Lok Adalat settles 420 cases

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26 : A Lok Adalat was held at District Court Complex Janipur, today under the Chairmanship District Legal Services Authority Pr. District and Sessions Judge Jammu Subash Chander Gupta.

In the Lok Adalat four benches were constituted.

Bench No.one was headed by Chairman District Legal Services Authority Pr. District and Session Judge Jammu to deal with Matrimonial cases, one case was taken up which was settled.

Bench No two was headed by CJM Jammu to deal with the cases of Municipal, Passenger Tax, Munsiff and 3rd Additional Munsiff 307 cases were taken up out of which 46 cases were settled and Rs.18500 were realized as fine.

Bench No Three was headed by Sub Judge Jammu to deal with the cases of Special Traffic Mobile Magistrate, 529 cases were taken up out of which 222 case were settled and Rs.38350 were realized as fine.

Bench No four was headed by Munsiff Jammu to deal with the cases of Additional Traffic Mobile Magistrate, 360 cases were taken up out of which 151 cases were settled and Rs.20020 were realized as fine.

‘Munna Bhai Lage Raho’ did what writings
on Gandhi could not

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: "What literature and writings on Gandhiji could not, Bolly-wood’s ‘Munna Bhai Lage Raho’ did help in propagating his teachings among commoners within days of its screening".

This was opined by none but an eminent writer and former Professor at Delhi University, Dr Nirmala Jain, while delivering key note address at the inaugural of three-day seminar on contemporary trends in Hindu literature at Jammu University, here today.

The seminar has been organised by the Department of Hindi, JU, and scholars from all over India are participating in it.

Listing globalisation and increasing popularity of audio-visual media as the biggest challenge before the contemporary literature, she exhorted the writers to make their writing more relevant and give it common touch. "Globalisation has brought consumerism in the contemporary literature and lowered its quality while an instant culture has been developed among the writers who are writing for awards and money," she lamented.

JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo, in his presidential address, however, expressed his reservations over criticism of globalisation for poor quality of literature. He said that globalisation has various positive aspects also and the writers should use the facilities like internet to further popularize the contemporary literature.

Earlier, Prof Neelam Saraf, Head of the PG Department of Hindi, JU, presented a formal welcome address and informed that during the three-day seminar, deliberations shall be made on trends in different genres of Hindi literature.

Charak inaugurates work on 5-lane road
from Satwari to Bikram Chowk

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26 : Minister for R&B Gulchain Singh Charak today inaugurated the work on pre mixing of 5-lane road from Satwari to Bikram Chowk.

Mr Charak impressed upon the concerned engineers to work on double shift pattern so as to complete the same before opening of civil secretariat in Jammu. He also advised them to ensure quality of work at all levels.

Meanwhile, Mr Charak has exhorted upon the engineers not to compromise with the quality of works in achieving the targets.

Mr. Charak was addressing the officers at a high level review meeting of R&B sector after inspecting the major projects going on in Kathua district today.

The Minister inspected works on Bhag Ballah Bridge at Kore-Punoo. He also visited under construction Government Degree College, Hiranagar and inspected works.

Later, the Minister inspected the works on additional accommodation project of District Hospital, Kathua on which Rs.3.50 crore have been spent so far out of Rs.6.90 crore and its first phase of 100 bedded wards will be ready by March, 2007. He further disclosed that 13 new Sub Divisions have been created for speedy development and projects worth Rs.4000 crore have been taken up which are to be completed by 2009.

The Minister lamented that the delay in the submitting the project proposals of centrally sponsored schemes like NABARD, PMGSY/CRF etc. is of grave concern because timely funding from Central Government is not released and he exhorted upon the Engineers to submit timely proposals for the new schemes. He also pulled the engineers for not submitting the detailed project report of old Samba-Kathua road.

To watch quality and breech contractor-Engineers nexus, the Minister asked the Additional District Development commissioner to pay surprise visits to monitor the works on major projects and point out discrepancies if any and submit monthly report in this regard.

The Minister lamented that the delay in the submitting the project proposals of centrally sponsored schemes like NABARD, PMGSY/CRF etc. is of grave concern because timely funding from Central Government is not released and he exhorted upon the Engineers to submit timely proposals for the new schemes. He also pulled the engineers for not submitting the detailed project report of old Samba-Kathua road.

To watch quality and breech contractor-Engineers nexus, the Minister asked the Additional District Development commissioner to pay surprise visits to monitor the works on major projects and point out discrepancies if any and submit monthly report in this regard.

Jugal reviews development works in Rajouri district

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 26 : Nearly Rs. 10.32 crore were utilized on rural infrastructure and public amenities in district Rajouri up to ending September of the current fiscal year. This information was given in a meeting of the officers of Rural Development Department convened by Minister for Rural Development, Jugal Kishore Sharma who was on a two day tour of Rajouri and Poonch district. The meeting was intended to ascertain the pace of development under the sector and achievements made so far in the district.

Additional Deputy Commissioner and Chief Planning Officer were also present in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sharma laid stress upon the officers and executing agencies to complete the work with in a stipulated time frame and make it sure that work done must be of quality nature. He said that slow process of implementation of the schemes and execution of work would not be tolerated at any cost. He directed the officers to reach the field and monitor the functionaries of the field workers so that the job entrusted to them should be done expeditiously and material used for the work must be of better quality.

Upgradation of Mandazoo
Central Zoo Authority experts visiting Jammu next month

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Oct 26: The proposal to upgrade Manda Zoo near here which had earlier been shelved due to change in the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority of India, is all set to see the light of the day with the experts of this autonomous body visiting Jammu next month on the request of the State Wildlife Department.

Authoritative sources told the EXCELSIOR that Wildlife Department of the State sometime back made a request to the Central Zoo Authority’s Member Secretary to visit the Manda Zoo for the feasibility study on the proposal submitted by the State Government to Union Ministry of Environment.

Considering the request of the State Wildlife Department, the Central Zoo Authority has conveyed that its experts will visit Manda Zoo sometime during the next month to see whether this Zoo can be converted into large or medium scale zoo, the sources disclosed.

Informing that at present Manda Zoo don’t have any status because of meagre facilities for the animals kept there and construction of mini-zoos having been abolished by the Central Zoo Authority, the sources said that Manda Zoo can now be upgraded either into large scale or medium scale zoo.

When contacted, Regional Wildlife Warden of Jammu Naseer Kichloo confirmed that experts of Central Zoo Authority are visiting Jammu and added that earlier there was proposal to convert Manda Zoo into mini-zoo and both State and Central Governments agreed for the same but due to change in the guidelines of CZA the proposal had to be shelved.

"Before submitting new proposal to the Union Environment Ministry State Wildlife Department officers visited Chattbir Zoo at Chandigarh to get an idea about the design for the upgradation of Manda Zoo", he said.

Mr Kichloo further said that after the feasibility study of the CZA the Wildlife Department will have to submit a design for approval. He didn’t rule out the possibility of upgrading Manda Zoo on the design of Chattbir Zoo.

"For earlier plan we had engaged National School of Architect having panel of experts and possibility of again engaging this institute cannot be ruled out although this has to be decided by the State Government", the Regional Wildlife Warden said.

Terming the designs as crucial part of upgradation of any zoo, Mr Kichloo said that only those designs are approved which are animal friendly and provide such an atmosphere wherein animals feel like being in the forests.

Bhim cautions against Mufti’s game plan

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chief Prof Bhim Singh has charged former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with furthering agenda of Pakistani President General Parveez Musharraf. He alleged that self-rule proposal mooted by PDP was nothing but a game-plan to disintegrate Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference, here today, Prof Singh strongly opposed self-rule proposal of the PDP and cautioned the people against, what he alleged, evil designs of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his party. He was of the opinion that it was all due to the wrong policies of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that militancy has spread in every nook and corner of the State.

Giving details of the Dogra Rattan awards, Panthers Party chief said that Selection Committee for these awards has announced 28 awards out of which four have been awarded posthumously.

President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Zulqarnain Khan, who was born in Jammu and educated in Delhi will also be awarded with Dogra Rattan Award,

The awards will be presented by Governor Lt General (Retd) S K Sinha on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of J&K’s accession with the Union of India tomorrow.

Bank employees to observe strike today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: To lodge protest against policies of Union Government, various organizations of bank employees have decided to observe strike on October 27, 2006. Call of strike has given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and supported by all associations.

In a statement issued here today, Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Punjab National Bank Staff Union supported strike call off UFBU. Union appealed to all bank employees of Jammu province to observe strike.

The bank employees have been demanding introduction of one more option for pension scheme and rejection of the Government directed scheme, implementation of compassionate appointment scheme as per the bilateral discussions between IBA and UFBU, stop outsourcing and commence recruitment to fill the shortage of employees and officers in the banking industry, no merger and acquisition of PSBs, no dilution in the ceiling of voting rights as provided in the Banking Regulation Act, no attack on trade union rights.

National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), J&K unit also decided to participate in strike. A meeting of the NCBE was held under the chairmanship of A K Dhar, general secretary of the state unit of NCBE.

Meeting supported demands of the UFBU and appealed all bank employees to participate in the strike.

Govt committed to provide clean water to all: Romesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU Oct 26 : Minister of State for Public Health Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Dr. Romesh Chander Sharma today visited various villages of Nowshera, Sunderbani and assured the people that their demands would be redressed on priority basis.

During his visit at Channi village, the locals demanded a High School, electrification of village and suitable water supply scheme. Dr. Sharma assured them that the village would be electrified and that up-gradation of school would be taken up with the Chief Minister. He said that PHE department has been directed to survey the area to find some suitable source of water. He said that Government is committed to provide clean portable drinking water to all the rural areas of the State.

Referring to the formation of new divisions in the State, Dr. Sharma said Coalition Govt. led by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is making every effort to ease the troubles of the people particularly of rural areas who have been neglected by the previous regime. He further said that Industry Department has been asked to conduct survey in Nowshera, Sunderbani and other areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts to exploit natural resources that Industry can be set up in the area. The Minister asked people to cooperate for establishing the industrial units in the area so that the unemployed youth can be benefited by the schemes run by the Govt.

VHP for immediate settlement of land grabbing issue

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: State Vishaw Hindu Parishad (VHP) has taken serious exception of lackluster approach of administration particularly of Poonch district in settling the land encroachment issue of Buddha Amarnath.

The VHP state chief, Dr Ramakant Dubey said the issue can be easily decided as per the revenue records and any delay on the part of the administration can take an ugly turn.

He said the controversy which erupted six weeks back is still unsettled despite the persuasion by Shree Buddha Amarnath Trust Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Poonch. He said the DC commands a good respect among the people of the district and he can use his good offices in settling the issue.

In an appeal to district administration the VHP has urged it to settle the issue.

IAF constructs Pry school in Uri village

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: As a gift on Eid, the Indian Air Force by keeping its promise dedicated a Primary school to the people of earthquake devastated village of Khalsapatti in North Kashmir.

Air Vice Marshal Anil Chopra, Air Officer Commanding, J&K, and other senior officers were presented on the occasion on Wednesday. The prominent persons of the area were also present at the function. The AOC inaugurated the school complex and handed over the building to the village elders.

One year has passed since the sever earthquake had created devastation in northern India and especially in Uri and Tangdhar sector of Kashmir. Villages of Khalsaptti, Batkut, Urosa, Gowalta, Chakra and Isham had witnessed 100 percent devastation the IAF decided to adopt some villages for rehabilitation. Since then, Indian Air Force is engaged in reconstruction of these villages. The IAF has set up a relief camp at Urosa village near LoC to ensure that all relief operations are coordinated and being implemented effectively. The Force restored water supply to Urosa village and has committed to construct nine school buildings in the area.

The IAF has also resolved to establish five mini-hydel power projects in these villages and these projects are nearing completion. The Force has already spent Rs 3.64 cr on the relief works in the earthquake hit area of Valley.

Shri Muddh Devi Bhagwat Katha to begin on Oct 28

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: The nine day long Shri Muddh Devi Bhagwat Katha by Swami Haridayanad Ji Maharaj will begins at Parade Ground here on October 28 afternoon as per schedule.

Stating this at a press conference, here, this morning Swami Ji said the arrangements for organizing the Katha have been given the final shape and the religious function will start as per programme in the afternoon on Saturday. It will culminate on November 5.

He said prior to start of Katha a Shoba Yatra will be taken out from historic Raghunath temple to the venue of the Katha.

He said the Katha will be daily held during afternoon but on the concluding day it will be held from 10 am to 12 noon. After which prashad vitran will be distributed among the devotees.

Swami Ji said the Bhoomi Pujan at the venue of Katha was held as per the Hindu rituals on October 23 to invoke the blessings of Gods and Goddesses for holding this religious function.

Swami Ji said the main objective of organizing the Shri Muddh Devi Bhagwat Katha is to pay obeisance to Mata Vaishno and seek her blessings for the people of the State who have suffered for several years due to natural calamities like snow Tsunami and earthquake.