied the party President also spoke on
the occasion.
Deputy Chief
Minister Mangat Ram Sharma today flagged off one
truck load with various essentials including
Rice, Atta, Sugar, Pulses, Mustered Oil, Ghee,
Biscuits and dry milk for the massive quake
affected people of Rafiabad.
This relief truck
has been donated by Shri Mani Mahesh Seva Mandal,
Kapurthala, Punjab.
The Deputy Chief
Minister on this occasion called upon all the
philianthropist people and other NGOs to extend
their full assistance in the shape of of cash and
kind for the earthquake affected people of the
State.
The Minister for
Agriculture, Abdul Aziz Zargar distributed relief
cheques worth Rs. 3.12 crore among the 944
persons whose houses were damaged due to recent
earthquake in Karnah as a first installment to
enable the beneficiaries to start construction of
their houses before the onset of winter season.
On the occasion,
Minister of State for Social Welfare Ghulam
Hassan Khan was also distributed cash relief of
Rs. 2.20 lakh under national family benefit
scheme to the 22 widows whose husbands died in
the recent earthquake. Speaking on the occasion,
Mr. Zargar said that Government will provide all
possible help and will make available the
building material at tehsil headquarter Karnah.
Deputy
Commissioner, Kupwara was also present on the
occasion.
As a part of
efforts to provide adequate relief and
rehabilitation measures by the State Government,
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control
Qazi Mohammad Afzal distributed cash relief among
the affected families of Kamalkote.
The Minister
accompanied by senior officers of concerned
departments visited several villages which
include Salamabad, Dacki, Sultan Daki and
Kamalkote and took stock of damage caused to
water reservoirs and water pipes there.
Qazi Afzal
directed the officers for immediate repairs of
damaged PHE network and also for restoration of
drinking water supply to the affected villages
within four days.
Many complaints of
contaminated water supply came to the notice of
the Minister. Qazi Afzal expressed deep concern
over the supply and issued instructions for
immediate arrangements of tanker service to such
villages.
To express their
solidarity with the earthquake victims, the
Cooperative Institutions of Leh district have
despatched 100 blankets of high quality for
affected families of Tangdhar.
The Minister for
Agriculture and Cooperative Abdul Aziz Zargar is
expected to distribute these blankets among the
deserving families.
Prominent Sikh
leaders, transporters and volunteers of various
Sikh organisations under the banner of J&K
Gurdwara Parbandhak Board Jammu today distributed
relief material among the earthquake affected
families of Uri, Salamabad, Lagama, Didarpura,
Shahpura and Rawalpura.
The relief
material was distributed at the doorstep of the
affected families as well as the families putting
up in relief camp by President J&K Gurdwara
Parbandhak Board and MLC Tarlochan Singh Wazir,
president District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
Jammu Jagjeet Singh, Mohan Singh, Avtar Singh,
Amrik Singh, Ranjodh Singh and Manmohan Singh.
District
Development Commissioner Poonch M R Thakur
reviewed the measures to be taken for smooth
functioning of the schools in Poonch district. Mr
Thakur directed the Chief Education Officer
Poonch to visit the affected schools and assess
the needs of the tents for those school which are
unsafe and not fit for sitting of children.
He said that
matter will be taken up with Government for
arrangement of tentage accommodation for the
convenience of students. The DDC also assured
that in some worst affected areas pre-fabricated
buildings will be constructed before the start of
winter so that the education of students may nor
suffer.
The NSS unit of
Government Degree College Doda donated an amount
of Rs 4000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief
Fund for the earthquake victims of State. The
draft was presented to the Incharge Principal
Prof Z A Hashmi for onward submission to
CM’s Relief Fund.
Power Grid
Corporation has donated 15 number of kerosene
generator sets costing around Rs 7 lakh to the
quake victims of Baramulla district. The relief
material will be distributed in the affected
villages through Power Development Department.
The trucks
carrying the relief material was flagged off
today by Dr N S Saxena, Executive Director
NRTS-II Powergrid from Regional Headquarter
Jammu. Power Grid has already distributed around
5500 blankets, 1700 water proof tarpaulins and 20
drums amongst 11 villages of Uri tehsil involving
an expenditure of Rs 30 lakh.
Jammu Wine Traders
Association today dispatched two truck loads of
essential commodities for quake-hit people. The
vehicles were flagged off by president of the
Association M R Saini in the presence of Raj
Gandotra, senior vice-president and Jagdish
Jasrotia, general secretary.
PKM
rejects deviation from ‘Margdarshan
Resolution’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: Panun Kashmir Movement ( PKM) has
rejected any ‘deviation’ from
"Margdarshan Resolution" of 1991. Under
this resolution, the then Panun Kashmir had first
time raised the demand for separate homeland for
Kashmiri Pandits within Valley.
This assertion was
made by the PKM chief, Ashwani Kumar Chrangoo
while addressing a press conference here today.
Terming the
‘city- state concept’
"ridiculous", Chrangoo claimed that it
was unacceptable to the community.
Chrangoo
reiterated that the return and resettlement of
the Pandits in the Valley will be possible only
after the creation of a separate homeland with
Union territory status.
He, however,
maintained that the Pandit community does not
feel shy of having talks with the Government of
India or any other "genuine structure"
for achieving the goal of Homeland.
Commenting on
the dialogue initiated by the GOI with Pakistan
and Hurriyat faction led by Omar Farooq, he said
for Centre, the purpose of dialogue is to
establish peace in the State without altering the
existing boundaries. The Pakistan and separatists
also seek peace to evolve an entirely different
political and territorial dispensation for the
State.
"These
developments have a potent message for the
indigenous community of the KPs who are the real
victims of genocide , ethnic cleansing and
exile," he said. "This way the
prevailing political uncertainty over the future
status of Jammu and Kashmir will continue to
deepen further and under these circumstances
Kashmir will continue to remain a shaking ground
for the exiled Pandits", he added.
CAPD
Deptt realizes Rs 2900 as penalty
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: The Consumers Affairs and Public
Distribution Department, Jammu in its continuous
drive of checking the market in view of ensuing
festivals, a team of officers headed by Assistant
Director Jammu today visited the localities of
Gujjar Nagar, Prem Nagar, BC Road, Rehari Colony
and Sarwal of Jammu city.
As many as 50
shops were checked of which 11 shopkeepers were
found violating the Price Display Act and LPG
Control order. The challans of 8 shopkeepers were
compounded and a penalty of Rs. 2900 was realized
on spot.
Meanwhile another
team of CAPD inspected the K. oil depots in
Gandhi Nagar, Rampura, Nai Basti, Nanak Nagar
areas of the city. Four K oil depots were placed
under suspension for not observing the time
schedule fixed by the department and having
received complaint against the concerned. Six
others were issued show cause notice for not
maintaining sale register of the K. oil stock and
for not displaying the rate list at the
conspicuous place of their business
establishments.
Mufti
interested in relief to militants’ families:
Chaman
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22 Assailing policies of the coalition
Government in the State, former Union Minister
and senior BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta
alleged that these leaders are more interested in
the rehabilitation of the families of terrorists
than the victims of their barbarism.
Addressing a
function at Katra today Prof Gupta said that
Mufti Sayeed seems to be much worried about the
relief & rehabilitation of the families of
militants and not the welfare of the victims of
terrorists. This is again strange to note than
other coalition partners including Congress and
NPP are the mute spectators. They too have the
sympathy for the families of terrorists and the
victims are being discriminated. He alleged that
these ruling leaders have created doubt among the
minds of the people.
He pointed out
that such designs of PDP and other coalition
partners are encouraging militants and due to
this reason a spurt has been observed in the
terrorists’ activities in the State. He
alleged that bloodshed continued in the State
despite Mufti’s tall claims of returning
normalcy and peace.
While castigating
the coalition for not providing adequate power to
the elected Local Bodies, the BJP leader said
that entire exercise is futile till powers are
restored to these bodies.
BPCL
organizes free Maruti check up camp at Miransahib
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: Bharat Petroleum’s outlet at
Miransahib, M/s Karam Chand Saraf and Sons,
organized one day "Free Maruti Check Up
Camp" at the retail outlet in collaboration
with Maruti Udyog’s authorized dealers M/s
Jamkash Vehicleades on October 21.
The camp was
organized free of cost for all the customers of
the BPCL’s outlet, wherein technically
trained personnel of Jamkash Vehicleades checked
up over 50 vehicles.
On this event the
customers were found delighted, who appreciated
this initiative of BPCL and said they have been
experiencing the customer services even in this
rural segment, which are matched with the
customer services provided country-wide.
As far as BPCL is
concerned, the company has been taking many
customer oriented initiatives, which included the
new retail visual manifestation and is ahead of
the competition.
Transporters
not satisfied, want more
10 pc increase in
buses’ fare, 8 pc in mini-buses recommended
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: About 10 percent increase in the
fares of buses and eight percent in mini-buses
and auto-rickshaws have been recommended by a
Fare Standing Committee which was framed to
revise the transport tariff.
Sources said that
a meeting of committee headed by Financial
Commissioner Finance was held here today to
discuss the demand of the transporters regarding
hike in fares after increase in prices of petrol
and diesel.
"After
thorough discussion on the demand of the hike in
fares and analysing the suggestions put forth by
the transporters, the committee recommended 10
percent hike in fares of buses and eight percent
in mini-buses and auto-rickshaws", the
sources disclosed.
There was a strong
resentment among the transporters against the
State Government and this particular committee
for not revising the fares after every hike in
petroleum products.
Even after the
recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel, the
transporters expressed anguish over the
Government remaining mute spectator and forcing
them to resort to agitational path to get the
fares increased.
After much
pressure was applied by the transporters that
members of the committee had a meeting with
transporters of both Jammu and Kashmir valley and
got estimate about the increase in cost of
operation after increase in prices of petroleum
products, the sources said.
When contacted,
Chairman of Jammu Province Bus Operators Union
Tarlochan Singh Wazir said that 10 and eight
percent hike in passenger fares was not justified
for the welfare of the transporters of the State.
"The hike should have been on the basis of
cost of operation submitted to the Fare Standing
Committee by the transporters on September 28,
2005", he added.
He further said
that everytime Government asks transporters to
take whatever it has decided first and further
increase would be given at later stage and this
practice has been going on for the past several
years. "What’s the justification behind
increasing the fare of buses by 10 percent and
mini-buses by eight percent when both operates on
diesel and mini-buses consume more diesel as
compared to buses", Mr Wazir asked.
Even presidents
and representatives of all passenger groups led
by Kuldeep Singh had a meeting today wherein they
totally rejected the hike of 10 and 8 percent and
warned the Government to stop playing with the
transporters. They said that Government itself
provoke the transporters to adopt agitational
path.
BSF
Inspector sentenced by GSFC
HC upholds judgment
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Oct 22: Justice Permod Kohli of the State
High Court has upheld the judgment of the General
Security Force Court (GSFC) wherein an Inspector
of Border Security Force (BSF) was convicted in
disproportionate assets case.
The High Court
turned down the appeal filed by Inspector Nawab
Khan of BSF 5th battalion who was sentenced by
General Security Force Court to undergo rigorous
imprisonment for one year. Nawab Khan was also
dismissed from service and fined rupees 65,000.
In the 20 page
approved for reporting judgment, Justice Kohli
observed that the contention of the petitioner
that there has been violations of the rules
cannot be accepted. "The Court has found
that the procedure prescribed by the law has been
followed and there has been no infraction of any
rule or any provision of law", the Judge
maintained.
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