Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 5: Interaction Forum Jammu Province comprising of members from civil society organized held an interactive session at Samba town today.
The session was presided over by Shiv Charan Singh, former Zonal Education Officer and was attended by intellectuals representing all shades and sections of the society drawn from all tehsils and pockets of Samba district.
Expressing views on the ongoing up serge in Kashmir valley, the speakers observed that all right thinking people should impress upon the agitators to shun violence as it only aggravates the sufferings of the people. Forum observed that Jammu region has major stakes in the issue as all the area of the State illegally occupied by Pakistan (PoJK) is part of Jammu province and people of Jammu are worried about the sub Jugation of people of Gilgit by Pakistan and all displaced persons of PoJK have settled in Jammu province. Jammu people are tolerant, nationalist, responsible and accommodating and also deserve a fair deal. It was opined that out of the Assembly seats earmarked and reserved for PoJK, seats proportional to the PoJK population migrated and settled in Jammu province should be restored to Jammu province as interim relief.
The speakers expressed serious concern on industrial pollution in Samba district especially the effluents being discharged in river Basantar, which has become a death trap for domestic and wild animals, aquatic life apart from damage to crops growing in the vicinity of Basantar.
While elaborating upon irrigation and water needs of Kandi-belt, it was pointed out that 25% of the Ranjit Sagar Dam water agreed to be supplied to Kandi area is flowing to Punjab which needs to be diverted to Jammu.
While spelling out the religious tourism potential of Samba district, the speakers stressed upon developing the Surinsar, Mansar, Parmandal, Chamlial, Swankha, Uttarveni and Cheechi Mata heritage sites.
The Forum expressed anguish over the decision of the Central Government to abolish the Dogri news centre of All India Radio at Delhi.
The provincial team members who participated included KB Jandial ( Retd IAS officers) former Member PSC, Capt Lalit Sharma (IFS) former APCCF, BS Jamwal Ex-Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Sharma Ex-MLA/MLC, HC Dhiman former MLC, HC Jalmeria – advocate and convener of IFJP, Subash Shastri president NMC, JS Blouria former JD (Planning), Mahesh Gupta prominent businessman and Social activist, Ghanshyam Singh Charak president National Kissan Union, Vijay Sharma advocate and IFJP convenor for Reasi district, Mahesh Sharma, Arvind Jalmeria advocate and Zahid Sarfraz Malik advocate and Forum convenor for district Rajouri.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel