Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Hundreds of daily rated and need based workers besides casual labourers of Power Development Department held a strong protest demonstration in front of BJP office at Kachi Chawni here today.
The Power workers, who are on agitation for the last several days for their demands of regularization and release of their pending wages, came out on the roads and took out strong protest march. They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against the Governor’s Administration and local BJP leadership.

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They assembled near BJP office and then sat on dharna for some time on the road at Kachi Chawni. They lodged strong protest against BJP Government also. They alleged that local BJP leadership has maintained criminal silence over the issue while they and their families have been left to suffer. They also raised slogans against BJP president and other leaders.
The movement of traffic remained suspended on the road for some time. The police and traffic authorities had tough time to clear the road and restore traffic on the road. Traffic jam was also created there.
Many of them had pulled out their shirts to mark their protest. They alleged t hat many workers in Kashmir have been regularized up to 2013 while many in Jammu region are still waiting for their turn since 1998. There is discrimination against the workers of Jammu region and the BJP leadership has remained mute spectator, they alleged.
After holding protest for about half an hour, they dispersed.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The residents of Tikker area in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district today protested against the scarcity of drinking water for last more than one month.
Scores of residents along with women blocked Kupwara-Sopore road to register their protest against the Jal Shakti Department.
The locals said that the concerned department has been ignoring their plight is not giving due attention to the issues that they are facing.
They said that they will continue their protest until their issue is not solved and appealed to the department to take notice of the issue and take measures to address the same.
However, the officials said that the department is helpless keeping in view the dry spell that is on.
“There is an overall scarcity of water; there is a dry spell and the water level in the sources has decreased,” they said.
The officials, however, assured that they will look into the matter and will try to address their issue.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Former Mayor, Ch. Manmohan Singh and Vijay Choudhary, Councilor Ward-42 today started black-toping work in Nanak Nagar Sector-4, near Gorkha Mandir.
A handout stated that black topping will continue in Sectors 2, 3 and 5 too.
Speaking on the occasion Vijay Choudhary said black-topping in the area was a long pending demand of the people which has now been fulfilled.
Lauding sanitation staff for good work, Ch. Manmohan Singh said, after blacktopping he will monitor the lanes to check where else blacktopping is needed which will then be completed soon.
Vijay Choudhary said she has instructed JMC workers to start maintenance of drains next.
“All the blocked drains will be repaired and cleared soon,” she said adding: “Despite PHE daily wagers’ strike we are trying to ensure regular water supply though at different hours.”
Vijay Chowdhary asked the people to save water and reduce their water wastage levels and keep water beforehand for further use, so that water shortage may not become an issue until the strike is called off.
Both Vijay Choudhary and Ch. Manmohan Singh asked the people to take interest in their surroundings and avoid dumping garbage it drains.
They said that they are going to organize a camp very soon for pension forms for senior citizens and widows.
Manjot Singh, Junior Engineer; Subash Gill of JMC, Ashok Singh Sambyal, Mohan Choudhary, Parth Singh, Harbans Choudhary, Vicky Jamwal, Jagdish Raj, Varinder Partap Singh and Kamlesh Gupta were also present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Chairman Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and senior BJP leader, Baldev Singh Billawaria today kick started the black topping work in Ward No. 56, Ekta Vihar, Gangyal in Gandhi Nagar constituency. After kick starting the black topping work, Billawaria said that the black topping work of interior roads of Ekta Vihar, Gangyal and adjoining areas has been completed.
He said that it was the long pending demand of inhabitants which came to an end as people were facing hardships due to a lot of huddles in the road. Further he said that people should themselves judge that when NC/Congress ruled for more than 65 years why they did not develop the area as per the expectations of the general public. Billawaria said that many projects in the pipeline will start shortly.
He said BJP is committed for overall development of the UT and development projects of public importance have been taken up on priority basis on the principal of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Sath, Sabka Vishwas’. He said that after the complete work of black topping local residents of the area will feel “ACCHE DIN” (good days) have come as promised by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The locals appreciated the role of Billawaria in improving the roads of Ekta Vihar/Gangyal.
On the occasion Gurudwara Singh Sabha president, Mandal president Bharat Bhushan, Jyoti Prakash Sharma, Ranjit Singh, Dalbir Singh, Mulkh Raj, Rinku Singh, Jugal Kishore, Hardeep Singh, Kawaljeet Singh & others were also present.

*Launches COVID-19 response booklet

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, today pitched for added dedication and more hard work to tackle effectively with COVID -19 spread during winter months.
FC said this at a COVID-19 Response booklet launching function held at Divisional COVID Control Room, Kashmir (DCCR).
Among others the function was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, In-charge DCCR Kashmir, Srikant Balasaheb Suse, In- Charge Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr Tanvir Masood, Epidemiologist, Dr Talat Jabeen, Deputy Director Dentistry, Dr Jahan Zaib and other concerned.
On the occasion, FC said that the disease can throw new challenges during winter season and need is to work with more dedication and coordination for effective Covid control in the Valley.
He appreciated DCCR Kashmir and all officers and officials there for well management of the situation and effective control of spread of virus across Kashmir. He said that the successful handling of the situation in Kashmir has been the result of efforts put up by all concerned through the Control Room. He said that emerging and re-emerging of disease poses new challenges which needs innovative solutions and coordinated efforts to tackle with.
Later, FC visited various sections and blocks of the COVID Control Room and took stock of contact tracing, sampling, red zone surveillance, IEC activities, distribution of Immune boosting Medicines and other related functioning.
Speaking on the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner appreciated all officers and officials of different departments for their tremendous work for containment of spread of coronavirus. He said that the pandemic situation was dealt smoothly within the available resources in Kashmir. He said that every officer/officials worked with utmost determination and dedication while performing his/her duties in past 7-8 months for disease containment.
Earlier, In charge DCCR Kashmir spoke on the launch of COVID-19 Response Booklet, terming it a highlight of overall work done for containment of virus in Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rabbani, Health Expert deliberated upon the functioning of Control Room while as Dr Talat Jabeen while presenting vote of thanks, expressed her gratitude to the FC, Div Com and other concerned for their support, supervision and guidance for well management of pandemic situation.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 23: To speed up the Zero Line cultivation on International Border in Hiranagar Sector, the district administration put into force latest machinery to remove the bushes, unwanted roots of tree in the fields.
Two latest Mould Board plough added in ploughing the fields and make it ready for wheat cultivation after a long gap of 18 years. The Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, O P Bhagat accompanied by BSF officials, officers of Agriculture Department and Industries Department visited the Zero line border area at Manyari and supervise the Zero line cultivation process going on forward area of International Border.
The Deputy Commissioner also handed over two latest machine Mould Boards to BSF which were given Kathua Industrial Unit Association for the welfare of border farmers. The latest machine was put into job and started ploughing in bushy area by BSF tractors to prepare the fields in border belt for wheat cultivation.
The border farmers have abandoned their fields in forward areas across Zero Line due to ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers. The fields are not cultivated since last 18 years due to firing. Now the UT Government took initiative to cultivate forward area after a LG, Manoj Sinha visited Hirangar Border area and listened the border farmers who wanted cultivation of abandoned fields.
The Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, OP Bhagat said that on first phase 1300 acres of land will be cultivated and sowing of wheat crops will be started from 10th November. So that two more machine were added in land leveling and make it ready for cultivation before 10th November. He said that the Zero line cultivation will help the farmer to get their cultivation process revive after long time, BSF jawan get easy assess to guard the border and there should be check on insurgency sponsored by Pakistan.

Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Oct 23: The driver and conductor of an oil tanker were killed in a tragic road accident on Mughal Road in Poonch district today.
A senior police official said that mishap took place when the tanker No. JK02CH/2595 was on way to Jammu from Srinagar after off loading the fuel supply in Valley. Today, main Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed and the traffic had been diverted via Mughal Road. When the vehicle reached near Poshana, about 7 kms on south of Pir Ki Gali, the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle and it rolled down nearly 400 feet deep gorge.

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The impact of the fall was so tragic and devastating that fuel tank was separate from the main chassis and front cabin and the vehicle was converted into a wreckage deep down the Nallah. The bodies of the driver and conductor were thrown out and were badly mutilated.
After coming to know about the mishap, the police party from Behram Galla under Surankote Police Station, reached the spot and later shifted the bodies to Surankote hospital. The deceased were later identified as Tarvinder Singh (driver) and Mangal Singh, both residents of Doda. The police has taken cognizance of the matter.