CM
inaugurates OPD block of new Doda
hospital
Excelsior
Correspondent
DODA, Apr 17: Chief
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today
inaugurated the OPD block of the 200-bed
upcoming new district hospital being
constructed here at a cost of Rs. 32
crore.
The OPD
block, had been completed in two years.
Surgical, Medical, Ortho, ENT,
Ophthalmology, Physiotherapy, Gynae, and
Obstetrics facilities have been made
available in the block. The block has
also examination rooms and lab for
conducting various tests. Orders for CT
Scan for the hospital have already been
placed.
The
Emergnecy, IPD, Operation theatre blocks
of the hospital would be completed by
September this year. It may be recalled
that the Chief Minister had been taking
keen interest in the up-gradation of
health infrastructure in the State and
construction of new district hospitals
was a part of the programme he had been
personally pursuing.
Minister
for R&B, Jugal Kishore, Minister of
State for Tourism, G. M. Saroori, MP, Lal
Singh, MLA Abdul Majid Wani, Secretary,
Health, K. B. Jandial, Managing Director
JKPCC Dilip Thusoo, and DDC Doda, K. A.
Bhat were present on the occasion.
Governor,
CM greet people on Mahavir Jayanti
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Governor Lt. Gen.
(Retd.) S. K. Sinha has greeted the
people of State on Mahavir Jayanti, the
birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira.
In a
message, the Governor described Lord
Mahavira as an apostle of truth and
righteousness and said that the essence
of his teachings- the panacea of
sufferings being love and peace- is more
relevant now when the world is confronted
with strife and tension.
Gen Sinha
said the Indian society is greatly
influenced by the life and teachings of
Lord Mahavira who showed humanity the
path of rectitude for attaining ultimate
bliss.
'The best
way to observe such auspicious occasion
is to strive for peace and strengthening
the bonds of brotherhood', the Governor
added.
Meanwhile,
Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has
felicitated the people on Mahavir Jayanti
and hoped that the auspicious occasion
would be a harbinger of peace and
prosperity for the State.
In a
message of greetings, the Chief Minister
said that such auspicious occasions help
in strengthening brotherhood, amity and
secular ethos for which the State is
widely known.
Mr Azad
prayed for well-being and prosperity of
the people of the State.
Retail
fruit, vegetable sellers hold strike
Revision of rate lists
ordered, stir called off
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: All the retail
fruit and vegetable sellers/ vendors
today observed complete shut down against
the order of CAPD Department strictly
directing them to sell the commodities as
per the rates fixed by it.
The
vendors in large number assembled in the
morning at Narwal Mandi and took out a
protest rally raising slogans against the
administration. The rally went upto
Narwal Chowk and later all of them
dispersed.
Talking to
the EXCELSIOR, Jia Lal, president, Retail
Fruit Sellers Association, said that the
rate list issued by CAPD Department was
totally unjustified, as it was prepared
without carrying out proper market survey
and confirming the wholesale rates of the
commodities.
"All
the rates mentioned in the list are far
below than wholesale price of the fruits
and it is unimaginable for us to sell the
items on loss, as we are working to earn
not to lose", he added.
"Rates
have been fixed as per the rates
prevalent in main wholesale
"mandis" of neighbouring
states. But, when they are brought here
the cost escalates due to transportation
and taxes", Lal apprised.
"Is
Government blind on this fact, if not
then why such a cruel and arbitrary order
was issued and we are being asked to sell
the commodities at the prices below than
the purchase price," he lamented.
He further
apprised that the association was not
taken into confidence by CAPD Department
before issuing such an order and not even
bothered to ask the wholesalers about the
prevalent market rates.
The
association, however, alleged that it was
just a mode to harass the fruit and
vegetable sellers and asked the
Government to roll back its decision as
it would not be possible for them to
carry out their business on such
directions.
Later, in
the evening, Commissioner Secretary CAPD,
Khalid Habib held a meeting with the
representatives of fruit and vegetable
sellers associations. It was decided in
the meeting to revise the rate lists of
fruits as well as vegetables. It was also
decided to suspend the stir against the
erring retailers for a day till revised
rate list was issued.
When
contacted, the Commissioner Secretary
apprised that three-member committee
including a member each from CAPD and
Horticulture Department (P&M) and a
representative from retailers’
associations would sit together and
revise the rates which would be
applicable from the subsequent day.
He further
apprised that maximum retail price
chargeable have been fixed at 40 per cent
of the wholesale rates for perishable
items like fruits and vegetables that
included different taxes, labour and
handling charges, 10 percent profit and
other incidental charges.
Meanwhile,
the retailers have welcomed the decision
to revise the rate lists and called off
their strike but with a word of caution.
It is to
mention that on the directions of
Minister for CAPD, Taj Mohi-ud-din Shah,
CAPD department had distributed rate
lists of fruits and vegetables to the
sellers and the teams of enforcement
officers were carrying out surprise
checks in the city and outside to check
the black marketing.
Babu
Singh assures better deal to
industrialists
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Power Minister Babu
Singh today met a delegation of various
representative bodies of industrialists
of the State.
The
industrialists raised the issue of
withdrawal of Central Excise exemption
from Jammu and Kashmir, which has
resulted in chaos and unrest among the
industrial unit holders, as the said
exemption was a part of 10-year
industrial package extended to J&K
State till the year 2012 because of
prevailing unrest and militancy here.
The
Minister after giving a patient hearing
to the delegation informed the members of
deputation that he was in regular touch
with State Chief Minister as well as
Central leaders and spoken to them on the
matter from time to time.
Babu Singh
told the delegation that he has been
urging the Central leadership to
immediately restore the Central Excise
exemption to industrial units of the
State, which has suffered lot of
financial losses and difficulties because
of turmoil in the State. He has also
pleaded that State suffers from
locational disadvantage and the
incentives were very much needed to
attract industrial investment and to
maintain sustained industrial investment
along with growth of the economy.
He said
the Chief Minister has already spoken to
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime
Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as also Union
Finance Minister on the issue. He added
that the problem has been projected well
and Central leaders have assured to
review and reconsider an earlier decision
of withdrawal of Central Excise exemption
from J&K State.
Zargar
inaugurates colony built by Parsvnath
Developers
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: Minister for
Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul Aziz
Zargar has asked the Jammu and Kashmir
Cooperative Housing Corporation and other
building agencies to create affordable
and cost effective housing facilities in
the State so that common man is able to
have shelter with least investment. He
said that this has become imperative due
to growing demand of housing requirements
and rising process.
Mr Zargar
was addressing a function after
inaugurating a housing colony built by
Parsvnath Developers Ltd at Sidhra today.
Zargar also laid foundation of other
housing flats coming up at the same site
and also attended the Bhoomi Poojan.
He said
that public private partnership (PPP) is
proving very helpful for providing
housing facilities, but at the same time
he suggested the public and private
building agencies to see that the
purchasers of built flats are not
exploited for want of huge profits.
The
Minister further elaborated that the
cooperative sector is venturing into
house building in collaboration with
other public and private sector units to
create more and more housing facilities
in the State for which Government was
providing every assistances to them. He
said that the State needed one lakh
houses at the moment for which the
cooperatives will have a more responsible
role to play.
Complimenting
the Parsvnath Developers Ltd for creating
housing facilities in the State, Mr
Zargar said that the Parsvnath Developers
Ltd. has so far created 400 residential
units and is executing some more housing
projects here.
Mayor
Jammu Municipal Corporation, Kavinder
Gupta, Deputy Mayor Dharamveer Singh
Jamwal, Registrar Cooperatives G. N.
Qasba, officers of Cooperatives
department and members of Parsvnath
Developers Ltd and some allotees of the
flats were also present on the occasion.
State
Level Committee announces
package for industrial units
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: The meeting of the
State Level Committee constituted by the
State Government to sanction various
incentives and subsidies under the
Central package was held here today and
sanctioned industrial package for various
units located in Jammu division.
The
meeting was held under the chairmanship
of Pawan Kotwal, IAS, Secretary to
Government, Industries and Commerce
Department.
Pradeep
Gupta, IAS, Director Industries and
Commerce, Jammu and member secretary of
the committee while giving details of the
meeting, said that committee has
sanctioned Rs 117 lakh in favour of 20
units on account of Interest Subsidy, 55
lakh in favour of 7 units on account of
Capital Investment Subsidy and Rs 35 lakh
in favour of 5 units under Transport
Subsidy Scheme to units located in
Industrial Estates of Jammu division.
Mr Gupta
also informed that 11 units were
registered under the medium and large
scale sector and 304 units in the SSI
sector during the year 2007-08. He said
that these units were creating employment
for 3400 persons in Jammu division.
Mr Gupta
also stated that the department will
convene the meeting of the State Level
Committee regularly so that the
incentives and subsidies are released to
the industrial units without any delay.
Among
others who attended the meeting included
Managing Director, J&K State
Development Finance Corpo-ration, Deputy
Director, Accounts and Treasuries,
Financial Advisor, Industries and
Commerce Department and Chairman,
Federation of Industries, Jammu.
Chairman
LC constitutes Committees
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: In exercise of
powers vested in him under provisions of
Rules of Procedure and Conduct of
Business in Legislative Council, Chairman
Legislative Council, Ghulam Nabi Lone has
constituted various Committees for the
year 2008-09.
As per a
bulletin issued by the Council
Secretariat, the Privileges Committee
would be headed by M.Y.Taing and
R.S.Chib, Ch. Bashir Ahmed Naaz,
Nasarullah, Prof. Bhim Singh would serve
as members of the Committee.
The
General Purpose Committee would be
consisted by Arvinder Singh Micky,
(Deputy Chairman), Gulchain Singh Charak
(Leader of the House), Prof. Bhim Singh,
Miss Sakina Itoo, P. Namgyal,
Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Parduman Singh, Ved
Prakash Gupta, Trilochan Singh Wazir and
Mohammad Amin Bhat. Chairman Ghulam Nabi
Lone would be ex-officio Chairman of the
Committee.
Similarly
the Committee on Subordinate Legislation
would be headed by by Mohammad Sharief
Niaz and Praduman Singh, Trilochan Singh
Wazir, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Nizam-ud-Din
Khatana, Sofi Ghulam Mohammad, Haji Ali
Mohammad Bhat, Ali Mohammad Sofi, Syed
Basharat Ahmed Bukhari would serve as
members of the Subordinate Legislation
Committee.
The
Committee on Government Assurances would
function under the chairmanship of
Murtaza Ahmed Khan, whileas Ali Mohammad
Sofi, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Praduman Singh
and Ch. Lal Mohammad Sabir would be
members of the Committee.
The House
Committee would be headed by Deputy
Chairman, Arvinder Singh Micky and Amrit
Malhotra, Devinder Singh Rana, Prof. Bhim
Singh would serve as members of the
Committee.
Likewise,
the Petitions Committee would be headed
by Lal Mohammad Sabir, whileas Mohammad
Rashid Qureshi, Mohammad Amin Bhat,
Mohammad Yousuf Taing, Farida Mir would
serve as members of the Committee.
The
Library Committee would be consisted by
Ashok Kumar Sharma, Ch. Nizam-ud-Din
Khatana, Sofi Ghulam Mohammad, Devinder
Singh Rana and Syed Basharat Ahmed
Bukhari. Chairman LC, Ghulam Nabi Lone
would be ex-officio Chairman of the
Committee.
The Rules
Committee would be headed by Chairman,
Ghulam Nabi Lone himself as ex-officio
Chairman, whileas Murtaza Ahmed Khan,
Amrit Malhotra, Ashok Kumar Sharma,
Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat
and Bilal Ahmed Khan Lodhi would be
members of the Committee.
The Ethics
Committee would function under the
Chairmanship of Amrit Malhotra. Ch.
Nizam-ud-Din Khatana, Mohammad Sultan
Panditpori, Mohammad Yousuf Taing, Farida
Mir and Trilochan Singh Wazir would serve
as members of the Committee.
The
Departmental Related Committee on Social
Welfare, Power, Health, Education, Works,
Estates and Hospitality & Protocol
would be headed by Syed Basharat Ahmed
Bukhari. Mr. Nasarullah, Mohammad Rashid
Qureshi, Ali Mohammad Sofi and Rafi Ahmed
Mir would be members of the Committee.
The
Departmental Related Committee on Rural
Development, Agriculture, Horticulture
and Tourism would function under the
chairmanship of Mohammad Sultan
Panditpori. Nizam-ud-Din Khatana, P.
Namgyal, Devinder Singh Rana and Ch. Lal
Mohammad Sabir would serve as members of
the said Committee.
Similarly
the Committee on Forest, Public
Distribution System, Transport,
Industries & Ladakh Affairs would be
headed by P. Namgyal. Mr. Nassurrallah,
Mohammad Sultan Panditpori, Mohammad
Sharief Niaz and Bilal Ahmed Khan Lodhi
would be members of the Committee.
The
Environment Committee would be headed by
Smt. Farida Mir and Ashok Kumar Sharma,
Mohammad Rashid Qureshi, Mohammad Amin
Bhat, Murtaza Ahmed Khan, Bilal Ahmed
Khan Lodhi, Sofi Ghulam Mohammad would
serve as members of the Committee.
Jammuites
feasts on ladies folk mela at Zanana Park
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: As part of the
recently concluded Jammu Festival a Mega
ladies folk event was organized at Hari
Singh Zanana Park at Jammu.
The
function was inaugurated by Shamim Azad,
who was the chief guest while Shakuntla
Kundal, wife of Chief Secretary B R
Kundal was the guest of honour.
The mega
event was the brain child of Chief
Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad who was in the
meeting to finalize the arrangements of
Jammu Mela 2008 had expressed his desire
to organize a function at Hari Singh
Zanana Park. Additional Secretary
Tourism, Rashmi Kashyap was assigned the
task Organizing a women folk event at the
said park.
Hari Singh
Zanana park, which once presented a
picture of undulating and barren land was
mostly used as a parking place for
official and unofficial vehicles. Mr Azad
after taking over as Chief Minister took
upon himself to restore the dignity of
the park. It has now transformed into a
blooming green patch in the heart of
city. With decorated flower beds, newly
constructed foot paths and aesthetic look
the park is a delight for on lookers and
morning walkers who take full advantage
of its environment.
Organized
for the first time, the mega event was
made more lucrative with an attached
attendance precondition, "Only for
couples". A cultural feast for
Jammuites, it contained several events
and competition related to Dogra culture
including Dogra ethnic cooking
competition, rangoli, traditional Dogri
dances, songs, suhaags, seethmya, folk
dances and traditional dresses of Jammu.
Besides,
girl students drawn from different
schools and colleges also presented
ethnic dances.
Number of
stalls were put up by Handicrafts and
Social Welfare Departments DRDA, Self
Help Groups and NGO’s who besides
displaying traditional art and craft of
Jammu region also gave live demonstration
to public. In addition ethnic Dogri,
sancks and food stalls were a great
attraction for the visitors.
Divisional
Commissioner, Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary
Tourism Naeem Akhtar and IGP Jammu, K
Rajendra also visited the festival venue
and commended the programme.
Other
prominent ladies present on the occasion
included Indu Khoda, Neeru Goswami, Mrs
Ruby Sharma, Mrs Pawan Kotwal, Zahida
Khan, Joint Director Handicrafts Dev Lata
member SSRB, Chandra Gupta Special
Secretary, Health and Medical Education
Department, Mandeep Kour, SDM R S Pura,
Mrs Rita Jitendar, Mrs Sarla Kohli, Mrs
Raj Bharti, and Vijay Gandotra.
Young
girls applied henna on the hands of the
distinguished lady guests including
Shamim Azad and Shakuntla Kundal, while
they were witnessing the cultural
programmes.
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