80 pc increase in resin production fails
to meet local units’ demand

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Oct 10: Despite eighty per cent increase in the production of resin in the J&K State, the Forest Department has failed to meet the demand of nearly 22 turpentine and paints units in the State.

While the State Forest Department is meeting the demand of hardly a dozen units with the local production of resin from the areas like Rajouri-Nowshera, Kalidhar, Reasi, Udhampur and Billawar, at least ten units here are forced to import the raw material for the paints based units from neighbouring Himachal or Uttranchal.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Irshad Khan told the Excelsior that Government has taken a decision to curtail the production in view of increasing pressure on the forests. He said massive damage has been suffered by the forests due to various activities and keeping in view this fact during 2002-03, it was resolved to decrease the production of resin by 20 per cent.

Referring to the consumption of this raw material in industrial units here, he said the forests here are not able to meet the demand now and many of them are managing it from Himachal and even Uttranchal. The unit holders here also claim that they get this raw material cheaper from Himachal Pradesh as compared to J&K. As per figures available nearly 12,000 m ton resin is the consumption of the units here every season while State is meeting hardly fifty to sixty percent of the demand, he maintained.

Giving figures, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, Abhay Kumar said that with the production of 3934 m ton resin during 2004-05, the State earned a revenue of Rs 10.12 cr while it earned Rs 1860 cr during 2005-06, witnessing nearly 80 percent increase in its revenue. Responding to a question, he said there was production of nearly 11,090 m ton of resin during 2002-03 but thereafter, the process of curtailment started.

Apart from resin, the revenue generated from the other minor forest produce like Guchhi, Rajma, Anardana, Kuth, Discoria, Dhoop etc. was to the tune of Rs 1.55 cr during last year, whereas, the royalty outstanding as sale of timber to the SFC has reached up to Rs 311 cr. The revenue from minor forest produce was just Rs 14 lakh recorded in 2002-03 while it increased to Rs 55 lakh in 2003-04.

BJP elects presidents for 11 wards, Panchayats

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: The election of 11 wards and Panchayats of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Satwari Gandhi Nagar Mandal was completed and all the 11 Panchayats and ward presidents were elected unanimously in presence of Parshotam Gupta, election incharge, Gandhi Nagar Mandal, Baldev Singh, president Gandhi Nagar, Mandal, Jai Deep Sharma secretary Jammu urban and Vinay Gupta general secretary Gandhi Nagar Mandal.

Sampuran Chand was elected president Panchayat Halqa Langar, Jeeva Nand Sharma, president Shastri Nagar Ward 22, Ludarmani Sharma, president Ward No 56, Mohan Lal Sharma, president, Ward No 55, Jyoti Parkash Sharma, president Ward No 57, S Karamjeet Singh, president Panchayat Lower Gadi garh, Vijay Singh Bahu president Ward No 46, Dheraj Gupta president Ward No 23 Nai Basti, Manmohan Sharma, president Rai Morh, Gadi Garh, Satpal Choudhary, president Digiana Ward 45 and Anil Saini president Ward No 58, Jeevan Nagar.

Bounce cheque case against Shekhar Suman
HC quashes proceedings initiated by court below

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Oct 10: Justice YP Nargotra of the State High Court Jammu wing today quashed the proceedings initiated by Court below against Shekhar Suman a Film/TV personality and allowed all the nine petitions filed by Shekhar Suman seeking quashment of proceedings in the court below.

Special Excise Mobile Magistrate Jammu had taken cognizance on the complaints filed by M/s Shiv Shanker and others Mrs. Krishna Suri and Others and process has been issued against Shekhar Suman and others. The accused company Growell Multi Trade India Ltd had issued cheques in favour of complainant, the complainant while producing the cheques; the same were dishonoured and returned with memo that funds were in-sufficient in the account.

The cheques were issued and signed on the behalf of the company by the accused Director and of Growell Multi Trade India Ltd and not by the accused petitioner, the complaints have been filed by the complainant for prosecuting petitioner Shekhar Suman for commission u/s 138r/w 141 of Negotiable instrument act.

Justice Nargotra after hearing Advocate B S Salathia along with other Advocates appearing in the nine filed by the Shekhar Suman and Advocate KS Johal appearing for the respondents and also referred various judgments of the Supreme Court observed that in the complaint it is specially alleged by the complainants that accused/ petitioner Shekhar Suman was In-charge and was responsible to the company for conducting its business. He has been described in the complainant only as Director, Coordinator/ Promoter of the company, which according to the counsel for the complainants/respondents is not in fact, yet assuming that Shekhar Suman holds said position, that by itself does not made him liable for the commission of the offence u/s 138 r/w 141 of the act.

The contention of the counsel of the respondents that the question whether petitioner/accused is In-charge and was responsible for the business of the company at the relevant time of commission of the offences should be left to be determined by the trial court is without any merit. Such a situation would arise only where in a complaint, accused is alleged to be In-charge of and responsible to the company for conduting its business and the accused takes up a defence that he is not In-charge and responsible to the conduct of the business of the company, in that case the question would be determinable being a question of fact during trail. In the present case as the necessary averments in the complaint are lacking, the process against the accused could not have been legally issued against the petitioner.

Justice Nargotra further observed that Mr. Johal submits that complainants can demonstrate by a CD in which the accused petitioner Shekhar Suman has claimed that he is responsible for the business of the company. He in fact seeks this court to view it self the said CD. As the said CD before the trial court, the same cannot under law be allowed to be introduced as evidence in the proceedings in hand. The Court declined the prayer made by the counsel for the respondents. The complaints filed by the complainant/ respondents against the accused/petitioner Shekhar Suman, cannot proceed consequently, the orders by which cognizance has been taken by the court below against Shekhar Suman and the court complaints qua the petitioner are quashed.

With these observations the court disposed of nine petitions filed by Shekhar Suman u/s 561-A CrPC for quashing the complainst pending in the court below.

Commercial Taxes sleuths conduct surprise checking

Excelsior Correspondent

LAKHANPUR, Oct 10: The sleuths of Commercial Taxes, Check Post Lakhanpur, under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner Commercial Taxes Department, R K Varma, conducted surprise checking of vehicles.

During operation one truck bearing Registration No. JK05 6191 carrying sheep was put to check and some taxable goods like electrical, ready-made garments worth Rs 8300 were recovered which were being imported under the garb of non-taxable goods.

Meanwhile one Puneet Kumar son of Kasturi Lal of Kali Janni Jammu was caught when he was importing ready made garments worth Rs 28,025 into the State clandestinely. The goods were wrapped in two large packets and down-loaded near Mini Bus Stand from horse cart. The goods were transported into a local mini bus and un-loaded at Kathua Bus Stand. The goods were again being loaded into a Jammu bound bus when officials of the Commercial Taxes Department caught hold of the defaulter.

The CTD team had chased the defaulter right from lakhanpur to Kathua Bus Stand. The team comprised of Commercial Taxes Officers Rajesh Sharma and Pawan Parihar, Inspectors Vijay Kumar and Om Parkash, Sub Inspector Kuldeep Kachroo and Guards Aijaz Ali, Mohd M Mir and Vidhya Lal.

Penalty and security amounting to Rs26760 was realised before the release of the goods.

Zargar for closer coordination between
SKUAST scientists, farmers

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 10: Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Abdul Aziz Zargar has stressed the need for closer coordination among scientists of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology and Agriculture department officials and farmers for higher productivity and economic growth.

Speaking at a divisional level conference on Agriculture for Rabi campaign at Lal Mandi here the other day, Mr Zargar disclosed that with the Government’s resolve to bring green revolution of vegetables and red revolution regarding oil seed production, vegetables to the tune of Rs 90 cr were produced in Jammu (Rajpura farm) last year. The marketing aspect, however, remained weak for the same and it will be strengthened in near future.

While laying emphasis on the extensive research and community development, Mr Zargar said both Kharief and Rabi campaign would be successful when a strong support of quality seed and fertilizer approved by scientists of SKUAST is recommended and supplied to the farmers for production of different varieties of paddy, wheat and pulses.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Higher Education, Aijaz Ahmed Khan said that Agriculture has been a thrust area but unfortunately the new generation was not giving much attention towards this sector. He said adequate success has been achieved in vegetables production and floriculture but much more is needed to be done for it.

SKUAST Vice Chancellor, Prof Anwar Alaam, Principal Secretary Agri/Hort S S Sahni, Secretary Agriculture K B Jandial and Director Research skuast and Director Agriculture Kashmir also attended the conference.

Excise employees' dharna enters 84th day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Protest dharna launched by Excise and Commercial Taxes Employees Union entered 84th day today.

According to a press release, leaders of the Union stressed upon the State Government for early settlement of their genuine and long pending demand. They urged upon the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and solve their problems.

Employees have been protesting against decision of the State Government to remove them from services despite being the fact that they have been serving in the department as regular employees for the last eight years.

Adil Rashid Khan, Nazir Ahmed Bhat, Surinder Sharma, Anjum Wazir, Charanjeet, Shameem Mintoo, Ajay Kesari, Narinder Dogra, Sudesh Kumar, Ravinder Singh, Riaz Ahmed, Sanjay Dogra, Abdul Rehman, Mohammed Abdullah, Haffizullah and others addressed the dharna.

Circuit tourism development programme in offing: Dilawar

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 10: Kangdoori in Gulmarg is being developed as an international ski destination at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.48 crore earmarked under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan. In addition, Golf Course Gulmarg is also being upgraded and renovated at a cost of Rs. 1.60 crore, which would be completed by the year 2008.

Stating this here today, the Minister for Tourism, Horticulture and Public Health Engineering, Mohammad Dilawar Mir said that Government have taken up several new tourism promotion projects in the State which include tourism circuit development programme to expose virgin Tourist destination in the tourist landscape. These tourist circuits include Lakhanpur-Basoli-Ban circuit, Bhaderwah-Kishtiwar-Srinagar and Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch circuit. He said an amount of Rs. 17.41 crore has been earmarked for these projects under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction plan.

He said aerial rope ways are also proposed at Shankaracharya, Hari Parbat and Aishmuqam in Kashmir and Patnitop and Mubarak Mandi in Jammu province. He said about 50 tourist villages are being developed in the state under Prime Minister’s Recounstruction plan. Work on Gagangeer, Drung and Phalagam in Kashmir and Surinsar and Thiri in Jammu has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crores.

Problems of Bhamag area highlighted

Excelsior Correspondent

KATRA, Oct 10: One day convention of Bhamag United Welfare Front was held at Lalli area of Bhamag in which residents of different areas were present.

According to a press release, speakers demanded tehsil status for Bhamag. They regretted that during the 2002 Assembly elections all candidates had promised development of this area but nothing has been done so far.

Sardari Lal Dubey, Bansi Lal Kosthani, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Partap Sharma and others addressed the gathering and supported demands of the residents of this area.

Krishan Lal, Pritam Singh, Tej Singh, Kashmir Singh, Munhsi Ram, Tirth Ram, Mohan Singh and Rashid Mohammed also addressed the convention and highlighted problems.

JU organises Talent Hunt programme

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium at Jammu University echoed with enthralling musical items and dances as the Department of Students Welfare, organised a Talent Hunt Programme, here today.

The young artists displayed their creative pursuits and received thunderous applause from the audiences. Dogri, Punjabi, Rajasthani and the Western dances, mimicry and vocal music were main attractions of the programme.

The group dance presented by the students of PG Department of Hindi, made the audiences to dance to its rhythm. Poonam Handa and Mohd Jahangir spell bound the gathering by imitating the voices of animals, birds and sounds of machines, generators and trains etc.

Deepak Kumar on Synthesizer, Lucy Verma on Octopad and Sonu on Dholak accompanied the participants.

The programme was conceived and designed by Vijay Atri, Assistant Dean Cultural Affairs.

Prof Devinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs, who was chief guest on the occasion presented awards of appreciation to the participants.

Prof N R Sharma, Chairman of the Campus Cultural Committee, presided over the function.

Earlier, Dr P S Pathania, Dean Students Welfare, presented a formal welcome address and also numerated the forthcoming events, being organised by the DSW. Dr Shohab Inayat Malik, Assistant Dean Students Welfare, briefed the audience about objective of the programme.

Dr Annil honoured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Dr Annil Mahajan, a leading clinical immunologist and rheumatologist has been awarded Fellowship of India Academy of Clinical Medicine (FIACM).

The award was given to the Jammu Medico during annual conference of the Indian Association of Clinical Medicines held at Dehradun recently. Dr Annil is said to be the first Physician from the region who has been conferred this honour for his valuable contributions.

He is an eminent promoter of medical journalism and has more than 70 scientific publications to his credit.

Plus two lecturers discuss problems

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Oct 10: Plus Two Lecturers Forum in a meeting here, today held under the chairmanship of its district president, Sunil Sharma discussed various problems of the lecturers and the students.

The meeting demanded regularisation of lecturers and principals, filling up of vacant posts of lecturers in higher secondary schools and creation of infrastructure in newly upgraded schools.

The meeting alleged that in some schools almost all the posts of the lecturers are lying vacant posing a threat to the career of students. It demanded that immediate steps be taken to fill up the vacant posts in HSS Schools of Kud, Lander, Damnot, Chana and Juddu.

The meeting, while discussing the functioning of the BOSE alleged that there is no coordination in Board and School Administration as the Board authorities often take decisions without knowing the grass root problems in Higher Secondary Schools.

He however expressed the hope that with the appointment of Mr P M Gupta as Joint Secretary, BOSE who has a background of Education Department, the situation will improve.

He, while appreciating the role of higher secondary schools who have proved their worth by securing the maximum positions in the class 12 examinations expressed the hope that they will keep this up.

All India Oriental Conference at JU from tomorrow

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: PG Department of Sanskrit in Jammu University is hosting 43rd All India Oriental Conference from October 12 to 14.

In the three-day conference, around 2000 scholars from India as well as abroad will participate and present their papers in the respective fields.

This was informed by Prof Saroja Bhate, general secretary of All India Oriental Conference, while addressing media persons on JU campus, here today.

The conference in its ambit will deliberate on the subjects such as Vedic, Iranian, Classical Sanskrit, Islamic Studies, Arabic and Persian, Pali and Buddhism, Prakrit and Jainism, History, Archaeology, Indian linguistics, Philosophy and Religion, Dravidian Studies, Technical Science and Fine Arts, South East Asian Studies, West Asian Studies, Modern Sanskrit, Manuscriptology, Epics and Purans, Sanskrit and Computers, Indian Aesthetics and Poetics.

Throwing light on the history and objectives of All India Oriental Conference, Prof Bhate said that for the last eight decades, this all India body has been serving as the national forum of scholars interested in Orientology.

Prof Ramnika Jalali, HoD Sanskrit, JU and local secretary of the conference, informed that besides the academic sessions, there will be discussions by ‘Pandit Parishad’, Kavi Goshthi and cultural programme. The conference will be inaugurated on October 12 by Minister for Health and Medical Education, Pt Mangat Ram Sharma while Gulchain Singh Charak, Minister for R&B, will be the chief guest in the valedictory function on October 14, she added.

Prof Desh Bandhu Gupta, convener of the conference, Dr Digvijay Singh and Dr Pritam Singh, Media Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor, were also present in the press conference.

JKNPP working committee meets

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Working committee meeting of J&K National Panthers Party was held, here today, wherein the political situation of Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of PDP’s ‘Self Rule awareness campaign’ was reviewed.

Chairing the meeting, Prof Bhim Singh, chairman of JKNPP, warned PDP to desist from exploiting the innocent Kashmiris in the name of green flag, self rule and demilitarization.

The working committee urged Mrs Sonia Gandhi to convene the meeting of representatives of the ruling coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure implementation of entire CMP. It also urged Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to promulgate ordinance on the appointment of Delimitation Commission as per commitment of the Government.

In the meeting, the working committee also took some organisational decisions which included appointment of Balwant Singh Mankotia as incharge of Panthers Students Union and Faqir Nath as incharge Organisational affairs, Jammu rural. The meet also dropped Govind Ram Sharma and Noor Din Paray from the working committee for their failure to attend the working committee meetings for three consecutive sessions.

JMC launches special sanitation drive

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Minister for Roads and Buildings Gulchain Singh Charak and Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Ch Manmohan Singh today flagged off a special sanitation drive from Mubarak Mandi and Raghunath Mandir Chowk.

The drive has been launched in view of coming festivals and to prevent dengue outbreak. The old city has been divided into six zones in which over 200 Safai Karamcharis are pressed into service under the direct supervision of Health Officer.

On the occasion, the Mayor appealed the people to take preventive and remedial measures against the dengue. He said that symptoms of dengue are high fever, nausea, joint and muscular pain, skin rashes etc and the treatment include taking of paracetamol.

"People are required to cover their water tank and other containers with tight lids, before refilling water collers ensure emptying and drying at least once in a week, ensure disposing and destroying unused tyres, junk materials, unused containers and don’t allow water to be stagnated in an around their houses", Ch Manmohan Singh said.

He further appealed the people to dispose off the coconut shells properly as the mosquitoes spreading dengue also breed there.

On the occasion, Chairman of Public Health and Sanitation Committee Vijay Malhotra, Narinder Singh Jamwal, Zaffar Javed Ahmed, Sanjay Mahay, Ashok Dogra, Balwan Singh, all Corporators were also present on the occasion.

Estimate Committee visits Dental College;
reviews purchase, supply system

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: To take stock of purchase and supply position of various equipments and infrastructure in Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, Estimate Committee of J&K Legislative Assembly convened a meeting with the Principal and other senior members of the college here this morning.

The members of the Estimate Committee included acting Chairman Gh. Hassan Khan, legislators Mr. Mubarik Gul, Mr. Rachpal Singh, Mr. Brij Mohan Sharma. Additional Secretary J&K Legislative Assembly was also present.

While reviewing the sale- purchase and stock scenario, the members stressed for streamlining the process so that the basic purpose of serving the patients should be achieved. They said that the government funds should be fully utilized for the purpose and the benefits should percolate down to the people.

The Principal Government Dental College Jammu apprised the Committee about the purchases made and the supply system besides the stock position was also revealed.

Emphasizing on making the purchases strictly as per the norms fixed by the government, the members stressed that the supplied material should match with the samples keeping in view that the quality is maintained. They asserted that equipment and other machinery purchased should be made available to the patients and should also function properly.

The Estimate Committee after checking the purchase-supply and stock registers asked the Principal to prepare a detailed report and submit it in the meeting scheduled to be held on October 18 at Srinagar.

Referring to the grievances of the staff regarding insufficient staff in every faculty and the matter of recognizing the college, the members assured to take up the matter with higher authorities for quick redressal.

The committee members also went around different sections of the Government Dental College hospital and inspected the equipments and other infrastructure purchased.

Two gamblers arrested; smuggling attempt foiled

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Police today arrested two gamblers and foiled an attempt to smuggle bovine animals to Srinagar.

Police spokesman said that on a specific information a police party from Nagrota Police Station led by SHO DySP (Probationer) Ifroz Ahmed conducted a raid in Jagti area and arrested two gamblers. Thousands of rupees were recovered from their possession.

They have been identified as Divakar Nath, son of Rolu Ram and Anil Kumar, son of Pritam Lal, both the residents of Jagti.

Meanwhile, Nagrota Police foiled an attempt to smuggle bovine animals to Srinagar and arrested two persons.

The bovine animals were being smuggled in a vehicle bearing registration number JK02U-6643 when police intercepted the vehicle.

The arrested persons have been identified as Mohd Yaqoob, son of Roshan Din of Ramban and Jamal Din, son of Ahmed Din of Akhnoor.

A case under Section 188 RPC and 3A Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act has been registered against them and further investigations were on.