Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: Senior BJP leader and MLC Ashok Khajuria today strongly advocated for Tawi Lake Project in Jammu city and said that the coalition Government should ensure its early completion to boost tourism as well as beautification of the city of temples.
In a statement, Mr Khajuria said that an artificial lake in Tawi was a dream project for the people of Jammu, who were eagerly waiting for completion of the same for the last several years. “ Even if there are some technical flaws in project, the same can be removed with the help of experts but shelving the project is not acceptable to people of Jammu,” he maintained.
The BJP MLC stressed that all other projects in Jammu should also be speeded up for early completion so that this region may emerge as an independent tourist destination. “Early completion of the Tawi lake project, Cable Car project between Bagh-e-Bahu and Mubarak Mandi and development of other infrastructure in Jammu should be priority of the State Government,” he stressed.
Mr Khajuria also lambasted the opposition parties for their anti-BJP propaganda and cautioned the people to remain aware from such forces, which were hell bent to divide people on regional and communal lines.
Ashok Khajuria demands early completion of Tawi lake project
Woman killed, daughter hurt in house collapse
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 17: A young housewife died while her six-year old daughter was critically injured in a house collapse at village Pakhlai in block Chenani of district Udhampur.
The victims were identified as deceased Guddi Devi (33) wife of Shiv Kumar of Pakhlai and her daughter Usha Devi.
The house collapsed around 5 pm and some neighbours shifted the victims to nearby PHC where Guddi Devi succumbed to her injuries.
MLA Bhaderwah tours rural areas
Excelsior Correspondent
Doda, May 17: MLA Bhaderwah Daleep Singh Parihar along the Deputy Commissioner Doda Bhupinder Kumar toured the rural area of Gandoh and held series of public meetings .
Deputations of people from different areas of Bhalessa interacted with the MLA and apprised him of the problems, which include the timely restoration of road connectivity, restoration of Irrigation canals, shortage of staff in rural schools, construction of building of Government Degree college Khilotran, establishment of forest Depot at Gandoh, pending compensation of the land acquired for the PMGSY and R&B roads, water supply, unscheduled electric power cuts, availability of ration in CA&PD stores etc to which Mr.Parihar gave a patient hearing and gave on spot directions to the concerned authorities who accompanied him during tour.
MLA along with DC Doda also inspected the Government Higher Secondary School Khilotran, where the classes of GDC Khilotran are held. Finding the classrooms not sufficient to accommodate huge rush of students ,MLA directed the XEn R&B Division Bhallesa to submit the technical and feasibility report of the renovation of the abandoned old Hostel Building of GHSS Khilotran. If found technically feasible to conduct the classes in this old building, classes of GDC Khilotran will be held in the Hostel Building till the construction of GDC Khilotran Building is completed, MLA further directed. Besides, Mr. Parihar directed the executing agency to expedite the construction work of GDC building so that the regular classes are conducted in spacious building
Responding to the demand of people for the establishment of forest Depots at Gandoh MLA Bhaderwah assured that the matter will be taken with the concerned authority for its earliest establishment.
En route MLA along with DC inspected Tehsil Office Khara, BDO Office Khara and held a grievance redressal camp at Gandoh where the issues like the supply of drinking water, Power supply, stock position of the ration in CA&PD Stores among others were deliberated upon and necessary instruction were passed to the concerned authorities on the spot.
Kavinder kick starts upgradation of lanes, drains
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, May 17: Speaker Legislative Assembly and MLA Gandhi Nagar, Kavinder Gupta today laid foundation for the up gradation of lanes and drains in Sector-8, Ext, Nanak Nagar.
The people of the area apprised the Speaker of the other problems being faced by them and the step motherly behavior done to them by the previous MLA. Major demands among them were to make proper drainage system for the locality, repair damaged lanes, replacement of old transformer and upgrade the same and replacement of old HT/LT cables.
The Speaker gave a patient hearing to the locals and assured them that their all genuine problems will be examined on priority and addressed accordingly. He also said that he will take up these issues with the concerned Ministries for appropriate disposal and issued instructions to the concerned department to submit the details to him within a week’s time so that further action can be initiated.
Later, he visited Nideesh Apartment and interacted with the people of Bagri market who also apprised the Speaker of their problems. Their issues were related to sanitation facilities in the area, regular supply of drinking water and widening of road adjoining the canal. He directed the PHE, PWD, JMC officials accompanying him to expedite the work and eliminate these issues at the earliest.
Sunil lays foundation of Rs 73 lakh link road
Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, May 17: To provide shortest and feasible road connectivity to the people living across both sides of historic Chowgan ground in Kishtwar, Minister of State for PWD (R&B) and Revenue, Sunil Sharma today laid foundation stone for the construction of 258 Mtr link road from Gowri Shanker Mandir Sarkoot to Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) Kishtwar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that with the construction of the link road people of the area will be benefited as they used to travel about 3 Km to reach the other side of the Chowgan ground. The road will be constructed by the R&B Division Kishtwar at a cost of Rs 73 lakh and will be completed within a period of one year.
The Minister said that the people living in Sarkoot, Bera Bhata, Matta, Hatta, Pochhal, Bhoop Nagar, Sangram Bhatta and other adjoining areas will get the shortest alternate road connectivity to reach other side of the ground. He said that the road will also help in reducing the traffic on the main road.
Mr. Sharma directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar to ensure the process of land acquisition at an earliest for timely completion of this road. Mr. Sharma also said that work for creation of parking facility will be taken up on the already identified places within one week.
Regarding drinking water shortage in the town and its adjoining areas, the Minister said that an additional water lift is being installed which will provide an additional 4 lakh gallons water supply per day in addition to already available water supply in the town and till the end of September 2015 one more lift will be installed.
The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Mohd. Javed Khan, SSP Kishtwar, Yougal Manhas and other officers of the district adminsitraton.
Address issue of cell tower radiation: Parl panel to Govt
NEW DELHI, May 17:
Observing that electromagnetic radiation from cell towers are a matter of “great concern”, a parliamentary panel has asked the Environment Ministry to address the issue “comprehensively” and evolve a mechanism to create awareness among the people.
The committee on Demands for Grants (2015-16) of the Environment Ministry, chaired by former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar, has also urged the Ministry to implement the judgments of various courts on the matter immediately.
“The committee recommends that the Ministry should evolve a mechanism to create awareness on the subject among the people… This issue has to be addressed comprehensively and public hearings with stakeholders should be the basis for further action… The judgments of various courts on this issue need to be implemented forthwith,” the committee said.
The committee noted that the Environment Ministry continues to maintain its “indifference” towards the issue of e-radiation from cell towers, despite it being a matter of “great concern” because of its reported impact on health of humans, animals, birds and honeybees.
The Department of Telecommunication in its deposition before the committee had informed that norms for exposure limit for radio frequency has been reduced to 1/10th of the existing limits prescribed by International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and there was a difference of opinion on the impact of radiation from cell towers on health of citizens.
“There is a need to effectively monitor the effect of radiation from cell towers etc. And the number of inspectors available for the purpose needs to be significantly enhanced by the concerned Administrative Ministry,” the panel noted. (PTI)
Army provides sewing machines, holds stitching course
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, May 17: Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, under Romeo Force, provided 20 Sewing machines and held stitching course for the needy and unemployed ladies of Mendhar.
The event was attended by Army and civil dignitaries. K L Balgotra, Secretary, Gandhi Seva Centre thanked the Indian Army for their concerted efforts in providing such facilities in the remote areas of J&K.
Chaudhary Zaffarullah, chairman, Gandhi Seva Centre Mendhar and Dara Singh, Sarpanch Mendhar mentioned that such steps by Army would be beneficial in earning goodwill amongst the locals of Jammu and Kashmir and would provide self employment to the families in these far-flung areas.
Conduct of stitching course and provisioning of sewing machines to the needy ladies will assist ladies to find source of income through self-employment and to lead a life with dignity.
2 women among 7 elected to Cantonment Board
Excelsior Correspondent
-Excelsior/ Rakesh
JAMMU, May 17: Two women were among seven members elected to Cantonment Board Jammu, the elections of which were held here today.
The elections to the seven Wards of Cantonment Board were held today from 8 am to 4 pm. There are total 12, 800 voters in all the Wards. The polling was held under the supervision of Cantonment authorities, at Satwari. There were total 37 members contesting the elections and out of them, 12 were women members. Ward No. 3 and 5 have been reserved for the women. The counting was held in the evening and the results were announced tonight.
From ward No. 1, Hardeep Singh was declared as elected. He secured 713 votes out of 1557. Five members were contesting from this Ward. From ward No. 2, Rajesh Bakshi was declared as elected. He bagged 1351 votes out of 1661. From Ward No. 3, Jasmeet Kour won the elections. Five candidates were contesting from this ward. She secured 551 votes out of 1252 and from Ward 4 Pardeep Kour was declared winner. She bagged 361 votes out of 1189. Four candidates were contesting from ward 4.
From Ward No. 5, Jitender Singh was declared as winner. He bagged 471 votes out of 1362 and seven members were contesting from this ward. From Ward 6, Harminder Singh won the elections by securing 446 votes out of 1420 votes. Eight candidates were contesting from this ward. From Ward No. , Bharat Bushan was declared elected. He secured 631 votes out of 1061. Six candidates were contesting from this ward. These elected members will now elect vice president of the Cantonment Board.
NSF flays BJP for surrendering interests of Jammu region
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: The National Secular Forum (NSF) has castigated State Governments for giving step motherly treatment to Jammu region in all spheres of life, particularly over the issue of AIIMS.
Addressing a press conference here, NSF president Sukhdev Singh said BJP had been raising issue of discrimination at all the forums but ever since it joined the Government as coalition partner its leaders have themselves adopted a silent posture. “Centre announced establishment of AIIMS in Jammu but the Kashmiri leadership manipulated the whole things and cleverly managed to say that AIIMS will be established at Kashmir while the BJP Ministers and leaders are maintaining absolute silence over the issue,” he said.
He warned the BJP leadership to mend its way and pay proper concern over the issues related to the interests of Jammu region otherwise people will throw them out of the power. He demanded that AIIMS should be established in Jammu instead of Kashmir and the institutions that have been put in the quota of Jammu be given to Kashmir.
The NSF leader asked the State Government to mend its way and stop discriminating with the Jammu region or face a mass agitation in this regard.
Among those who were present in the press-conference, included, Narinder Singh, Qayoom Malik, J V Singh, and Ajaz Shah.
2,100 kids go missing in Delhi so far this year
NEW DELHI, May 17:
More than 2,100 children have gone missing in the national capital till April 15 this year, continuing the disturbing trend of 20 kids disappearing from the city everyday for the last few years.
Although police manage to trace more than half of these children every year, but a large number of them are never rescued. What is more alarming is the fact that most of these children are girls, raising concerns that they might be forced into prostitution.
According to Delhi Police data, 2,168 children have been reported missing in the city till April 15 this year, of which 1,212 were girls and 956 boys. Although 1,202 children were rescued, 586 girls and 380 boys are yet to be found.
Last year, 7,572 children went missing from Delhi out of which 4,166 were girls and 3,406 boys. Although police brought back 5,695 children to their homes, 1,877 kids including 1,199 girls were yet to be traced. In 2013, 5,809 children went missing, of which 1,025 were yet to be traced while 3,686 had gone missing the previous year.
“Fear of studies, peer pressure, family dispute, elopement, scolding by parents were some of the reasons why children flee their homes on their own while organised gangs are involved in cases of kidnapping and sex trafficking,” said a senior police official.
Delhi Police have launched several initiatives to curb this trend which include project “SNEH” under which Juvenile Welfare Officers of police stations work in close coordination with NGOs and undertake awareness programmes.
Anti-Human Trafficking Units have been formed in each districts and in the Crime Branch and has formulated Standard Operating Procedure in case of missing children which mandates prompt registration of FIR.
As it emerged that children from poor families living in unauthorised colonies and slum clusters are more vulnerable, police launched ‘Pehchaan’, under which kids are photographed and a copy of which is handed over to their parents.
“This has been done as it was observed in many cases that when children from families of poor financial background go missing, families were not even able to provide us with their pictures,” the official added.
Delhi Police have also launched ‘Operation Milap’, aimed at uniting missing children with their parents under which 89 kids have been restored with their families so far.
Under the scheme which was launched in December last, Crime Branch officials check each and every child in the Children Homes and make all out efforts to get any clue about their parents/home so that they can be restored properly. (PTI)