Rs 200 cr worth
works under execution in Bishnah:
MLA
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: MLA Bishnah
Ashwani Sharma today said that
development works worth Rs 200
crore were under execution in
Bishnah constituency which has
been converted from most backward
segment to a model constituency
in 5 years time.
"Within
the last few years, a degree
college has been sanctioned, many
new schools opened and upgrades
in Bishnah, several bridges and
link roads have been constructed
while several others were under
construction, a power house was
under construction, the District
Hospital has been equipped with
latest and modernised machinery
while irrigation water was
reaching the tail end", he
said while addressing a workers
meeting in Bishnah town.
He
told the workers that
Treva-Kathar border road was
under construction under CRF
scheme at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
Bandrali, Rial, Bumnal and
Saidgarh bridges have been
constructed while many link roads
have been completed to link the
villages with Bishnah. To
overcome power crisis, a Power
Station was under construction at
Partap Singh Pura.
For
the first time, irrigation water
has started reaching the tail end
due to improvement works carried
out in the canal. Besides, work
was on for many lift irrigation
schemes and tube wells, Ashwani
Sharma said.
A
new building was constructed for
Sub District Hospital in Bishnah
which has been equipped with
latest machinery. Efforts were
also on to get Arnia PHC upgraded
to Sub District Hospital and
Dispensaries converted into PHCs,
he told the workers.
Besides
a degree colleges, several
primary and other schools have
been upgraded in the constituency
and many new schools opened, he
said, adding infrastructure has
also been strengthened in all
educational institutions.
Provide
helicopter service in Marwah,
Paddar: MLA
Excelsior
Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Feb 10:
Member Legislative
Assembly from Kishtwar and
National Conference leader,
Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo has urged
the state government to
immediately provide helicopter
service in the snow bound remote
areas of Paddar, Marwah-Dachhan
and Wadwan of the district which
have been cut off now.
In
a press statement issued here
today, NC MLA alleged that people
of these areas were suffering due
to shortage of kerosene oil, LPG
and ration. Due to massive rain
and snow fall in last one week,
the people were suffering a lot
but no proper attention was being
given for the restoration of
essential services like food
supplies/ration, power and water
supplies. He demanded restoration
of electricity supply in the
entire Kishtwar district.
Mr
Kichloo pointed out that majority
of the villages in these areas
were avalanche prone.
Communication network was very
poor. The people need immediate
helicopter service for even
lifting ailing people and
dropping essentials as well.
Paddar road has been closed for
the last several days due to
heavy snow and there was shortage
of essential commodities. He
demanded immediate air-dropping
of ration and other supplies
there.
The
NC leader urged the state
government to direct the district
administration, para-military
forces and police to be on high
alert to meet the threat in view
of heavy snow fall in avalanche
prone areas and closely monitor
the situation.
Sa Ma Pa Festival
concludes with soul stirring
music
By Ravinder Kaul
When
a nobleman congratulated George
Frederic Handel, considered by
Beethoven as the greatest
composer that ever lived, for
‘entertaining’ the
masses with ‘Messiah’,
one of his most memorable
compositions, the maestro
replied, " My Lord, I should
be sorry if I only entertained
them; I wished to make them
better."
The
concluding programme of the Sa Ma
Pa Aalap Festival at Abhinav
Theatre here today was a
spiritually elevating experience
for the entire audience that had
braved the ‘near zero’
temperature to attend the finale
of a Festival that spread the
soothing sound waves of Indian
classical music throughout Jammu
city during the past fortnight.
Organising
fifteen programmes of classical,
sufi and light classical music at
different venues in as many days
in no mean task. More so, when
the artistes are a combination of
the finest among the young as
well as the accomplished
performing artistes of the
country. Flute maestro Pandit
Rajendra Prasanna, veteran
vocalist Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan,
senior Tabla player Ustad Akhtar
Hussain, master of Kashmiri
Sufiana music Ustad Ghulam Mohd.
Saaznawaz and Dogri folk music
stalwart Ghulam Mohd. were among
the accomplished artistes who
performed in the Festival.
Among
young artistes, quite well known
in their own right, were Santoor
prodigy Abhay Rustum Sopori, Diva
of Sufi singing Ragini Rainu,
young master of Sitar Zunain
Halim Khan, light classical
vocalist Sunanda Sharma, well
known singing sisters Chinmei and
Kusha Sharma, Tabla stars Sarit
Das and Sukhmoy Banerjee and
singer Naveen Sharma. This was
truly a stupendous exercise,
unprecedented in the musical
history of Jammu city.
The
Festival was performed in
different educational institution
of Jammu city with a view to
initiate the younger generation
to the basics of Indian classical
music. The deep interest shown by
the students in the music
presented during the Festival and
the lively interaction after the
performances was an indication of
the great success achieved by the
Festival in popularising Indian
classical music among the young
generation.
The
concluding programme of the
Festival this evening began with
the folk recital of Ghulam Mohd.
and his son Sher Mohd. Ghulam
Mohd. is the recipient of this
year’s Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award. They presented Jotaan
Jagdiyaan and followed it up with
Neyi Reesaan Jammu Shehar Diyaan.
Ragini Rainu presented Bhulle
Shah’s Ghunghat Chuk O Sajna
and Raanjha Jogiya Ban Aaya in
her mesmerising vocal recital
that received thunderous applause
from the audience.
Abhay
Rustum Sopori provided a
befitting finale to the Festival
with a memorable Santoor recital
in which he presented Raag
Rageshwari Kaunce. He displayed
his mastery over the instrument
and his deep understanding of the
fine nuances of the Raag. He was
accompanied on Tabla by Ustad
Akhtar Hussain.
Pramod
Jain, Commissioner Secretary
Higher Education, who was the
Chief Guest on the occasion,
complimented Sopori Academy of
Music and Performing Arts for
organising such a vibrant music
festival in Jammu. Pandit Bhajan
Sopori, the moving spirit behind
the Festival, highlighted the
tasks undertaken by Sa Ma Pa and
said that it would organise more
such programmes in Jammu in near
future. Dr. Rafiq Masoodi,
Secretary, J&K Academy of
Art, Culture and Languages
expressed the resolve of the
Academy to support all
initiatives that would help in
popularising classical music
among the youth. Raj Kumar
Behrupia compered the programme
in an admirable manner.
Thus
came to an end a memorable
Festival that will be remembered
by the young generation of Jammu
for a long time to come. These
youngsters are looking forward to
more such programmes in the near
future.
Jora inaugurates
2 industrial units
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: Minister
for Industries and Commerce
Nawang Rigzin Jora today
inaugurated two industrial units
of thread braded and steel
fabrication at Kartholi and
Ramgarh area of district Samba.
On
the occasion, Mr. Jora called
upon the educated unemployed
youth to establish
self-employment units instead of
hankering after Government jobs.
He
said that REGP units provided
employment to the entrepreneurs,
artisans and other skilled
persons and lauded the role of
the KVIB for a vital role in
transforming social economic
conditions of the people living
in remote and far-flung and
backward areas.
The
Secretary, KVIB, R. C. Sharma
appealed to the unemployed youths
to take inspiration from these
unit holders and establish their
own income generating units. He
gave a detailed resume of the
activities of the Board and
apprised about the schemes being
implemented by the Board.
JKNDF makes
formal announcement to
contest ensuing assembly poll
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: The
Jammu and Kashmir National
Democratic Front (JKNDF) a newly
floated political party by
Kashmiri Pandis today made a
formal announcement regarding its
decision to contest the
forthcoming Assembly elections in
J&K.
The
announcement in this regard was
made by the leaders of the Front
at its maiden convention here,
today. During the convention a
Screening Committee was also
constituted to work out the
modalities and identify the
potential candidates to be
fielded from the selected
constituencies.
Meanwhile,
the Front got a shot in arm after
a senior KP leader and an
ideologue of Panun Kashmir, Dr K
L Choudhary announced his
decision to join the JKNDF.
The
Kashmir Pandits drawn from
different corners of Jammu,
Kashmir Valley and other parts of
the country participated in the
convention. They resolved to
strengthen the Party by holding
meetings in other states to
apprise the people of the country
of the problems being faced by
Kashmiri Hindus who have been
deprived of their political
rights by successive governments
and political parties especially
after their forced exodus from
the Valley.
It
was also decided that Front will
hold dialogue with all shades of
opinion and work out electoral
tie up with like-minded parties.
During
their address to the open
session, JKNDF national convenor,
R K Mattoo and its working
president, A D Dewani asked
workers to be ready for
protracted struggle for their
rights. They said time has come
when the exiled community has to
fight various issues politically
under the rights provided in the
Constitution instead of looking
towards the national and regional
political parties which have
totally betrayed the community.
They
alleged that political parties
including the ruling coalition
and Opposition party in the state
have not even shown lip sympathy
towards the hapless community and
they needed to be exposed for
their biased approach.
Mr
Mattoo said the idea of floating
the political force was to
empower the common man of his
rights under the Constitution. He
declared that Party will open its
units in all the metros to cover
the length and breadth of the
country.
Mr
Dewani said that it was high time
that community should stand on
its legs instead of living the
mercy of others.
The
Convention through a resolution
demanded respectable
rehabilitation package for
Kashmiri Hindus including those
living in Valley, granting of
minority status under J&K
Constitution, setting up of
Special Advisory Board to look
into specific demands of Kashmiri
Hindus, employment package for
Kashmiri Hindu youth, passage of
temple Bill and allotment of
quarters to those living in camps
as well as non camps.
Ministers visit
Valley districts to assess
situation
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb.
10: On the instructions
of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad, Ministers today visited
various districts to assess the
post snow situation in Valley.
Minister
for Social Welfare Abdul Gani
Vakil visited Pulwama and Shopian
districts to take stock of steps
taken by the administration for
providing succour to the snow
affected people.
Deputy
Commissioner, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo
informed the Minister that 1250
Kms long road length have been
cleared of snow and work on 4
water supply schemes is going
apace. He further informed that
10 houses have damaged completely
while 100 structures have
partially damaged.
The
Additional Deputy Commissioner
Shopian informed that 18 houses
have damaged completely and 116
partially.
In
addition, 22 uninhabited
structures out of 165 have also
completely damaged in the
district. He said 50 per cent
roads have been cleared of snow
and 50 per cent power supply
restored and the work on
remaining works is in full swing.
He said stock position of
foodgrains is satisfactory and
sufficient for next two months.
Mr.
Vakil directed Divisional
Commissioner Kashmir to provide
additional snow cutters to the
district administration
immediately as the district
experiences heavy snow fall
comparatively to other districts.
He further directed him to
personally monitor the snow
clearance and restoration of
essential services.
Minister
for Transport, Hakeem Mohammad
Yaseen visited various far flung
areas including Kremshora,
Reithan, Bugra and Khansahib of
Budgam district.
Accompanied
by the District Development
Commissioner Budgam Farooq Ahmad
Renzu and other senior
functionaries of the line
departments, the Minister during
his tour took on spot assessment
of the situation and gave
directions to the R&B
agencies to expedite snow
clearance operations in the far
off areas like Yarikhah, Arizal,
Basantwooder and Lasipora by the
evening.
The
Minister was informed that
electricity to most of the areas
has been restored while barring
some minor damages to the water
supply schemes, water supply to
the visited areas is also
restored. The Minister directed
the concerned authorities to
restore power and water supply
within two days to those areas
where the supply is not restored
as yet.
Regarding
the supply position, the Minister
was told that ample stocks of
foodgrains are available in the
area. The Minister directed the
health authorities to ensure
round the clock availability of
health care facilities to the
people.
The
Minister during his tour asked
the Revenue authorities to assess
the damage caused to the public
and private utilities including
orchards at the earliest.
Minister
of State for Health and Medical
Education Peer Mohammad Hussain
conducted an extensive tour of
various parts of Srinagar city
including Bemina, JVC, HMT, Noor
Bagh, Palapora and Shanglipora
and assessed the post snow
situation. He was accompanied by
District Development Commissioner
Srinagar Ajaz Iqbal, Commissioner
Srinagar Municipal Corporation
Haq Nawaz and engineers of
various departments.
During
his visit of these areas, the
local people demanded
construction of drains and
improvement of roads damaged due
to snowfall. The Minister assured
them that the funds have already
been allotted for the purpose and
the work would be taken up soon
after weather permits.
The
Minister instructed the UEED
authorities to provide a
dewatering pump immediately for
Palpora area and assured them
that their other demands
regarding Higher Secondary School
and Health Centre would be taken
up with the concerned
authorities.
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